v" 

BANCROFT 

LIBRARY 

HOMES  OF  AMERICA, 

WHOSE  LOVE  OF  LIBERTY  AND  OF  COUNTRY, 

WILL   FINALLY   MAKE   THIS   CONTINENT 

THE  LAND  OF  TRUE  FREEDOM. 


flf 


PASSION  FLOWER  OF  PERU. 


ACCESSION 
UBRABY 


PREFACE 


The  present  wide-spread  interest  in  the  study  of  American  history  will  effect 
two  results.  It  will,  for  one  thing,  push  out  very  much  reading  of  a  low,  useless, 
and  pernicious  kind.  The  enkindled  desire  to  understand  the  sufferings  and  achieve- 
ments in  the  record  of  the  New  World,  or  to  live  again  in  imagination  the  scenes 
which  have  been  enacted  upon  the  soil  we  tread,  will  consume  the  intellectual  heed- 
lessness  which  is  satisfied  with  the  thin  and  sensational  reading  which  falls  in  its 
way.  One  who  has  acquired  a  passion  for  investigating  journeys,  inventions,  cus- 
toms, political  enterprises  and  movements,  and  who  finds  the  hours  all  too  scanty  for 
the  purpose,  is  not  likely  to  employ  himself  in  reading  that  which  wastes  the  time, 
enfeebles  the  mind,  and  blights  the  heart. 

The  study  of  American  history  will  also  greatly  increase  the  accurate  knowl- 
edge of  the  circumstances  attending  the  formation  of  our  institutions,  and  by  so 
doing,  will  extend  and  intensify  the  spirit  of  our  life  through  a  great  circle.  If  we 
wish  to  understand  the  movement  of  an  enterprise,  we  must  note  its  condition  at  two 
•or  more  points  in  its  career.  It  is  difficult  for  the  ablest  mind,  when  confining  its 
view  to  the  present  moment,  to  trace  in  the  hurry  and  confusion  and  endless  details, 
the  complete  significance  of  the  work  which  is  being  done,  and  to  judge  whither  it 
ail  tends.  Nor  can  we  look  into  the  history  of  institutions  with  which  we  are  closely 
associated,  without  a  quickened  pulse,  a  greater  courage,  and  a  truer  patience.  The 
passing  accidents,  and  the  abiding  elements  of  enterprises  and  reforms,  alone  stand 
forth  in  this  view. 

This  volume  is  intended  to  serve  as  an  instrumentality  along  the  above  lines  of 
usefulness.  Several  principles  have  controlled  its  preparation. 

In  the  sttidy  of  historical  events,  as  in  the  study  of  objects  in  the  natural 
sciences,  the  mind  must  be  continually  held  to  the  facts.  Facts  are  the  source  and 
proof  of  all  our  historical  knowledge.  A  clear  statement  of  them  will  almost  uni- 
versally arouse  an  interest  in  them.  Nor  can  the  minute  details  of  them  be  ex- 
hausted. Yet  upon  some  apparently  trivial  detail  a  change  of  government  may 
hang.  The  certainty  and  comprehensiveness  of  our  knowledge  of  history,  as  well 
as  the  possession  of  an  unflagging  interest,  depend  upon  a  frequent  review  of  the 
facts. 

XXI 


XXII  PREFACE. 

In  any  general  study  of  American  history  the  preservation  of  unity  demands 
that  the  entire  continent  pass  before  the  eye.  No  separation  of  explorations,  settle- 
ments, of  colonial  growth,  revolutionary  struggles,  and  of  the  development  of  the 
idea  of  liberty,  can  be  made  even  in  the  case  of  the  United  States,  without  fatally 
injuring  the  conception,  and  weakening  the  study.  A  moment's  attention,  for  in- 
stance, will  show  that  the  region  of  the  Great  Lakes,  the  Mississippi,  and  Ohio 
Valleys,  the  Southern  States  and  the  Pacific  Coast,  cannot  be  studied  apart  from 
what  the  French  and  Spanish  undertook  to  do  in  other  sections  of  the  continent. 
Within  ten  years  after  the  American  Revolution  closed,  those  struggles  in  Mexico 
and  South  America  began,  which  ended  in  throwing  off  Spanish  authority.  The 
Monroe  doctrine  emphasizes  this  unity  of  life  upon  the  continent. 

The  same  reason  demands  that  all  forms  of  life  be  accorded  their  proper 
places  in  the  presentation.  The  successes  of  industry  and  invention,  the  character 
of  commercial  and  social  activity,  the  educational  and  reformatory  movements,  etc.,, 
etc.,  depend  largely  upon  the  political  ideas  which  hold  sway  over  the  homes  of  the 
country,  and  the  civil  aspirations  which  the  people  are  led  to  indulge.  American 
life  and  progress  in  every  slight  respect  are  vitally  connected  with  the  central  historic 
movement  of  the  continent. 

The  formation  of  a  just  conception  necessitates  the  keeping  of  the  several 
elements  of  American  history,  so  far  as  possible,  before  the  mind,  side  by  side. 
The  inception  of  a  new  enterprise  of  any  sort  indicates  something  as  to  the  fertility 
of  thought  and  energy  of  will  which  characterize  the  day.  It  is  therefore  important 
to  insert  it  in  the  order  of  time,  where  it  had  its  birth.  Its  aid  will  be  largely  lost 
if  it  be  separated  from  the  events  in  the  midst  of  which  it  sprang  forth. 

The  features  of  the  present  work  are  in  harmony  with  the  above  ideas.  Facts 
are  made  prominent.  The  attempt  is  made  to  leave  them  to  have  their  own  proper 
effect.  The  whole  continent  is  brought  to  view.  All  lines  of  life  are  touched  at 
indicative  points.  The  whole  is  arranged  to  show  the  steady  development  of  all 
things.  Biographies  are  given  to  reveal  the  character  of  the  training  which  the 
leaders  of  our  life  have  had.  Side  notes  are  added  to  facilitate  a  reference  to  the 
condition  of  the  world  at  large.  No  other  work  of  this  kind  exists.  Such  a  volume, 
it  is  evident,  must  exist  before  the  apparatus  for  the  study  of  American  history  will 
be  fully  perfected.  It  is  needed  now.  With  ^the  desire  to  assist  in  establishing 
American  ideas,  this  labor  is  committed  to  the  public. 

"  But  thou,  my  Country,  thou  shalt  never  fell, 

Save  with  thy  children — thy  maternal  care, 
Thy  lavish  love,  thy  blessings  showered  on  all — 

These  are  thy  fetters — seas  and  stormy  air 
Are  the  wide  barrier  of  thy  borders,  where, 

Among  thy  gallant  sons  that  guard  thee  well, 
Thou  laugh'st  at  enemies ;  who  shall  then  declare 

The  date  of  thy  deep-founded  strength,  or  tell 

How  happy  in  thy  lap  the  sons  of  men  shall  dwell  ! " 

STEPHEN  MORRELL  NEWMAN. 
RIPON,  WISCONSIN,  March  sth,  1881. 


LIST  OF  AUTHORITIES. 


XXIII 


The  following  works  have  been  used  in 

Appleton's  American  Cyclopaedia. 

Encyclopaedia  Brittanica. 

Johnson's  Cyclopaedia. 

Zell's  Cyclopaedia. 

The  Magazine  of  American  History. 

Encyclopaedia  of  Chronology. 

Putnam's  World's  Progress. 

Haydn's  Dictionary  of  Dates. 

Lyman's  Historical  Chart. 

Smith's  Tables  of  Church  History. 

Foster's  Prehistoric  Races  of  the  United  States. 

Baldwin's  Ancient  America. 

Squier's  Notes  on  Central  America. 

Beamish's  Discov.  of  Amer.  by  the  Northmen. 

Jones'  Ancient  America. 

Smithsonian  Contributions,  10  vols. 

Wilkes'  U.  S.  Exploring  Expedition,  3  vols. 

Schoolcraft's  Algic  Researches. 

Schoolcraft's  American  Indians. 

Morgan's  Ancient  Society. 

Short's  North  Americans  of  Antiquity. 

MacLean's  Mound  Builders. 

Bancroft's  History  of  United  States,  10  vols. 

Hildreth's  History  of  United  States,  6  vols. 

Ramsay's  History  of  United  States. 

Von  Hoist's  History  of  United  States. 

Bryant's  History  of  United  States. 

Grahame's  History  of  North  America. 

Robertson's  History  of  South  America. 

Maunder's  History  of  the  World. 

A  View  of  South  America  and  Mexico. 

Goodrich's  History  of  America. 

Willard's  History  of  United  States. 

Denison's  History  of  the  New  World. 

Higginson's  Young  Folks'  History  of  U.  S. 

Higginson's  Y'g  Folks'  Book  of  Am.  Explorers. 

Anderson's  Manual  of  General  History. 

Anderson's  United  States  Reader. 

Anderson's  Historical  Reader. 

Barnes'  Centenary  History  of  United  States. 

Abbott's  Paragraph  History  of  United  States. 

Abbott's  Paragraph  Hist,  of  Amer.  Resolution. 

Ridpath's  History  of  United  States. 

Lossing's  Our  Country,  3  vols. 

Prescott's  Conquest  of  Peru,  2  vols. 

Prescott's  Conquest  of  Mexico,  3  vols. 

Prescott's  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  3  vols. 

Belknap's  Biographies  of  Early  Discoverers. 

Irving's  Columbus,  3  vols. 

Parkman's  Pioneers  of  France  in  New  World. 

Parkman's  Jesuits  in  North  America. 

Parkman's  Discovery  of  the  Great  West. 


the  preparation  of  this  volume: 

Parkman's  Old  Regime  in  Canada. 

Parkman's  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac. 

Drake's  Indians  of  North  America. 

Hubbard's  Indian  Wars. 

Kennedy's  La  Plata,  Brazil,  and  Paraguay. 

Burton's  Battle  Fields  of  Paraguay. 

Washburn's  History  of  Paraguay. 

Fancourt's  History  of  Yucatan. 

Dallas'  Maroons  of  Jamaica. 

Henderson's  History  of  Brazil. 

Southey's  History  of  the  West  Indies. 

Frothingham's  Rise  of  the  Republic. 

Frothingham's  Siege  of  Boston. 

Frothingham's  Joseph  Warren. 

Gibbs'  Administrations  of  Washington  and 
Adams,  2  vols. 

Stevens'  History  of  Georgia. 

Morton's  New  England  Memorial. 

Sabine's  American  Loyalists. 

Sabine's  Notes  on  Duels  and  Duelling. 

Watson's  Men  and  Times  of  the  Revolution. 

Hanaford's  History  of  Princeton,  Mass. 

Onderdonk's  Revolutionary  Incidents  of 
Queen's  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Palfrey's  New  England,  3  vols. 

Ingersoll's  History  of  U.  S.  War  Department. 

Demarest's  Hist,  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 

Waylen's  Eccl.  Reminiscenses  of  United  States. 

Starr  King's  White  Hills. 

Ames'  Ten  Years  in  Washington. 

Drake's  Nooks  and  Corners  of  the  New  Eng- 
land Coast. 

Abbott's  Mexico  and  the  United  States. 

Lossing's  Common  School  History  of  the  U  S. 

Barnes'  Brief  History  of  the  United  States. 

Egle's  History  of  Pennsylvania. 

History  of  Indiana. 

History  of  Wisconsin. 

Austin's  History  of  Massachusetts. 

Lossing's  Eminent  Americans. 

Parton's  People's  Book  of  Biography. 

Burnet's  Notes  on  Northwest  Territory. 

Parton's  Famous  Men. 

Winsor's  Handbook  of  American  Revolution. 

Johnston's  History  of  American  Politics. 

Noyes'  History  of  American  Socialisms. 

Carey's  Slave  Trade. 

Goodell's  Slavery  and  Anti-Slavery. 

Jay's  Miscellaneous  Writings. 

Lossing's  American  Centenary. 

Bishop's  Hist,  of  Ameri'n  Manufactures,  2  vols. 

Bolles'  Industrial  History  of  the  United  States. 


XXIV 


LIST    OF   AUTHORITIES. 


Lester's  Our  First  Hundred  Years,  2  vols. 

Haven's  National  Handbook. 

Young's  American  Statesman. 

Greeley's  Political  Text  Book  for  1860. 

Spaulding's  Financial  History  of  the  War. 

1  lartwig's  Polar  and  Tropical  Worlds. 

The  Frozen  Zone. 

Newcomb's  Cyclopaedia  of  Missions. 

Parton's  Franklin. 

Biglow's  Franklin. 

Spark's  Biographies. 

Irving's  Washington. 

Life  of  Prescott. 

Life  of  Choate. 

Finney's  Autobiography. 

Memoir  of  Bushnell. 

Allen's  New  England  Tragedies  in  Prose. 

Smith's  Brazil. 

Holland's  Life  of  Lincoln. 

Raymond's  Life  of  Lincoln. 

Aboott's  Lives  of  the  Presidents. 


Rights  and  Rulers  of  our  Government. 
May's  Recollections  of  the  Anti-Slav'y  Conflict 
Treasures  of  Science,  History,  and  Literature. 
Pictorial  History  of  the  United  States  Wars. 
Pictorial  History  of  the  United  States  Navy. 
Greeley's  American  Conflict. 
Abbott's  History  of  the  Civil  War. 
Annals  of  the  War. 

Lossing's  Pictorial  History  of  the  Civil  War. 
Grant  and  His  Campaigns. 
Grant  and  Sherman. 
Sherman  and  His  Campaigns. 
Life  of  Maximilian. 
Life  of  W.  H.  Seward. 
Great  Fires  in  Chicago  and  the  West. 
Adams'  Railroad  Accidents. 
Spofford's  American  Almanac,  3  vols. 
Harper's  Magazine. 

Scribner's  Monthly,  with  files  of  other  leading 
Reviews,  WTeekly  and  Daily  Newspapers. 


HINTS  UPON  READING  AMERICAN  HISTORY. 


To  any  one  -who  has  not  made  quite  a  definite  beginning,  a  long  list  of  books 
covering  different  periods  of  American  history  is  confusing.  The  thought  of  read- 
ing them  from  first  to  last  in  the  order  given,  always  raises  the  question  of  the 
months  or  years  which  it  will  take  to  do  so,  and  prevents  that  true  deliberation 
which  is  the  secret  of  profitable  reading.  This  thought  is  accompanied  by  the  de- 
sire to  reach  more  or  less  hastily  the  interesting  books  or  periods.  On  the  other 
hand,  many  a  beginning  has  been  made  for  a  life-time  oi  true  study  by  having  been 
forced  back  upon  a  single  book  found  in  the  house,  or  borrowed  from  a  neighbor. 
The  writer  looks  back  to  such  a  point  in  his  boyhood,  and  treasures  a  little  old 
volume  containing  a  history  of  Mexico  and  South  America,  with  unspeakable  grati- 
tude. 

To  those  who  have  made  a  beginning  and  know  where  they  are,  a  list  of  books 
is  helpful  and  easily  accessible.  A  very  good  one  is  given  at  the  close  of  that  book, 
which  serves  so  admirably  as  a  beginning  for  amateur  students,  viz.,  Higginson's 
Toung  Folks'  History  of  the  United  States.  Lists  are  given  at  the  close  of  each 
division  of  Barnes"1  Brief  History  of  the  United  States.  Both  of  the  above  em- 
brace the  names  of  works  of  fiction,  poems,  and  biographies  in  addition  to  strictly 
historical  works.  Lists  under  special  topics  are  also  to  be  found  in  Putnanfs  Best 
Reading,  and  in  President  Noah  Porter's  Books  and  Reading.  For  fifty  cents  one 
can  secure  a  thick  catalogue,  issued  by  Robert  Clarke  &  Co.  of  Cincinnati,  and 


HINTS  UPON  READING  AMERICAN  HISTORY.  XXV 

giving  the  names  of  large  numbers  of  books  on  American  history.  The  catalogue 
of  any  public  library  will  also  furnish  hints.  Mention  ought  here  to  be  made  of 
Justin  Winsor*s  Handbook  of  the  American  Revolution,  which  gives  running 
comments  upon  the  authors  who  have  treated  that  subject  as  a  whole,  or  any  portion 
of  it.  For  those  who  wish  to  read  extensively  upon  the  Revolution,  this  little  book 
is  invaluable.  A  good  exercise  consists  in  putting  one  of  the  lists  first  mentioned 
into  such  a  form  in  a  blank  book  or  otherwise,  that  additions  can  be  made  to  it  of 
those  books  which  are  from  time  to  time  recommended  to  one,  or  are  mentioned  in 
standard  periodicals.  Works  upon  American  history  are  now  being  issued  very 
rapidly,  and  a  little  watchfulness,  together  with  some  questioning  of  friends,  will 
enable  one  to  make  a  list  which  in  coming  years  will  grow  more  and  more 
valuable.  The  construction  of  a  list  of  this  kind  will  in  itself  give  a  knowledge 
of  periods,  changes,  men  and  events  in  our  history. 

There  are  a  great  many  people  who  have  an  interest  in  American  history,  who 
yet  do  not  care  to  sit  down  to  the  reading  of  the  more  exhaustive  works  which  cover 
the  history  of  the  continent  from  its  discovery  nearly  to  the  present  time,  nor  to  make 
investigations  into  the  original  authorities  upon  some  special  point  or  points.  They 
read  for  mental  health  and  cheer,  and  in  the  end  acquire  a  wide  range  of  historical 
knowledge  concerning  their  country.  For  such  the  volume  by  Higginson  above 
mentioned,  and  the  same  author's  Young  Folks'  Book  of  American  Explorers,  are 
a  fascination.  The  delightful  works  of  Francis  Parkman  hold  such  readers  to  the 
«nd.  They  are:  The  Pioneers  of  France  in  the  New  World,  The  Jesuits  in 
North  America,  La  Salle,or  The  Discovery  of  the  Great  West,  The  Old  Regime 
in  Canada,  and  Count  Front enac.  These  make  up  a  series  upon  the  efforts  of 
France  and  England  in  the  New  World.  A  volume  upon  Montcalm  is  in  prepara- 
tion. Besides  these  the  same  author  wrote  a  history  of  the  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac. 
J3ryanfs  Popular  History  of  the  United  States,  Prescotfs  Conquest  of  Peru,  and 
his  Conquest  of  Mexico  may  safely  be  named  for  the  above  uses.  The  last-named 
work  should  be  followed  by  Gen.  Lew  Wallace's  novel  A  Fair  God,  which  sets 
forth  the  scenes  of  the  conquest  with  great  power.  Frothing  ham's  Siege  of  Boston 
and  Joseph  Warren  and  His  Times,  Lossing's  Pictorial  Field  Books,— one  set 
upon  the  Revolution,  another  upon  the  War  of  1812,  and  a  third  upon  the  Civil  War, 
biographies  like  Irving' s  Washington,  Bigelov?s  Franklin,  Holland's  Lincoln, 
Pierre  M.  Irving'* s  Life  of  Washington  Irving,  will  all  be  of  great  interest. 
Biographies  of  any  other  man  or  men  toward  whom  the  attention  is  turned,  descrip- 
tive works  upon  portions  of  the  continent  which  we  would  like  to  know  about, 
should  be  sought  definitely  and  persistently.  Very  few  issues  of  our  magazines  are 
made  without  some  historical  or  descriptive  article  calculated  to  aid  and  interest  such 
general  readers.  A  scrap  relating  to  American  history  or  biography  can  be  found 
in  almost  every  copy  of  our  newspapers.  A  definite  notice  of  such  for  a  time  will 
make  it  impossible  afterward  that  similar  ones  should  escape.  In  this  way  what 
was  at  first  mere  hap-hazard  reading  may  be  turned  into  a  well-ordered  and  profit- 
able course.  Our  conception  of  the  progress  and  condition  of  the  continent  will  be 
dearer  and  clearer. 


XXVI  HINTS  UPON  READING  AMERICAN  HISTORT. 

But  there  are  many  young  persons  who,  if  they  have  the  interest,  have  the  time 
and  facilities  for  building  up  a  much  more  careful  and  systematic  knowledge  of 
American  history,  and  might  in  the  end  become  authorities  upon  some  point  to  which 
they  had  given  much  attention.  If  such  should  make  a  well-assured  beginning,  the 
rest  would  follow  as  a  matter  of  course.  Very  many  of  our  beginnings  are  no  be- 
ginnings worthy  of  the  name.  A  beginning  in  reading  American  history,  like  an 
infant,  must  have  time  to  be  an  infant,  and  also  have  great  care  and  nourishment 
while  it  is  such.  Haste  and  forcing  will  in  the  end  kill  it.  Hence  deliberation  is 
necessary.  Begin  anywhere,  but  let  there  be  time  taken  to  make  it  a  very  definite 
matter.  It  will  pay  many  times  over  in  the  end. 

It  is  true  that  a  general  view  of  the  whole  field  should  be  possessed  before 
special  work  is  begun.  But  it  may  be  quite  general.  The  attentive  reading  of  one 
or  two  such  books  as  Higginson's  Young  folks''  History  of  the  United  States  will 
be  sufficient.  Having  done  this,  the  point  for  our  special  effort  can  be  determined  by 
answering  the  question:/'  What  do  I  desire  to  know  about  most  of  all  in  the  historv 
of  my  country?"  A  gain  in  time  and  energy  will  result  from  settling  this  first. 
From  this  point  you  can  go  forward  or  backward. 

Atlases  are  essential.  Take  time  from  the  very  first  to  get  a  perfectly  clear 
view  of  the  geography  of  the  section  you  are  reading  about.  An  understanding  of 
the  sea  coast  or  river  valleys  prepares  for  an  understanding  of  the  success  or  defeat 
of  different  settlements,  and  the  general  course  of  the  stream  of  colonization.  The 
geography  of  the  Hudson  River  and  Lake  Champlain  sheds  light  on  the  Revolution- 
ary conflict  in  that  region.  Make  skeleton  maps  illustrating  the  special  features  of 
the  event  or  events  which  you  are  studying. 

It  may  be  that  the  first  desire  will  be  to  know  what  can  be  known  of  ancient  or 
prehistoric  America.  The  most  accessible  books,  and  the  best  is  perhaps,  Prof. 
Shorfs,  The  North  Americans  of  Antiquity,  or  Foster's  Prehistoric  Races  of  the 
United  States.  A  book  like  Squier's  Peru  will  give  some  idea  of  ancient  works  in 
South  America.  During  1880  a  series  of  articles  on  the  ancient  cities  of  Central 
America  has  appeared  in  the  North  American  Review.  The  first  book  mentioned 
will  easily  lead  to  other  works  named  therein.  Some  of  the  volumes  of 'the  Smith- 
sonian Contributions  are  rich  upon  the  Mound  Builders.  The  American  Anti- 
quarian, a  quarterly  journal  edited  by  Rev.  Stephen  D.  Peet,  Clinton,  Wis.,  is  the 
only  periodical  devoted  exclusively  to  such  studies.  .It  is  able  and  interesting.  Fu- 
gitive articles  appear  in  Scribner's  Monthly,  and  other'  magazines. 

In  studying  the  aborigines  of  the  continent  Drake 's  Biography  and  History  of 
the  Indians  of  North  America,  though  old,  is  valuable.  Brief  accounts  are  given 
in  all  histories  of  the  country.  The  works  of  George  Catlin  may  be  accessible  to 
some.  The  Introduction  to  Parkman's  Jesuits  in  North  America  is  a  fine  essay 
upon  the  Indians.  Schooler  affs  Works  contain  vast  information.  Biographies  of 
leading  Indians  can  be  found  in  all  public  libraries.  Thomas  W.  Field  issued  An 
Essay  toward  an  Indian  Bibliography,  which  contains  a  great  many  hints  concern- 
ing works  upon  the  History,  Antiquities,  Languages,  Customs,  -Religion,  Wars,  Lit- 
erature, and  Origin  of  the  American  Indians.  Lewis  H.  Morgan's  League  of  the 


HINTS  UPON  READING  AMERICAN  HISTORT.  XXVII 

Iroquois  gives  an  accurate  account  of  that  remarkable  confederation.  For  lighter 
reading,  Coopers  Leatherstocking  Talcs,  Longfelloiv 's  Hia-watha,  Lowell's 
Chippeiva  Legend,  and  Whittier*'s  Bridal  of  Pennacook,cai\  be  interwoven. 

But  it  is  more  likely  perhaps,  that  the  first  interest  we  feel  will  go  out  toward 
some  later  point  in  our  history.  We  may  wish  to  know  the  places  at  which,  and  the 
persons  by  whom,  all  the  original  settlements  in  America  were  made.  We  are  cu- 
rious to  look  into  the  homes  they  built,  to  know  what  they  were  before  they  left  the 
Old  World,  and  watch  their  success  in  new  surroundings.  Huguenots  and  Cath- 
olics, Pilgrims  and  Puritans,  Hollanders  and  Spaniards,  Presbyterians  and  Quakers, 
poor  debtors  from  English  prisons,  and  persecuted  Germans  from  the  Palatinate,  ne- 
gro slaves,  Irish  immigrants,  German  farmers,  Norwegians,  and  Chinese,  what  por- 
tion of  the  country  they  have  each  lived  in  and  built  up,  and  how  far  has  the  blood  of 
each  mingled  with  the  blood  of  others.  We  begin  perhaps,  with  Jamestown  in 
1607,  and  carefully,  slowly  enlarge  our  view  of  the  colony  by  hunting  up  informa- 
tion in  every  book  at  our  command.  We  note  its  early  promise,  its  great  vicissi- 
tudes, its  tobacco  "  fever,"  and  the  spread  of  little  villages  around  it,  with  a  thousand 
other  bits.  We  hunt  through  Bancroft  and  Hildreth  till  we  become  enamored  with 
the  study  of  the  process  of  settlement. 

Or  we  desire  to  know  the  history  of  the  permission  under  which  the  colonies 
were  planted,  the  form  of  charters,  patents  and  grants  which  so  lavishly  gave  away 
the  American  forests.  We  find  out  the  first  agreement  effected  by  Columbus,  the 
charters  given  to  the  London  and  Virginia  Companies,  the  permit  given  by  the 
great  Dutch  East  India  Company,  the  powers  granted  to  each  adventurer,  the  differ- 
ence between  royal,  proprietary,  and  charter  colonies,  the  trouble  over  the  transfer  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  charter,  and  hundreds  of  unsuspected,  yet  fascinating  facts. 
Or  we  wish  to  begin  with  tracing  the  growth  of  the  opposition  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  American  colonies,  or  with  the  Revolution  in  which  that  opposition 
ended,  or  we  begin  with  the  scenes  in  which  our  national  constitution  was  formed> 
and  the  men  who  formed  it,  or  with  specific  events  like  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill, 
from  which  we  run  out  into  the  whole  Revolution,  or  Perry's  victory  on  Lake  Erie, 
or  the  great 'debate  between  Webster  and  Hayne,  in  the  United  States  Senate,  or 
the  evacuation  of  Fort  Sumter  in  1861,  or  the  history  of  our  own  state,  county,  town, 
of  some  great  exploration,  adventure,  enterprise.  Anything  entered  upon  slowly  and 
minutely  will  open  the  whole  wide  field  of  America  before  us.  The  one  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown  in  1781  enables  us  to  profit 
by  the  extensive  information  which  will  be  published  by  the  greater  number  of  our 
periodicals.  The  seizure  of  a  present  event  will  often  lead  to  a  permanent  investi- 
gation. 

But,  it  may  be  asked,  will  not  such  investigations  as  have  been  spoken  of  above, 
necessitate  the  possession  of  large  supplies  of  books.  Not  at  all.  Faraday  began  ex- 
periments in  chemistry  with  a  few  broken  dishes.  With  two  or  three  small  books 
the  study  of  American  history  can  be  begun.  The  neighborhoods  are  very  few  in 
which  a  thoughtful,  careful  young  person  could  not  obtain  the  use  of  a  number  of 
works  upon  the  subject.  Perhaps  a  reading  room  near  by  will  have  The  Maga- 


X.XVIII  HINTS  UPON  READING  AMERICAN  HISTORT. 

zine  of  American  History,  or  The  Pennsylvania  Magazine  of  History  and  Bi- 
ography, upon  its  tables.  .  Boys  can  form  a  reading  club,  and  with  their  collected 
pennies  get  such  recent  issues  as  Lossing^s  Story  of  the  United  States  Navy,  Cof- 
fin's Old  Times  in  the  Colonies,  The  Boys  of  '76,  and  The  Story  of  Liberty. 
Meager  supplies  need  not  prevent  any  one  from  making  a  positive  beginning  which 
is  the  result  at  which  these  hints  are  aimed.  Having  learned  to  walk,  we  do  not 
need  help.  Having  made  a  beginning  in  reading  or  studying  American  history,  we 
can  find  our  own  way  with  comparative  ease.  One  book  will  lead  to  another.  Then, 
whether  we  hear  the  boat  which  bears  Columbus  from  Santa  Maria  to  the  shore  of 
the  New  World  grate  upon  the  sand,  or  feel  our  hearts  beat  as  the  energetic  Balboa 
catches  the  first  glimpse  of  the  great  Pacific,  or  press  on  with  Cortes  in  spite  of  the 
remonstrances  of  Montezuma,  up  to  the  City  of  Mexico,  or  drag  our  weary  feet 
through  Southern  forests  with  the  brave  but  unfortunate  De  Soto,  or  watch  in  the 
morning  twilight  for  the  coming  of  British  regulars  along  the  street  to  the  quiet  vil- 
lages of  Lexington  and  Concord,  or  study  with  curiosity  the  first  feeble  attempts 
with  steam,  on  land  and  water,  and  with  electricity  in  telegraphing,  or  pant  for  suc- 
cess with  the  struggling  patriots  of  Mexico  and  South  America,  or  find  out  to  our 
amazement  how  many  of  the  great  men  and  leaders  of  America  have  had  few  and 
scanty  privileges,  and  much  hard  work  in  their  youth  and  early  manhood,  we  alike 
conclude  that  the  romance  of  our  country's  rapid  course  is  greater  and  more  health- 
ful than  that  of  the  mass  of  exciting  and  injurious  reading  spread  before  us  on  all 
sides.  We  become  more  vigorous  in  thinking,  more  manly  in  living,  more  powerful 
in  building  up  ourselves  and  others. 


PART  I, 


INTRODUCTORY  STUDIES,   47-92, 


SECTION    I. 

PREHISTORIC  AMERICA.  49-67 

American  and  European  Antiquities,  49.  First  Period  of  Prehistoric  America  and  Evi- 
dences, 50.  Second  Period,  51.  Name  of  Mound  Builders,  51.  Great  Mounds,  52. 
Wisconsin  Animal  Mounds,  53.  Uses  of  Mounds,  54.  Embankments  and  Inclosures, 
54-56.  Ancient  Copper  Mining,  56.  Age  of  Mound  Builders'  Works,  57.  Horace 
Greeley  at  Newark,  O.,  57.  Indians  Know  Nothing  of  Them,  57.  Civilization  of  Mound 
Builders,  58.  Religious  Character,  59.  Mechanical  and  Artistic  Products,  60.  Who 
Were  the  Mound  Builders,  61.  Pueblos  of  Arizona,  61.  Casas  Grandes,  61.  Cliff 
Dwellings,  63.  'Cave  Dwellings,  64.  Elevated  Towers,  65.  Remains  in  Yucatan  and 
Central  America,  65.  Copan,  65.  Uxmal,  66.  Palenque,  67.  Peruvian  Remains,  67. 
Interest  of  American  Archaeology,  67. 


SECTION     II. 

THE  AMERICAN  ABORIGINES.  68-88 

Named  Indians  by  Columbus,  68.  Variety  of  Tiibes,  68.  Unity,  69.  Origin,  69.  Study  of 
Indian  Languages,  69.  Degrees  of  Civilization,  70.  Wandering  Tribes,  70.  Settled 
Tribes,  70.  Cities  of  Peru  and  Mexico,  70.  Agriculture,  70.  Domestic  Animals,  71. 
Manufactures,  71.  Historical  Records,  72.  Ornamentation,  72.  War-paint,  72. 


XXX  CONTENTS. 

Mining,  72.  No  Modern  Idea  of  Work,  72.  Government,  73.  Sachems  and  Military 
Chiefs,  74.  Personal  Heroism,  74.  Memory  for  Slights  and  Benefits,  75.  William 
Penn  and  the  Indians,  79.  Restless  Spirits,  79.  Native  Oratory,  79-  Peculiar  Cus- 
toms, So.  Woman  the  Worker  in  Wilder  Tribes,  Si.  Female  Rulers,  Si.  Dreams,  Si. 
The  Supernatural,  81.  Union  of  Natives  and  Foreigners,  82.  Indian  Celebrities,  82. 
Indian  Ought  to  be  Made  a  Citizen,  82.  Wrong  Methods  of  Dealing  with  Them,  82. 
Numbers  on  the  Continent  at  its  Discovery,  84.  Eight  Families  within  what  is  now  the 
United  States,  84.  Algonquin,  84.  Huron-Iroquois,  84.  Mobilian,  86.  Catawba,  86. 
Cherokees,  86.  Uchees,  86.  Natchez,  86.  Dakotas,  87.  Indians  at  Present  in  the 
United  States,  88.  Numbers  not  Diminishing,  88.  Need  of  Justice  and  Education,  88. 


SECTION     III. 

PRE-COLUMBIAN  HISTORY  AND   TRADITIONS.  89-92 

499-1488. 

The  Buddhist  Priest  in  Mexico,  89.  Irish  in  Iceland,  90.  First  Northman  in  Iceland,  90. 
Svafarsson  and  Floki,  90.  First  Permanent  Settlement  in  Iceland,  90.  Discovery  of 
Greenland,  90.  Iceland  a  Republic,  90.  Christianity  in  Iceland,  90.  Greenland  Redis- 
covered and  Colonized,  90.  North  American  Coast,  91.  Northmen  in  Vinland,  91. 
Thorwald,  91.  First  Fight  with  Natives,  91.  Thorstein,  91.  Karlsefne's  Colony,  91. 
Last  Norse  Colony  in  Vinland,  91.  First  Bishop  in  Greenland,  91.  The  Welsh  Prince, 
92.  The  Zeno  Brothers,  92.  Iceland  under  Denmark,  92.  The  Black  Death,  92.  The 
Last  Bishop  of  Greenland,  92  Decline  of  Greenland,  92.  Alonzo  Sanchez,  92.  Cous- 
in the  Frenchman,  92. 


PART  II, 


DISCOVERY,  EXPLORATION,  AND  SETTLEMENT,   93-188, 

1  492--  1630. 


SECTION     IV. 

THE  GREAT  DISCOVERY.  95-109 

1492-1506. 

Christopher  Columbus,  95.  The  Written  Agreement,  96.  A  Letter  of  Privilege,  97.  The 
First  Departure,  97.  Variation  of  the  Needle,  97.  The  Sargasso  Sea,  97.  The  New 
World,  98.  Cigars  and  Maize,  98.  Hayti  Discovered,  98.  Wreck  of  Santa  Maria,  98. 
La  Navidad,  98.  Welcome  of  Columbus  in  Spain,  99.  Renewal  of  Contract,  99.  The 
Second  Departure,  99.  Caribbean  Islands,  99.  First  Permanent  Settlement,  99.  Find- 
ing of  Gold,  100.  Tropical  Products  and  Captives  sent  to  Spain,  100.  Misery  at  Isabel- 
la, TOO.  The  Coast  of  Cuba,  100.  Jamaica  Discovered,  100.  Don  Bartholomew  Colum- 
bus, 100.  Indian  Slaves,  101.  Suffering  of  Hayti  Natives,  101.  Opposition  to  Colum 


CONTENTS.  XXXI 

bus,  101.  His  Return  to  Spain,  102.  San  Domingo  Founded,  102.  North  America 
Discovered  by  Cabots,  102.  The  Third  Departure  of  Columbus,  102.  South  America 
Discovered,  103.  Pearl  Fishery,  103.  Americus  Vespucius,  103.  Cape  St.  Augustine, 
104.  Brazil,  104.  Arrest  of  Columbus,  104.  His  Return  to  Spain  in  Chains,  104. 
First  Sanction  of  Negro  Slavery,  104.  The  Fourth  Departure,  105.  Attempted  Settle- 
ment on  Mainland,  105.  Lonely  Year,  105.  A  Daring  Canoe  Voyage,  106.  Return  of 
Columbus  to  Spain,  108.  The  Banks  of  Newfoundland,  108.  The  Gulf  of  St.  Law- 
rence, 108.  The  First  Sugar  Cane,  108.  Death  and  Character  of  Columbus,  108-109^ 


SECTION    V. 

BALBOA    AND    CORTES  110-27 

1507-1522. 

The  Naming  of  America,  no.    Yucatan  Discovered,  113.    Cuba  found  to  be  an  Island,  113. 
Porto  Rico  Subjugated,  113.    Jamaica  Colonized,  113.    San  Sebastian  and  Santa  Maria, 

113.  Bahia  Founded,  113.     Increased  Negro  Importation,  113.     Cuba  Subjugated,  114. 
Romance  in  Yucatan,  114.     The  Fountain  of  Youth,  114.    Approval  of  Indian  Slavery, 

114.  The   Pacific  Ocean,  114.     San   Christobal,  now  Havana,  Cuba,  117.     Copper  in 
Cuba,  117.     Enlarged  Slave  Trade,  117.     First  Vessels  on  the  Pacific,  117.     De  Cor. 
dova,  117.     Execution  of  Balboa,   118.     Sable  Island,   118.    Juan  de  Grijalva's   Expe- 
dition,   118..     Fernando  Cortes,    121.      Battle  of  Tabasco,    121.      Dona   Marina,    121. 
Montezuma's   Embassy,   122.     Power   of  Cortes   over  his   Soldiers,  122.     Battle  with 
Tlascalaus,  122.     Cortes  in  the  City  of  Mexico,  122.     Montezuma  Seized,  122.'     Panama 
Founded,  122.     Magellan  on  South  American   Coast,  122.     Montezuma's  Tribute,  125. 
March  of  Cortes  to  the  Coast,  125.     Death  of  Montezuma,  125.     The  Sorrowful  Night, 
125.     Battle  of  Otumba,  126.     De  Ayllon  in  Carolina,  126.     Magellan's  Straits,  126. 
Pacific  Ocean  Named,  126.     March  of  Cortes  against  City  of  Mexico,   126.     Death  of 
Magellan,  126.     Death  of  De  Leon,  126.     Capture  of  City  of  Mexico,  127.     Nicaragua 
Explored,    127.     Bermuda  Islands,   127.     First  Voyage  Round   the  World,  127.     First 
Negro  Insurrection,  127.     First  Descent  of  American  Volcano,  127. 

SECTION    VI. 

GREAT   EXPEDITIONS.  128-49 


Central  America  Conquered,  128.  Granada  and  Leon,  128.  Santiago,  Central  America, 
Founded,  129.  North  American  Coast  Explored  by  Verrazzano,  129.  A  Remarkable 
March,  129.  Francisco  Pizarro,  129.  Pizarro  Left  Panama,  129.  Execution  of  Gua- 
temozin,  129.  Cape  Horn  First  Seen,  130.  Indian  Revenge,  130.  Pizarro's  Explora- 
tions, 130.  A  Great  Contract  Relating  to  Peru,  131.  A  Great  Uprising  in  Central 
America,  131.  Sebastian  Cabot  in  South  America,  131.  Pizarro's  Persistence,  131. 
A  Ship  Canal  Across  the  Isthmus  First  Proposed,  132.  Disaster  in  Florida,  132. 
Pizarro  and  Cortes  in  Spain,  132.  Pizarro  bound  for  Peru,  133.  The  Dye-woods  of 
Brazil,  133.  Civil  War  in  Peru,  133.  San  Miguel,  133.  Caxamalca,  133.  Capture, 
Ransom  and  Death  of  Atahuallpa,  133-34.  Spaniards  in  Cuzco,  134.  Cartagena 
Founded,  134.  First  Recorded  Eruption  of  Cotopaxi,  135.  Quito  Captured,  135. 
Jacques  Cartier  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  135.  Lima  Founded,  135.  Carder's  Second 
Voyage,  135.  Site  of  Montreal,  136.  Buenos  Ayres  Founded,  136.  First  Printing, 
136.  First  Mint,  136.  First  History,  136.  Rebellion  of  Peruvians,  136.  Death  of  Juan 
Pizarro,  136.  Asuncion  Founded,  137.  From  Florida  to  Mexico,  137.  .Siege  of  Cuzco, 


XXXII  CONTENTS. 

137.  Indians  Declared   Human,  137.     Almagro  Executed,   138.     De  Soto  in  Florida, 

138.  Juan  Ortiz,  139.    The  Seven  Cities,  139.     Amazon  Expedition,  139.    The  Mis- 
sissippi  Discovered,  140.      Francisco  Pizarro's    Death,  140.      De    Soto's    Death,  142. 
Government  of  New  World,    142.     First  Vessels  on  the  Mississippi,  143.     Cartier's 
Last  Voyage,  143.     Blasco  Nunez  de  Vela,   143.     Potosi  Silver  Mines,   144.     Highest 
City  on  the  Globe,  144.     Pedro  de  la  Gasca  in  Peru,  147.    Death  of  Cortes,  147.     Gon- 
zalo  Pizarro's  Defeat  and  Death,  148.     La  Paz  Founded,  149.     Settled   Administration 
of  Peru,  149.     First  Jesuits,   149.     Gasca   Returns  to  Spain,  149.       Loss  of  Indians  in 
Hayti,  149. 

SECTION  VII. 

THE   GREAT  ENGLISH    EXPLORERS  150-62 

1551-1602. 

Pirates  in  Cuba,  150.  Oldest  Universities  in  America,  150.  Huguenots  in  Brazil,  151.  De 
Luna's  Expedition  to  Florida,  151.  Reverses  in  Chili,  151.  The  English  Slave  Trade 
»  Begun,  152.  Huguenots  in  Florida,  152.  Quicksilver  Mines  in  Peru,  152.  St.  Augus- 
tine Founded,  155.  Massacre  at  Fort  Caroline,  155.  De  Gourge's  Revenge,  155. 
Inquisition  Established  in  America,  155.  Sir  Francis  Drake,  156.  Sir  Martin  Fro- 
bisher,  156.  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert's  Patent,  157.  New  Mexico,  158.  Davis'  Straits, 
159.  Another  Freebooter,  160.  Manteo  Baptized,  160.  Lost  Roanoke  Colony,  161. 
Saved  by  Fireflies,  161.  Death  of  Drake  and  Hawkins,  161.  A  Forlorn  Colony,  161. 
Tadousac,  162.  Gosnold's  New  England  Colony,  162. 

SECTION    VIII. 

THE  COMING   POWER.  163-88 

1603-1630. 

Samuel  de  Champlain,  163.  Acadia,  164.  First  English  Charter,  165.  First  Indian  Fight 
in  New  England,  165.  Hudson's  First  Voyage,  166.  First  English  Colony,  166. 
Popham's  Kennebec  Colony,  166.  Capt.  Smith  and  Pocahontas,  166.  Hudson's 
Second  Voyage,  167.  Germs  of  Manufacture,  167.  Quebec  Founded,  167.  First 
Woman  at  Jamestown,  167.  Hudson  River,  168.  Starving  Times  at  Jamestown,  169. 
Sad  Death  of  Hudson,  170.  Tobacco  first  Cultivated,  171.  New  England  Named,  172. 
Adriaen  Block  in  Long  Island  Sound,  173.  First  Mass  in  Canada,  173.  Baffin's  Bay 
Discovered,  174.  Pocahontas,  174.  Powhatan,  175.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  176.  First 
Colonial  Assembly,  176.  Sale  of  Young  Women,  176.  Henrico  College,  177.  Negroes 
Brought  to  Jamestown,  177.  The  Pilgrims,  177.  Mayflower  Compact,  178.  First 
Indian  at  Plymouth,  180.  First  Offence  at  Plymouth,  180.  Death  of  Gov.  Carver,  180. 
First  Duel  in  New  England,-  180.  Origin  of  Thanksgiving,  181.  Massacre  at  James- 
town, 181.  First  Fast  Day,  182.  Walloon  Settlers,  183.  Land  at  Plymouth,  183. 
Merry  Mount,  184.  Salem  Founded,  185.  Patroons,  185.  Church  in  Salem,  186. 
Boston  Founded,  187.  Buccaneers,  187.  American  Colonization,  187. 


CONTENTS.  XXXIII 

PART  III, 

COLONIAL  LIFE,  189-288, 

1631-176O. 


SECTION  IX. 

GERMS  OF  SELF-GOVERNMENT.  191-217 

1631-1661. 

First  Conflagration  in  Boston,  191.  Election  of  Selectmen,  192.  First  Frame  House  in 
Connecticut,  192.  Spirit  of  Liberty,  193.  Representative  Government,  193.  First 
Ballot,  194.  A  Heavy  Currency,  194.  First  Grand  Jury,  194.  Death  of  Champlain, 
194.  Providence,  R.  I.,  Founded,  195.  Earliest  Code  of  Laws,  196.  New  Haven 
Colony,  197.  First  Cloth  Making,  197.  First  Printing  Press  in  English  Colonies,  198. 
First  Hospital,  198.  First  Nursery,  199.  A  Sunday  Liquor  Law,  199.  Curious  Finan- 
cial Peril,  200.  Montreal  Founded,  200.  First  Colonial  League,  201.  Miantonomoh, 
202.  Opechancanaugh,  203.  Elder  Brewster,  203.  Two  Legislative  Houses  in  Massa- 
chusetts, 204.  First  Poll-Tax,  205.  First  Scythes,  206.  Canonicus,  206.  First  Tem- 
perance Meeting,  207.  John  Winthrop,  207.  Maryland  Toleration,  208.  Taxation  in 
Barbadoes,  209.  Prohibition  of  Slavery  in  Rhode  Island,  210.  Syracuse  Salt  Springs, 
211.  First  Quakers,  212.  Miles  'Standish,  212.  Governor  Bradford,  213.  Adam 
Daulac's  Heroism,  214.  The  Brandy  Quarrel,  216.  Last  Quaker  Execution,  216. 
Massasoit,  216. 


SECTION  X. 

THE  WIDENING  FIELD.  218-46 

1662-1692. 

First  Connecticut  Charter,  218.  Alexander,  219.  Eliot's  Indian  Bible,  220.  Surrender  of 
New  Amsterdam,  220.  John  Endicott,  221.  LaSalle,  222.  Marquette,  222.  First  Ball 
in  Canada,  223.  Wives  for  Canadian  Settlers,  223.  The  Cathedral  of  Mexico,  223. 
Thankfulness  for  Ignorance,  225.  Hudson  Bay  Company,  225.  The  First  Mail,  227. 
The  White  Mountains,  227.  First  Internal  Colonial  Taxation,  228.  An  Effectual  Re- 
buff, 230.  Death  of  Marquette,  230.  King  Philip,  230.  First  Vessel  on  the  Upper 
Lakes,  232.  A  Great  Journey,  233.  William  Penn's  Grant,  234.  Louisiana  Named, 
235.  Peter  Stuyvesant,  235.  Uncas,  237.  Roger  Williams,  237.  First  School  in 
Pennsylvania,  238.  A  Novel  Currency,  239.  Death  of  La  Salle,  240.  First  Remon- 
strance against  Slavery,  241.  Sir  Edmund  Andros  Arrested,  242.  First  American  Con- 
gress, 243.  First  Newspaper,  244.  First  Paper  Mill,  244.  First  Paper  Money,  244. 
Mast  Trees,  245.  Witchcraft  Delusion,  245.  i 


XXXI V  CONTENTS. 

SECTION    XI. 

THE    MATURING  FORCES.  -247-71 

1693-1743, 

Episcopacy  in  New  Yoik,  247.  First  Printing  House  in  New  York,  247.  Connecticut 
Pluck,  247.  Wiiliam  and  Mary  College,  248.  First  Rice  Planted,  248.  Maryland 
Schools  and  Libraries,  248.  William  Penn  Reinstated,  248.  Death  of  Gov.  Phips,  248. 
John  Archdale,  Quaker,  Governor  of  Carolina,  248.  Slavery  among  Quakers,  249. 
Piracy,  249.  The  Palmarese  Nation,  250.  Mrs.  Dustin's  Escape,  250.  The  Scotch 
Darien  Colony,  250.  Biloxi,  Mobile  Bay,  Founded,  250.  Captain  Kidd,  251.  First 
Emigration  Pamphlet,  251.  First  New  England  Rum,  251.  Natchez,  251.  Dubuque 
Lead  Mines,  251.  Origin  of  Yale  College,  251.  Execution  of  Captain  Kidd,  251.  De- 
troit Founded,  252.  Queen  Anne's  War,  253.  Indications  of  Independence,  253. 
Massacre  of  Deerfield,  253.  First  Permanent  Newspaper,  254.  Alexander  Selkirk,  254. 
Petticoat  Insurrection,  254.  Germs  of  Liberty,  255.  Saybrook  Platform,  255.  Ger- 
man Immigration,  255.  First  Government  Post-Offices,  255.  Wreck  of  the  Nottingham, 
255  Diamonds  in  Brazil,  256.  The  Six  Nations,  256.  The  Logwood  Tree,  257.  First 
Coffee  Culture,  257.  The  Mississippi  Scheme,  257.  New  Orleans  Founded,  258. 
William  Penn,  258.  Melodies  of  Mother  Goose,  259.  Dunkards,  259.  Daniel  Defoe, 
260.  Failure  of  John  Law,  260.  First  Inoculation  for  Small-Pox,  261.  First  Attempt 
at  Marine  Insurance,  261.  The  Apostle  of  Greenland,  261.  First  Masonic  Lodge,  261. 
University  of  Havana,  262.  Repeating  Fire- Arm,  262.  Duel  on  Boston  Common,  263. 
Berkeley  in  America,  263.  First  Subscription  Library,  264.  Fear  of  "American  Manu- 
factures, 264.  Poor  Richard's  Almanac,  265.  Georgia  Founded,  265.  First  Jewish 
Synagogue,  266.  Free  Press  in  New  York,  267.  First  Moravian  Colony,  267.  John 
Wesley's  Sunday  School,  268.  First  Bell  Foundry,  268.  Whitefield's  Bethesda  Or- 
phanage, 269.  First  Literary  Magazine,  269.  The  Negro  Plot,  270.  Faneuil  Hall,  270. 
Franklin  Stoves,  270.  First  Cotton  Gin,  270.  American  Philosophical  Society,  271. 


SECTI  ON    XII. 

THE  PREPARATORY  DISCIPLINE  272-88 

1744-1760. 

King  George's  War,  272.  Capture  of  Louisburg,  272.  Moravians  Expelled  from  New 
York,  273.  Princeton  College  Founded,  274.  Silk  in  Connecticut,  274.  The  First 
Cook  Book,  274.  The  Boston  Mob,  274.  First  Telegraphic  Attempt,  274.  First  Ex- 
ported Cotton,  274.  First  Muskets,  274.  The  Ohio  Land  Company,  275.  Halifax 
Founded,  275.  First  Girl's  School,  275.  The  Queen  of  the  Creeks,  275.  First  Ana- 
tomical Dissection,  276.  The  Public  Whipper,  276.  First  City  Directory,  276.  First 
Theatrical  Company,  277.  First  Fire  Insurance  Company,  277.  Liberty  Bell,  277.  The 
Post  Office  in  America,  277.  George  Washington's  Western  Mission,  278.  Fort  du 
Quesne,*278.  An  American  Congress,  278.  Columbia  College  Founded,  279.  Braddock's 
Defeat,  279.  The  Exiled  Acadians,  279.  Dieskau's  Defeat,  280.  Hendrick,  280. 
Pennsylvania's  Discontent,  281.  Fort  William  Henry  Captured,  281.  Destitution  in 
Canada,  282.  Jonathan  Edwards,  282.  Lord  Howe  Killed  at  Ticonderoga,  283.  Fort 
du  Quesne  Captured,  283.  Capture  of  Quebec,  284.  Jorullo,  the  Mexican  Volcano 
Created,  285.  First  Marine  Insurance  Office,  285.  First  Horn  Combs,  285.  Cherokee 
War,  285.  Great  Fire  in  Boston,  285.  Attempt  by  French  to  Retake  Quebec,  285. 
Downfall  of  Canada,  286.  First  Printing  in  Texas,  286.  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  286. 


CONTENTS.  XXXV 


PART  IV. 


REVOLUTIONARY  STRUGGLES,    289-460, 

1761—1824. 


SECTION  XIII. 

THE  DAWN  OF  STRIFE.  291-311 

1761-1774.  , 

Birth  of  Independence,  291.  First  Canal  Route,  292.  The  Peace  of  Paris,  292.  Pontiac's 
War,  292.  Postmaster  General's  Trip,  294.  The  Right  of  Taxation,  294.  The  Famous 
Stamp  Act,  295.  The  Resolutions  of  Patrick  Henry,  295.  Boston  Riots,  296.  Stamp 
Act  Repealed,  296.  Townsend's  Bill,  297.  Swamp  Law,  297.  The  Ship-of-War 
Romney,  297.  British  Soldiers  in  Boston,  298.  Earliest  Church  Discipline  for  Slave- 
holding,  299.  First  Life  Insurance,  299.  Pontiac,  299.  Boston  Massacre,  300.  Death 
of  Whitfield,  303.  Boys  of  Plymouth,  304.  Burning  of  the  Gaspee,  304.  Effectual 
Penalty  for  Intoxication,  305.  Boston  Tea  Party,  305.  Boston  Port  Bill,  306.  Virginia 
Provincial  Assembly,  307.  Shakers,  308.  Powder  Alarm,  308.  First  Continental  Con- 
gress, 308.  The  American  Association,  309.  Minute  Men,  310.  Slavery  Among 
Quakers,  310. 

SECTION  XIV. 

THE  DAY  OF  TRIAL.  312-57 

I775-I783- 

The  First  Blood,  312.  Lexington  and  Concord,  313.  Siege  of  Boston,  313.  First  Victory 
on  the  Atlantic,  314.  Bunker  Hill,  315.  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  316.  First  Continental 
Currency,  318.  First  Traitor,  319.  Assault  on  Quebec,  320.  Richard  Montgomery, 
320.  First  Piano-forte,  320.  Yankee  Doodle,  320.  First  Union  Flag,  321.  Evacuation 
of  Boston,  322.  Lee's  Famous  Resolutions,  322.  Declaration  of  Independence,  323. 
United  States  National  Seal,  325.  Battle  of  Long  Island,  326.  Execution  of  Hale,  327. 
Battle  of  Trenton,  328.  The  Stolen  March,  330.  Bpunty  Jumpers,  331.  The  Stars  and 
Stripes,  332.  Burgoyne's  Invasion,  332.  Battle  of  Bennington,  333.  Battle  of  Still- 
water,  334.  Burgoyne's  Surrender,  334.  Articles  of  Confederation,  336.  Battle  of  the 
Kegs,  336.  Light  Horse  Harry,  337.  The  Meschianza,  337.  Battle  of  Monmouth,  338. 
Capt.  Cook,  340.  Nancy's  Rock,  341.  Clark's  Famous  Expeditions,  341.  Putnam's 
Escape,  342.  Stony  Point  Captured,  342.  Paul  Jones'  Victory,  343.  Col.  White's 
Stratagem,  344.  First  Bank,  344.  A  Dark  Day,  345.  Destitution  of  American  Army, 
345.  Battle  of  Hanging  Rock,  346.  Treason  of  Benedict  Arnold,  346.  Execution  of 
Andre,  347.  Battle  of  King's  Mountain,  347.  Marion's  Patriotism,  347.  Logan,  348. 
Pennsylvania  Revolt,  349.  Battle  of  Cowpens,  350.  The  Pine  Log  Cannon,  350. 
Execution  of  Hayne,  351.  Cornwallis  Surrendered,  351.  Bank  of  North  America,  352. 
Charles  Lee,  353.  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  355.  Treaty  of  Peace,  356.  Webster's 
Spelling  Book,  356. 


XXXVI  CONTENTS. 

SECTION     XV. 

THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION.  358-409 

• 

1784-1799. 

First  Episcopal  Bishop,  358.  First  Agricultural  Society,  359.  First  Law  School,  359.  First 
Daily  Paper,  359.  Brother  Jonathan,  360.  Nathaniel  Greene,  361.  The  Annapolis 
Convention,  362.  Extent  of  Slave  Trade,  362.  Shay's  Rebellion,  362.  First  Practical 
American  Steamboat,  364.  Marietta,  O.,  Founded,  366.  John  Ledyard,  367.  Constitu- 
tion of  United  States,  367.  Queen  City,  374.  The  Doctors'  Mob,  374,  First  Dentist, 

375.  First  Presidential  Campaign,  375.     Ethan   Allen,  375.     The  Tammany  Society, 

376.  First  Revenue  Bill,  377.     First  Temperance  Movement,  378.     Benjamin  Franklin, 
379.     Gen.  Israel  Putnam,  380.     Maple  Sugar,  382.    John  Sears'  Folly,  382.     Yankee 
Enterprise,  383.     First  Census,  383.     St.  Clair's  Defeat,  384.     First  Internal  Taxation, 
385.     Paul  Jones,  385.     The  White  House,  387.     Canal  Enterprise,  387.     Postal  Rates, 

388.  Second   Presidential  Campaign,  388.     Democratic  Clubs,  389.     Roger  Sherman, 

389.  John  Hancock,  390.     Whitney's  Cotton  Gin,  391.     First  Spanish  Merinoes,  391. 
Richard  Henry  Lee,  392.     Whisky  Insurrection,  393.     Baron  Steuben,  393.     First  Cot- 
ton   Sewing   Thread,   394.     Francis    Marion,   395.     Treaty    with    Algiers,    396.     First 
Scientific  School,  396.     Revolt  of  the  Maroons,  399.     Anthony  Wayne,  399.     French 

,  Depredations,  400.  First  Propeller,  400.  Third  Presidential  Campaign,  400.  The  X. 
Y.  Z.  Mission,  401.  Cast  Iron  Plow,  402.  Alien  and  Sedition  Laws,  402.  Patrick 
Henry,  404.  George  Washington,  405.  First  Vaccination,  409.  House  Tax  Insurrec- 
tion, 409. 

SECTION     XVI. 

THE  AWAKENED  CONTINENT.  410-60 

1800-1824. 

Congressional  Library,  410.  Second  Census,  411.  First  College  Paper,  411.  Fourth  Presi- 
vdential  Campaign,  411.  Benedict  Arnold,  412.  West  Point  Academy,  414.  Daniel 
Morgan,  414.  Louisiana  Purchase,  415.  Samuel  Adams,  415.  Proposed  Mississippi 
Steamboat,  416.  Decatur's  Achievement,  417.  Alexander  Hamilton,  417.  Fifth  Pres- 
idential Campaign,  419.  Fin#t  Fine  Broadcloth,  419.  William  Moultrie,  420.  Horatio 
Gates,  420.  Henry  Knox,  421.  First  Cargo  of  Ice,  422.  First  Trade  Union  Contest, 
422.  Aaron  Burr's  Trial,  423.  Fulton's  Triumph,  423.  First  Temperance  Society,  424. 
Prison  Ship  Victims,  425.  Sixth  Presidential  Campaign,  425.  First  Modern  Sunday 
Schools,  426.  First  Mexican  Uprising,  426.  Third  Census,  428.  First  Blood  in  Chili, 
428.  Breech-loading  Rifle,  429.  Declaration  of  War,  430.  Surrender  of  Detroit,  431. 
Joel  Barlow,  432.  Seventh  Presidential  Campaign,  433.  Uncle  Sam, 433.  "Don't  Give 
up  the  Ship,'1  435.  Perry's  Victory,  436.  Tecumseh,  436.  The  First  Stereotyping,  437. 
Battle  of  Lundy's  Lane,  439.  Burning  of  Washington,  439.  The  Star  Spangled  Ban- 
ner, 440.  First  Mexican  Constitution,  441.  The  Hartford  Convention,  441.  Financial 
Panic,  442.  Battle  of  New^  Orleans,  443.  Eighth  Presidential  Campaign,  445.  First 
Remington  Rifle,  445.  First  Asylum  for  Deaf  Mute<?,  446.  The  Shoe-Peg,  448.  First 
Horse-race,  448.  Florida  Purchase,  448.  First  Odd-Fellow  Lodge,  449.  First  Atlantic 
Steam  Voyage,  450.  Missouri  Compromise,  451.  Stephen  Decatur,  Jr.,  451.  Daniel 
Boone,  452.  Ninth  Presidential  Campaign,  453.  Fourth  Census,  453.  Great  Financial 
Distress,  455.  John  Stark,  456.  Monroe  Doctrine,  457.  South  American  Independ- 
ence, 459.  Tenth  Presidential  Campaign,  459. 


CONTENTS,  XXXVII 


PART  Y, 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT,  461-612, 

1825-1859. 


SECTION    XVII. 

THE  GROWTH    OF    PARTIES.  463-520 

1825-1844. 

First  Reform  School,  463.  New  Haven  Blue  Laws,  465.  Thomas  Jefferson.  465.  John 
Adams,  467.  The  Willey  Disaster,  469.  Political  Anti-Masonry,  470.  First  Railway, 
472.  Eleventh  Presidential  Campaign,  473.  John  Jay,  474.  Rotation  in  Office,  474. 
Silk  Mania,  475.  Great  Debate  in  the  Senate,  476.  First  Regular  Mormon  Church, 
477.  First  Steam  Locomotive,  478.  Fifth  Census,  478.  James  Monroe,  480.  Asiatic 
Cholera,  485.  Twelfth  Presidential  Campaign,  486.  McCormick's  Reaper,  489.  Tee- 
totalism,  490.  First  Sewing  Machine,  491.  Morus  Multicaulis  Mania,  491.  Great 
Fire  in  New  York,  493.  Colt's  Revolving  Firearms,  494.  David  Crockett,  495.  Simon 
Kenton,  495.  James  Madison,  496.  Aaron  Burr,  498.'  Daniel  Webster's  Great  Plow, 
499.  Thirteenth  Presidential  Campaign,  499.  Panic  of  1837,  500.  Murder  of  Lovejoy, 
501.  Osceola,  502.  Fifteen  Gallon  Law,  503.  Black  Hawk,  504.  First  Goodyear 
Patent,  505.  Origin  of  Express  Business,  506.  First  Normal  School,  506.  First 
Shipment  of  Wheat  from  Chicago,  506.  The  Amistad  Captives,  507.  Fourteenth 
Presidential  Campaign,  509.  William  Henry  Harrison,  510.  Revolving  Turret  Model, 
511.  First  Steam  Fire  Engine,  512.  William  E.  Channing,  513.  Dorr's  Rebellion, 
514.  Bunker  Hill  Monument,  517.  Millerism,  518.  Success  with  the  Telegraph,  518. 
Fifteenth  Presidential  Campaign,  520.  Fourierism,  520. 

SECTION    XVIII. 

THE   INCREASE   OF   SECTIONALISM.  521-580 

1845-1859. 

Franklin's  Last  Voyage,  521.  Andrew  Jackson,  522.  First  Regular  Regatta,  523.  Copper 
Fever,  524.  Petroleum,  525.  First  Blood  in  Mexican  War,  525.  Volunteers,  526. 
The  Wilmot  Proviso,  527.  First  Success  with  Ether,  527.  First  Isthmus  Steamers, 
529.  Treaty  of  Hidalgo,  531.  The  California  Gold  Fever,  531.  John  Quincy  Adams, 
532.  Spirit  Rappings,  533.  Astor  Library,  533.  Free-Soil  Party,  534.  Sixteenth  Pres- 
idential Campaign,  535.  Bloomerism,  535.  James  K.  Polk,  536.  Apostle  of  Temper- 
ance>  537-  John  C.  Calhoun,  538.  Zachary  Taylor,  540.  The  Fugitive  Slave  Law,  541. 
Seventh  Census,  542.  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin,  542.  Northwest  Passage,  542.  The  Yacht 
America,  543.  First  Cheese  Factory,  545.  Henry  Clay,  546.  Daniel  Webster,  550. 
•First  Street  Railway,  551.  Seventeenth  Presidential  Campaign,  552.  Kansas-»Nebraska 
BiU>  553-  Successful  Whaling,  553.  Paper  Collars,  553.  Present  Fire  Service,  553. 


X.XXVII1  CONTENTS. 

Insurance  Company  Swindle,  554.  Great  Fire  at  Quebec,  554.  Birth  of  Republican 
Party,  554.  San  Salvador  Destroyed,  555.  First  Railroad  in  Brazil,  555.  First  Kero- 
sene Oil  Company,  556.  Lieut.  Strain's  Isthmus  Exploration,  556.  Ostend  Manifesto, 
556.  First  Train  on  Panama  Railroad,  557.  Plan  of  Ayutla,  557.  Bleeding  Kansas,  557. 
Dr.  E.  K.  Kane,  558.  Filibusterism,  558.  Law  of  Juarez,  561.  American  Reapers,  561. 
The  Associated  Press,  561.  Know  Nothing  Convention,  562.  Mormon  Troubles,  562. 
Assault  on  Sumner,  562.  Political  Conventions,  565.  The  Sewing  Machine  War,  565. 
Eighteenth  Presidential  Campaign,  565.  Kansas  War,  566.  The  Sorghum  Mania,  566. 
California  Vigilance  Committee,  566.  First  Black  Hawk  Horse,  566.  The  Heaviest 
Man,  567.  New  Constitution  of  Mexico,  567.  Dred  Scott  Decision,  567.  Panic  of 
I857,  569.  Great  Revival,  569.  Kansas  Troubles,  570.  Fenianism,  570.  Central 
Park,  N.  Y.,  571.  Mexican  Troubles,  571.  British  Columbia,  572.  Atlantic  Cable, 
572.  Parker  Cleaveland,  573.  First  Sleeping  Car,  573.  William  H.  Prescott,  574. 
Rufus  Choate,  576.  Horace  Mann,  576.  John  Brown's  Raid,  577.  Washington  Irving, 
579.  Great  Comstock  Lode,  579.  Oil  Fever,  580.  Colorado  Potato  Beetle,  580. 


PART  VI. 


NATIONAL  CRISES,   ssi-vso, 

I860- 1868. 


SECTI  ON    XIX. 

THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS.  583-646- 

1860-1862. 

Pemberton  Mill  Horror,  583.  Anna  Dickinson's  First  Speech,  584.  Covode  Investigation,  584. 
Japanese  Embassy,  584.  Democratic  Convention,  585.  Pony  Express,  585.  Theodore 
Parker,  585.  Political  Conventions,  586.  Great  Eastern,  586.  Prince  of  Wales  in 
America,  587.  Nineteenth  Presidential  Campaign,  588.  Revolutionary  Message  of 
President  Buchanan,  588.  Secession  of  South  Carolina,  588.  Eighth  Census,  588. 
The  Parrott  Gun,  591.  First  Act  of  War,  591.  Victory  of  Juarez,  591.  Confederate 
States  of  America,  592.  Lincoln's  Inauguration,  593.  Fort  Sumter  Evacuated,  593. 
Proclamations,  594.  Bloodshed  in  Baltimore,  594.  Loyalty  of  West  Virginia,  594. 
Sewell's  Point  Conflict,  595.  Occupation  of  Arlington  Heights,  595.  Contraband  of 
War,  596.  Acquia  Creek,  596.  Fairfax  Court  House,  596.  Philippi,  597.  Stephen  A. 
Douglas,  597.  Pig  Point,  598.  Little  Bethel,  598.  Big  Bethel,  598.  Romney  Bridge, 
599.  Booneville,  599.  Matthias  Point,  599.  Falling  Waters,  600.  Carthage,  600. 
Rich  Mountain,  Va.,  600.  Carrick's  Ford,  601.  Vienna,  601.  Bull  Run,  602.  Capture 
of  the  Petrel,  603.  Invasion  of  Illinois  Checked,  603.  Grand  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
603.  Dug  Springs,  Mo.,  603.  Army  Rations,  604.  Wilson's  Creek,  Mo.,  604. 
Blockade  of  Hatteras  Inlet,  605.  Carnifex  Ferry,  605.  Capture  of  Lexington, 
Mo.,  606.  Decisive  South  American  Battle,  606.  Events  on  Gulf  Coast,  607. 


CONTENTS.  XXXIX 

Ball's  Bluff,  607.  The  Trent  Affair,  610.  A  Mistaken  Proclamation,  610.  The 
Stone  Fleet,  611.  Dranesville,  Va.,  611.  Web  Printing  Press,  611.  Shoddy,  612. 
First  Iron-Clad  Rams,  612.  Rarey,  the  Horse  Tamer,  612.  .Prestonburg,  Ky., 
612.  John  Tyler,  613.  Mill  Spring,  613.  Fort  Henry  Captured,  614.  Burnside's 
Roanoke  Expedition,  614.  Fort  Donelson,  615.  Nashville  Panic,  615.  Expedition  to 
New  Orleans',  616.  Confederate  Privateers,  616.  Pea  Ridge,  Mo.,  616.  Bell-metal  for 
Cannon,  617.  Merrimac  and  Monitor,  617.  New  Madrid,  621.  New  Berne,  621. 
Shiloh  or  Pittsburg  Landing,  622.  Island  No.  10,  623.  Mitchell's  Cavalry  Raid,  623. 
War  upon  Mexico,  624.  Capture  of  New  Orleans,  624.  Fort  Macon,  627.  Evacuation 
of  Yorktown,  627.  Williamsburg,  628.  Capture  of  Norfolk,  628.  Fort  Pillow,  629. 
Butler's  Woman  Order,  629.  Army  Medical  Museum,  629.  Winchester,  629.  Han- 
over Court  House,  630.  Fair  Oaks,  630.  Stuart's  Raid,  631.  Oak  Grove,  631.  Me- 
chanicsville,  631.  Malvern  Hills,  632.  Guerilla  Warfare,  633.  Colored  Troops,  633. 
National  Cemeteries,  633.  Exchange  of  Prisoners,  634.  Martin  Van  Buren,  634.  Cedar 
Mountain,  635.  Groveton,  636.  Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  636.  Bragg's  Invasion, 
636.  Carlos  Antonio  Lopez,  637.  South  Mountain,  638.  Antietam,  638.  Corinth,  639. 
Bragg's  Invasion  of  Tennessee,  640.  Butler  Superseded  by  Banks,  641.  Prairie  Grove, 
Ark.,  642.  Fredericksburg,  642.  Murfreesboro',  644.  Greenbacks,  645.  Catling  Gun, 
645.  The  War  in  Mexico,  645. 

SECTION  XX. 

THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE.  647-730 

1863-1868. 

Emancipation  Proclamation,  647.  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  649.  Banks'  Raid  in  Western 
Louisiana,  649.  Good  for  Evil,  650.  The  Sioux  War,  650.  The  Impostor  Gunboat,  650. 
Banks  at  the  Red  River,  651.  The  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  651.  The  Responsive 
Chord,  651.  Port  Gibson,  652.  Chancellorsville,  652.  Stoneman's  Cavalry  Raid,  653. 
Val'andigham's  Arrest,  653.  Columbian  Constitution,  654.  Draft  Difficulties,  654. 
Stonewall  Jackson,  654.  Big  Black  River,  656.  French  in  City  of  Mexico,  656.  Lee's 
Second  Invasion,  656.  'Gettysburg,  657.  Vicksburg,  661.  Surrender  of  Port  Hudson, 
662.  Mexico  an  Empire,  663.  Draft  Riot  in  New  York,  663.  Sam  Houston,  664 . 
Capture  of  Morgan,  664.  Quantrell's  Raid,  664.  Siege  of  Charleston,  665.  Chicka- 
mauga,  665.  Bristow  Station,  666.  Military  Affairs  in  the  West,  667.  Beecher  in  Eng- 
land, 667.  Boston  Music  Hall  Organ,  668.  Lincoln's  Gettysburg  Speech,  668.  Chat- 
tanooga, 669.  Andersonville,  670.  Close  of  Siege  of  Knoxville,  670.  A  Monster  Can- 
non, 671.  The  Eureka  Mower,  671.  Sherman's  March  through  Mississippi,  671. 
Wistar's  Raid,  672.  Florida  Expedition,  672.  Kilpatrick's  Raid,  672.  First  Accident 
Insurance,  672.  Thomas  Starr  King,  673.  Red  River  Expedition,  673.  Massacre  of 
Fort  Pillow,  674.  Battle  of  the  Wilderness,  674.  Sheridan's  Raid  toward  Richmond, 
675.  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  675.  Nathaniel  Hawthorne,  676.  Radical  Conven- 
tion, 676.  Cold  Harbor,  676.  Emperor  Maximilian  I,  677.  Alabama  and  Kearsage,  677. 
Attack  on  Petersburg,  678.  Important  Congressional  Action,  679.  Early's  Raid  in  the 
North  Checked,  679.  Peace  Attempts,  680.  Hall's  Second  Arctic  Trip,  680.  Cham- 
bersburg,  Pa.,  Burned,  680.  Mine  Explosion  at  Petersburg,  680.  Blockade  of  Mobile 
Port,  68 1.  Seizure  of  Weldon  Railway,  681.  Capture  of  Atlanta  by  Sherman,  681. 
Papal  Nuncio  to  Mexico,  682.  Capture  of  the  Florida,  682.  Rogsr  B.  Taney,  682. 
Sheridan's  Campaign,  683.  Last  Invasion  of  Missouri,  683.  Twentieth  Presidential 
Campaign,  684.  Sherman's  March  to  the  Sea,  684.  Henry  R.  Schoolcraft,  684.  Pull- 
man Cars,  687.  Insurrections  in  South  America,  687.  Grasshopper  Depredations,  688. 
Edward  Everett,  688.  Fort  Fisher,  689.  The  Thirteenth  Amendment,  689.  Sherman's 
March  Through  the  Carolinas,  690.  The  Freedman's  Bureau,  690.  Averasboro  691 


XL  CONTENTS. 

Fort  Steadman,  691.  Five  Forks,  692.  Capture  of  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  692. 
Lee's  Surrender,  693.  Lincoln's  Last  Speech,  694.  Assassination  of  Lincoln,  695.  At- 
tempt upon  Seward,  (395.  Abraham  Lincoln,  696.  Death  of  Booth,  703.  Johnston's 
Surrender,  703.  South  American  Alliance,  703.  Proclamation  of  Rewards,  703. 
Jefferson  Davis  Captured,  704.  Last  Battle,  704.  Disbanding  of  the  Army,, 704.  Pay 
Department,  705.  Army  Medical  Department,  705.  Sanitary  Commisfion,  705.  Chris- 
tian Commission,  706.  The  Shenandoah,  707.  Execution  of  Assassin,  707.  Execution 
of  Wirz,  708.  Thomas  Corwin,  708.  Soldiers'  Homes,  709.  Virginia  City,  Nevada,  709. 
Patagonian  Colony,  709.  Eliphalett  Nott,  710.  Valparaiso,  Chili,  Bombarded,  711. 
Civil  Rights  Bill,  711.  Gen.  Scott,  711.  Fenian  Raid  on  Canada,  712.  Fourteenth 
Amendment,  713.  Lewis  Cass,  713.  Portland,  Me.,  Burned, '713.  Great  Trip  up  the 
Yukon,  713.  Successful  Atlantic  Cable.  714.  Agassiz's  Amazon  Trip,  714.  Swinging 
Around  the  Circle,  715.  Impeachment  Proposed,  716.  N.  P.  Willis,  716.  A.  D.  Bache, 
717.  Chicago  Water  Works,  718.  British  North  American  Act,  718.  Capture  and 
Execution  of  Maximilian,  719.  Purchase  of  Alaska,  719.  Haydn  Surveys,  719.  Elias 
Howe,  720.  John  A.  Andrew,  721.  Fitz-Greene  Halleck,  721.  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
722.  Stuyvesant  Pear  Tree,  722.  Peruvian  Revolution,  723.  Ku-Klux  Klan,  723. 
Impeachment  of  Johnson,  724.  James  Buchanan  ,,725.  Indiana  Vigilance  Committee, 
726.  Thaddeus  Stevens,  727.  Violent  Earthquake,  728.  Outbreak  of  Cuban  Revolu- 
tion, 729.  Twenty-First  Presidential  Campaign,  729.  Jefferson  Davis  Discharged,  730. 


PART  VII. 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT,  731-1020, 

1869-1881. 


SECTION    XXI. 

THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAY.  733-830 

1869—1876. 

John  Cassin,  734.  The  Fifteenth  Amendment,  734.  James  Harper,  734.  Fire  in  Comstock 
Lode,  735-  Cuban  Constitution,  736.  Board  of  Indian  Commissioners,  736.  Pacific 
Railroad  Opened,  736.  Powell's  Colorado  Expedition,  737.  First  Peace  Jubilee,  737. 
Henry  J.  Raymond,  737.  Expedition  for  Cuba,  738.  French  Cable,  738.  William  Pitt 
Fessenden,  740.  Black  Friday,  740.  Franklin  Pierce,  741.  George  Peabody,  741. 
Shooting  of  A.  D.  Richardson,  742.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  743.  Troubles  in  Hayti,  744. 
First  Colored  U.  S.  Senator,  745.  Anson  Burlingame,  745.  Francisco  S.  Lopez,  746. 
George  H.  Thomas,  749.  Emma  Willard,  750.  Rebellion  in  Argentine  Republic,  751. 
San  Domingo,  752.  Admiral  Dahlgren,  752.  The  Nathan  Murder,  753.  Admiral 
Farragut,  754.  Insurrection  in  Peru,  755.  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee,  755.  Great  Earth- 
quake, 757.  First  Narrow  Gauge  Railroad,  757.  Ninth  Census,  757.  Isthmus  Ex- 
plorations, 758.  George  Ticknor,  758.  War  Between  Honduras  and  San  Salvador,  759 


CONTENTS. 

U.  S.  Fish  Commission,  759.  Alice  Car j,  759.  Treaty  of  Washington,  760.  Civil  Service 
Reform,  760.  Stanley  and  Livingston,  760.  Ku-Klux  Bill,  761.  Corean  War,  761. 
Phoebe  Gary,  762.  Whaling  Disaster,  762.  Forest  Fires  and  Burning  of  Chicago,  763. 
Gen.  Anderson,  763.  Thomas  Ewing,  764.  Tammany  Ring  Broken  up,  764.  Grand 
Duke  Alexis,  765.  S.  F.  B.  Morse,  768.  James  Gordon  Bennett,  769.  Benito  Juarez,  771. 
The  Metis  Disaster,  773.  W.  H.  Seward,  774.  San  Juan  Boundary,  776.  Gen.  Meade, 
777.  Great  Boston  Fire,  777.  Horace  Greeley,  778.  Edwin  Forrest,  780.  Eight-Hour 
Movement,  781.  Credit  Mobilier  Exposure,  782.  Salary  Grab,  783.  Modoc  Massacre, 
784.  Salmon  P.  Chase,  785.  The  Panic  of  '73,  788.  The  Virginius  Affair,  789.  Hoosac 
Tunnel,  790.  Polaris  Survivors,  791.  The  Telephone,  792.  Woman's  Crusade,  793. 
Charles  Sumner,  794.  Charley  Ross,  797.  Louisiana  Embroglio,  800.  Emma  Mine 
Scandal,  801.  Beecher  Trial,  802.  Pacific  Mail,  803.  Spelling  Mania,  804.  Whisky 
Ring  War,  805.  First  Red  Ribbon,  808.  W.  C.  Ralston,  812.  Fast  Mail,  813.  Henry 
Wilson,  815.  Tweed's  Escape,  816.  Belknap's  Exposure,  821.  '  Centennial,  822.  Santa 
Anna,  824.  First  Cremation,  830. 


SECTION     XXII. 

THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE.  831-1020 

1877-1882. 

Electoral  Commission,  832.  John  D.  Lee  Executed,  833.  Parson  Brownlow,  835.  John  L. 
Motley,  837.  Mollie  Maguires,  839.  Robert  Dale  Owen,  839.  Great  Railroad  Strikes, 
840.  Brigham  Young,  842.  Oliver  P.  Morton,  845.  Samuel  Bowles,  848.  Silver  Bill, 
849.  Great  Defalcations,  851.  Savings  Bank  Panic,  852.  William  C.  Bryant,  853.  Sutro 
Tunnel,  855.  Great  Heat,  856.  Kearneyism,  857.  The  Plague  of  '78,  858.  Bayard 
Taylor,  S6o.  Father  Purcell's  Failure,  861.  Phonograph,  862.  Resumption,  862.  The 
Learned  Blacksmith,  865.  Negro  Exodus,  866.  Ponca  Troubles,  867.  W.  L.  Garri- 
son, 870.  The  Uncle  Sam,  874.  Reform  of  Oneida  Community,  875.  Gen.  John  B. 
Hood,  876.  The  Ute  Outbreak,  877.  Gen.  Joseph  Hooker,  878.  Zachariah  Chandler,  879. 
Prostrate  Peru,  881.  Troubles  in  Mexico,  882.  A  Great  Inventor,  883.  Maine  Election, 
884.  West  Point  Outrage,  888.  Dr.  Tanner's  Fast,  892.  Fast  Trotting,  893.  Chief 
Ouray,  894.  The  Morey  Letter,  898.  Garfield  Campaign,  900.  Fall  of  Lima,  907. 
Egyptian  Obelisk,  908.  Mentor,  911.  Garfield's  Cabinet,  912.  "Dead-lock"  in  Senate, 
.915.  Conflict  of  Words  .between  Senators  Hill  and  Mahone,  916.  Nomination  of  Robert- 
son, 916.  Senators  Conkling  and  Platt  of  New  York  Resign,  917.  Miller  and  Lapham,  Sen- 
ators from  New  York,  918.  James  T.  Fields,  919.  The  Revised  New  Testament,  921. 
Members  of  New  Testament  Company  in  England,  922 ;  in  America,  923.  Guiding 
Principles  in  Revising,  923.  Thomas  A.  Scott,  925.  Assassination  of  Garfield,  926. 
Statement  of  Previous  Efforts  and  Preparations  of  the  Assassin,  927.  The  President's 
Telegram,  931.  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  Attendance,  931.  The  Arrival  of  Mrs. 
Garfield,  932.  Removal  of  the  President  to  Long  Branch,  933.  Sidney  Lanier,  934. 
General  Burnside,  934.  Death  of  Garfield,  937.  Universal  Regret,  939.  Foreign 
Sympathy,  939.  The  Autopsy,  943.  Names  of  Surgeons  and  Physicians,  944.  General 
Arthur  Becomes  President,  945.  Arthur's  Inaugural,  946.  His  Proclamation  Respect- 
ing the  Death  and  Funeral  of  President  Garfield,  946.  The  Funeral  at  Elberon,  949; 
At  Washington,  950;  at  Cleveland,  951.  Biography  of  Garfield,  955.  Michigan  Forest 
Fires,  964.  Josiah  G.  Holland,  965.  York  town  Centennial,  970.  President's  Procla- 
mation, 971.  John  W.  Forney,  972.  I.  I.  Hayes,  972.  The  Loss  of  the  Jeannette,  074 
Leonard  Bacon,  974.  Atlanta  Cotton  Exposition,  975.  John  William  Draper,  977. 


XLII 


CONTENTS. 


Richard  Henry  Dana,  978.  John  Cotton  Smith,  979.  Guiteau's  Trial,  979.  Guiteau's 
Letter  to  General  Sherman,  982.  The  Lawyers  in  the  Case,  983.  Guiteau  Permitted  to 
Address  the  Jury,  985.  Verdict  of  the  Jury,  987.  Elaine's  Eulogy  on  Garfield,  992. 
Henry  W.  Bellows,  1008.  Henry  W.  Longfellow,  1008.  Killing  of  Jesse  James,  1013. 
Outlawry  and  Free  Government,  1013.  Ralph  Waldjo  Emerson,  1014.  Arrivals  from 
the  Jeannette,  1018.  Fate  of  the  Rodgers,  1018.  Storms  in  Iowa,  1018.  De  Long 
heard  of,  1018.  "Prohibition"  in  Iowa,  1018.  Execution  of  Guiteau,  1019.  Labor 
Srikes,  1020.  Voters  in  the  United  States,  1020.  Collision  on  the  Ohio,  1020.  Tex- 
arkana  Disaster.  1020.  Massacre  of  French  Explorers  in  Valley  of  La  Plata,  1020. 
Star-Route  Trials,  1020.  Unprecedented  Jewish  Immigration,  1020. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS, 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON  (Steel  Plate) Frontispiece 

PASSION   FLOWER  OF  PERU 20 

LANDSCAPE 46 

GRAVE  CREEK  MOUND,  W.  VA.  . .   52 

SEPULCHRAL  UR.V  FROM  LAPORTE,  IND 54 

ANCIENT  WORKS  AT  MARIETTA,    O 55 

COPPER  IMPLEMENTS  OF  WARFARE  AND  THE  CHASE . .     59 

STONE    AXES 60 

SCULPTURED    PIPE 60 

CLOTH  FROM  OHIO   MOUNDS 61 

ANCIENT  IDOL  AND  ALTAR  AT   COPAN  62 

ANCIENT  VESSEL  FROM  SAN  JOSE,  NEW  MEXICO 63 

ANCIENT  RUINS  IN   YUCATAN 64 

RUIN  AT  TULOOM  IN  YUCATAN 66 

INDIAN  BAG,  DRUM,  ETC  71 

INDIAN  WEAPONS . 73 

CROW  CHIEF  IN   FULL   DRESS 75 

SCALP  STRETCHED  TO   DRY 76 

SQUAWS  GOING  TO  MARKET 77 

BRAVES    TORTURING  WHITES : 77 

AN  INDIAN  DANCE 80 

SQUAW  AND    CHILD 1 Si 

MEDICINE  MEN 83 

SUN  WORSHIP  JJY  COROADOS  IN  BRAZIL. 85 

HALF   BREED 87 

CHRISTOPHER    COLUMBUS ...   96 

CoDFISHING  ON  THE  BANKS  OF  NEWFOUNDLAND 1OJ 

CATHEDRAL    OF  QUITO m 

FOUNTAIN  AND  AQUEDUCT,  MEXICO « 115 

Rio  POLOCHIC,  GUATEMALA 115 


XLIV  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ISLE  OF  SERPENTS,  Rio  DE  JANEIRO 1 19 

RIVER    GUAYAQUIL,  ECUADOR 119 

VIEW  OF  THE  CITY  OF   PANAMA 123 

CAPE  HORN 130 

JACQUES  CARTIER 135 

DESOTO'S  MARCH 138 

THE  FALLEN    MONARCH 145 

MOSQUITO  COAST 145 

DELTA  OF  THE  ORINOCO 153 

DENIZENS  OF  THE   SWAMP 153 

SIR  MARTIN  FROBISHER 157 

SIR  WALTER  RALEIGH  SMOKING .* 160 

POCAHONTAS 167 

CAPT.  SMITH  AND  THE  COMPASS 169 

THE  FIRST  INDIAN  TOPER 171 

LANDING  OF  THE   PILGRIMS 1 79 

FRONT  OF  CATHEDRAL  OF  MEXICO 224 

CANADIAN  TRAPPER 226 

MARQUETTE  DESCENDING  THE  MISSISSIPPI 228 

PETER  STUYVESANT 236 

INDIAN    ATTACK 243 

MRS.  DUSTIN  AND  THE  INDIANS 249 

SCOLD    GAGGED.... 276 

DEATH  OF  GEN.  WOLFE 287 

DISCOVERY  OF  SKELETONS 301 

REMOVING  CANNON  FROM  THE  BATTERY 317 

THE  STOLEN   MARCH 329 

GEN.  BURGOYNE .- 335 

VALE  OF  WYOMING 339 

WASHINGTON'S  ARMY    CHEST 355 

A  REVOLUTIONARY  FLAG .'  357 

BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN 379 

PAUL  JONES 386 

WASHINGTON'S  GRAVE 397 

GEO.  WASHINGTON 406 

WASHINGTON'S  SWORD  AND  CANE 409 

BENEDICT    ARNOLD 412 

MORMON  CHARACTERS 477 

VIEW  OF  THE  CITY  OF  MEXICO - 483 

PLAZA  OF  GUADALAJARA 483 

JOHN  C.  CALHOUN 539 

HENRY  CLAY 546 

CRYSTAL  LAKE,  CAL 547 

A  STREET  IN    SAN  FRANCISCO 547 

DANIEL   WEBSTER 550 

A  VILLAGE  IN  GREENLAND 559 

IN  WINTER  QUARTERS ! 559 

GATHERING  CINCHONA  BARK 563 

CYPRESS  GROVE  IN  MEXICO 568 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  (Steel  Plate) .- 589 

JEFFERSON   DAVIS 592 

NAVAL  ENGAGEMENT  BETWEEN  THE  MERRIMAC  AND  MONITOR  (Steel  Plate) 619 

CAPTURE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS  (Steel  Plate) 625 

BENJAMIN    F.   BUTLER.  . .  .* 641 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


XLV 


GEN.  STONEWALL  JACKSON  PRAYING  IN  His  TENT 655 

BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG  (Steel  Plate) . .   659 

BOMBARDMENT  OF  ISLAND  No.  10  (Steel  .Plate) 685 

WM.  T.  SHERMAN 735 

DEVIL'S  CASTLE,  EAST  GREENLAND.  ...  , 739 

ICED  IN — ARCTIC  REGIONS 747 

GEN.  ROBT.  E.  LEE 756 

HORACE  GREELEY 778 

FIRST  STEAMER  ON  THE  ORINOCO 782 

LIMA,   PERU 905 

TOWER  ROCK,  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER 905 

JAMES  A.  GARFIELD  (Steel  Plate) 913 

MRS.  ELIZA  GARFIELD 928 

LAST  LOOK  AT  THE  SEA 933 

ON  THE  TRAIN  FOR  ELBERO.V 935 

MRS.  LUCRETIA    GARFIELD 941 

CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR 947 

RECEIVING  VAULT  AT  CLEVELAND 953 

THE  GARFIELD  HOMESTEAD  AT  MENTOR '. 961 

GUITEAU  JURY 988-89 

FRANCKLYN  COTTAGE  AT  ELBERON,  N.  J 1007 


"  From  the  eternal  shadow  rounding 

All  ozir  sun  and  starlight  here, 
Voices  of  our  lost  ones  sounding 
Bid  us  be  of  heart  and  cheer, 
Through  the  silence,  down  the  spaces, 
falling  on  the  inward  ear. 

"  Let  us  draw  their  mantles  o'er  us 
Which  have  fallen  in  our  way  ; 
Let  us  do  the  work  before  us 

Cheerly,  bravely,  while  we  may, 
Ere  the  long  night-silence  cometh,  and 
with  us  it  is  not  day" 

— WHITTIER 


PART   I. 


STUDIES. 


Wordless  -moans  the  ancient  -pine ,' 
Lake  and  mountain  give  no  ~ign  ; 

Vain  to  trace  this  ring  of  stones y 

Vain  the  search  of  crumbling  bones / 
Deepest  of  all  mysteries 
And  the  saddest,  silence  is. 

*  *         *         *         *          *          * 
What  strange  shore  or  chartless  sea 

Holds  the  awful  mystery. 

*  ****** 
Therefore  -well  may  nature  keep 
Equal  faith  ~uoith  all  -who  sleep, 
Set  her  ivatch  of  hills  around 
Christian  grave  and  heathen  mound. " 

— WHJTTIER. 


SECTION    I. 


antiquities  of  America  do  not 
yield  in  interest  to  those  of  any 
other  part  of  the  world.  There  is 
\^  a  certain  fascination  in  finding 
within  the  limits  of  what  is  known  as  the 
New  World,  relics  which  take  us  back 
into  previous  ages,  and  assert  that  the 
human  life  of  the  continent  dates  from  a 
remote  period.  The  number  and  activity 
of  those  who  are  engaged  in  this  delight- 
ful study,  are  daily  increasing.  The 
scientific  collections  of  the  country  are 
daily  enlarging  their  lists  of  prehistoric 
treasures.  In  certain  sections  many  per- 
sons may  with  ease  become  collectors  of 
specimens,  and  add  something  to  the  gen- 
eral fund  of  knowledge  relating  to  the 
life  and  civilization  of  prehistoric  races 
upon  the  American  continent.  A  piece 
of  broken  pottery  with  a  glaze  or  a  figure 
upon  its  surface,  a  mound  and  an  inclos- 
ure  thrown  up  regularly  in  perfect 
mathematical  figures,  an  arrow-head 
picked  out  from  its  bed  among  the  re- 
mains of  the  mastodon,  and  hundreds  of 
other  things  turned  up  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  soil,  or  in  excavations  for  mining 
purposes,  speak  eloquently  of  forgotten 
peoples  and  prehistoric  times.  Every 
record  obtained  is  an  unintentional  one,  so 

4 


far  as  the  persons  who  left  it  were  con- 
cerned. The  study  has  most  literally  to 
do  with  remains,  and  remains  only.  This 
gives  a  peculiar  zest  to  the  work.  The 
reconstruction  of  customs  and  thoughts 
and  pursuits  which  have  long  ago  disap- 
peared from  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  are 
now  known  only  by  their  partial  and  de- 
caying products  carelessly  thrown  up  from 
the  soil,  or  uncovered  amid  the  tansrle  of 

O 

almost  impenetrable  forests,  may  well 
serve  as  a  problem  which  shall  rest  and 
calm  the  mind  when  it  is  at  times  worn 
with  the  press  and  labor  of  the  present 
day. 

In  Europe  the  discoveries  which  bear 
upon  the  antiquity  of  the  human  race, 
are  greatly  more  numerous  than  the 
same  kind  of  discoveries  in  America. 
The  ancient  things  of  historic  times, 
which  were  formerly  worshiped  for  their 
age,  are  young,  compared  with  some  of 
these  prehistoric  revelations.  Much  more 
evidence  will  doubtless  be  gained  in  many 
sections  of  the  Old  World,  which  have 
not  yet  yielded  up  their  treasures.  Lake 
dwellings,  shell  heaps,  and  bone  caves, 
abound  in  relics  from  which  the  story  of 
former  days  is  drawn  by  a  close  scrutiny. 
Yet  enough  scattered  hints  have  been 

49 


50 


INTRODUCTORY"   STUDIES. 


gleaned  from  the  soil  of  America  to 
show  that  when  our  country  becomes 
more  fully  investigated,  there  will  be 
found  here  also  rich  evidences  which 
will  delight  and  reward  the  faithful  stu- 
dent. The  reality  of  the  testimony  to 
be  obtained  has  been  already  very  clearly 
demonstrated. 

Tnere  is,  then,  a  real  prehistoric  Amer- 
ica which  divides  itself  very  naturally  into 
two  portions.  The  first  portion  is  that  to 
which  the  isolated  relics  which  have  been 
found  here  and  there  upon  the  continent 
relate,  and  which  is  much  the  older  of  the 
two.  The  evidences  bearing  upon  this, 
so  far  as  man  is  concerned,  are  too  meager 
to  permit  the  drawing  of  any  certain  con- 
clusions. The  remains  of  prehistoric  ani- 
mals have  been  found  in  considerable 
abundance.  Well-preserved  skeletons  of 
ancient  mammoths  are  from  time  to  time 
discovered,  and  are  put  into  the  museums 
of  the  country  to  astonish  us  by  their 
gigantic  size.  But  the  remains  which 
point  unequivocally  to  the  remote  an- 
tiquity of  man  upon  the  continent,  are 
comparatively  few.  Almost  all  of  them 
require  verification.  It  is  a  difficult  work 
to  draw  correct  conclusions  from  the  po- 
sition in  which  a  single  human  cranium 
has  been  found.  There  are  many  excep- 
tional geological  changes  which  may  have 
been  in  some  respects  quite  the  opposite 
of  that  which  they  are  confidently 
affirmed-  to  have  been.  The  deposition 
of  soil  by  a  river  at  its  mouth,  the  decay 
of  different  substances  in  different  kinds 
of  soil  and  at  different  times,  the  position 
of  the  bones  of  the  human  skeleton  in 
deep  strata  of  the  earth  or  in  caves,  the 
mingling  together  of  them  with  the  bones 
of  extinct  animals,  and  many  other  ever- 
present  problems,  require  a  flexible  judg- 
ment in  their  examination,  that  the  cir- 


cumstances of  one  age  may  not  be 
heedlessly  fixed  upon  another  age.  Hu- 
man skulls  have  been  found,  it  is  asserted, 
and  probably  with  truth,  in  the  bone 
caves  of  Brazil  with  the  remains  of  ani- 
mals no  longer  known  upon  the  earth. 
Relics  of  pottery  have  been  found  in  the 
coast  terraces  of  Ecuador,  in  what  is 
thought  by  some  to  be  a  very  old  deposit. 
A  skull  was  claimed  to  have  been  taken 
more  than  ten  years  ago  from  a  mining 
shaft  near  Angelos,  Calaveras  County, 
California,  at  a  depth  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  feet.  Implements  of  unknown  use 
have  been  found  in  the  gravel  deposits  of 
California  at  a  depth  of  thirty  feet  or 
more.  A  few  years  ago  a  piece  of  bas- 
ket-matting was  found  on  Petit  Anse  Isl- 
and, Vermillion  Bay,  Louisiana,  below 
the  remains  of  a  fossil  elephant.  A 
human  skeleton  was  found  in  excavating 
for  the  foundations  of  gas  works  at  New 
Orleans,  at  a  depth  of  sixteen  feet,  be- 
neath the  remains  of  four  successive 
cypress  forests.  Dr.  Dowler  assumes 
an  age  of  14,400  years  for  it.  The  pelvic 
bone  of  a  human  being  was  found  near 
Natchez  by  Dr.  Dickeson,  in  such  a  po- 
sition as  to  affirm,  at  first,  a  great  age. 
Human  remains  have  been  found  with 
the  remains  of  extinct  animals  elsewhere 
along  the  Mississippi  Valley.  In  1839 
the  remains  of  a  mastodon  were  found  in 
Gasconade  County,  Missouri,  partially 
consumed  by  fire,  which  was  supposed  to 
have  been  kindled  by  human  beings  for 
the  purpose  of  destroying  the  animal 
after  it  had  been  mired  by  its  own  weight 
in  a  swamp.  Other  evidences  of  the 
presence  of  man  were  found  in  the  same 
place.  At  different  times,  arrow-heads 
and  implements,  and  portions  of  skele- 
tons, have  been  found  in  geological  posi- 
tions, which  seem  to  teach  a  high  an- 


PREHISTORIC    AMERICA. 


51 


tiquity.  Each  of  these  asserted  "  finds  " 
is  made  the  pivot  upon  which  a  theory 
is  hinged.  But  the  discoveries  have  not 
been  numerous  enough  in  the  same  sec- 
tion or  same  deposit  to  make  the  verdict 
in  any  of  the  cases  an  entirely  conclusive 
one.  Often  a  single  witness  is  the  only 
one  who  can  testify  concerning  the  relic 
or  relics.  It  is  no  depreciation  of  any 
witness  to  say  that  for  scientific  purposes 
this  is  not  sufficient.  In  all  other  depart- 
ments we  rigidly  demand  a  great  number 
of  experiments,  and  an  exact  agreement 
of  witnesses.  Very  frequently  the  geo- 
logical age  of  a  discovery  is  disputed  by 
different  scientists,  even  when  it  is  ac- 
knowledged to  be  authentic.  Until, 
then,  similar  remains  are  found  in  other 
sections  in  positions  to  make  the  conclu- 
sion a  decisive  one  by  the  weight  of  evi- 
dence, the  most  that  can  be  said  is,  that 
the  present  state  of  the  testimony  carries 
back  human  life  upon  this  continent  some- 
where into  the  age  of  prehistoric  animals, 
without  revealing  to  us  anything  of  the 
life  and  government  of  the  period.  We 
cannot  make  a  people  out  of  the  present 
scattered  fragments.  All  we  can  do  is  to 
grope  back  into  the  almost  utter  darkness 
with  blinded  eyes  and  blundering  hands. 
But  the  prehistoric  age  of  America  in- 
cludes a  second  and  later  period,  the  re- 
mains of  which  are  much  more  abund- 
ant and  conclusive.  We  step  aside  from 
the  puzzling  questions  of  earlier  life,  to 
trace  the  life,  government,  customs,  man- 
ufactures, of  nations  once  filling  a  large 
portion  of  the  New  World.  Here  is  a 
work  of  great  distinctness  and  of  peculiar 
pleasure,  arising  from  the  accessibility,  ex- 
tent, and  nature,  of  the  object  of  study. 
To  gaze  upon  these  mute  legacies 
which  have  come  down  to  us  out  of  the 
past,  is  like  stepping  into  some  place 


where  the  stillness  is  oppressive.  The 
silence  of  the  deepest  forest  solitude  is 
totally  unequal  to  the  silence  of  a  place 
where  we  know  that  human  beings  have 
been,  and  human  voices  have  spoken. 
Vacant  rooms  with  dusty  furniture  and 
echoing  walls  testify  very  minutely  of  the 
ones  who  have  occupied  them.  The 
quality,  position,  and  wear,  of  each  article 
speak  volumes  concerning  the  character, 
tastes,  and  education,of  the  ones  who  have 
used  it.  To  wisely  discriminate  the  les- 
sons to  be  learned,  to  reject  conclusions 
from  imperfect  data,  are  processes  of  great 
delicacy,  and  require  the  utmost  care. 
Every  possible  trace  of  life  must  be  gath- 
ered. The  positions  and  kinds  of  earth- 
works, the  age  of  trees  and  the  depth  of 
mould  upon  the  banks,  the  apparent  use 
of  fire  in  the  making  of  pottery  or  in  the 
celebration  of  sacred  rites,  the  smallest 
bits  of  wrought  clay,  half-burned  shreds 
of  cloth,  pictured  walls,  sculptured  stone, 
buildings  matted  with  vegetation,  and  the 
crumbling  skeletons  which  drop  to  dust 
upon  exposure  to  the  air,  all  require  care- 
ful study  and  wise  judgment.  The  dull 
dead  things  which  were  ages  ago  sur- 
rounded by  a  busy  life,  will  reveal  their 
secrets  only  to  the  true  worker. 

The  prehistoric  people  who  have  left 
their  works  very  abundantly  throughout 
the  present  territory  of  the  United  States, 
are  now  known  as  the  Mound  Builders. 
This  simple  name  designates  a  large, 
powerful  and  intelligent  population  once 
occupying  the  great  central  valleys  of  the 
land.  Any  one  can  heap  up  dirt,  and  yet 
under  this  term  lie  many  questions  of 
character  and  civilization.  Their  re- 
mains have  not  been  traced  north  of  the 
Great  Lakes  or  within  the  Atlantic  States, 
except  in  a  few  doubtful  instances.  They 
fill  the  Central  States  up  and  down  the 


52 


INTRODUCTORY'   STUDIES. 


Ohio  and  Mississippi  Valleys  and  are 
found  in  traces  in  certain  States  which 
border  upon  this  section. 

The  works  left  by  this  people  vary  in 
character.  Prominent  in  the  list  and  the 
special  cause  of  bestowing  the  name,  are 
mounds.  One  of  the  few  individual 
mounds  most  worthy  of  mention,  which 
has  been  called  the  "  monarch  of  all  such 
structures  in  the  United  States  "  stands  on 
the  plain  of  Cahokia,  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River  at  St.  Louis,  and  within  the 
present  State  of  Illinois.  A  careless  ob- 
server might  pass  it  as  a  small  hill,  but  a 
quick  glance  would  assure  one  ot  its  arti- 
ficial position 
and  regular 
form.  It  is  al- 
most exactly  of 
a  rectangular 
shape.  Its  slopes 
and  angles  are 
weather  -  worn, 
but  essential- 
ly true.  The 
mound  is  seven 
hundred  feet 
long  and  five 
hund/ed  feet  wide,  and  rises  to  a  level  of 
ninety  feet  above  the  base.  The  ascent  is 
made  at  one  side  to  a  terrace  one  hundred 
and  sixty  feet  by  three  hundred  in  extent, 
and  thence  to  the  summit  platform,  which 
is  two  hundred  feet  by  four  hundred  and 
fifty.  A  conical  mound  about  ten  feet 
high  stood  at  one  point  upon  the  highest 
platform.  In  this  were  found  bones, 
vases, and  stone  implements.  The  struc- 
ture covers  eight  acres  and  contains 
nearly  twenty  millions  cubic  feet  of  earth, 
a  vast  mass  to  be  collected  into  one 
gigantic  pile.  Most  mounds  are  smaller, 
although  there  are  others  which  nearly 
equal  this  one.  There  were  at  least  two 


GRAVE  CREEK   MOUND,  WEST  VIRGINIA. 

[Foster's  Prehistoric  Races]. 


hundred  of  all  sizes  within  the  same  sec- 
tion of  Illinois.  Large  numbers  of 
mounds  were  removed  in  building  the 
great  city  of  St.  Louis,  in  Missouri,  for 
which  reason  it  is  fcnown  as  the  "  Mound 
City."  At  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  was  a 
great  circular  mound  eight  hundred  and 
fifty-two  feet  in  circumference,  and  sixty- 
eight  feet  high.  At  Grave  Creek  in 
Virginia  there  was  another  circular 
mound  about  one  thousand  feet  in  circum- 
ference, and  seventy  feet  high.  At  a 
very  thorough  examination  of  it  made 
forty  years  ago  by  running  shafts  into  it, 
two  ouriai  vaults  were  found,  one  in  the 
very  base  of  the 
structure,  con- 
taining tw  o 
skeletons,  and 
another  thirty 
feet  higher  in 
the  mound  con- 
taining one  skel- 
eton. The  vaults 
were  formed  of 
upright  timbers 
with  beams  laid 
across  the  top 
to  support  the  roof.  Several  thousand  shell 
beads,  together  with  mica  and  copper 
ornaments,  and  a  few  carved  stone  ob- 
jects, were  found  in  the  two  vaults.  The 
most  of  these  objects  were  in  the  upper 
vault  with  the  single  skeleton.  A  stone 
with  an  inscription  in  odd  characters  upon 
it  has  been  exhibited  as  having  been 
found  in  the  excavation,  but  it  is  thought 
by  a  large  number  to  be  a  fraud.  It  is 
of  no  certain  value.  At  Seltzertown, 
Mississippi,  was  a  mound  covering  nearly 
six  acres.  It  was  six  hundred  feet  long 
and  four  hundred  feet  wide.  The  sum- 
mit, which  contained  four  acres,  was  forty 
feet  above  the  base,  and  upon  it  stood 


PREHISTORIC  AMERICA. 


53 


three  conical  mounds,  one  at  each  end, 
and  one  in  the  middle.  One  of  these 
cones  was  forty  feet  high,  the  others  were 
slightly  less.  There  were  traces  of  eight 
other  mounds  upon  this  extensive  summit 
area  which  was  reached  by  a  graded 
way  up  the  side.  Skeletons,  pieces  of 
pottery  and  vases  which  had  evidently 
been  used  in  offerings,  were  found  within 
the  small  mounds.  The  north  wall  of 
the  large  mound  was  partially  held  in 
place  by  sun-dried  brick  filled  with 
rushes,  leaves  and  grass,  to  a  thickness  of 
two  feet.  At  some  points  marks  of  hu- 
man hands  are  said  to  have  been  visible 
where  the  brick  was  pressed  to  its  shape. 
Other  cases  of  this  wall  building  have 
been  found,  but  no  signs  of  the  use  of  fire 
are  visible  upon  any  of  them.  The 
mounds  above  mentioned  are  among  the 
best  known,  because  of  their  size.  But 
through  those  same  regions  are  thousands 
of  smaller  ones  which  are  no  less  charac- 
teristic, though  not  so  large.  In  Ohio 
alone  it  is  estimated  that  there  are  ten 
thousand  of  these  structures.  In  Wiscon- 
sin there  are  hundreds  upon  hundreds  of 
them,  having  a  peculiar  character  con- 
fined mostly  to  the  mounds  of  that  State. 
They  bear  a  stamp  of  their  own  in  that 
many  of  them  are  in  the  shape  of  some 
animal  or  bird.  A  few  instances  of  the 
form  of  a  man  have  been  discovered. 
The  outlines  are  rude,  but  the  intentions 
are  visible.  One  of  the  most  noticeable 
is  what  is  known  as  the  Turtle  Mound  at 
Waukesha,  the  body  of  which  is  fifty-six 
feet  long  and  the  tail  two  hundred  and 
fifty  feet.  It  is  raised  about  six  feet  above 
the  earth.  Many  curious  forms  are  found 
in  all  parts  of  the  State  rising  from  one  to 
four  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  earth,  or 
hollowed  out  within  the  soil.  There  are 
birds  with  long  extended  wings,  and  rep- 


tiles with  a  total  length  of  one  hundred 
to  four  hundred  feet.  Many  of  these 
mounds  have  been  destroyed  in  order 
that  houses  might  be  built,  or  in  the  culti- 
vation of  farms.  But  they  are  still  found 
around  Milwaukee,  along  the  valleys  of 
rivers,  and  upon  the  borders  of  the  many 
beautiful  lakes  which  fill  the  State. 
Their  situation  is  almost  uniformly  cho- 
sen for  purposes  of  elevation  and  beauty. 
Very  few  of  these  animal  mounds  are 
found  elsewhere.  In  Adams  County, 
Ohio,  is  a  wonderful  embankment  one 
thousand  feet  in  length  running  away  in 
flowing  curves  to  a  threefold  coil  at  the 
end  like  the  coil  of  a  serpent's  tail.  At 
the  other  end  the  ridge  divides  to  a  pair 
of  jaws  which  are  open,  and  in  the  act  of 
swallowing  an  oval  figure.  The  oval  is 
very  nearly  perfect  in  form,  being  one 
hundred  and  three  feet  in  one  diameter  and 
thirty-nine  in  the  other.  The  embank- 
ment is  about  five  feet  high  at  the  center, 
and  a  little  less  at  the  extremities.  It  is 
about  thirty  feet  wide  at  its  base,  and  lies 
upon  the  bank  of  Brush  Creek,  occupy- 
ing a  sort  of  long  projecting  bluff  by  the 
side  of  that  stream.  In  Licking  County, 
in  the  same  State,  there  is  what  is  known 
as  the  Alligator  Mound,  with  a  body  two 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  long  and  forty  feet 
wide,  and  legs,  each  thirty-six  feet  in 
length.  The  other  mounds  which  have 
been  referred  to,  are  of  all  shapes  and 
sizes.  They  are  four,  six,  eight-sided, 
square,  rectangular  or  circular.  Most 
mounds  show  traces  of  having  been 
ascended  by  a  spiral  or  a  graded  path. 
We  come  to  some,  square  or  otherwise^ 
which  have  a  long,  inclined  bank  of  earth 
leading  from  some  distance  away  from 
the  base  up  to  the  top.  We  also  come  to 
others  in  Mississippi,  which  are  connected 
by  long  causeways  leading  from  the 


54 


/NTRODUCTORT  STUDIES. 


summit  of   one   mound  to  the  summit  of 
the  next. 

But  what  were  the  uses  of  these  struc- 
tures? The  answer  to  this  question  is  in 
some  cases  very  clearly  discerned.  Many 
of  the  mounds  were  undoubtedly  sepul- 
chral or  mortuary.  The  remains  of  hu- 
man bodies  are  found  in  them  in  such  po- 
sitions as  to  indicate  that  the  mounds  were 
constructed  for  their  burial.  Sepulchral 
urns  of  considerable  beauty  are  found  in 
numbers.  Other  mounds  probably  served 


SEPULCHKAL  URN  FROM  LAPORTE,  INDIANA. 

[Foster's  Prehistoric  Races.] 

as  the  bases  of  great  temples,  which  have 
now  fallen  wholly  to  dust ;  or  were  used 
as  platforms  for  the  performance  of  sac- 
rificial rites,  perhaps  to  elevate  the  holy 
ceremonies  to  the  view  of  large  multi- 
tudes. In  some  sections  the  great  public 
buildings  or  communal  dwellings  may 
have  been  situated  upon  the  largest 
plateau  mounds.  Evidences  of  this"  are 
found  in  Mexico  and  Central  America, 
where  the  structures  upon  similar  mounds 
were  built  of  more  enduring  materials 
than  were  used  in  the  Mississippi  Valley. 
There  are  other  elevations  which  may 
have  served  as  signal  or  lookout  stations. 
They  are  so  situated  as  to  command  ex- 
tensive views,  and  were  probably  Obser- 
vation Mounds.  One  of  our  best  and 
most  enthusiastic  students  of  American 
Archaeology  thinks  that  the  animal  struc- 


tures are  the  totems  of  the  clans  of  the 
several  regions,  and  that  complete  sys- 
tems of  these  totem  mounds  will  be  dis- 
covered when  their  relative  positions  are 
fully  investigated.  Other  purposes  than  the 
above  may  have  been  served  by  portions 
of  this  extensive  class  of  remains. 

Another  class  of  works  demands  equal 
attention.  In  exploring  the  regions  where 
the  mounds  are  situated,  immense  inclos- 
ures  reveal  themselves.  It  is  estimated 
that  there  are  fifteen  hundred  in  Ohio 
alone.  They  consist  of  embankments  of 
earth  or  stone,  often  with  ditches  either 
inside  or  outside.  Near  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
are  what  have  been  known  as  the  Hope- 
ton  Works.  There  is  a  circle  containing 
twenty  acres.  Touching  one  side  of  the 
circle  lies  a  square,  which  likewise  con- 
tains twenty  acres.  At  the  point  where 
square  and  circle  meet,  two  parallel  em- 
bankments start,  and  run  for  quite  a  dis- 
tance. Other  celebrated  inclosures  are 
near  Newark,  Ohio.  About  one  mile 
west  of  the  town  is  a  very  extensive  sys- 
tem. There  is  a  circle  one  mile  in  cir- 
cumference, the  embankment  being  ten 
or  twelve  feet  high,  and  sloping  at  an 
angle  of  forty-five  degrees.  The  summit 
is  wide  enough  for  one  person  to  walk 
upon.  There  is  an  entrance  one  hundred 
feet  wide,  from  which  the  walls  extend 
in  a  direct  line  outwardly,  a  distance  of 
ninety  feet,  with  a  height  of  twenty  feet. 
Around  the  inside  ot  the  embankment  is 
quite  a  deep  ditch,  and  on  the  side  next 
the  bank  is  a  narrow  pavement  of  cobble 
stones.  In  the  center  of  the  level  ground 
within  the  circle,  is  a  small  elevation 
about  five  feet  high,  in  the  form  of  a  bird 
with  outstretched  wings.  A  gentleman 
from  Newark  says  that  "the  whole  ap- 
pearance of  the  structure  indicates  that 
its  form  has  not  materially  changed  by 


PREHISTORIC  AMERICA. 


55 


lapse  of  time;  the  angles  are  sharp  and 
clear;  and  but  for  the  massive  trees  and 
decayed  trunks  upon  the  hanks,  the  visi- 
tor might  imagine  himself  looking  upon 
a  work  of  recent  date."  About  half  a 
mile  from  this  inclosure  is  another  one. 
There  is,  as  above,  a  circle  nearly  as  large. 
There  is  also  half  a  square,  the  other  half 
having  been  destroyed  by  the  plow. 
The  square  and  the  circle  are  con- 


through  the  long  avenue.  From  this,  an 
entrance  was  made  into  the  square. 
From  the  square,  the  circle's  interior  was 
hidden  because  of  the  breastwork.  But 
passing  around  the  breastwork  through 
the  connecting  avenue,  passage  was  made 
into  what  seems  to  have  been  the  inmost 
retreat  of  all.  If  anything  was  sacred, 
it  was  within  that  circle.  If  there 
were  any  religious  rites  they  were  un- 


ANCIENT   WORKS   AT   MARIETTA,    OHIO. 

[Foster's  Prehistoric  Races.] 


nected  by  an  avenue  two  hundred  or 
more  feet  long,  and  one  hundred  feet 
wide.  In  the  wall  of  the  circle  opposite 
the  entrance  from  the  square,  is  a  mound 
twenty  feet  high.  Just  within  the  square, 
and  hiding  from  any  one  standing  in  its 
center  the  interior  of  the  circle,  is  a  breast- 
work running  across  the  entrance,  one 
hundred  feet  or  more  in  length.  Beyond 
the  square,  two  parallel  ridges  run  away 
for  nearly  three  miles.  From  the  arrange- 
ment we  judge  that  the  approach  was 


doubtedly  connected  with  the  circle.  At 
Cedar  Bank,  Ohio,  there  are  thirty-two 
acres  inclosed  by  an  embankment  inside 
of  which  is  a  mound  two  hundred  and 
forty-five  feet  long,  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  broad.  Near  Liberty,  Ohio,  is  ' 
a  series  of  circles  running  into  each  other, 
and  covering  sixty  acres  of  land.  A  square 
containing  twenty-seven  acres,  lies  in  the 
midst  of  them.  Extensive  works  were 
found  between  the  Ohio  and  Muskingum 
Rivers,  on  the  site  of  Marietta,  Ohio. 


56 


2NTRODUCTORT  STUDIES. 


The  inclosures  covered  about  seventy-five 
acres  in  a  beautiful  situation,  and  presented 
the  features  which  have  already  been  de- 
scribed in  connection  with  other  remains, 
except  that  four  mounds  in  the  shape  of 
truncated  pyramids  were  within  the  larg- 
est inclosure.  This  form  is  more  peculiar 
to  the  Southern  States  and  Mexico. 
These  works  were  mostly  removed  in 
founding  and  building  Marietta.  Three 
mounds  were  retained  by  special  arrange- 
ment. Near  Randolph,  Indiana,  is  a  rec- 
tangular embankment,  with  an  entrance 
guarded  by  a  ridge  which  starts  from  one 
side,  runs  out  in  the  form  of  a  small 
square,  and  comes  back  nearly  to  the 
other  side  of  the  entrance.  It  forms  a 
complete  vestibule.  Besides  these  regular 
inclosures,  there  are  upon  the  summits 
of  hills,  heavy  embankments,  evidently 
meant  for  fortification,  and  shaped  accord- 
ing to  the  contour  of  the  hill-top.  In 
such  cases,  the  entrances  are  guarded  by 
protruding  lines  which  run  out  from  one 
side  and  the  other,  alternately,  over-lap- 
ping each  other,  the  whole  made  more 
secure  by  an  outer  raised  breastwork 
covering  the  passage-way.  Such  an  one 
is  found  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  inclosing 
sixteen  acres  upon  the  top  of  a  hill,  the 
approach  to  which,  along  a  narrow  neck 
of  land,  is  heavily  protected  in  the  man- 
ner just  indicated.  These  are  a  few  out 
of  the  great  many  inclosures  in  the 
country,  some  of  which  contain  as  many 
as  four  hundred  acres  each.  Except  those 
which  were  for  defence,  they  are  in  exact 
geometrical  figures,  showing  on  the  part 
of  the  builders  a  desire  for  regularity,  and 
a  knowledge  of  the  means  by  Which  it 
could  be  attained. 

In  1848  the  announcement  was  first 
made  that  evidences  of  ancient  copper 
mining  had  been  discovered  in  the  re- 


gion of  Lake  Superior.  Mr.  S.  O. 
Knapp,  agent  of  the  Minnesota  Mining 
Company,  stated  that  excavations  had 
been  found  which  were  evidently  made 
by  human  beings  at  a  remote  period. 
Upon  investigation,  numerous  pits  filled 
with  leaves  and  other  rubbish  were  traced 
along  the  veins  of  copper  at  the  surface 
of  the  earth.  They  very  readily  es- 
caped attention  except  by  a  close  scru- 
tiny, but  upon  being  cleaned  out,  stone 
mauls  and  other  implements  were  found 
in  them.  The  knowledge  concerning 
these  pits  has  been  constantly  increasing. 
Some  are  small.  Others  are  very  large, 
being  fifteen  feet  deep,  and  more  than  a 
hundred  feet  wide.  The  deposits  within 
them  indicate  great  age.  An  excavation 
twelve  feet  deep,  fifteen  feet  high,  and 
twenty-five  feet  long,  was  found  upon  the 
side  of  a  bluff.  In  front  was  a  large  pile 
of  excavated  rock,  some  of  the  pieces  of 
which  were  so  large,  that  they  must  have 
been  removed  by  means  of  levers.  Large 
blocks  of  metal,  and  stone  mauls  with 
grooves  around  them,  were  found.  An- 
other excavation,  thirty  feet  deep,  and 
partially  filled  with  decayed  wood  and 
earthy  deposits,  was  discovered.  A 
mass  of  copper  weighing  nearly  six  tons, 
was  found  to  have  been  raised  some  dis- 
tance above  the  bottom  of  the  excavation, 
and  to  be  resting  upon  skids,  which  were 
evidently  adjusted  by  means  of  wedges. 
The  upper  surface  of  the  mass  had  been 
thoroughly  beaten,  and  an  edge  was 
turned  down  around  it.  A  stone  maul, 
weighing  thirty-six  pounds,  and  having  a 
double  groove  around  it,  was  found'  in  the 
debris.  Trees  were  growing  in  the  rub- 
bish and  excavated  matter,  which  showed 
an  age  of  three  hundred  and  four  hun- 
dred years.  These  ancient  mines  will 
probably  be  found  in  abundance  in  por- 


PREHISTORIC  AMERICA. 


57 


tions  of  the  forest  which  the  modern 
miners  have  not  yet  penetrated.  There 
are  no  evidences  of  residence  at  the  mines, 
in  the  ruins  of  cities,  mounds,  or  roads. 
But  copper,  which  is  known  to  be  Lake 
Superior  copper  by  the  spots  of  silver  in 
it,  has  been  found  in  most  of  the  mounds 
of  the  Middle  and  Southern  States.  It 
seems  to  have  been  wrought  cold,  in  every 
instance.  It  is  thought,  therefore,  that  the 
mines  must  have  been  worked  by  annual 
expeditions  from  the  warmer  regions 
of  the  South.  These  mines  must  have 
been  deserted,  also,  centuries  before  the 
first  Jesuit  missionaries  visited  the  region. 
The  Indians  had  a  slight  amount  of  cop- 
per in  use,  but  they  seemed  neither  to 
know  of  these  ancient  mines,  nor  how  to 
mine  in  any  place.  They  took  only  what 
they  found  lying  at  hand,  upon  the  surface, 
in  places  where  they  stumbled  upon  it.  It 
is  now  known,  also,  that  the  Mound 
Builders  mined  in  North  Carolina  for  the 
mica  which  is  found  in  large  slabs  in 
many  of  their  mounds,  and  seems  to  have 
had  a  sacred  value  in  their  eyes.  The 
present  supply  of  the  country  is  largely 
obtained  from  the  same  localities. 

There  are  several  arguments  used  in 
determining  the  age  of  all  these  works. 
The  trees  which  are  found  growing  upon 
them  are  carefully  studied.  Instances  of 
trees  with  two  hundred  and  fifty,  three 
hundred  and  fifty,  and  even  eight  hundred 
rings  of  annual  growth,  have  been  found, 
rooted  directly  in  embankments.  But 
these  aged  trees  only  carry  us  back  to  the 
time  when  the  region  had  become  an 
entire  wilderness,  not  to  the  close  of  the 
ancient  civilization.  It  has  been  shown 
that  the  growth  of  a  forest  and  the 
change  of  vegetation  would  indicate  a 
period  much  greater  than  the  age  of  any 
single  tree  now  known.  In  some  cases 


evidences  of  successive  generations  of 
trees  are  found  in  fallen  and  decaying 
trunks.  Many  of  the  mortuary  mounds 
have  been  opened,  and  portions  of  skele- 
tons found  within  them,  but  in  such  a  con- 
dition as  to  show  great  age,  often  crumb- 
ling to  dust  upon  exposure  to  the  air.  It 
was  formerly  stated  that  no  one  of  these 
remains  was  to  be  found  upon  the  lowest 
river-terrace  of  the  present  day.  But 
this  has  since  been  shown  to  be  a  mis- 
take, as  traces  of  mounds  are  known  to 
exist  in  several  such  places.  This  shows 
how  cautiously  statements  must  be  made 
as  to  the  age  and  origin  of  these  works. 
Horace  Greeley  once  visited  the  remains 
near  Newark,  Ohio,  saying  before  he 
went  that  he  could  easily  tell  by  whom  and 
when  they  were  built.  When  he  reached 
the  spot,  he  silently  surveyed  the  whole, 
noted  the  evidence  of  some  kind  of 
engineering  skill,  the  correctness  of  the 
forms,  the  great  trees  growing  out  of  the 
ridges,  together  with  fallen  and  decayed 
ones  lying  in  different  directions,  and  last 
of  all,  the  inside  paved  ditch.  He  then 
sat  down  and  wrote  a  detailed  description 
of  it  for  the  New  York  Tribune,  Some 
one  looked  over  his  shoulder  to  see  what 
explanation  he  would  append  to  his  de- 
scription, and  read  as  follows :  "  As  to 
the  origin,  by  whom  built,  and  for  what 
purpose,  all  we  can  say  is,  '  It  is  here.' " 
This  was  the  end  of  one  attempted  solution 
of  the  mystery.  It  seems  to  be  certain 
that  the  close  of  this  ancient  civilization 
must  have  been  at  least  a  thousand  years 
ago. 

The  Indians  have  no  knowledge  or 
traditions  concerning  the  origin  of  the 
mounds  and  inclosurcs  which  have  been 
described.  They  seem  to  be  utterly  igno- 
rant of  the  construction  of  them.  Some 
students  think  that  this  fact  conclusively 


INTRODUCTORT  STUDIES. 


shows  that  these  curious  works  were 
produced  neither  by  the  Indians  nor  their 
ancestors.  Others  think  it  to  be  incon- 
clusive, because  of  the  instances  in  which 
the  Indians  have  lost  all  tradition  of  events 
in  a  previous  generation.  The  truth 
seems  to  be  that  they  would  not  lose 
knowledge  or  tradition  concerning  what 
must  have  been  such  an  intimate  part  of 
a  nation's  life  and  work,  from  generation 
to  generation,  as  the  construction  of  these 
elevations  and  defences.  The  Indians 
have  in  a  few  cases  built  mounds,  but 
only  to  a  very  limited  extent.  They 
have  never  been,  since  they  were  known 
to  Europeans,  a  mound-building  people. 
They  also  covered  the  whole  country, 
while  the  Mound  Builders  filled  the 
central  valleys  of  the  United  States. 
These,  and  other  indications  found  in  the 
character  of  the  works,  seem  to  affirm  a 
great  distinctness  between  the  life  of  the 
Mound  Builders,  and  that  of  the  Indian 
races  of  the  United  States,  too  great  to  be 
bridged  by  any  supposable  period  of  time. 
The  great  centers  of  population  occu- 
pied by  the  Mound  Builders  are  as  well- 
known  as  are  the  centers  of  population 
to-day.  The  best  sections  of  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  Valleys,  and  of  the  States 
bordering  upon  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  are 
filled  with  works  which  attest  a  large 
and  busy  population.  The  outlying  com- 
munities swept  over  large  areas,  more  or 
less  thinly,  but  the  central  seats  swarmed 
with  inhabitants.  The  outer  limits  of 
their  occupation  aie  not  certainly  known, 
for  the  whole  field  has  not  yet  been  thor- 
oughly investigated.  The  thickly  popu- 
lated regions  are,  however,  known  beyond 
any  possibility  of  contradiction.  From 
all  appearances,  the  Mound  Builders  came 
in  to  occupy  the  land  with  settled  govern- 
ment or  governments,  and  only  disap- 


peared because  they  were  obliged  to  give 
way  before  an  overpowering  force.  The 
numerous  great  elevations  and  inclosures 
which  they  erected  with  such  energy, 
were  not  meant  to  be  transiently  occupied. 
The  evidences  are  all  in  favor  of  a  settled 
habitation.  The  Mound  Builders  must 
also  have  been  given  to  the  arts  of  peace. 
Their  civilization  inclosed  enough  of 
religious  and  secular  effort  within  its 
bosom,  to  make  them  capable  of  sustain- 
ing the  large  amounts  of  unproductive 
labor  used  in  erecting  the  works  we  now 
gaze  upon  with  such  curiosity.  Agricul- 
tural and  trade  relations  must  have  existed. 
So  many  citizens  as  must  have  been 
employed  in  labor  which  would  not 
directly  yield  food,  could  not  have  been 
sustained  by  the  chase  in  a  country  filled 
with  people.  Copper,  which  is  known 
to  have  been  mined  at  Lake  Superior, 
has  been  found  in  Peru.  Obsidian,  which 
has  been  found  in  the  mounds,  cannot,  to 
present  knowledge,  be  obtained  in  the 
central  valleys  of  the  United  States.  The 
inference  is  clear  that  a  trade  must  have 
existed  along  the  continent;  if  in  stones 
and  metals,  then  in  other  products  like- 
wise. The  intelligence  of  the  Mound 
Builders  must  have  been  of  a  somewhat 
high  type.  Many  of  their  structures 
exhibit  a  knowledge  of,  and  taste  for, 
form,  which  could  not  have  been  at  all 
incidental,  but  were  to  all  appearances 
inherent  elements  of  their  civilization. 
Inclosures  and  mounds  exhibit  an  accu- 
racy which  is,  sometimes,  when  the  great 
extent  covered  is  regarded,  very  surpris- 
ing. A  recent  writer  states  that  they 
must  have  had  knowledge  sufficient  to 
enable  them  to  lay  out  an  exact  circle 
before  building  any  part  of  it,  as  some 
remains  are  found  which  indicate  that 
different  parties  began  throwing  up  the 


PREHISTORIC  AMERICA. 


59 


wall  at  different  points  of  the  circumfer- 
ence at  the  same  time.  Favorite  sizes 
appear  in  their  structures.  They  must 
have  had  a  way  of  estimating  amounts 
and  laying  out  plots  of  land.  Their 
defensive  inclosures  upon  the  summits  of 
headlands  or  bluffs  are  irregular,  accord- 
ing to  the  contour  of  the  height  to  be 
fortified.  These,  and  the  animal,  or  sym- 
bolic, or  totem,  mounds,  are  the  only  cases 


the  marks  of  fire.  The  government, 
undoubtedly,  had  a  great  sway  over  the 
people  through  its  alliance  with  some 
extensive  religious  ideas  and  forms.  The 
home-life  of  the  Mound  Builders  is  a 
thing  of  the  unknown,  through  the  entire 
obliteration  of  buildings  which  served 
them  for  dwellings.  The  only  conjecture 
possible  is,  that  it  may  have  been  com- 
munal in  abodes  erected  of  perishable 


COPPER  IMPLEMENTS  OF  WARFARE  AND  THE  CHASE. 

[Foster's  Prehistoric  Races.] 


in  which  they  varied  from  regular  geo- 
metrical figures. 

The  presence  of  some  great  religious 
convictions  and  ceremonies,  is  dimly  seen 
in  the  remains  of  their  civilization.  The 
exact  form  and  nature  are  unknown,  but 
the  element  is  known.  Mounds  are  found 
which  seem  to  have  been  used  for  altar 
purposes.  Sacrificial  rites  are  judged  to 
have  entered  into  the  life  of  the  day. 
Sacred  ceremonies  appear  to  have  been 
used  in  the  burial  of  the  dead.  In  burial 
mounds  ashes  are  found  in  vases,  accom- 
panied by  other  substances,  which  show 


material  upon  some  of  the  large  platform 
mounds.  This  is  also  in  accord  with  the 
supposed  purposes  of  some  of  the  more 
durable  buildings  found  on  similar  plat- 
forms in  Mexico  and  Central  America. 
The  relation  of  members  of  the  family 
to  each  other,  the  rearing  of  children,  the 
training  of  the  young  in  skill  and  knowl- 
edge, and  other  associated  things,  are 
hidden  in  deepest  mystery. 

It  is  clearly  seen  that  the  Mound 
Builders  were  of  a  military  character 
sufficiently  pronounced  to  attempt  the 
fortification  of  their  possessions,  and  the 


60 


I  NT  ROD  UC  TOR  T  S  TUDIES. 


skillful  defence  of  them  against  invaders. 
Blazing  fires  on  the  tops  of  signal  mounds, 
lighted  one  after  the  other  in  quick 
succession,  would  expose  the  enemy's 
approach.  Defensive  inclosures  along 
the  frontier,  kept  back  the  foe  who 
attempted  the  conquest  of  the  country. 
Stone  and  copper  weapons  are  found.  A 
people  capable  of  mining  copper  so  suc- 
cessfully in  a  region  beyond  their  own 


viewing  distant  objects,  together  with 
numerous  other  articles.  Some  of  the 
weapons  are  finely  made.  Some  of  their 
vessels  are  handsomely  ornamented. 
Stone  mauls,  wooden  shovels  and  other 
mining  tools,  are  found  in  the  Lake 
Superior  region.  Iron,  galena  and  chert, 
are  known  to  have  been  used  to  a  lim- 
ited extent.  Sculpture  has  appeared  in 
some  of  the  remains.  Figures  occur 


STONE  AXES. 

[Foster's  Prehistoric  Races.] 


proper  territory,  must  have  been  of  suf- 
ficient energy  to  at  least  make  a  brave 
stand  against  assaults.  This  much  we 
can  see;  but  the  swaying  of  passions  in 
war,  the  rallying  of  the  communities  to 
the  defense  of  their  beautifully  chosen 
sites  and  laboriously  constructed  works, 
the  success  or  downfall  of  military  chief- 
tains, have  all  passed  into  oblivion. 

The  mechanical  and  artistic  products 
of  the  Mound  Builders  are  constantly 
increasing  through  the  opening  of  mounds 
and  careful  search  for  remains.  Copper 
implements  are  very  plentiful.  In  dif- 
ferent excavations  have  been  found  chis- 
els, gouges,  rimmers  of  many  patterns, 
pestles,  gads,  axes,  spear-heads  and 
arrow-heads,  triangular,  barbed,  indented, 
knives,  bracelets,  pipes,  vessels  of  all 
kinds,  ornaments  of  great  variety,  tubes 
either  for  long  beads  and  whistles  or  for 


upon  their  vessels  and  other  constructions. 
Cloth-weaving  was  evidently  known. 
The  imprint  of  cloth  texture  has  been 
repeatedly  found.  This  was  an  art 
unknown  to  the 
Indians.  Slabs, 
with  hieroglyphic 
characters  upon 
them,  are  among 
the  more  recent 
accu  mulations, 
but  there  is  much 
dispute  over  them 
as  yet,  and  so 
much  uncertain- 
ty, as  to  keep  them  from  being  put  into 
the  absolutely  genuine  relics.  Mortuary 
remains  are  greatly  sought  after  and 
studied.  Skulls  have  been  exhumed  with 
great  care.  The  attempt  has  been  made 
to  get  a  cast  of  the  form  of  a  Mound 


SCULPTURED   PIPE. 

[Foster's  Prehistoric  Races.] 


PREHISTORIC  AMERICA. 


61 


Builder,  with  partial  success,  by  the  use 

of  clay. 

But  with  all  the  light  yet  gained  there 

is  much  doubt  attending  the-  life  of  the 
Mound  Builders.  Are  the 
remains  chronologically  of 
the  same,  or  of  different 
periods  ?  What  significance 
did  the  emblematic  eleva- 
tions have  ?  What  were  the 
political  forms  of  govern- 
ment? Was  there  one 
great  government,  or  were 
there  several  distinct,  yet 

CLOTH  FROM  OHIO  harmonious   peoples? 
MOUNDS.         Whence  did  they  come,  and 

[Fosters    Prehis-  J 

toric Races.]  whither  did  they  go?  If 
they  were  united,  stable,  industrious,  how 
did  they  lose  their  territory?  These  and 
other  questions  can  only  be  answered  sug- 
gestively. The  Mound  Builders  were,  in 
great  likelihood,  the  overflow  of  earlier 
Mexican  races,  and  were  pushed  back 
from  *our  fertile  valleys  by  the  fiercer, 
bloodier  Indian,  whose  tradition  asserts 
that  a  previous  people  was  in  possession 
of  North  America  when  he  came  into  it. 

The  territory  of  the  United  States  west 
of  the  Mississippi  River,  contains  another 
large  class  of  remains  which  to  the  arch- 
aeologist possess  a  fascination  quite  equal 
to  that  which  attaches  to  the  remains  of 
the  Mound  Builders.  In  some  respects 
the  interest  is  a  more  peculiar  one.  For 
while  mounds  of  all  patterns  and  for  all 
purposes,  and  inclosures  regular  and 
irregular,  present  many  baffling  questions, 
yet  new  features,  possessing  a  vastly  more 
romantic  spell,  have  been  discovered  in 
the  Southwestern  territories  of  the  United 
States  by  the  scientific  explorations  of  the 
last  half  dozen  years.  Through  large 
portions  of  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  Utah, 
and  the  State  of  Colorado,  exist  curious 


structures,  only  a  small  part  of  which 
were  known  before  1874.  Some  of  the 
most  unique  were  not  known  at  all  till 
that  date.  The  entire  remains  may  be 
enumerated  as  Casas  Grandes,  pueblos, 
cave-houses,  cliff-houses,  and  elevated  tow- 
ers. The  pueblos  have  been  known  for 
a  long  time.  Some  of  them  are  inhab- 
ited at  the  present  day.  Upon  the  river 
Zuni,  between  the  stream  and  tall  cliffs 
in  the  rear,  stands  the  pueblo  town  of 
Zuni.  Near  the  site  of  this  modern 
pueblo  can  be  traced  the  ruins  of  what 
are  supposed  to  be  the  "  seven  cities  of 
Cibola,"  which  Coronado  visited  in  1540, 
and  which  caused  so  much  speculation  in 
his  time.  Through  the  different  terri- 
tories quite  a  large  number  of  pueblos  are 
inhabited,  but  many  are  everywhere  seen 
in  ruins.  It  appears  that  their  occupants 
have  slowly  been  reduced  in  numbers  till 
they  are  obliged  to  give  up  one  after 
another  of  their  towns.  The  pueblo 
buildings  are  large  stone  structures,  raised 
to  a  height  of  two,  and  sometimes  three 
stories.  The  lower  one  projects  beyond 
the  upper  and  is  entered  from  this  plat- 
form roof  through  trap-doors.  The 
ascent  is  made  to  the  roof  on  the  out- 
side by  means  of  ladders.  There  are  no 
entrances  in  the  walls  of  the  lower  story. 
Each  pueblo  has  a  large  number  of 
rooms,  sufficient  for  the  accommodation  of 
quite  a  townful  of  people.  These  rooms 
open  into  one  another  in  various  ways, 
indicating  a  certain  community  of  life. 
The  buildings  are  made  of  stone,  covered 
over  quite  heavily  with  mud.  It  is 
thought  that  some  of  them  had  as  many 
as  one  thousand  rooms  each.  The  pueb- 
los usually  cover  three  sides  of  a  rectangle, 
but  vary  from  this  to  a  circular  form. 
The  full  extent  of  these  pueblo  ruins 
has  by  no  means  been  known  till  very 


INTRODUCTORY  STUDIES. 


recently.  They  have  been  discovered  in 
out-of-the-way  recesses  in  the  river  can- 
yons where  least  suspected.  Around  them 
are  found  a  great  many  piles  and  frag- 
ments of  broken  pottery.  Beautiful  ar- 
row-heads are  in  some  places  picked  up 


In  the  valley  or  trie  Gila  in  Southern 
Arizona,  and  in  Chihuahua  i«  Mexico,  are 
found  the  ruins  of  a  class  of  structures 
known  as  Casas  Grandes.  Unlike  the 
pueblos  further  north,  which  are  almost 
uniformly  built  of  stone,  these  were  built 


ANCIENT   IDOL   AND   ALTAR   AT   COPAN. 


in  abundance.  Rock  inscriptions  occur 
at  different  points  on  the  faces  of  the 
cliffs.  The  pottery  is  found  to  have  been 
ornamented  with  work  in  relief.  Fig- 
ures of  small  animals  have  been  found 
upon  finely  shaped  vases. 


of  adobe  or  mud.  Wherever  the  walls 
have  fallen,  the  blocks  of  mud  have 
washed  back  to  shapeless  earth  again. 
But  enough  walls  are  still  standing  to 
make  it  certain  that  many  large  edifices 
filled  the  region.  In  some  cases  the  out- 


PREHISTORIC  AMERICA. 


63 


lines  can  be  made  out  quite  clearly.  They 
present  plans  similar  to  those  of  the  pueb- 
los. The  pottery  found  in  the  vicinity 
was  decorated  by  painting  in  a  superior 
manner  to  anything  now  made.  The 

problems  pre- 
sented  by 
these  ruins  are 
entirely  simi- 
lar to  those 
presented  by 
the  pueblos. 
T  he-cliff 


C  a  V  6     dwell- 


ANCIENT    VESSEL    FROM    SAN   JOSE, 
NEW    MEXICO. 

[Foster's  Prehistoric  Races.] 

ings  of  those  same  great  regions  have 
scarcely  been  known  till  since  1874.  No 
more  unique  abodes  are  found  in  the 
world  than  some  of  the  ones  discovered 
by  United  States  exploring  parties  in  that 
and  subsequent  years.  The  precipitous 
walls  of  the  river  canyons  are  the  chief 
points  where  these  dwellings  are  situated. 
One  of  the  cliff  houses  in  the  canyon  of 
the  Mancos  River  is  described  as  built 
"  over  six  hundred  feet  from  the  bottom 
of  the  canyon  in  a  niche  in  the  wall.  Five 
hundred  feet  of  the  ascent  to  this  aerial 
dwelling  was  comparatively  easy,  but  a 
hundred  feet  of  almost  perpendicular  wall 
confronted  the  party,  up  which  they  could 
never  have  climbed  but  for  the  fact  that 
they  found  a  series  of  steps  cut  in  the  face 
of  the  rock  leading  up  to  the  ledge  upon 
which  the  house  was  built.  This  ledge 
was  ten  feet  wide  by  twenty  feet  in 
length,  with  a  vertical  space  between  it 
and  the  overhanging  rock,  of  fifteen  feet. 
The  house  occupied  only  half  this  space, 
the  remainder  having  been  used  as  an 
esplanade,  and  once  was  inclosed  by  a 
balustrade  resting  on  abutments  built 
partly  upon  the  sloping  face  of  the  preci- 
pice below.  The  house  was  but  twelve 


feet  high,  and  two-storied.  Though  the 
walls  did  not  reach  up  to  the  rock  above, 
it  is  uncertain  whether  it  ever  had  any 
other  roof.  The  ground  plan  showed  a 
front  room  of  six  by  nine  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, in  the  rear  of  which  were  two 
smaller  rooms,  each  measuring  five  by 
seven  feet.  The  left-hand  room  pro- 
jected along  the  cliff  beyond  the  front 
room  in  the  form  of  an  L.  The  rock  of 
the  cliff  served  as  the  rear  wall  of  the 
house.  The  cedar  beams,  upon  which 
the  upper  floor  had  rested,  had  nearly  all 
disappeared.  The  door  opening  upon 
the  esplanade  was  but  twenty  by  thirty 
inches  in  size,  while  a  window  in  the 
same  story  was  but  twelve  inches  square. 
A  window  in  the  upper  story  which  com- 
mands an  extended  view  down  the  canyon 
corresponds  in  dimensions  and  position 
with  the  door  below.  The  lintels  of  the 
window  were  small,  straight  cedar  sticks 
laid  close  together,  upon  which  the  stones 
rested.  Opposite  this  window  was  another 
and  smaller  one,  opening  into  a  semi-circu- 
lar cistern,  formed  by  a  wall  inclosing  the 
angle  formed  by  the  side  wall  of  the 
house  against  the  rock,  and  holding  about 
two  and  a  half  hogsheads.  The  bottom 
of  the  reservoir  was  reached  by  descend- 
ing on  a  series  of  cedar  pegs  about  one 
foot  apart,  and  leading  downward  from 
the  window.  The  workmanship  of  the 
structure  was  of  a  superior  order ;  the  per- 
pendiculars were  true  ones  and  the  angles 
carefully  squared.  The  mortar  used  was 
of  a  grayish  white  color,  very  compact  and 
adhesive.  Some  little  taste  was  evinced  by 
the  occupants  of  this  human  swallow's 
nest.  The  front  rooms  were  plastered 
smoothly  with  a  thin  layer  of  firm  adobe 
cement,  colored  a  deep  maroon,  while  a 
white  band  eight  inches  wide  had  been 
painted  around  the  room  at  both  floor  and 


64  INTRODUCTORY  STUDIES. 

An  examination  of  the  immedi- 


ceiling. 

ate  vicinity  revealed  the  ruins  of  half  a 
dozen  similar  dwellings  in  the  ledges  of 
the  cliffs,  some  of  them  occupying  posi- 
tions, the  inaccessibility  of  which  must 
ever  be  a  wonder  when  considered  as 
places  of  residence  for  human  beings." 


with  considerable  difficulty,  and  many 
with  great  danger.  The  walls  of  the 
houses  upon  the  very  edges  of  precipices 
are  firm  and  strong  to-day.  It  is  fre- 
quently found  that  crevices  in  the  face  of 
the  cliffs  have  been  walled  up  with  small 
stones,  to  keep,  it  may  be,  intruders  from 


ANCIENT  RUIN  IN   YUCATAN. 


This  detailed  description,  from  a  standard 
authority  made  up  from  the  reports  of  the 
surveyors,  gives  an  idea  of  this  class  of 
abodes,  which  are  found  in  great  abund- 
ance in  the  river  valleys  of  our  South- 
western territories.  Some  of  them  were 
reached  only  by  descending  from  the  top 
of  the  cliff.  All  of  them  are  reached 


ascending  in  unexpected  directions. 
Clusters  of  cliff-houses  are  sometimes 
found,  indicating  village  life.  At  certain 
points  it  is  impossible  to  see  how  any 
human  beings  could  have  scaled  the 
dizzy  heights  to  gain  their  abodes. 

The  cave-houses  differ  little   from  the 
cliff-houses,  except  that  instead  of  being 


PREHISTORIC  AMERICA. 


65 


built  on  a  shelf  of  the  cliff,  they  are  built  in 
an  opening  into  the  face  of  the  cliff  walled 
up  more  or  less  to  form  a  secure  dwell- 
ing. Some  of  them  are  quite  extensive 
and  seem  to  have  been  intended  to  serve 
as  fortified  places  in  time  of  danger. 
They  are  found  in  caves  eight  hundred 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  valley  be- 
low. Some  were  evidently  reached  by 
little  holes  cut  in  the  surface  of  the  cliff. 
In  the  valley  of  the  Chelley  a  large  cave 
village  evidently  existed  in  a  cave  which 
extends  along  the  cliff  for  quite  a  distance. 

Through  these  regions  are  also  found 
towers  built  on  elevated  places  for  purpo- 
ses of  observation.  Some  of  them  com- 
mand extensive  views.  There  are  in 
certain  sections  of  these  territories  remains 
which  bear  a  certain  resemblance  to  the 
remains  of  the  Mound  Builders  in  the  great 
central  valleys  of  the  United  States. 
The  present  inhabitants  of  the  Moqtii 
and  Zuni  pueblos  have  traditions  which 
link  the  disappearance  of  these  earlier  and 
partially-civilized  tribes  with  the  com- 
ing of  the  more  savage  and  less 
stable  red  Indian.  The  results  of  the 
study  of  these  matters  are,  as  yet,  very 
crude. 

In  the  extent  and  magnificence  of 
ancient  ruins,  Yucatan,  Central  America, 
\vith  portions  of  Mexico,  excel  all  other 
parts  of  the  continent.  The  civilization  of 
ancient  America  seems  to  have  reached 
its  greatest  height  in  those  sections. 
Ruined  cities  have  been  discovered  which 
were  unknown  to  .the  inhabitants  when 
the  Spaniards  pushed  their  way  into  the 
country.  So  secluded  were  they  by  the 
matted  vegetation  which  overgrew  and 
hid  them,  that  they  escaped  the  eyes  of 
travelers  till  comparatively  recent  years. 
In  some  cases  it  was  only  by  accident 
that  persons  in  penetrating  the  tangled 


forests,  came  upon  extensive  ruins,  rich 
in  architectural  and  sculptural  remains. 
Since  the  first  disclosures,  however,  ardent 
students  have  pressed  in  every  direction, 
sometimes  cutting  their  way  through  the 
otherwise  impenetrable  vegetation.  It  is 
known  that  explorers  have  passed  within 
a  half  mile  of  extensive  ruins  without  dis- 
covering them,  so  completely  were  they 
hidden.  But  one  by  one  these  ancient 
cities  and  villages  have  given  themselves 
up,  till  in  Yucatan  alone,  about  twoscore 
have  been  more  or  less  thoroughly  exam- 
ined. Enthusiastic  travelers  have  made 
explorations  and  reports  until  the  ruined 
cities  of  Copan,  Uxmal,  and  Palenque, 
are  well  and  widely  known.  The  first 
mentioned  remains  are  situated  near  a 
village  of  the  same  name,  in  the  Re- 
public of  Honduras,  Central  America. 
A  large  space  sixteen  hundred  feet  long 
and  nine  hundred  feet  wide,  is  covered  by 
the  ruins.  Substantial  walls  inclose  the 
area.  These  ruins  are  thought  to  be 
older  than  any  other  upon  the  continent, 
and  the  time  of  their  abandonment  is  not 
known  with  any  certainty.  A  large  plat- 
form, known  as  the  temple,  occupies  a 
space  six  hundred  and  twenty-four  by 
eight  hundred  and  nine  feet,  and  is 
elevated  to  a  height  of  seventy  feet.  Next 
the  river,  the  wall  of  this  supposed  tem- 
ple is  perpendicular,  but  on  the  other  sides 
the  walls  are  sloping.  It  is  estimated 
that  26,000,000  cubic  feet  of  stone  entered 
into  the  construction  of  this  elevation. 
Depressions  in  the  surface  occur  at  different 
points,  and  figures  and  small  structures  at 
other  points.  Some  of  the  figures  have 
in  front  of  them,  sculptured  stone  blocks, 
which  are  thought  to  have  served  as  altars. 
Elaborate  carvings  abound  on  every  side. 
The  massive  character  of  the  remains 
indicates  engineering  skill  of  considerable 


66 


INTRODUCTORY    STUDIES. 


extent  on  the  part  of  the  huilders.  In  all 
that  section  of  the  continent  stone  was 
used  as  a  building  material.  Hence  the 
solid  character  of  the  ruins.  Yet  they 
suffer  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  region 
to  such  a  degree  as  to  endanger  some  of 


principal  ruin  at  Uxmal  is  a  large  plat- 
form. This  pyramidal  structure  has  two 
terraces  besides  the  summit,  which  is 
over  forty  feet  high.  The  lower  terrace 
is  five  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet  long, 
and  fifteen  feet  wide.  A  temple  stands 


RUIN   AT  TUUJOM   IN   YUCATAN. 


the  finest  relics.     Ignorance  and  indiffer- 
ence threaten  to  do  sad  work. 

Yucatan  is  exceedingly  rich  in  remains. 
Uxmal  is  situated  in  this  region.  The 
ruins  known  by  this  name  are  very  mag- 
nificent. Obelisks,  with  the  face  and 
form  of  some  deity  carved  upon  each,  are 
found  in  numbers.  As  at  Copan,  the 


upon  the  summit  platform,  with  a  front 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty-two  feet. 
The  sculpture  upon  this  temple  is  among 
the  richest  specimens  yet  found  in  ancient 
American  remains.  The  temple  con- 
tains twenty -two  chambers  or  apartments, 
in  two  rows  of  eleven  each.  There  are 
no  windows  in  the  structure,  light  being 


PREHISTORIC  AMERICA. 


admitted  to  the  inner  apartments  through 
the  doors  of  the  outer  ones.  These 
features  occur  in  the  other  ruins  of  the 
region.  Differences  are  found,  but  the 
conclusion  is  quite  certain  that  one  race 
formerly  occupied  all  that  portion  of  the 
continent  now  covered  by  Mexico,  Yuca- 
tan and  Central  America.  Palenque, 
situated  in  the  Mexican  province  of  Chi- 
apas, was  the  first  extensive  ruin  discov- 
ered. The  largest  building  is  supported 
by  a  platform,  as  in  the  other  cases,  and 
bears  a  resemblance  to  the  others. 
Painted  stucco  is  found  in  certain  parts  of 
the  ruins  at  Palenque.  Mitla,  in  the 
State  of  Oajaca,  furnishes  an  example  of 
massive  remains.  Portions  of  the  front 
of  the  palace  are  covered  with  beautiful 
mosaics.  Frescoing  is  also  found.  In 
other  sections  exist  ruins  which  have  not 
yet  been  examined  by  the  archaeologist. 
The  work  will  progress  slowly,  because 
of  the  difficulty  of  making  surveys. 
But  the  examination  of  these  ruins, 
coupled  with  the  study  of  Maya  and 
other  historical  traditions,  promises  to 
throw  still  greater  light  upon  the  period 
of  American  civilization,  once  so  unsus- 
pected. 

In  South  America  the  ruins  through 
the  regions  held  by  the  Peruvian  Incas  at 
the  conquest  of  the  country,  constitute 


67 

the  great  field  of  study.  It  has  been 
maintained  by  eminent  scholars  that  the 
Inca  civilization  was  preceded  by  another, 
to  which  certain  extensive  remains  belong. 
A  thorough  and  final  settlement  will 
require  further  study  of  the  ruins  which 
abound  near  Lake  Titicaca,  and  upon 
the  islands  within  it.  They  are  mas- 
sive, and  very  ancient.  The  ancient 
Peruvians  are  known  to  have  been  intel- 
ligent and  skillful. 

The  American  continent  presents  a 
very  interesting  archaBological  field.  The 
ethnological  researches  of  scholars  will 
bring  a  portion  of  the  ruins  into  the 
clearer  light  of  history.  But  the  haze  of 
uncertainty  will  always  rest  upon  some 
of  them.  The  study  of  the  architecture, 
the  sculpture,  the  hieroglyphics,  the  eth- 
nological traditions  and  records,of  ancient 
America, will  show,  however,  that  nations 
have  risen  and  fallen  on  our  shores,  while 
the  nations  of  the  Old  World  were  going 
through  similar  mutations.  Rise  and 
decline  have  marked  the  pathways  of 
the  leading  nations  of  the  earth,  from  the 
beginning.  The  drama  which  took  place 
in  the  kingdoms  of  the  Orient,  the  North 
African  powers,  Greece  and  Rome,  has 
had  a  part  of  its  great  enactment  within 
our  continent,  in  the  ages  of  Prehistoric 
America. 


SECTION  II. 


*VnW^HEN  Columbus  stepped  upon 
|Af  the  beach  of  San  Salvador,  he 
V  U  supposed  that  he  was  standing 
^\,  uPon  the  s°il  °f  India.  The 
name  Indies  was,  therefore,  very  natu- 
rally applied  by  him  to  the  islands  he 
had  discovered,  and  the  name  Indians  to 
the  inhabitants  of  them.  Through  nearly 
four  centuries  this  term  has  been  univer- 
sally applied  to  the  native  races  of 
America,  having  become,  in  the  course 
of  time,  a  well-settled  designation  for 
them  in  all  ordinary  description.  It 
includes  in  its  use,  all  the  tribes  dwelling 
within  the  Western  continent  at  the  time 
of  its  discovery,  and  covers,  therefore,  the 
Mexicans  and  Peruvians  with  their  appar- 
ent civilization,  as  well  as  the  wilder  tribes 
of  South  America,  and  the  red  men  of 
North  America. 

As  the  American  continent  was  opened 
more  and  more  widely  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  world,  a  great  variety  of  tribes 
was  found  to  exist  within  it.  This  was 
very  noticeable,  even  within  the  few 
islands  to  which  the  first  explorations  of 
Columbus  were  confined.  There  were 
the  peaceable  tribes  of  the  Bahamas  and 
the  larger  West  India  Islands,  and  the 
fiercer,  more  warlike  Caribbee  tribes, 


which  made  their  raids  upon  other  islands- 
for  captives  and  booty.  in  the  single 
island  of  Hayti  these  clans  were  found  in 
a  considerable  number.  Along  the  coast 
were  such  tribes  as  the  one  ruled  by 
Guacanagari  when  Columbus  discovered 
the  island,  -while  in  the  interior,  among 
the  mountains,  were  other  intractable 
ones,  with  whom  no  reliable  intercourse 
could  be  held.  The  same  variety  existed 
throughout  the  entire  continent.  It  was 
most  apparent  in  the  regions  where  the 
least  civilization  was  found.  In  the  vast 
territory  now  covered  by  the  United 
States,  there  were  scores  of  tribes  with  no 
common  center  of  life  and  government. 
This  was  true  in  most  cases,  even  of  those 
tribes  which  belonged  to  the  same  great 
family.  Each  tribe  wandered,  hunted, 
fished,  made  war,  according  to  its  own 
likes  and  dislikes.  But  this  variety  was 
as  real  where  the  great  governments  of 
the  continent  spread  themselves  abroad 
in  power.  Cortes  found  different  tribes 
subject  to  Montezuma,  some  willingly, 
some  unwillingly.  Pizarro  came  upon 
the  same  state  of  things*  in  Peru,  and 
both  leaders  availed  themselves  of  it,  in 
their  respective  conquests. 

Yet  beneath  this  fragmentary  and  jar- 
68 


THE  AMERICAN  ABORIGINES. 


69 


ring  life  of  American  tribes  there  existed 
a  unity  which  was'  real  enough  to  have 
made  thefti  much  stronger  against  the 
•encroachments  of  the  new  comers,  if  they 
had  known  enough  to  have  availed 
themselves  of  it.  There  are  physical, 
.and  to  some  extent,  intellectual  character- 
istics, which  have  been  said  by  many  to 
affirm  an  identity  of  race  throughout  the 
continent.  There  are  similarities  running 
through  the  customs  and  works  of  the 
various  parts  of  the  continent,  which  hint 
at  the  same  thing  quite  clearly.  Mr. 
Lewis  H.  Morgan,  one  of  the  most 
learned  writers  upon  Indian  affairs,  finds 
a  common  principle  running  through  the 
architecture  of  the  American  tribes,  from 
the  perishable  "  long  house  "  of  the  Iro- 
quois  in  Central  New  York,  to  the  "  pue- 
blo houses "  of  New  Mexico,  and  the 
deserted  but  durable  "Palace"  at  Pa- 
lenque,  or  "  Governor's  House"  at  Uxmal, 
in  Central  America.  This  he  names 
the  principle  of  communism  in  living. 
He  finds  it  illustrated  in  the  fact  that  the 
Indians  hunt  in  parties,  and  traces  it  dis- 
tinctly through  other  parts  of  tribal  life 
and  customs.  Dr.  Morton  claims  that 
there  is  a  distinction  in  cranial  character- 
istics which  affirms  a  twofold  race.  Eth- 
nology has  not  yet  settled  this  question. 
Much  discussion  has  been  had  upon  the 
question  of  the  origin  of  the  American 
races.  Theories  bordering  upon  the 
fanciful  have  been  broached  by  writers  of 
great  learning,  who  have  had  curious 
notions  to  support.  Among  these  is  one 
affirming  that  the  Indians  are  descendants 
of  the  ten  lost  tribes  of  Israel.  Mr. 
George  Jones,  of  England,  spent  years  in 
establishing  an  argument  to  that  effect, 
and  finally  issued  it  to  the  public  in  a 
printed  work.  He  but  followed  a  path 
trodden  by  quite  a  number  of  Span- 


ish and  other  writers.  The  subject  is 
wrapped  in  very  great  obscurity.  Little 
light  is  shed  upon  it,  save  by  the  tradi- 
tions of  different  tribes.  •  While  these 
testify  very  clearly  in  some  cases  to  a 
migration,  and  assert  that  it  took  place 
from  the  West,  they  give  no  circumstan- 
ces to  which  certain  knowledge  can  be 
attached.  The  Athabascans,  of  North 
America,  have  perhaps  the  most  clearly- 
defined  tradition  of  a  journey  across  the 
Pacific.  Most  of  the  tribes  of  North 
America,  however,  have  been  found  to 
.  think  that  their  own  acquisition  of  the 
soil  of  this  continent  is  of  a  comparatively 
recent  date.  This  very  doubtful  histor- 
ical evidence,  if  it  can  be  called  historical, 
points  to  a  time  when  the  native  races  of 
America  made  their  entrance  into  the 
land  from  the  Northwest. 

The  languages  of  the  American  In- 
dians have  been  diligently  searched  for 
testimony  concerning  this  question.  But 
they  afford  none  which  is  decisive,  as  yet. 
They  appear  to  stand  by  themselves 
without  a  clear  affinity  even  of  obscure 
roots  to  any  other  languages  in  the  world. 
It  is  true  they  are  comparatively  little 
known,  and  the  large  number  of  dialects 
not  fully  understood  makes  it  difficult  to 
affirm  anything  as  to  what  may  be  ex- 
pected to  be  revealed  in  this  quarter  in 
the  future.  The  dialects  of  South  Amer- 
ica are  far  more  numerous  than  those  'of 
North  America,  and  furnish  no  end  of 
comparisons  for  the  student.  Much  work 
has  been  done  upon  some  of  the  Eastern 
dialects  of  North  America.  Scholars 
upon  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  have 
been  fascinated  by  the  study  of  them  till 
a  good  basis  of  grammatical  knowledge 
has  been  laid  for  future  use.  We  have 
grammars  arid  dictionaries  in  many  dia- 
lects which  are  monuments  of  faithful 


70 


INTRODUCTORY  STUDIES. 


research.  The  growth  and  progress  of 
American  nations  are  constantly  opening 
more  of  the  original  dialects  of  the  country 
to  the  study,  of  the  learned.  We  may 
hope  for  a  more  certain  classification  at 
some  time,  of  the  tongues  which  have 
ceased  to  be  heard  over  a  great  part  of 
the  New  World. 

The  civilization,  or  lack  of  civilization, 
in  America  at  its  discovery,  was  of  a 
great  many  different  degrees.  There 
were  tribes  which  were  entirely  roving 
in  all  their  instincts  and  modes  of  life. 
They  formed  no  local  attachments,  and 
fled  like  the  wind  from  place  to  place, 
according  as  they  could  best  supply 
their  temporary  needs.  For  this  reason, 
among  others,  their  dwellings  were  of 
the  most  movable  kind,  and  all  their  ar- 
rangements for  living  were  of  the  least 
possible  permanency.  Most  of  the  North 
American  tribes  partook  somewhat  of 
this  feature.  Many  of  them  secured 
great  sections  of  country,  within  the  lim- 
its of  which  their  roving  bands  hunted, 
fished,  and  cultivated  the  soil  so  far  as  it 
was  cultivated  by  them  at  all.  Some  of 
their  villages  were  built  and  palisaded  in 
a  comparatively  strong  manner.  But 
even  this  was  not  a  sign  of  permanence 
for  a  long  series  of  years.  When  Jacques 
Cartier,  the  bold  French  mariner,  first 
visited  the  present  site  of  Montreal,  he 
found  such  a  village,  and  was  received 
within  its  defences  hospitably.  But 
when  Champlain  reached  the  spot  sixty- 
eight  years  afterward,  not  a  trace  of  the 
former  inhabitants  remained.  On  the 
other  hand  the  ferocious  Iroquois  held 
their  abode  for  a  long  period  in  Cen- 
tral New  York,  around  the  beautiful 
lakes  which  are  the  delight  of  that  re- 
gion. They  were  there  in  1609  when 
Champlain  discovered  the  lake  which 


bears  his  name,  and  were  never  displaced 
by  any  Indian  race.  Their  power  faded 
only  before  that  of  the  white  man,  for 
no  tribe  of  Indians  could  ever  hope  to 
break  it.  In  Mexico  and  Peru  the  dwell- 
ings of  the  natives  were  still  more  per- 
manent, and  their  life  therefore  was  much 
more  steady.  Stone,  which  was  unknown 
as  a  building  material  in  the  Eastern 
United  States,  was  used  very  largely 
by  the  Southern  nations.  Hence,  when 
Cortes  entered  the  City  of  Mexico  he 
was  surprised  to  see  the  solidity  and 
durability  of  the  structures  which  lined 
the  streets  on  either  hand.  Not  many  of 
the  buildings  were  more  than  one  story  in 
height.  The  so-called  Palace,  built  by 
Montezuma's  father,  in  which  Cortes 
quartered  his  troops,  was  a  long,  one- 
story  stone  building  with  a  second  story 
rising  from  the  center  of  the  flat  roof. 
Everything  was  solid  with  stone.  In 
Peru  similar  cities  were  found  by  Pizarro. 
Tumbez  and  Cuzco  were  fine  examples 
of  the  permanent  work  of  the  higher 
American  tribes. 

The  methods  of  self-support  among 
the  Indians  partook  closely  of  this  perma- 
nency, or  lack  of  permanency,  which 
characterized  the  different  tribes.  The 
roving  tribes  lived  upon  what  they  could 
easily  get,  of  game  or  fish.  Perhaps 
during  the  summer  the  squaws  scratched 
a  little  maize  or  a  few  beans  and  squash 
seeds  into  the  earth,  with  just  enough 
labor  to  induce  them  to  grow.  Agricul- 
ture was  unknown  among  them,  save  of 
this  most  vague  and  desultory  kind. 
From  these  we  ascend  to  the  Mexican 
Indians,  who  cultivated  the  fruits  of  the 
earth  in  a  systematic  manner,  and  had 
their  beautiful  floating  gardens  upon  the 
lake  around  the  City  of  Mexico,  for  the 
raising  of  flowers  and  vegetables.  To- 


THE  AMERICAN  ABORIGINES. 


71 


bacco  was  in  quite  common  use  through- 
out the  continent.  There  were  no  do- 
mesticated animals  save  the  dog,  and  the 
llama  which  was  found  only  among  the 


upon  the  needs  of  the  tribes,  just  as  the 
agricultural  operations  were.  But  they 
were  also  largely  moulded  by  the  delight 
in  ornamentation  which  existed  every  - 


INDIAN   BAG, 


Peruvians,  who  used  its  hair  in  the  weav- 
ing of  garments.  Thousands  of  these 
latter  animals  were  pastured  upon  the 
slopes  of  the  Peruvian  mountains.  The 
manufactures  of  the  continent  were  based 


DRUM,    ETC. 

where.  Each  tribe  constructed  articles 
which  were  necessary  for  its  use.  The 
Northern  Indians  made  snowshoes  which 
the  Southern  Indians  never  constructed, 
because  they  never  needed  them  for  their 


72 


INTRODUCTORY  STUDIES. 


own  use.     Many  ot  the  wandering  tribes 
prepared  the  skins  of  animals  as  cover- 
ings for  wigwams,  or  as  garments.     Pot- 
tery-making was  common  to  the  whole 
country  to  some  extent.     Pipes  were  fash- 
ioned in  a  great  variety,  of  ways.     Fine 
baskets  were  made  by  the  Pacific  tribes. 
Some  of  them  were  so  closely  woven  that 
they   would  hold  water.     In   Peru   and 
Mexico  the  range  of  manufactures  was 
considerably  greater,  without  being  exten- 
sive.    The  bow  and  arrow  were  made  by 
all  tribes.     Different  kind's  of  spears,  and 
hatchets  or  tomahawks,  were   made  by 
them.      Weapons    and  clubs    of  various 
other  sorts  were  made  in  abundance.    The 
lasso  was  used  in   some  portions   of  the 
continent,  as  was  also  the  net  for  fishing. 
Water  was  drunk  by  the  northern  tribes 
until  they  became    acquainted   with  the 
white  man's  terrible  "  fire-water  "  or  rum, 
which  has  been  such  a  curse  to  the  land, 
even  in  its  native  races.     Southern  tribes 
had   various  extracts  of  plants  or  fruits, 
which  were  somewhat  intoxicating.     All 
tribes  had  arrangements,  though  exceed- 
ingly  slight   in  many  instances,  for   re- 
membering  events.     Hieroglyphics    and 
other  devices  aided  the  memory,  and  en- 
abled them  to  preserve  history  to  some 
extent,  though  not  in  such  a  manner  as 
to    benefit     the     modern    student    very 
greatly.     Picture  writing  was  in  use  for 
conveying    intelligence.     Ornamentation 
was  common  to  all  the  tribes  of  the  con- 
tinent.    Anything  which  would  catch  the 
eye,  such  as  feathers,  shells,  quills  and  the 
tails  of  animals,  were  used  by  them  in 
various  ways.     Paint  was  used  upon  the 
skin  by  the  wilder  tribes,  at  certain  times 
very   profusely,  sometimes  covering  the 
entire  face  and  body  with  startling  and 
hideous    contrasts  of  color.     The   "war 
paint"   of  the  North    American   Indian 


has  become  a  well  known  thing-  In  the 
richer  parts  of  the  continent  very  valua- 
ble ornaments  were  often  made  out  of  the 
precious  metals  which  the  Indians  of  the 
South  mined  to  some  extent  by  the  mere 
digging  of  holes  upon  the  surface  of  the 
earth.  They  found  gold  and  silver  where 
to-day  some  of  the  richest  mines  of  Mex- 
ico and  Peru  are  situated.  The  wealth 
which  Atahuallpa  secured  from  his  sub- 
jects for  his  ransom,  which  Pizarro  after- 
ward found  in  Cuzco,  the  treasures  which 
Cortes  found  in  the  closed  room  of  the 
palace  which  was  put  at  the  disposal 
of  the  Spaniards,  had  all  been  a  long 
time  in  accumulating,  and  did  not  repre- 
sent, of  course,  the  annual  product  of  the 
realms.  Mexico  and  Peru  each  had 
millions  upon  millions  of  dollars  in  its 
soil  which  the  Indian  races  would  never 
have  extracted.  This  wealth  of  the  New 
World  can  only  be  reached  by  the  mod- 
ern methods  of  shaft  and  tunnel. 

In  none  of  their  efforts  did  the  Indians 
reach  the  idea  of  sustained  and  perma- 
nent work,  as  it  prevails  in  civilized  lands. 
There  was  not  enough  endurance  among 
them  to  enable  them  to  follow  up  hard 
work  closely.  The  great  results  of  their 
labor  in  many  parts  of  the  continent  were 
accomplished  by  the  combined  efforts  of 
a  great  many,  rather  than  by  the  skill  and 
trained  strength  of  a  few.  The  immense 
numbers  who  perished  in  the  West 
Indies  as  soon  as  they  were  set  to  work 
by  the  Spaniards,  is  a  proof  of  their  in- 
herent weakness.  Among  the  North 
American  tribes  the  squaws  did  the 
drudgery,  while  the  noble  "  lords  of  crea- 
tion "  lay  round  at  their  ease,  or  joined  in 
the  athletic  sports  and  games  of  their  peo- 
ple. The  endurance  of  the  Indian  upon 
the  chase  was  very  great,  but  his  capa- 
bility of  sustained  daily  labor  was  very 


THE  AMERICAN  ABORIGINES. 


73 


small.  Yet  the  cities  in  Mexico  and 
Peru  could  not  have  been  built  without 
great  labor.  The  great  road  of  Peru 


along  the  sides  and  across  the  immense 


organization,  we  well  know.  In  this  we 
have  an  exhibition  of  the  higher  civiliza- 
tion of  the  Southern  tribes,  and  an  indica- 
tion of  a  somewhat  higher  capacity  for 


INDIAN    WEAPONS. 


ravines  of  the  Cordilleras  was  built  at 
some  time  with  a  vast  expenditure  of 
effort.  That  these  greater  works  have 
been  produced  under  the  authority  of 
governments  possessed  of  some  degree  of 


labor.  But  nowhere  upon  the  continent 
did  the  idea  of  work  exist  as  it  is  now 
manifested,  in  the  uninterrupted  and  pro- 
longed enterprises  of  civilized  countries. 
The  governments  of  the  New  World 


INTRODUCTORY  STUDIES. 


varied  as  the  other  arrangements  of  life 
did.  In  the  wilder  tribes,  the  government 
was  apparently  of  a  very  slight,  though 
really  of  a  very  strong  character.  Each 
tribe  had  its  civil  leader  called  a  sachem, 
and  its  military  chief.  The  former  was 
entitled  to  his  position  by  descent,  the 
latter  by  deeds.  The  distinctions  of  blood 
and  valor  were  devoutly  recognized,  and 
constantly  maintained.  Personal  heroism 
has  raised  many  a  young  Indian  warrior 
to  the  position  of  an  acknowledged  mili- 
tary chief.  On  the  other  hand,  the  fam- 
ilies of  blood  were  sacredly  preserved  in 
their  hereditary  rights.  In  Mexico  and 
Peru  the  royal  lines  were  kept  in  the 
possession  of  their  peculiar  distinctions 
very  diligently.  The  pride  of  Powhattan, 
the  father  of  Pocahontas,  was  a  pride  of 
blood  as  well  as  of  valor.  Indeed,  the 
families  of  rank  have  often  sedulously 
maintained  their  position  in  some  of  the 
wilder  tribes,  till  the  last  lingering  mem- 
ber has  given  up  his  life  without  issue. 
In  the  government  of  Indian  tribes,  each 
leader  was  expected  to  retain  his  inheri- 
tance, whether  he  was  of  royal  blood  or 
not,  by  a  display  of  wisdom  and  courage. 
The  prince  who  shrunk  in  times  of  doubt 
or  danger,  would  be  to  them  a  prince 
only  in  name.  Each  tribe  had  its  symbpl 
or  totem,  usually  some  animal,  as  the  fox, 
the  bear,  the  wolf,  by  which  each  war- 
rior in  the  clan  was  known.  The  totem 
of  the  Hurons,  for  example,  was  the 
porcupine.  The  tribes  were  governed  by 
councils,  which  decided  when  war  should 
be  declared,  and  when  any  other  import- 
ant step  should  be  taken.  In  these 
councils  the  wisdom  of  the  older  men 
was  greatly  sought  for.  Age  in  a  war- 
rior produced  great  veneration  for  him. 
In  these  general  characteristics  the  mass 
of  South  American  tribes  was  like  the 


North  American.  The  Inca  of  Peru, 
and  the  rulers  of  Mexico,  were  emperors 
in  a  more  absolute  sense,  than  were  any 
tribal  rulers  in  the  rest  of  North  and 
South  America.  Yet  even  in  these  cases, 
the  hurling  of  .the  missiles  at  Montezuma 
by  his  own  people  after  he  had  submitted 
to  the  Spaniards,  shows  how  quicklv  thev 
dishonored  a  ruler  who  tamely  yielded  in 
time  of  danger.  Boys  were  trained  from 
the  very  first  dawn  of  intelligence,  in  the 
idea  of  courage.  An  outward  bearing1  un- 

o  o 

disturbed  by  anything,  however  strange 
and  awful,  was  the  height  of  personal 
character.  After  Pizarro  had  reached 
Caxamalca  upon  his  march  into  the  inte- 
rior of  Peru,  he  sent  a  few  mounted  soldiers 
to  the  camp  of  Atahuallpa,  just  outside 
the  city.  The  Inca  sat  immovable  during 
the  interview.  At  last,  Hernando  De 
Soto,  noticing  that  the  horses  drew  great 
attention  from  the  Peruvians,  who  had 
never  seen  the  like  before,  put  spurs  to 
his  uneasy  steed  and  dashed  through  their 
midst  at  a  headlong  pace,  turning,  wheel- 
ing, prancing,  till  the  mettle  of  the  ani- 
mal had  been  thoroughly  shown.  He 
then  reined  him  up  by  the  side  of  Atahu- 
allpa so  suddenly  that  the  Inca  was 
sprinkled  with  foam  which  fell  upon  him 
by  the  closeness  of  the  fiery  charger. 
But  not  a  muscle  of  the  monarch  moved, 
and  not  a  change  of  position  indicated 
that  he  felt  any  fear.  He  sat  as  quietly 
as  before.  Some  of  the  Spaniards  claimed 
that  certain  Peruvian  officers  who  had 
shrunk  with  evident  timidity  from  the 
path  of  the  wonderful  beast,  were  put  to 
death  after  De  Soto  and  his  companions 
returned  to  the  town.  However  this  may 
be,  the  example  of  the  Inca  illustrates 
what  was  expected  of  every  Indian  war- 
rior, from  the  Arctic  Ocean  to  Cape  Horn. 
Pontiac,  with  one  quick  blow,  struck  his 


THE  AMERICAN  ABORIGINES. 


75 


tomahawk  through  the  brain  of  one  of 
his  followers  who  was  startled  by  a  gun 
fired  at  Detroit  in  the  night,  by  an  Eng- 


front  in  times  of  danger.  But,  however 
slightly  they  exhibited  any  emotion  in  the 
midst  of  danger,  or  during  the  infliction. 


CROW   CHIEF  IN   FULL  DRESS. 


lishman.  The  teaching  was  stern,  but  in 
most  cases  it  was  effective.  Indian  war- 
riors usually  maintained  an  unchanged 


of  injury  upon  them  by  an  enemy,  they 
felt  a  hurt  none  the  less  keenly  in  spirit. 
They  treasured  the  memory  of  wrongs 


76 


INTRODUCTORY  STUDIES. 


for  years,  with  a  constant  watch  for 
opportunities  to  redress  them.  When 
old  Major  Waldron  met  his  death  at 
their  hands  in  Dover,  N.  H.,they  cut  him 
to  pieces  at  the  last  before  life  was  extinct, 
with  horrid  eagerness,  exclaiming  as  they 
did  so,  that  they  were  crossing  out  the 
score  of  their  capture  by  him  thirteen 
years  before,  when  he  deceived  them  by 
calling  them  to  a  mock  parade,  and  took 
them  all  prisoners.  They  were  quick  to 
avenge  the  death  of  an  Indian.  Many 
cruel  outbreaks  have  been  occasioned  by 
the  thoughtless  murders  which  have  been 
committed  by  roving  white  adventurers. 
But  if  the  Indian  never  forgave  an  injury, 
he  was  equally  sensitive  to  a  benefit.  He 
remembered  the  latter  as  long  as  he  did 
the  former.  King  Philip  is  said  to  have 
charged  his  warriors,  just  before  his 
intended  outbreak  was  perfected,  not  to 
touch  a  family  by  whom  he  had  been 
hospitably  entertained.  Friendly  Indians 
have  in  many  cases  warded  off  the  worst 
effects  of  savage  descents  upon  pioneer 
settlements,  by  their  desire  to  save  some- 
body from  whom  they  had  received  a 
favor.  Yet  the  savage  character  is  fiercely, 
tremendously  cruel.  Defenceless  men  and 
women,  or  innocent  children,  did  not 
touch  their  hearts  when  they  were  upon 
the  war  path.  They  were  sometimes  so 
much  intoxicated  with  their  wild  work  as 
to.  lose  almost  the  semblance  of  human 
beings,  and  prove  themselves  fiends  incar- 
nate. To  tear  a  scalp  from  an  enemy's 
head  was  a  great  delight.  Such  treasures 
were  carefully  preserved.  But  it  should 
never  be  forgotten  that  so  long  as  civil- 
ized governments  wage  a  terrific  war  for 
the  possession  of  a  little  territory,  or  to 
maintain  a  so-called  interest,  and  batter 
down  cities  with  shell  and  ball,  destroying 
property  by  the  million  dollars,  and  the 


lives  of  young  and  old,  so  long  should 
not  much  be  said  in  anger,  if  the  Indian, 
driven  back  from  his  old  lands,  and  forced 
to  make  the  concessions  which  put  his 
territory  into  the  white  man's  power, 


SCALP  STRETCHED   TO   DRY. 


wage  war  in  his  way  by  a  little  closer 
contact,  with  arrow  and  tomahawk  and 
scalping  knife.  The  difference  is  more 
apparent  than  real,  when  we  take  into 
account  the  different  circumstances.  It 
is  as  bad  for  the  one  as  for  the  other,  and 
no  worse.  Wyoming  and  Cherry  Valley 
massacres  are  horrible  to  contemplate,  but 
the  worst  characters  in  those  terrible 
destructions  were  white  tories,  not  the  red 
warriors,  who  plainly  saw  their  own 
bloodthirsty  deeds  excelled  by  the  hands 
of  their  allies.  This  inability  to  endure 
the  encroachments  ot  the  invader,  forms 
the  key  to  one  whole  line  of  Indian 
troubles  in  the  history  of  America,  North 
and  South,  from  the  first  until  now.  The 
early  settlements  of  the  Atlantic  coast 


SQUAWS  GOING  TO  MARKET. 


BRAVES  TORTURING  WHITES. 


THE  AM  RR I  CAN  ABORIGINES. 


79 


and  the  little  clearings  out  on  the  frontier, 
have  alike  been  harassed  by  the  cloud  of 
the  Indian's  wrath.  The  friendly  rela- 
tions which  existed  between  William 
Penn  and  the  Indians  of  Pennsylvania, 
show  that  it  was  possible  to  disarm  them 
of  their  prejudices  and  make  them  gentle. 
The  long  regard  for  treaties  at  times  in 
New  England  and  in  other  parts  of  the 
country,  exhibits  their  attempt  to  make 
the  best  of  the  situation,  and  respond 
heartily  to  the  friendship  of  the  superior 
race,  until  the  accumulating  sense  of 
wrong  from  a  succession  of  little  slights, 
swept  away  all  barriers,  and  brought  a 
climax  of  blood,  which  was  out  of  the 
power  of  any  treaty  to  prevent.  When 
we  compare  closely  the  histories  of  civil- 
ized governments  and  Indian  tribes,  we 
shall  not  find  in  the  latter  an  over-propor- 
tion of  excitable,  irascible  spirits,  who, 
either  in  legislative  halls  or  grand  council 
wigwams,  are  ever  ready  to  vent  their 
fiery  passions  in  hot  attempts  to  lead 
others  into  retaliation  for  real  or  fancied 
wrongs.  Many  of  the  Indian  conspir- 
acies were  due  to  some  leading  braves  of 
the  fiercer  kind,  who  induced  their  tribes 
by  the  arts  of  persuasion,  which  they 
knew  how  to  use  so  powerfully,  to  rise  in 
an  endeavor  to  exterminate  the  invaders 
who  were  so  rapidly  filling  the  land. 
King  Philip,  Pontiac,  Osceola,  and  in 
recent  times  a  few  Western  chiefs,  have 
in  turn  exercised  this  power,  and  gained 
a  body  of  followers  who  were  ready  to 
fight  or  die.  The  great  mass  of  Indian 
warriors  was  like  the  great  mass  of  white 
population,  easily  led  by  some  superior 
mind.  The  native  eloquence  of  many  of 
the  leading  Indian  warriors  has  swayed 
their  inferiors  according  to  their  wish. 
This  eloquence  has  appeared  in  councils 
held  by  the  whites  and  Indians  for  the 


arrangement  of  treaties.  The  savage 
orator,  drinking  in  the  influence  of  Nature^ 
drew  from  the  heavens  and  the  earth  the 
figures  which  he  used  both  abundantly 
and  beautifully.  There  is  a  touch  of 
poetry  in  most  Indian  oratory.  In  some, 
it  is  the  prevailing  element,  and  subordi- 
nates everything  else,  statement,  argu- 
ment, appeal,  to  itself.  When  employed 
by  a  skillful  mind,  full  of  imaginative 
resources,  it  was  very  powerful.  All  ob- 
jections gave  way  before  it.  Especially  did 
such  impassioned  appeal  gain  its  point 
when  it  was  subtly  interwoven  with  some 
of  those  implied  reproaches  which  no 
warrior  could  endure.  It  is  the  truth  of 
history  that  Captain  Jack,  the  apparent 
leader  of  the  Modoc  massacre  in  the  lava 
beds,  wfts  finally  pushed  to  consent  to  the 
deed  which  he  did  not  approve,  by  the 
taunts  which  began  to  be  circulated 
against  him.  He  could  resist  argument 
with  ai'gument,  knowing  it  was  best  for 
his  followers  not  to  commit  such  an  out- 
rage. But  he  could  not  resist  reproaches 
of  cowardice.  The  bravery  of  an  Indian, 
like  the  virtue  or  valor  of  the  Roman  in 
military  affairs,  was  his  peculiarly  cher- 
ished possession.  Anything  which  stained 
it  could  not  be  borne  by  the  true  warrior. 
His  character  was  at  stake.  He  would 
commit  cruel  deeds  and  lead  in  a  forlorn 
hope,  rather  than  rest  patiently  under  a 
burden  of  imputed  cowardice.  Of  course 
there  were  all  grades  in  Indian  life  and 
character,  as  well  as  in  those  of  other 
races.  But  there  are  certain  peculiar 
characteristics  which  distinguish  peculiar 
races,  and  none  the  less  so  because  they 
are  faint  in  many  individuals,  and  are  not 
found  at  all  in  some.  The  highest  type 
of  Indian  set  forth  by  Cooper  in  rose-col- 
ored light  may  not  have  existed  at  all, 
and  certainly  did  not  exist  without  defects, 


80 


INTRODUCfORT   STUDIES. 


which,  to  most  people,  would  make  his 
virtues  very  obscure.  The  Indian  char- 
acter may  have  been  overrated  by  some, 
but  it  is  in  equal  danger  of  an  underesti- 
mate from  others.  When  the  living, 
ignorant,  untrained,  passionate  savage, 
stands  before  us,  it  is  difficult  to  look 
through  the  ex- 
terior, which  is 
so  contrary  to 
all  our  ideas  of 
life,  and  discern  z~a 
the  native  gifts  *-» 
of  manhood,  v- 
which  came  to 
him  from  the 
hands  of  the 
Creator.  A  fair 
average  of  the 
prevalent  judg- 
ments upon  the 
Indian  charac- 
ter would  be  as 
in  so  many  oth- 
er things,  not 
far  from  the  | 
truth.  There 
are  peculiar  ex-  i 
hibitions  of  I 
character  in  In- 
dian life,  and  in 
the  life  of  any 
other  race, 
which  will  sup- 
port any  one- 
sided view  a 
person  may  choose  to  hold. 

The  peculiar  customs  of  Indian  tribes 
appeared  at  almost  every  step  of  the  way 
in  their  lives.  In  their  peace  councils  a 
pipe  was  smoked  by  each  party,  as  a 
sign  that  strife  had  ceased.  A  bundle  of 
arrows,  tied  with  the  skin  of  a  rattlesnake, 
was  sent  to  the  Plymouth  colony  as  a 


AN  INDIAN  DANCE. 


sign  of  war.  But  the  rattlesnake  skin 
was  sent  back,  filled  with  powder  and 
shot,  and  nothing  more  was  heard  of  war 
for  a  time.  In  the  Southern  tribes,  sev- 
eral arrows  with  hair  upon  them,  wei'e 
sometimes  stuck  in  the  path  near  an 
enemy's  village,  as  a  sign  of  intended 

hostility.  War 
dances  were 
prevalent  in 
most  tribes,  and 
the  fe clings 
were  excited  by 
wild  midnight 
orgies,  around 
a  blazing  fire, 
for  the  coming 
march.  In  cer- 
tain sections  of 
the  continent, 
the  dance  was 
liked  for  its  own 
sake,  and  used 
on  various  oc- 
casions. Cap- 
tives were  tor- 
mented in  hid- 
eous ways,  and 
put  to  death  by 
a  great  variety 
of  means.  The 
mutilation  of 
the  first  Jesuits 
who  fell  among 
the  Iroquois, 
was  terrible  to 
look  upon.  Captives  were  sometimes  set 
to  run  the  gauntlet  between  two  long  lines. 
of  women  and  children,  or  warriors,  armed 
with  clubs,  knives,  and  other  weapons, 
with  a  prospect  of  saving  their  lives,  and 
perhaps  of  liberty,  if  the  fearful  ordeal 
could  be  borne,  and  the  end  of  the  lines 
reached  in  safety.  Few  persons  have 


THE  AMERICAN  ABORIGINES. 


81 


escaped  by  running  the  gauntlet.  Some 
captives  were  saved  and  adopted  into  the 
tribe  in  place  of  dead  warriors.  Guerrero 
and  Aguilar,  the  two  Spaniards  who  had 
lived  in  the  tribes  of  Southern  Mexico  for 
several  years  previous  to  the  arrival  of 
Cortes  upon  the  coast,  rose  to  positions  of 
great  influence.  The  remnants  of  tribes 
were  sometimes  adopted  into  other 
strong  tribes.  Some  of  the  Hurons,  who 
remained  after 
the  fearful  des- 
truction visited 
upon  them  by 
the  Iroquois, 
were  adopted 
into  the  tribes  of 
their  conquerors. 
Some  of  the  Pe- 
quods,  in  New 
England,  who 
were  left  alive 
after  the  Pequod 
war,  became 
members  of  the 
Narragansett 
nation.  In  social 
life,  the  woman 
of  the  wilder 
tribes  was  the 
worker.  She 
often  went  to 
her  labor  with 
her  babe  upon 

her  back.  The  young  men  were  trained 
in  athletic  sports,  and  in  shooting.  Games 
were  frequent  in  many  tribes.  A  game 
of  ball  was  played  in  some  sections  of  the 
country,  for  which  great  preparation  was 
made,  and  in  which  great  numbers  joined. 
In  the  Southern  tribes,  as  well  as  in  Mex- 
ico and  Peru,  the  station  of  woman  was 
higher.  In  the  West  India  Islands,  some 
females  rose  to  the  position  of  acknowl- 


edged  leaders,  and  became  queens  by 
right  of  ability,  as  well  as  of  blood.  Mo'st 
tribes  had  peculiar  funeral  ceremonies. 
The  sick  were  treated  simply  with  reme- 
dies derived  from  roots  and  barks.  The 
"  Medicine  Man "  was  a  prominent 
character  in  certain  sections  of  the  land, 
and  by  his  insane  rites  sought  to  cure  the 
sick,  who  were,  he  claimed,  under  the 
power  of  foes.  Poisons  were  used  upon 
arrow  -  heads  to 
make  them 
more  deadly  in 
war,  or  in  pri- 
vate acts  of  re- 
venge. The  hu- 
man sacrifices  of 
Mexico  are  well 
known  from  the 
accounts  which 
Prescott  gives. 
The  bloody 
character  of  the 
Aztec  nation  in 
this  respect,  re- 
moves much  of 
the  glitter  from 
their  civilization 
in  other  respects. 
Dreams  were 
regarded  by 
most  tribes  with 
superstition,  and 
were  made  a 
forces  of  life. 


SQUAW  AND  CHILD. 

part  of  the  governing 
Superstition  existed  more  or  less  in  every 
part  of  the  continent.  The  untutored 
mind  of  the  savage  saw  spiritual  signs  in 
the  heavens,  and  on  the  earth.  Nature, 
to  him,  was  alive.  The  religious  rites  of 
the  continent  varied  very  greatly.  There 
was  a  belief  in  good  and  evil  spirits. 
Curious  theories  of  origin,  and  of  super- 
natural appearances  among  them,  were 


INTRODUCTORY  STUDIES. 
When    Cortes 


82 

held    by    some    tribes, 
landed  in  Mexico,  the  natives  were  look- 
ing  for   the   return   of     Quetzalcoatl,   a 
divinity,  who,  they  said,  had  lived  among 
them  in  foi'mer  days    and    taught   them 
many  things.     At  his  departure  he  had 
promised  to  come   again,   and  doubtless 
this    was    associated    at    first    with   the 
strange   entrance   of  the   Spaniards   into 
the  country,  and  had   something  to  do,  it 
may  be,  with  the  ease  of  conquest.    Long 
after  the  Monongahela  fight  in  the  French 
and  Indian  war,  an  old   Indian  came   a 
long  distance  to  see  the  man  at  whom  he 
had  fired   fifteen   times   without   hitting 
him.     He   believed  that  some  supernat- 
ural power  had  given  aid  to  Washington. 
The  union  between  the  native  races  of 
America  and   the  conquering  races,  has 
been     much     greater    in    the      Spanish 
American     provinces     than    in     others. 
Cortes  began,  immediately  upon  the  con- 
quest of  Mexico,  to  build  up  a  state  not 
composed    of    Spaniards    alone,   but     of 
Spaniards    and    natives.       Some    of    the 
Mexicans  were  educated  at  once,  and  the 
people  of  the  two   races  began  to  inter- 
marry.     These   marriages,    of     course, 
wexre   almost,   if  not    quite    entirely,   of 
Spanish    men     and     Mexican    women, 
rather  than  the   reverse.     The    Spanish 
soldiers   remained    in   the   country   to    a 
great   extent,  and   few    Spanish   women 
had  arrived  in  New  Spain  at  this  time. 
A  similar  process   went    on    in    Central 
America  and  Peru,  so  that  in  all  these 
countries  the   Indian   population   is  quite 
large,  and  the  union  of  races  somewhat 
real.     Many  Indians  have  risen  to  high 
political  positions  in  the  Central   Ameri- 
can  States,   and   some   to   the   office   of 
president.     That  great  leader  in  Mexico, 
during  the  "war  of  reform,"  from   1857 
to    1860,  and   since    president    of    that 


country,  and  instrumental  in  gaining 
much  of  the  present  stability  of  the  gov- 
ernment, Benito  Juarez,  was  an  Indian, 
the  son  of  Indian  parents  in  poor  circum- 
stances. In  North  America  we  have  had 
a  few  instances  of  men  of  Indian  birth, 
who  have  become  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  and  useful  servants  of  the  govern- 
ment. Gen.  Ely  S.  Parker,  at  one  time 
Indian  Commissioner,  and  a  member  of 
Gen.  Grant's  staff  during  the  Civil  War, 
was  a  Seneca  Indian.  His  abilities  are 
excellent,  and  his  education  fine.  He  is  a 
civil  engineer  by  profession.  Other  in- 
stances of  less  prominence,  prove  the 
value  of  the  Indian  character,  and  the 
ability  of  the  Indian  mind.  There  has 
been  little  fusion  of  races  by  marriage,  in 
North  America,  save  in  certain  sections 
between  the  French  and  Indians.  There 
have  been,  from  an  early  period,  efforts 
for  their  education,  chiefly  in  connection 
with  missionary  societies.  Enough  has 
been  done  to  show  that  the  Indian  is 
capable  of  becoming  a  citizen,  and  con- 
ducting himself  with  all  the  dignity  of  a 
citizen.  Christian  education  has  wrought 
great  changes  in  many  tribes,  and  given 
them  an  idea  that  there  is  something  to 
live  for,  besides  the  pleasure  of  passing 
one's  days  in  an  idle,  dirty,  roving  man- 
ner. The  Bible  has  recently  been  given 
to  the  Dakotas  in  their  own  language, 
and  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  we  may 
expect  to  hear  of  more  extensive  work 
done  in  behalf  of  the  wild  Indians  who 
live  within  the  great  territories  of  the 
United  States.  We  may  hope  that  there 
will  be  less  and  less  need  of  arms  and 
war,  which  have  cost  the  government  so 
many  million  dollars,  and  a  greater  and 
greater  resort  to  justice  and  education, 
and  civil  bonds  and  Christian  faith,  in 
dealing  with  these  diminished  tribes,  who 


THE  AMERICAN  ABORIGINES. 


83 


once  held  full  sway  over  the  vast  terri- 
tory now  covered  by  a  powerful  nation. 
The  savagism  of  some  of  them  may  be 


to  the  fate  of  those  beings  who,  when 
Columbus  touched  San  Salvador,  were 
enjoying  the  freedom  of  the  continent, 


MEDICINE  MEN. 


well-nigh  ineradicable,  but  it  is  worth  the 
while,  even  in  extreme  cases,  to  cultivate 
patience.  A  pathetic  interest  is  attached 


save  as  they  were  disturbed  by  internal 
wars.  In  the  United  States  the  tribes 
have  been  removed  from  place  to  place, 


84 


INTRODUCTORY   STUDIES. 


during  the  growth  of  the  nation,  till  they 
know  not  what  spot  to  call  home.  Ex- 
plorers for  gold  and  silver  invade  their 
last  hunting  grounds,  and  floods  of  adven- 
turers pour  in  around  them.  What 
wonder  if  they  grow  sick,  and  obstinate, 
and  desperate,  and  bloodthirsty?  When 
will  the  end  be? 

There  have  been  various  estimates  of 
the  number  of  inhabitants  in  America  at 
the  time  -when  it  was  discovered  by 
Columbus.  It  is  impossible  to  arrive  at 
an  exact  statement,  but  the  reckoning 
which  assigns  about  five  millions  to  the 
entire  continent,  is  to  be  accepted  as  suffi- 
ciently accurate  for  use.  This  is  based 
upon  an  estimate  of  somewhat  less  than 
one  million  for  the.  present  territory  of 
the  United  States.  Probably  there  were 
not  far  from  three  or  four  hundred  thous- 
and east  of  the  Mississippi  River.  In 
South  America  the  tribes  through  the 
eastern  and  southern  portions  were  very 
numerous.  In  Peru  and  Mexico  there 
were  several  nations  under  each  central 
government.  The  Aztec  government  in 
Mexico  was  a  species  of  confederacy,  like 
the  Iroquois  in  Central  New  York. 
Within  the  present  limits  of  the  United 
States,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
there  were  found  eight  more  or  less  rad- 
ically distinct  nations,  some  of  them 
quite  small.  They  were  the  Algonquins, 
Huron-Iroquois,  Cherokees,  Catawbas, 
Uchees,  Natchez,  Mobilians,  and  Dako- 
tas  or  Sioux.  The  Algonquin  family 
occupied,  perhaps,  the  largest  territory, 
running  from  Pennsylvania,  Virginia, 
Delaware  and  New  Jersey,  through 
Southeastern  New  York,  along  the  At- 
lantic seaboard  of  New  England,  thence 
inland  along  the  St.  Lawrence  to  the 
Great  Lakes,  and  beyond  down  through 
Illinois,  Indiana,  and  a  portion  of  Ken- 


tucky and  Tennessee.  The  tribes  intc* 
which  this  great  family  was  divided  were 
more  or  less  wandering  in  their  habits. 
They  moved  according  to  the  demands  of 
hunting  and  fishing.  Some  of  the  tribes 
were  the  Montagnais,  on  the  St.  Law- 
rence, with  whom  the  Jesuit  priests  liv- 
ing at  Quebec,  wandered  in  the-  winter  in 
order  to  gain  a  hold  upon  them;  the 
Algonquins  proper,  upon  the  Ottawa 
River;  the  Chippewas,  Menomenees,. 
Miamis,  Sacs,  and  Foxes,  Kickapoos  and 
Illinois,  through  the  West  and  on  the 
Great  Lakes ;  the  Abenaquis  in  Maine ; 
the  Narragansetts,  Pequods,  Massachu- 
setts and  Mohegans  in  Southern  New 
England;  the  Delawares,  Powhattans 
and  Shawnees  further  south,  together  with 
some  other  less  important  clans.  Massa- 
soit,  King  Philip,  Powhattan  and  his 
daughter  Pocahontas,  Black  Hawk,  Ppn- 
tiac  and  Tecumseh,  were  all  members  of 
this  extensive  family.  When  settlements 
began  to  be  made,  about  the  year  i6oor 
it  is  thought  that  this  nation  numbered 
not  far  from  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand. 

Within  this  Algonquin  territory,  shut 
in  closely  on  every  side,  lay  the  Huron- 
Iroquois  family.  Of  these  the  Hurons,. 
among  whom  was  the  field  of  the  Jesuits' 
most  successful  labor,  had  their  towns 
east  of  Lake  Huron,  the  Andastes  dwelt 
on  the  Susquehanna,  the  Eries  upon  the 
southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  the  Neutral 
Nation  on  the  northern  shore  of  the  same 
lake,  while  the  Iroquois  proper,  dwelt  in 
Central  New  York,  from  the  Hudson  to 
the  Genesee.  The  latter,  who  have  ta- 
ken such  a  prominent  place  in  the  colonial 
history  of  the  United  States,  were  gain- 
ing great  power  when  the  country  was 
discovered.  The  Iroquois  confederacy  was 
composed  at  that  time  of  five  tribes, 


86 


INTRODUCTORT  STUDIES. 


distributed  in  the  following  order  from 
east  to  west,  in  Central  New  York :  Mo- 
hawks, Oneidas,  Onandagas,  Cayugas 
and  Senecas.  In  1712  the  Tuscaroras 
were  admitted  to  the  confederacy,  and 
since  then  they  have  been  known  in  his- 
tory as  the  "Six  Nations"  instead  of  the 
"  Five  Nations,"  as  before  that  date. 
Their  league  was  of  the  republican  order, 
and  very  strong.  The  different  tribes 
were  bound  together  by  eight  different 
totems,  to  each  of  which,  some  portion  of 
the  Senecas,  Cayugas  and  Onandagas 
belonged,  and  to  three  of  which  some 
portion  of  the  Oneidas  and  Mohawks  be- 
longed. The  totems  were  the  Wolf, 
Bear,  Beaver,  Turtle,  Deer,  Snipe,  Heron, 
and  Hawk.  The  Mohawks  and  Onei- 
das belonged  to  the  Wolf,  Bear  and  Tur- 
tle. These  different  tribes  were  thus 
crossed  by  several  strong  bands,  like  so 
many  ties  of  relationship  weaving  their 
tough  threads  through  all  the  affairs 
of  the  league.  Hendrick,  Cornplanter, 
Red  Jacket,  Brant,  Dr.  Wilson  and 
Gen.  Parker,  were  all  members  of  the 
Iroquois.  It  is  thought  that  they  num- 
bered not  more  than  twenty  thousand  at 
their  greatest  height  of  power.  The 
remnants  of  these  once  powerful  tribes 
are  scattered  through  Canada,  New 
York,  Wisconsin,  and  other  States. 
During  the  seventeenth  century  they  ex- 
tended their  dominion  over  all  the  other 
members  of  the  Huron-Iroquois  family. 
The  Jesuit  missions  among  the  Hurons 
were  almost  blotted  from  existence  by 
the  terrible  warfare  of  the  Five  Nations. 
Their  strength  faded  away  only  before 
the  face  of  foreign  foes. 

Through  Florida  and  the  States  west 
of  it  bordering  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  lay 
the  Mobilian  family  of  tribes,  stretching 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Rio  Grande,  and 


characterized  by  greater  agricultural  ten- 
dencies than  were  the  families  further 
north.  Some  of  these  tribes,  such  as  the 
Creeks,  Seminoles,  Choctaws,  and  Chick- 
asaws,  gave  the  United  States  great 
trouble  at  times  in  reference  to  lands  and 
removals  beyond  the  Mississippi.  Osce- 
ola,  the  Seminole  chief,  was  one  of  the 
leaders  in  trouble  within  the  present  cen- 
tury. 

The  Catawba  family  dwelt  partly 
within  North,  and  partly  within  South,. 
Carolina,  along  the  Yaclkin  and  Cataw- 
ba rivers.  They  never  gave  much 
trouble  to  settlers,  though  they  were 
frequently  engaged  in  war  with  other 
tribes.  Peter  Harris,  the  last  full  blooded 
Catawba  Indian,  took  an  active  and  hon- 
orable part  in  the  American  Revolution.. 

West  of  the  Catawbas,  among  the 
mountains  of  Upper  Georgia,  dwelt  the 
Cherokees,  who  were  a  bold,  warlike 
people.  They  were  removed  to  the  In- 
dian Territory  in  1838  and  in  the  late 
Civil  War  fought  in  large  numbers  in  the 
Confederate  army.  When  the  cause  of 
the  Southern  States  began  to  hang  in 
doubt,  nine  thousand  of  them  withdrew 
to  the  Union  army. 

The  Uchees  lived  in  the  present  State 
of  Georgia.  Their  numbers  were  very- 
small.  They  had  no  tradition  of  a  mi- 
gration into  the  country,  and  claimed  to 
be  much  older  than  the  tribes  around 
them. 

The  Natchez,  dwelling  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  Mississippi,  affirmed  that  they  were 
the  oldest  nation  within  the  country.  In 
some  respects  they  were  like  the  Indians 
of  the  Gulf  region  of  Mexico.  They 
were  sun  or  fire  worshipers.  They  were 
almost  exterminated  by  the  French  in 
the  early  history  of  the  Mississippi  Val- 
ley. 


THE  AMERICAN  ABORIGINES. 


87 


"jflie  Dakotas  or  Sioux  lived  west  of 
the  Mississippi,  with  the  exception  of  two 
or  three  bands  of  them,  like  the  Winne- 
bagoes  in  Wisconsin,  and  some  other 


tribes,  constituted  the  mass  of  population 
where  now  the  great  industries  of  the 
United  States  are  giving  employment  to 
thousands  of  operatives.  The  life  of  this 


HALF  BREED. 


small,  wandering  clans.  They  covered 
the  territory  of  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  north  of  the  Arkansas 
River. 

These  families,   with    their    numerous 


country  at  that  time  was  a  roving,  fretful 
one.  Tribes  were  hostile  to  each  other, 
and  thus  they  were  already  diminishing 
one  another's  numbers  and  strength,  in 
preparation  for  the  coming  of  the  Euro- 


88 


INTRODUCTORT  STUDIES. 


pean.  United,  they  could  have  been 
strong  to  resist  for  years.  Divided,  they 
could  at  best  make  only  spasmodic  efforts 
and  sink  down  each  time  into  greater 
weakness  than  before.  The  Iroquois 
league  was  the  point  of  greatest  strength, 
but  even  that  gradually  wasted  away  be- 
fore the  touch  of  adverse  power. 

The  Indians  of  the  present  time  within 
the  Eastern  United  States  are  but  feeble, 
inefficient  remnants  of  what  they  once 
were.  In  the  territories  lining  <  the 
slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  some 
still  maintain  their  old  fierceness,  and  are 
constantly  giving  the  nation  occasion  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  some  of  its  bravest 
officers  and  soldiers.  It  has  been  cur- 
rently believed  during  the  last  few  years 
that  the  Indians  were  dying  out.  But 
the  best  statistics  show  quite  conclusively 
that  such  is  not  the  case.  Without  doubt 
some  tribes  have  diminished  in  numbers 
from  various  causes,  but  that  the  Indian 
population  of  the  United  States  is  de- 
creasing, seems  to  be  a  mistake.  It  is  at 
least  holding  its  own,  if  not  actually  in- 
creasing. Men  who  have  known  them 
most  intimately  the  last  few  years,  de- 


clare it  to  be  so.  What  does  not  this 
nation  owe  these  tribes  in  the  way  of 
education,  evangelization  and  citizenship? 
How  important  for  the  welfare  of  the 
nation  that  corruption  in  the  work  of 
supplying  them  be  exchanged  for  hon- 
esty; and  that  broken  promises  be  ex- 
changed for  pledges  which  are  made  to 
be  kept.  The  Indian  history  of  the 
country  is  a  sad  one  from  the  time  when 
the  followers  of  Columbus  began  to  work 
the  natives  ot  Hayti  in  the  brooks  and 
mountains  to  secure  from  them  the  reve- 
nue of  gold-dust,  down  to  the  present 
day,  when  there  are  very  few  to  respect 
the  Indian's  rights  if  the  prospect  of  gold- 
mining  in  the  Black  Hills  or  elsewhere, 
holds  out  its  flattering  prizes.  The  inde- 
pendence of  the  Indian's  spirit,  the 
haughtiness  of  his  pride,  the  obstinacy  of 
his  will,  all  fundamental  parts  of  his  na- 
ture, make  it  difficult  to  weave  him  into  the 
course  of  civilized  life.  But  to  make  the 
distance  wider,  by  an  unjustifiable  disre- 
gard, or  by  a  process  of  extortion,  or  by 
an  insatiable  greed,  is  to  be  untrue  to  the 
mission  which  the  United  States  has  to- 
ward the  native  races  of  its  own  territory. 


SECTION  III. 
-  COL  {7M%IAJV&ISTO%  TAN®  Tftd.ftlTIOJV'S. 


BRIEF  review  of  the  accidental 
maritime  events  which  are  alleged 
to  have  been  connected  with  the 
American  continent  before  the 
time  of  Cabot  and  Columbus,  should  pre- 
cede all  study  of  the  intentional  and  ef- 
fective explorations  set  on  foot  at  the  close 
of  the  fifteenth  century.  The  geograph- 
ical awakening  of  the  latter  period  is  not 
fully  understood  until  it  is  contrasted  with 
the  indefinite  and  roving  enterprises  of 
previous  generations.  Many  of  the  less 
reasonable  accounts,  partially  or  wholly 
without  foundation,  claim  an  interest  sim- 
ply because  they  bear  to  some  extent 
upon  early  ocean  navigation.  The 
Northmen  were  the  chief  sea  rovers  of 
that  time,  but  they  were  venturesome 
sailors,  not  scientific  navigatoi's.  They 
fell  by  accident  upon  the  discovery  which, 
at  a  later  day,  cost  such  a  struggle,  and 
proved  such  a  boon,  to  the  world.  The 
story  of  their  extensive  voyages,  drawn 
from  their  Sagas,  teaches  how  unprepared 
the  age  must  have  been  for  new  terri- 
torial possessions,  since  it  passed  by  the 
fruits  of  their  achievements,  with  scarcely 
a  perceptible  emotion.  The  efforts  to 
colonize,  puny  as  they  were,  and  the  fin?l 
abolition  of  all  knowledge  of  the  New 


89 


World,  throw  a  great  light  upon  the 
scientific  and  commercial  deadness  of  the 
age  of  which  such  things  could  be  true. 
The  intrepid  Vikings  of  the  tenth  and 
eleventh  centuries  were  not  a  part  of  the 
civilization  which  about  five  centuries 
latei",  claimed  every  inch  of  soil  it  touched, 
and  took  possession  of  it  with  floating 
banners,  erected  crosses  and  buried  plates. 
Neither  had  the  great  problem  of  a  pas- 
sage to  the  Indies  dawned  upon  the  mind 
of  the  world,  to  give  force  to  the  greed 
of  nations.  The  little  Norse  vessels  went 
here  and  there  in  Northern  seas  without 
chart  or  compass.  Driving  storms  forced 
them  through  wastes  of  water,  and  upon 
strange  coasts.  A  great  rift  separates  the 
whole  story  from  the  modern  determined 
conquest  of  the  ocean.  A  mist,  which 
will  never  be  completely  dissipated,  cur- 
tains this  olden  time.  The  legendary 
seal  rests  upon  much  of  the  narration. 

499.  The  Buddhist  Priest  in  Mexico. 
A  tradition,  founded  upon  the  Year  Books 
of  the  Chinese,  in  which  a  minute  account 
of  the  country  and  its  inhabitants  is  given, 
asserts  that  Hoei  Shin,  a  Buddhist  priest, 
visited  a  land  "  twenty  thousand  li  east  of 
Tahan,"  and  named  it  Fusang.  Much 
has  been  said  to  prove  Fusang  to  be 


90 


INTRODUCTORY  STUDIES. 


Mexico,  or  perhaps  California;  and  much, 
likewise,  in  depreciation  of  the  whole  ac- 
count, which  has  been  pronounced  entirely 
deceitful.  The  evidence  drawn  from  the 
description  of  animals  and  plants  in  the 
narrative,  is  wholly  uncertain.  The 
event  in  itself  was  not  an  impossible  one, 
and  the  voyage  described  may  have  had 
a  foundation  in  fact.  The  wrecks  of 

eastem     VCSSels 


MA.  Cambridge 

Umversity,  Eng-    found  upon  the  Pacific  coast 

land,  founded.  America  m  recent 


centuries.  It  seems  entirely  probable, 
however,  that  the  country  reached  was 
nearer  the  priest's  starting  point  than  either 
Mexico  or  California  would  be. 

725.  Irish  in  Iceland.  According  to  the 
Islcndinga  bbk,  the  oldest  piece  of  Icelan- 
dic literature,  Irish  settlers  and  Culdee 
anchorites  landed  in  Iceland  and  colonized 
two  or  three  places,  where  they  remained 
till  nearly  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the 
Northmen  in  the  next  century.  They 
left  traces  of  their  presence  in  little  bells, 
books  and  crosiers.  Their  settlements 
were  chiefly  in  the  isle  of  Papoen  on  the 
east  coast,  and  of  Papyle  on  the  south 
coast  of  the  island.  They  were  originally 
induced  to  go  thither  by  some  report 
gained  from  an  Irish  monk. 

861.  First  Northman  in  Iceland.  Nad- 
doddr,  a  Norwegian  Viking,  was  driven 
upon  the  coast  of  Iceland  in  a  storm.  He 
named  it  Snjaland,  or  Snowland,  and 
after  slight  exploration,  returned  home. 

864.  Svafarsson  and  Floki.  A  Swe- 
dish navigator  named  Garthar  Svafarsson, 
having  been  driven  to  Iceland  in  a  storm, 
spent  the  winter  there,  and  carried  back 
an  excellent  account  of  the  island. 
Before  long,  other  hardy  mariners  visited 
Iceland.  Among  them  was  Floki,  who,  in 
an  attempt  to  settle  on  the  island,  wintered 
on  the  coast,  but  returned  to  his  own  land 


with  less  favorable  accounts  than  others 
before  him  had  given. 

874.  The  first  permanent  settlement 
in  Iceland  was  formed  at  Reykiavik  by 
Hjorleifr  and  Ingolfr,  two  Norwegian 
chieftains  who  had  come  here  about  three 
years  before,  to  escape  the  tyranny  of  the 
home  government.  The  place  soon  be- 
gan to  flourish,  because  others  came  for 
the  same  reason.  This  is  the  settlement 
whose  thousandth  anniversary  was  cele- 
brated with  such  parade  in  1874. 

876.  The  Discovery  of  Greenland. 
Greenland  was  accidentally  discovered 
by  Gunnbjorn,  a  Northman,  890  Oxford  Uni_ 
who  was  wrecked  upon  its  -versify,  En/?. 

,      T,  land,  founded. 

eastern  coast.  It  was  known 

for  a  century  afterward  as  "Gunnbjorn's 

Rocks,"  and  remained  uncolonized. 

928.  Iceland  became  a  republic  in 
government,  and  remained  such  for  about 
three  centuries.  During  this  period  it 
reached  a  high  degree  of  prosperity  and 
wealth.  It  had,  at  one  time,  over  one 
hundred  thousand  inhabitants.  Learning 
and  literature  flourished.  It  was  the 
golden  period  of  Icelandic  history. 

981.  Christianity  in  Iceland.  Chris- 
tianity was  preached  for  the  first  time  in 
Iceland  by  Friedrich,  a  Saxon  bishop. 
He  was  brought  to  the  island  by  Thor- 
wald,  who  had  been  converted  to  the 
faith  by  him  in  Denmark. 

983.  Greenland  was  re-discovered 
by  Eric  the  Red,  who  had  been  banished 
from  Iceland  because  of  his  turbulence 
and  crimes.  He  conferred  its  present 
name  upon  the  country,  and  visited  the 
western  coast  at  an  inlet  which  he 
named  Ericsfiord,  at  which  point  he 
conceived  the  idea  of  founding  a  colony. 

985.  Greenland  Colonized.  Eric  the 
Red,  having  returned  to  Iceland  after  a 
short  time,  sailed  again  for  Ericsfiord 


PRE-COLUMBIAN  HISTORT  AND  TRADITIONS. 


499-1488.] 

with  a  fleet  of  twenty-five  vessels.  Eleven 
of  them  were  wrecked  and  lost  upon  the 
passage,  but  the  rest  arrived  safely,  and  a 
prosperous  town  was  formed.  Other 
settlements  were  soon  founded,  and  the 
country  was  explored  in  different  direc- 
tions. Greenland  was  for  centuries  a 
flourishing  region. 

986.  North  American  Coast.  Biarne 
Herjulfson  sailed  from  Iceland  for  Green- 
land, but  on  account  of  fogs  and  north 
winds,  lost  his  course  and  came  upon  the 
coast  of  a  strange  land,  which  he  sighted 
at  different  times  in  a  northerly  direction. 
It  is  thought  that  he  came  upon  the  Atlan- 
tic coast  of  North  America,  perhaps  at 
Newfoundland  or  Labrador,  and  sailed 
along  it  until  he  arrived  at  the  colony  of 
Eric.  No  landing  was  made  till  Green- 
land was  reached. 

1000.  Northmen  in  Vinland.  Leif, 
son  of  Eric  the  Red,  with  thirty-five 
men,  explored  the  coast  of  North  Amer- 
ica for  a  long  distance.  He  landed  first 
at  a  place  which  he  named  Helluland, 
from  the  appearance  of  slate  upon  the 
coast.  This  is  thought  to  have  been 
Labrador  or  Newfoundland.  He  then 
found  a  region  which  he  named  Mark- 
land,  from  the  wooded  shores.  He  finally 
reached  a  pleasant  country  and  spent  the 
winter  at  some  spot  in  it.  As  nearly  as 
can  be  told,  it  was  in  the  region  of  Rhode 
Island.  The  adventurers  named  it  Vin- 
land, because  they  found  wild  grapes  in 
great  abundance.  In  the  spring  they 
returned  to  Greenland. 

1002.  Thorwald,  a  brother  of  Leif, 
sailed  to  Vinland  and  remained  there  two 
years.  He  came  upon  a  cape  which  he 
named  Kialarnes  or  Keel  Cape.  It  was 
undoubtedly  Cape  Cod. 

1004.  First  Fight  with  Natives. 
Thorwald  and  some  of  his  men  in  their 


91 


explorations  along  the  coast  of  Vinland, 
came  into  contact  with  the  natives  for  the 
first  time.  The  Northmen  killed  eight, 
and  soon  afterward  were  attacked  by  a 
large  number  and  driven  to  their  boats. 
Thorwald  was  severely  wounded,  and 
soon  died.  The  colony  returned  to  Green- 
land. 

1005.  Thorstein,  a  third  son  of  Eric,, 
sailed  for  Vinland,  but  failed  to  find  land, 
and  returned. 

1007.  Karlsefne's  Colony.  Thorfinn 
Karlsefne  sailed  to  Vinland  with  a  col- 
ony of  men  and  women.  An  attempt 
was  made,  for  a  few  years,  to  support  the 
colony  in  the  vicinity  of  Mt.  Hope  Bay, 
Rhode  Island.  But  at  last,  after  several 
fierce  conflicts  with  the  natives,  these  colo- 
nists also  gave  up  the  enterpi'ise  and  re- 
turned to  Greenland.  A  son  had  been 
born  to  Karlsefne  in  Vinland,  and  .was 
named  Snorri,  the  first  child  of  European 
parentage  born  on  the  American  conti- 
nent. It  is  claimed  that  Thorwaldsen, 
the  celebrated  Danish  sculptor,  and  one 
or  two  Danish  scholars  of  repute,  de- 
scended from  Snorri. 

1011.  Last  Recorded  Norse  Colony 
in  Vinland.  Freydis,  daughter  of  Eric, 
now  led  an  expedition  to  Vinland.  But 
after  discord  and  murder  this  company 
sailed  away  from  Vinland,  of  which  we 
do  not  hear  after  this  time.  It  has  been 
claimed  that  the  old  stone  tower  at  New- 
port, Rhode  Island,  and  the  inscription 
upon  Dighton  Rock,  which  1096-1272. 
lies  upon  the  bank  of  Taun-  The  Crusades. 
ton  River,  are  memorials  of  these  visits 
of  the  Northmen.  But  other  antiquari- 
ans have  zealously  opposed  this  view,  and 
the  origin  of  these  relics  is,  therefore,  by 
no  means  clear. 

1121.  First  Bishop  in  Greenland. 
Greenland  was  erected  into  a  bishop- 


INTRODUCTORY   STUDIES. 


ric,  and  Arnold  was  consecrated  as  its 
first  bishop.  A  considerable  number  of 
churches  and  monasteries  had  been  built, 
and  the  ecclesiastical  affairs  of  the  country 
were  on  quite  a  firm  foundation. 

1170.  The  Welsh  Prince.  A  tradi- 
tion drawn  from  some  of  the  registers  in 
Welsh  abbeys  asserts  that  Madoc,  a  Welsh 
prince,  discovered  and  colonized  America. 
It  has  been  supposed  by  some  that  traces 
of  the  colony  established  by  him  have 
been  found  among  the  Indians  of  the 
1302.  Mariners  United  States  in  a  tribe  with 

compass  invent-      ,.     .        .  .  .. 

ed  at  Naples,  by  light  skins  who  speak  a  dia- 
Gioia.  lect  allied  to  "  Old  English." 

1265-1321.  ., 

Dante.  But  the  evidence  drawn 
from  the  reports  of  early  travelers,  is  en- 
tirely inconclusive. 

1380.  The  Zeno  Brothers.  It  is  al- 
leged upon  the  authority  of  certain  maps 
and  letters  published  by  one  of  their  de- 
scendants, that  Nicolo  and  Antonio  Zeno, 
Venetian  navigators,  explored  the  whole 
1324-1384.  Atlantic  coast  of  the  present 

Wickiiffe.  United  States.  But  the  story 
is  in  some  respects  so  singular  that  it  is 
probably  a  fabrication  almost  or  quite  en- 
tirely. 

1387.  Iceland  acknowledged  submis- 
sion to  the  King  of  Denmark  and  Nor- 
way. It  soon  suffered  reverses  which  have 
greatly  lessened  ever  since  the  strength 
of  its  civilization. 

1402.     The   Black   Death,   a  terrible 

plague,  carried  off  nearly  two-thirds  of 

1328-1400.  the   population  of  Iceland, 

Chaucer.    an(j  about  nine-tenths  of  the 


cattle   died  during  the  following  winter, 
from  the  inclement  weather. 

1406.  The  last  bishop  of  Greenland, 
named  Endride  Andreason,  was  conse- 
crated. 

1409.  Decline  of  Greenland.  The 
bishopric  of  Greenland  was  abandoned 
because  of  the  loss  of  population  and 
wealth.  The  country  had  suffered  from 
the  Black  Death,  and  from  1440_  invention 
hostile  incursions.  It  was  °f  Printing. 
now  lost  sight  of,  and  had  no  more  history 
till  about  the  close  of  the  sixteenth  century. 

1484.  Alonzo  Sanchez  is  alleged  to 
have  been  driven  across  to  Hayti  by  a 
storm,  and,  having  spent  some  time  in 
exploration,  to  have  returned  and  revealed 
to  Columbus  what  he  had  1485.1509_  Hen. 
discovered.  This  tradition  rv  VH.,  King 

j       L.L    Ji  c     of  England. 

is  undoubtedly  empty  of 
truth,  having  evidently  originated  since 
the  achievements  of  Columbus  took  place. 
1488.  Cousin,  the  Frenchman.  A 
French  writer  claims  that  Cousin,  a 
Dieppe  navigator,  discovered  America  by 
being  driven  over  the  ocean  in  a  westerly 
course  by  a  storm.  The  account  states 
that  a  man  named  Pinzon  was  with 
Cousin,  and  that  he,  having  gone  to 
Spain  upon  their  return  to  Europe,  inter- 
ested Columbus  in  the  project,  and  sailed 
with  him  upon  his  first  voyage.  But  the 
Pinzons  were  rich  and  energetic  enough 
to  have  undertaken  an  enterprise  of  their 
own,  if  one  of  their  number  had  evei  been 
across  the  Atlantic.  We  have  no  evi- 
dence that  such  was  the  case. 


DISCOVERY, 


•  1492-1630. 


"Look  now  abroad— another  race  has  filed 

These  populous  borders — -wide  the  wood  recedes^ 
And  towns  shoot  up,  and  fertile  realms  are  tilled; 

The  land  is  full  of  harvests  and  green  meads; 

Streams  numberless,  that  many  a  fountain  feeds •, 
Shine,  disembowered,  and  give  to  sun  and  breeze 

Their  virgin  waters;  the  full  region  leads 
New  colonies  forth,  that  toward  the  western  seas 
Spread^  like  a  rapid Jlame  among  the  autumnal  trees.* 

BRYANT 


94 


SECTION    IV. 
2)  IS  CO  r&ft  T.    f £92-7506. 


"\j   WIDE  collateral  study  of    Euro- 

/jL   pean  science,  government,  and  so- 

y  \    cial  life,  in   the   fifteenth   century, 

A  A  \vould  show   that   the   American 

-*X        vX 

continent  would  have  been  brought  to 
light  within  a  short  time  even  if  Columbus 

O 

had  not  served  as  the  foremost  agent  in 
.its  accomplishment.  The  New  World 
could  not  have  been  much  longer  hidden 
in  deep  obscurity.  The  world  had  reached 
a  point  at  which  the  discovery  was  to  be 
neither  accidental  nor  unnecessary.  The 
.attention  of  the  learned  was  turned  more 
and  more  to  geographical  science.  Mar- 
itime enterprise  was  engrossing  the 
thoughts  of  a  great  many  upon  the  shores 
of  the  Mediterranean,  and  the  Atlantic 
coast  of  Europe.  Little  vessels  were 
.-gradually  pushing  their  way  into  the 


ocean,  though  most  sailors  were  as  yet 
very  timid  when  far  from  land.  Explor- 
ers were  following  the  coast  of  Africa, 
and  at  last  rounded  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  The  nations  were  eager  for  ter- 
ritorial expansion,  and  the  increase  of 
wealth.  The  question  of  a  short  and 
advantageous  route  to  the  riches  of  the 
Orient  inflamed  their  passions.  Hun- 
dreds of  adventurers  were  ready  for  any 
enterprise  which  promised  conquest  and 
gold.  The  compass  and  astrolabe,  then 
recent  inventions,  made  victory  over  the 
ocean  greater  and  more  scientific.  There 
were  to  be  injustice,  passion,  bigotry,  and 
many  bloody  deeds,  to  disgrace  the  sub- 
jugation of  America,  but  in  its  virgin 
soil  much  true  life  was  to  root  itself.  By 
that  life  we  live  to-day. 


Many  places  lay  claim  to  the  honor  of 
having  been  the  birthplace  of  Columbus. 
No  one  of  them  all  has  better  reasons  for 
so  doing  than  the  beautiful  city  of  Genoa, 
in  Italy,  upon  the  Mediterranean.  The 
year  of  his  birth  is  uncertain,  but  most 
-authorities  set  it  at  1435.  In  his  early 


boyhood  he  formed  the  plan  of  pursuing 
the  life  of  a  navigator,  and  was  sent  by 
his  father,  for  a  very  short  time,  to  the 
University  of  Pa  via,  where  he  studied  the 
necessary  sciences.  At  the  age  of  four- 
teen years  he  made  his  first  voyage,  and 
sailed  much  upon  the  Mediterranean  dur- 


95 


96 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


ing  his  youth.  In  1477,  after  he  had  be- 
gun to  mature  the  great  purpose  of  his 
life,  he  sailed  on  a  voyage  into  Northern 
seas,  passing  Iceland,  as  is  thought, to  lat- 
itude 73°  or  beyond.  He  had  already 
gone,  in  1470,  to  Lisbon,  Portugal,  at- 
tracted thither  probably,  by  the  zeal  of 
Prince  Henry  in  geographical  study. 
His  attention  had  already  been  aroused 
by  the  floating  stories  of  unknown  lands 
far  off  in  the  seas,  and  by  the  speculation 
of  geographers 
upon  the  shape  of 
the  earth,  and  the 
position  of  the 
continents.  He 
held  communica- 
tion before  long, 
with  some  of  the 
scholars  of  the 
time,  about  these 
question  j,  and 
what  he  learned 
from  them  fixed 
in  him  a  purpose 
to  attempt  a  solu- 
tion of  the  prob- 
lem. While  en- 
g aged  in  the 
work  of  construc- 
ting charts  and 
maps  at  Lisbon, 
for  his  own  support,  the  project  of  reach- 
ing Asia  by  sailing  directly  west,  began 
to  take  greater  possession  of  his  mind. 
He  soon  made  proposals  for  an  expedi- 
tion, to  the  court  of  Portugal,  and  per- 
haps to  the  governments  of  Venice  and 
Genoa,  but  could  effect  nothing.  He  af- 
terward sent  his  brother,  Bartholomew, 
to  the  court  of  England  to  negotiate  with 
Henry  VII.  While  in  Lisbon  he  mar- 
ried the  daughter  of  a  deceased  naviga- 
tor, and  thereby  gained  possession  of 


CHRISTOPHER    COLUMBUS. 


many  charts  and  plans.  His  wife  having 
died,  he  left  Lisbon  in  1484,  with  his  little 
son,  Diego,  and  began  his  application  to 
the  learned  men  and  royal  court  of 
Spain.  He  pleaded  his  cause  before  the  best 
minds  of  the  day  at  Salamanca,  and 
gained  access  to  Ferdinand  and  Isabella. 
The  views  he  presented  met  with  favor 
from  some,  but  were  constantly  hindered 
by  the  crude  intellectual  and  religious 
notions  of  the  time.  Discouraged  at  last 
by  the  unceasing 
opposition,  he  left 
the  court  of  Spain 
in  February, 1 492 > 
and  set  out  for 
France.  Through 
the  impassioned 
solicitation  of  Luis 
de  St.  Angel  and 
Alonzo  de  Quin- 
tanilla,  Queen 
Isabella  sent  a 
courier  to  over- 
take Columbus,, 
and  summon  him 
again  to  court- 
Upon  his  return 
the  expedition 
was  finally  agreed 
upon,  Queen  Isa- 
bella promising- 
to  assume  the  expense  for  her  own  crown 
of  Castile,  by  the  pledge  of  her  jewels,  a 
step  rendered  unnecessary  by  a  loan  from 
St.  Angel,  who  was  at  the  time  ecclesias- 
tical treasurer  of  Aragon.  This  was  the 
long-expected  and  patiently-awaited  mo- 
ment of  a  score  of  years.  The  scientific 
and  religious  ambitions  of  Columbus 
seemed  about  to  be  realized.  The  defeats 
of  his  life  were  apparently,  though  not 
really,  at  an  end. 

1492.     April  17.    The  Written  Agree- 


1492-1506.] 


THE  GREAT  DISCOVERT. 


97 


merit.  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  signed  an 
agreement  to  undertake  an  expedition. 
The  offices  and  honors  of  admiral  and 
viceroy  over  the  lands  which  would  be 
discovered,  were  conferred  upon  Colum- 
bus and  his  heirs  forever.  It  was  also 
stipulated  that  one-tenth  of  all  valuable 
substances  found  in  the  new  realms  should 
be  reserved  for  him,  and  that  he  should 
receive  an  eighth  of  the  profits  whenever 
he  chose  to  assume  an  eighth  of  the  cost. 

1492.  April  30.  A  Letter  of  Privi- 
lege was  drawn  up  by  the  monarchs, 
which  repeated  the  agreement  in  the 
form  of  a  commission,  and  authorized 
Columbus  and  his  descendants  to  use  the 
title  Don  before  their  names. 

1492.  Aug.  3.  The  First  Departure. 
Columbus  sailed  before  sunrise  on  the 
morning  of  Friday,  from  the  Roads  of 
Saltes,  near  Palos,  with  three  vessels 
and  one  hundred  and  twenty  persons,  in- 
cluding ninety  mariners.  The  largest 
vessel,  named  Santa  Maria,  was  decked, 
and  was  commanded  by  Columbus  him- 
self. The  other  two  were  caravels  with- 
out decks,  but  each  of  them  had  a  fore- 
castle, and  a  cabin  in  the  stern.  The 
Pinta  was  commanded  by  Martin 
Alonzo  Pinzon ;  the  Nina  by  his  brother, 
Vincente  Yanez  Pinzon.  A  third  brother, 
Francisco  Martin  Pinzon,  was  pilot  on 
board  the  Pinta.  The  Pinzons  had  added 
the  third  vessel  to  the  expedition  by  their 
own  wealth,  and  had  enabled  Columbus 
to  provide  an  eighth  of  the  whole  cost. 

1492.  Aug.  9.  The  Canary  Islands 
were  reached,  where  the  Pinta  was  re- 
paired, and  stores  were  obtained. 

1492.  Sept.  6.  The  Unknown  Ocean. 
The  little  fleet  sailed  from  the  Canary 
Islands  directly  west  into  the  Atlantic, 
much  to  the  disheartening  of  the  more 
timid  sailors,  who  now  began  to  realize 

7 


very   vividly,   the   nature   of  the   enter- 
prise. 

1492.  Sept.  13.  Variation  of  the 
Needle.  Columbus  for  the  first  time 
noticed  the  variation  of  the  compass 
needle  from  the  North  Star,  and  kept  the 
knowledge  of  it  from  his  officers  and 
men  for  several  days.  When  the  pilots 
discovered  it,  the  dejection  they  felt  at 
losing  sight  of  land  was  greatly  increased 
through  fear  that  the  ordinary  laws  of 
nature  would  no  longer  hold  good.  Dur- 
ing the  next  few  weeks  the  sailors  were 
several  times  on  the  point  of  mutiny, 
and  at  last  threatened  the  life  of  Colum- 
bus. They  were  constantly  deceived, 
however,  by  signs  of  land,  and  were  thus 
held  on  their  way. 

1492.  Sept.  21.  The  Sargasso  Sea. 
They  entered  that  mysterious  mass  of 
floating  seaweed  in  the  middle  Atlantic, 
known  as  the  Sargasso  Sea.  The  minds 
of  the  sailors  were  greatly  excited  with 
the  fear  of  rocks,  reefs  and  shoals.  The 
Sargasso  Sea  lies  in  the  center  of  the 
North  Atlantic  system  of  currents,  near 
the  Azores.  At  this  point  a  large  section 
of  the  ocean  is  nearly  motionless.  An 
area  larger  than  France  is  covered  with 
a  seaweed  commonly  called  Sargassum 
natans,  more  properly,  Sargassum  bacci 
ferum,  with  which  is  mingled  anothel 
curious  weed,  called  Macrocystis  pyrifera 
with  stems  a  thousand  or  fifteen  hundred 
feet  long,  the  size  of  a  man's  finger. 
From  a  distance  the  weed  looks  perfectly 
solid.  Columbus,  however,  knew  the 
ocean  well  enough  to  be  convinced  that 
his  vessels  were  still  in  deep  water.  He 
therefore  quieted  his  men,  and  kept  his 
course.  But  in  the  management  of  such 
difficulties,  the  great  explorer  found  need 
for  all  the  resources  of  his  wonderful 
nature.  Few  men  have  exhibited  a  more 


98 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


complete  self-possession  in  the  midst  of 
unexpected  emergencies,  or  have  united 
so  great  a  skill  with  so  sublime  a  faith. 


1492.  Oct.  12.  Land  was  at  last  dis- 
covered about  two  o'clock  on  the  morning 
of  Friday,  ten  weeks,  almost  to  an  hour, 
from  the  time  the  fleet  sailed  from  Palos. 
A  moving  light  had  been  seen  by  Colum- 
bus earlier  in  the  night,  and  had  been 
confidently  judged  by  him  to  be  a  sign  of 
inhabited  land.  At  daylight  each  com- 
mander landed  with  a  boat's  company, 
and  Columbus  took  possession  with  the 
royal  standard,  in  behalf  of  Ferdinand 
and  Isabella,  naming  the  island  San  Sal- 
vador. The  natives  manifested  great 
curiosity.  San  Salvador,  the  native  name 
of  which  was  Guanahani,  is  one  of  the 
Bahamas,  at  a  distance  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  from  Florida.  Columbus 
obtained  from  the  natives  a  few  gold  or- 
naments in  exchange  for  glass  beads,  and 
little  hawks'  bells.  To  the  question 
where  gold  was  procured,  an  invariable 
response  was  made  by  pointing  to  the 
south,  across  the  water.  After  a  few 
days  Columbus  cruised  among  the  rest  of 
the  Bahama  group,  landing  and  naming 
several  of  the  islands.  He  then  sailed 
toward  the  south  in  search  of  the  land  of 
gold.  _ 

1492.  Oct.  28.  Cigars  and  Maize. 
Land  was  discovered,  the  Indian  name  of 
which  was  found  to  be  Cuba.  It  was 
here  that  Columbus  and  his  followers  first 
saw  the  natives,  both  men  and  women, 
smoking  rolls  of  leaves,  either  by  holding 
them  in  the  mouth,  or  in  the  ends  of 
reeds,  through  which  the  smoke  was  in- 
haled. This  was  the  tobacco  plant  which 
grew  wild  on  the  island,  and  whose  name 


is  thought,  though  other  derivations  have 
been  proposed,  to  have  since  been  drawn 
from  the  tabacos,  the  pipe  or  reed  through 
which  the  Caribbee  Indians  smoked  it. 
The  Aztecs  also  used  it  as  a  roll  of 
leaves  sometimes,  in  a  silver  or  shell 
holder.  This  is  the  origin  of  the  modern 
cigar.  The  Spaniards  pronounced  the 
pei'fume  "  fragrant  and  grateful."  Maize, 
which  was  cultivated  by  the  natives,  was 
now  for  the  first  time  seen  by  Europeans. 
The  name  Indian  corn  was  conferred 
upon  it  at  a  later  day  by  the  Pilgrims,  at 
Plymouth,  Mass. 

1492.  Dec.  6.  Hayti  was  discovered 
and  named  Hispaniola,  or  Little  Spain. 
Columbus  everywhere  treated  the  natives 
with  great  kindness,  and  prohibited  any 
abuse  of  their  confidence. 

1492.  Dec.   24.      The    Santa   Maria 
was  wrecked  upon  a  shoal  near  Hayti  by 
the  cai'elessness  of  the  pilot.     By  the  aid 
of  the  natives  the  ammunition  and  stores 
of  all  kinds  were  safely  landed.     A  fort 
was  built  out  of  the  beams  of  the  vessel, 
and   named    La    Navidad.      The    native 
prince,  Guacanagari,  treated  the  Spaniards 
with  great  honor,  and  gave  them  gifts  of 
gold. 

1493.  Jan.  4.     Columbus  left  thirty- 
nine  men  at  La  Navidad,  and  sailed   for 
Spain  on  board  the  Nina.     He  gave  the. 
little  colony  earnest  injunctions  to  behave 
honorably  toward    one   another,  and  the 
natives.     In  the  meantime  the  Pinta  had 
deserted  in  search  of  gold,  but  was  found, 
and   sailed    in   company  with  the  Nina. 
The  vessels  were  beaten  about  by  severe 
tempests,  and  were  at  last  separated  from 
one  another. 

1493.  March  4.  Columbus  arrived 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Tagus,  in  Port- 
ugal, and  sent  a  courier  to  the  Spanish 
sovereigns  to  announce  his  coming. 


1492-1506.] 


THE  GREAT  DISCOVERT. 


99 


1493.  March  15.  Columbus  arrived 
at  Palos,  and  was  welcomed  with  great 
acclamations.  At  evening  of  the  same 
•day  the  Pinta  arrived.  Her  commander, 
Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon,  thinking  that  the 
Nina  had  been  lost  at  sea,  or  hoping  to 
arrive  first  and  secure  the  glory,  had  for- 
warded a  letter  to  Ferdinand  and  Isabella 
from  Bayonne,  on  the  Bay  of  Biscay. 
His  plans  being  thwarted,  and  a  letter  of 
reprimand  being  received  from  the  sov- 
ereigns, Pinzon  sank  away  in  chagrin,  and 
died  in  a  short  time.  Yet  he  should  not 
be  misjudged.  He  had  been  eager  to 
take  part  in  the  expedition,  and  more 
than  any  other  except  Columbus,  had 
helped  carry  it  out  to  a  complete  success. 
He  was  evidently  impatient  at  the  thought 
that  the  honor  would  all  descend  upon  one 
person.  He  was  a  leading  navigator  of 
his  time,  and  as  such,  was  proud  and 
sensitive.  His  real  and  thorough  partici- 
pation in  the  discovery,  when  so  many 
were  ready  to  falter,  should  be  great 
commendation  for  him,  and  serve  to  put 
into  just  relations  his  temporary  deviation 
from  the  path  of  true  manliness.  Colum- 
bus was  everywhere  laden  with  honor, 
especially  at  the  royal  court.  He  dis- 
played m  public  processions  the  products 
of  the  New  World,  together  with  a  half 
dozen  of  the  natives. 

1493.  May  2.  A  Papal  Bull  was 
issued,  granting  to  the  Spanish  sovereigns 
full  rights,  titles,  and  powers  in  the  newly 
discovered  lands. 

1493.  May  25.  The  former  contract 
between  Columbus  and  the  sovereigns 
•was  renewed,  affirming  the  rights  of 
Columbus  and  his  descendants  to  the 
offices  of  admiral,  viceroy  and  governor, 
in  all  the  lands  discovered.  The  royal 
seal  was  given  to  Columbus  for  use  in 
giving  letters  patent  and  commissions. 


The  honor  shown  to  Columbus  at  this 
time  began  to  excite  envy  in  many 
breasts,  and  to  prepare  the  way  for  that 
violation  of  all  these  solemn  contracts 
against  which  he  was  obliged  to  contend 
for  the  rest  of  his  life. 

1493.  Sept.  25.  The  Second  Depar- 
ture. Columbus  sailed  from  Cadiz  on 
his  second  voyage  with  fifteen  hundred 
men,  in  three  ships  and  fourteen  light 
caravels.  There  were  miners,  mechan- 
ics, husbandmen,  and  many  restless  adven- 
turers. Different  kinds  of  seeds,  and  do- 
mestic animals,  including  horses,  were 
taken  upon  this  expedition.  It  was  dur- 
ing the  preparation  for  this  voyage  in 
some  trivial  matters,  that  the  hostility  to 
Columbus  on  the  part  of  Fonseca,  arch- 
deacon of  Seville,  subsequently  bishop, 
and  for  a  long  time  at  the  head  of  In- 
dian affairs  for  the  New  World,  origina- 
ted. The  same  man  was  at  a  later  time 
a  deadly  foe  to  Cortes. 

1493.  Nov.  3.  Pierce  Caribbee  In- 
dians. Columbus  having  taken  a  route 
further  south  than  on  his  former  voyage, 
discovered  the  Caribbean  Islands  and 
landed  at  several,  including  Guadeloupe. 
After  some  intercourse  with  the  natives, 
and  some  fighting,  in  which  one  or  two 
Spaniards  were  killed  with  poisoned  ar- 
rows, he  sailed  for  Hayti. 


1493.  Nov.  27.  The  fleet  arrived  at 
La  Navidad,  Hayti,  in  the  evening,  and 
found  next  morning  that  the  fort  had 
been  completely  destroyed.  The  men 
left  in  it  had  failed  to  observe  the  faithful 
charge  given  them,  and  by  jealousies 
among  themselves  and  evil  conduct  to- 
ward the  natives,  had  brought  ruin  upon 
their  own  heads.  A  part  of  the  garrison,, 
as  was  afterward  learned,  went  into  ch« 


100 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


interior  of  the  island,  where  they  were 
slain  by  the  inhabitants,  who  soon  sur- 
prised and  slew  the  rest  at  the  fort. 
This  was  the  beginning  of  evil,  because  it 
caused  the  growth  of  hostile  feelings 
which  Columbus  had  done  so  much  to 
prevent.  He  mournfully  searched  for 
another  suitable  spot  and  founded  a  col- 
ony on  the  same  island,  a  little  east  of 
Monte  Christi.  This  first  real  colony 
in  the  New  World  he  named  Isabella. 
Houses  were  speedily  built;  squares  and 
streets  were  laid  out.  But  the  colonists 
began  to  grow  sick  in  body,  through 
change  of  climate  and  malarial  influ- 
ences, and  sick  in  mind,  as  they  realized 
that  wealth  even  in  the  New  World, 
would  be  the  result  of  hard  labor  alone. 
Columbus  found  this  year  that  the  cotton 
tree  grew  wild,  and  that  the  inhabitants 
used  the  product  of  it  in  dressing,  and  in 
making  fishing  nets. 


1494.  January.  Finding  of  Gold.  In 
order  to  explore  the  island  more  fully 
and  to  allay  the  passion  of  some  who 
only  cared  for  the  New  World  so  far  as 
it  would  bring  them  immediate  riches, 
Cojumbus  sent  out  a  company  under 
Alonzo  de  Ojeda  to  go  into  the  interior 
and  search  for  gold.  They  returned 
with  fine  specimens  of  gold  ore,  and 
with  a  quantity  of  gold  dust  which  had 
been  washed  out  of  the  sand  of  brooks. 

1494.  Feb.  2.  Columbus  sent  twelve 
vessels  home  to  Spain  with  fruit,  gold, 
and  Caribbee  captives.  After  the  de- 
parture of  the  fleet  he  discovered  an  in- 
cipient rebellion,  and  punished  the  ring- 
leaders. 

1494.  March  12.  Fort  St.  Thomas. 
Columbus  left  Isabella  under  the  com- 
mand of  his  brother,  Don  Diego,  and 
started  with  four  hundred  men  upon  an 


expedition  into  the  interior  of  the  island. 
They  crossed  an  extensive  and  beautiful 
valley,  and  then  entered  a  region  of  lofty 
mountains.  They  soon  found  gold  in  the 
streams,  and  having  selected  a  defensible 
position,  built  a  fort,  which  they  named 
St.  Thomas.  Fifty-six  men  were  left  as  a 
garrison,  and  Columbus  set  out  upon  his. 
return. 

1494.  March  29.  Misery  at  Isa- 
bella. Columbus  arrived  at  Isabella  and 
found  sickness,  discontent  and  unwilling- 
ness to  work,  rapidly  increasing.  Persons 
of  rank  complained  at  having  a  portion 
of  labor  assigned  them.  Columbus  deter- 
mined to  employ  large  numbers  of  them 
in  further  exploration  of  the  island,  and 
to  sail  with  some  himself  to  the  west  on 
a  voyage  of  discovery. 

1494.  April  9.  Alonzo  de  Ojeda 
was  sent  with  four  hundred  men  to  St. 
Thomas,  with  directions  to  have  the  re- 
gion thoroughly  explored. 

1494.  April  24.  The  Coast  of  Cuba. 
Columbus  left  Isabella  with  three  cara- 
vels and  sailed  to  the  west  along  the 
south  shore  of  Cuba,  for  several  months 
in  all,  landing  at  different  points  until  he 
deemed  it  best  to  go  no  further,  on  ac- 
count of  the  worn  condition  of  the  vessels. 
Before  turning  back,  however,  he  took  by 
a  notary,  the  opinion  of  every  person  on  -. 
board  the  three  vessels  that  the  land  along 
which  they  were  coasting  was  a  conti- 
nent, and  no  one  was  afterward  to  contra- 
dict that  assertion,  except  upon  pain  of 
severe  punishment.  They  were  then 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  west  end  of 
Cuba,  which  would  have  dispelled  their 
illusion. 

1494.  May  3.  Jamaica  was  dis- 
covered by  a  short  trip  to  the  south  from 
the  coast  of  Cuba. 

1494.     Sept.   4.      Don   Bartholomew 


1492-1506.] 


THE  GREAT  DISCOVERT. 


101 


Columbus.     The  vessels  reached  Isabella 
upon   their   return.      Columbus,   shortly 
before  their   arrival,  was  stricken   down 
with    over-fatigue,  and  lay   in    a    critical 
condition.       At    Isabella     he    found    his 
brother,  Don  Bartholomew,  who  had  been 
sent  to  England  before  the  Spanish  sov- 
ereigns had  agreed  to  enter  upon  the  at- 
tempt  of  discovery,  with  a  request  that 
Henry  VII.  would  fit  out  an  expedition. 
The  English  monarch  accepted   the  pro- 
posal, and   Don    Bartholomew   was   re- 
turning to  Spain  for  his  brother,  when  he 
heard  that  the  voyage  had  already  taken 
place,  and  that  Christopher  was  then  at 
the  Spanish  court  in  triumph.     Hasten- 
ing his  journey,  he  arrived  just  after   the 
second  expedition  had  departed,  and   fol- 
lowed to  the  New  World  as  soon  as  other 
vessels  sailed  thither.      His  presence   in 
Isabella   was  most  opportune.     His  vigor 
and    decision   were   of  great   assistance. 
He  was    immediately  invested  with  au- 
thority by    his  brother,    that   he    might 
•set  about  the  regulation  of  the  affairs  of  the 
colony,  which  had  got   into   an  unfortu- 
nate condition  during  the  absence  of  the 
admiral.     The  soldiers,  in  exploring  the 
interior,  had  aroused  the  hostility  of  the 
natives    by    their   cruelty  and   excesses. 
Discord  had  arisen,  and  some  of  the  ene- 
mies of  Columbus  had    sailed    to    Spain. 
The  natives  had  risen  in  fierce  attacks  on 
St.  Thomas,  and    in    threatened   assaults 
•on  Isabella. 

1494.  Indian  Slaves.  Before  the 
•close  of  this  year  four  ships  arrived  from 
Spain  with  provisions.  Columbus  sent 
them  back  soon  with  gold,  metals,  fruits, 
and  five  hundred  Indian  captives,  to  be 
sold  as  slaves.  This  blot  on  the  fair  fame 
of  the  great  discoverer  is  to  be  ac- 
counted for  by  the  condition  of  his  times. 
These  were  the  ones  whom  the  compas- 


sionate queen  ordered  to  be  sent  back  at 
once.  She  at  the  same  time  sent  com- 
mands that  the  islanders  be  treated 
mercifully. 

1495.  March  27.  Suffering  of  Hayti 
Natives.  Columbus,  having  recovered 
from  his  long  illness,  set  out  with  an  army 
to  subdue  the  island.  He  accomplished 
his  object,  and  established  a  tribute  of  gold 
dust  and  cotton  to  be  paid  by  the  natives 
monthly  or  quarterly.  This  tribute  was 
the  cause  of  great  suffering  among  the 
natives,  and  was  afterward  diminished 
in  amount.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
that  enforced  labor  in  mining,  which 
nearly  annihilated  the  Indian  population 
of  Hayti  during  the  next  fifty  years.  It 
was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  the 
poor  beings  could,  by  toiling  all  the  time, 
procure  enough  gold  to  satisfy  the  de- 
mand for  tribute.  They  had  been  to- 
tally unaccustomed  to  labor  except  just  as 
they  pleased,  and  thousands  of  them  per- 
ished beneath  the  burden.  Add  to  this 
the  fact  that  the  Indian  lands  were  soon 
given  to  Spanish  settlers,  who  began  to 
secure  natives  to  work  in  cultivating  the 
soil,  or  in  mining,  and  it  can  be  easily  seen 
that  their  condition  grew  darker  all  the 
time  in  the  strengthening  of  the  slavery 
into  which  they  had  fallen.  The  hot  sun 
of  Hayti  saw  many  of  them  perish  miser- 
ably by  the  exactions  of  their  cruel 
masters. 

1495.  April  10.  Opposition  to  Co- 
lumbus. A  royal  proclamation  was 
issued  in  Spain,  granting  the  right  of 
sailing  on  private  voyages  to  the  New 
World,  and  of  trading  there.  This  set 
loose  a  large  number  of  adventurers  and 
navigators.  Just  at  this  time  a  commis- 
sioner named  Juan  Aguado  was  sent  out 
to  study  the  affairs  of  the  colonv,  and  re- 
port upon  the  difficulties  found  there, 


102 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


knowledge  of  which  had  been  diffused  in 
Spain  by  the  enemies  of  Columbus. 
Upon  his  arrival  at  Isabella,  he  began  to 
collect  information  against  Columbus 
from  all  quarters,  through  the  misrepre- 
sentations of  the  colonists,  who  laid  the 
burden  of  all  their  ills  upon  the  shoulders 
of  the  admiral. 

1496.  March.  10.  Columbus  and 
Commissioner  Aguado  set  sail  for  Spain 
in  two  caravels.  Two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  persons  returned  to  Spain  at 
the  same  time.  Nearly  fifty  Indians 
were  also  carried. 

1496.  June  11.  The  vessels  arrived 
at  Cadiz,  after  much  suffering  from  lack 
of  food.  The  reception  of  Columbus  by 
the  people  was  extremely  cool.  Ferdi- 
nand and  Isabella,  however,  gave  him  a 
cordial  greeting.  His  reputation  in  the 
nation  at  large  was  on  the  decline,  because 
his  voyages  had  been  no  more  profitable 
to  those  engaged  in  them.  The  com- 
plaints were  disregarded  by  the  sovereigns, 
and  Columbus  began  to  ask  for  a  third 
expedition  under  his  own  command.  But 
he  met  with  indefinite  delays  of  all  kinds. 
These  made  it  possible  for  English  ex- 
plorers to  discover  the  mainland  of  the 
western  continent,  over  a  year  before 
Columbus  set  foot  upon  it. 

1496.  San  Domingo  was  founded  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river  Ozema,  in  Hayti, 
in   order   to   afford   another  seaport.     It 
rapidly  took  precedence  of  Isabella. 

1497.  June  2.     A  royal  edict  was 
issued,   retracting    the    right    of    private 
voyages  and  trade,  so  far  as  they  conflicted 
with  the  claims  of  Columbus. 

NORTH  AMERICA  DISCOVERED. 

1497.  June  24.  John  Cabot  and  his 
son  Sebastian,  having  obtained  a  patent 
from  Henry  VII.  of  England,  sailed  in  a 


vessel  named  "  Matthew,"  to  the  north* 
west  in  search  of  a  passage  to  India,  and 
this  day  discovered  the  coast  of  Labrador, 
fourteen  months  before  Co-  1498.1515i  Lmis 
Itimbus  discovered  the  main-  xii.  King  of 
land  of  South  America. 
They  returned  without  profit  from  their 
voyage.  It  is  asserted  by  some  on  the 
authority  of  certain  maps  upon  which  the 
date  was  put  by  the  Cabots  themselves,, 
that  this  voyage  took  place  in  1494. 

1498.  May.  After  the  death  of  his 
father,  Sebastian  Cabot  sailed  again  to 
the  New  World,  with  two  ships  and 
three  hundred  men.  He  coasted  during 
the  summer  from  Labrador  to  Chesapeake 
Bay,  some  say  to  Florida.  Feeling  sure 
that  the  land  was  a  new  continent,  he  re- 
turned to  England.  He  had  discovered 
and  named  Newfoundland,  and  reported 
at  home  the  immense  numbers  of  codfish 
which  he  had  seen  off  its  coast,  which,  he 
said,  were  nearly  numerous  enough  to 
impede  the  vessel  in  its  course.  He  thus,, 
perhaps,  originated  the  great  fishery  on 
the  Newfoundland  Banks,  though  there 
is  some  evidence  that  the  Basques  had 
been  there  before  his  voyage.  The  young 
explorer  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  this  expedition.  These  two 
voyages  lay  at  the  foundation  of  the 
claim  which  England  afterward  made  to" 
North  America. 


1498.  May  30.  The  Third  Depart- 
ure. Columbus  sailed  from  San  Lucar 
de  Barrameda  upon  his  third  voyager 
with  six  vessels.  His  patience  gave  way 
at  the  moment  of  departure,  when  he 
knocked  down  and  kicked  Ximeno  Bre- 
viesca,  Fonseca's  treasurer,  a  man  who 
had  harassed  him  in  all  his  preparations. 
The  long  delay  had  worn  out  the  re- 
markable patience  of  the  admiral,  and  he 


1492-1506.] 

could  bear  no  more.  The  sovereigns 
were  somewhat  estranged  by  this  unfor- 
tunate event.  Columbus  took  a  route  to 
the  south  of  his  previous  voyages. 

1498.  July  31.  Trinidad  was  dis- 
covered, and  named  from  the  appearance 
of  its  mountains. 

SOUTH  AMERICA  DISCOVERED. 

1498.  Aug.  1.  While  cruising  along 
the  southern  shore  of  Trinidad,  Colum- 
bus beheld  in  the  distance  the  low  line  of 
the  South  American  coast.  He  entered 
the  Gulf  of  Paria  within  a  few  days,  and 
landed  upon  the  mainland,  which  he 
thought  to  be  another  island.  The  natives 
had  large  strings  of  pearls  which  they 
said  were  procured  on  the  coast  to  the 
north.  Through  lack  of  pi^ovisions  and 
the  ill-health  of  Columbus,  the  fleet  sailed 
for  Hayti.  It  was  upon  this  cruise  that 
Columbus  experienced  the  high  waves 
which  in  July  and  August  mark  the 
mouths  of  the  Orinoco  River.  This  river 
rises  between  April  and  October,  thirty 
or  more  feet,  and  sometimes  creates  at  its 
outlets  a  very  dangerous  sea  for  shipping. 


THE  GREAT  DISCOVERT. 


103 


1498.  Pearl  Fishery.  The  islands  of 
Margarita  and  Cubagua,  since  noted  for 
their  pearl  fishery,  were  discovered.  Co- 
lumbus obtained  a  quantity  of  pearls  to 
be  sent  home  to  Spain. 

1498.  Aug.  30.  Columbus  arrived 
at  San  Domingo,  and  was  met  by  his 
1498.  Vasco  da  brother,  Don  Bartholomew. 
Ga», a  doubled  He  learned  that  the  natives 

the  Cape  of  Good 

Hope,  and  reach-  had  been  a  source  of  con- 
ed  India.  stant  trouble,  and  that  a  re- 

bellion of  Spaniards,  under  Francisco 
Roldan,  whom  he  had  often  befriended, 
was  in  existence.  For  two  years  from 
this  time  Columbus  struggled  with  the 


task  of  regaining  his  authority,  and  finally 
succeeded  to  a  certain  extent. 

AMERICUS  VESPUCIUS. 

1499.  May  30.  Alonzo  de  Ojeda,  a 
companion  of  Columbus  in  his  second 
expedition,  sailed  from  Spain  with  four 
ships,  on  a  voyage  of  discovery  in  the 
New  World.  Americus  Vespucius,  a 
Florentine  merchant,  accompanied  him 
as  navigator  and  geographer.  They  fol- 
lowed the  charts  which  Columbus  had 
already  sent  home  to  explain  his  third 
voyage,  and  reaching  the  South  Ameri- 
can coast,  sailed  through  the  Gulf  of 
Paria.  At  the  entrance  of  Lake  Mara- 
caibo  they  found  an  Indian  town  built 
upon  piles  over  the  water,  and  named  it 
Venezuela,  or  Little  Venice.  The  name 
has  since  been  extended  to  the  gulf,  and 
to  the  whole  region  of  country.  Thence 
they  crossed  to  Hayti,  and  kidnapping 
natives  on  different  islands,  returned  to 
Spain,  where  they  sold  their  captives  for 
slaves.  This  voyage  lies  at  the  founda- 
tion of  the  name  afterward  conferred 
upon  the  Western  continent.  The  claim 
has  been  made  that  this  expedition  was  in 
1497,  and  that  Vespucius  was  the  dis- 
coverer of  the  South  American  mainland, 
but  the  evidence  that  this  is  the  true  date 
of  it  is  greatest.  Columbus  undoubtedly 
first  saw  the  region. 


1499.  June.  Pearls.  Pedro  Alonzo 
Nino  and  Christoval  Guerra  sailed  from 
Palos,  with  thirty-three  persons,  in  a  ves- 
sel of  fifty  tons.  They  coasted  through 
the  Gulf  of  Paria  to  the  island  of  Mar- 
garita, where  they  obtained,  by  trading 
with  the  natives,  the  largest  amount  of 
pearls  which  had  yet  been  secured,  some 
of  them  of  great  size  and  value.  They 


104 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


then  returned  safely  to  Spain  with  their 
riches.  Nino  was  imprisoned  for  a  time, 
because  it  was  suspected  that  the  voyagers 
had  secreted  a  part  of  their  pearls  before 
taking  out  the  royal  portion.  The  charge 
was  not  sustained,  and  he  was  liberated  to 
enjoy  his  wealth. 

150O.  Jan.  28.  Cape  St.  Augustine 
was  discovered  by  Vincent  Yanez  Pinzon, 
who  sailed  on  a  voyage  of  exploration 
with  four  ships.  He  afterward  discovered 
the  Amazon  by  the  freshness  of  the 
water  far  out  at  sea,  and  was  the  first  to 
cross  the  equinoctial  line  in  the  western 
Atlantic.  He  returned  to  Spain  with  the 
loss  of  two  ships  and  a  large  number  of 
his  men,  by  a  hurricane. 

1500.  April  26.  Brazil  was  discov- 
ered by  Pedro  Alvarez  de  Cabral,  who 
sailed  from  Portugal  for  India  by  the  way 
of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  arid  kept  far 
to  the  west.  He  took  formal  possession  for 
the  throne  of  Portugal. 

1500.  Diego  de  Lope  sailed  to  the 
coast  of  South  America  and  passed  be- 
yond Cape  St.  Augustine  a  long  distance, 
thus  reaching  further  south  than  any 
explorer  previous  to  himself,  or  for  twelve 
years  afterward. 

15OO.  GasparCortereal,a  Portuguese 
navigator,  sailed  to  the  coast  of  North 
America,  and  having  reached  as  far  as 
Labrador,  kidnapped  fifty-nine  natives, 
and  sold  them  profitably  for  slaves  upon 
his  return.  It  is  thought  that  the  name 
Labrador,  laborer,  was  first  used  after  this 
voyage,  because  of  the  good  qualities  of 
the  natives  for  work. 

1500.  Aug.  23.  Arrest  of  Columbus. 
Don  Francisco  de  Bobadilla,  having  been 
sent  out  to  investigate  the  fresh  charges 
made  against  Columbus,  arrived  in  San 
Domingo.  He  at  once  assumed  the  su- 
preme authority,  seized  the  house  and 


effects  of  Columbus  in  the  latter's  absence, 
and  as  soon  as  possible,  took  the  admiral 
and  his  brothers  prisoners,  and  put  them 
in  irons. 

1500.  October.  Columbus  was  sent 
to  Spain  in  chains  by  Bobadilla.  The 
officers  of  the  caravel,  pained  at  the  sight, 
offered  to  remove  the  shackles,  but  Co- 
lumbus refused,  saying  that  he  would 
wear  them  till  the  further  will  of  the  sov- 
ereigns was  known,  and  then  preserve 
them  as  a  part  of  the  reward  of  his  ser- 
vices. 

1500.  October.  Eodrigo  de  Bastides 
sailed  from  Cadiz  with  two  ships,  and 
explored  the  northern  coast  of  South 
America.  His  vessels  were  destroyed  by 
the  shipworm,  and  he  reached  Hayti  with 
his  crew,  at  great  hazard.  He  returned 
to  Spain  with  considerable  wealth  in 
pearls.  Vasco  Nunez  de  Balboa,  after- 
ward the  discoverer  of  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
came  to  the  New  World  in  this  expedi- 
tion. 

1500.  Nov.  23.     Columbus   reached 
Spain,  where  a  great  reaction  took  place 
upon    his    arrival   in    chains.      The   sov- 
ereigns found  that  wrong  had  been  clone 
by   the    unjust     methods     of    Bobadilla. 
They  ordered  Columbus  and  his  brothers 
to  be   freed,    and    received    the    admiral 
with  great  honor.     They  promised  to  re- 
call Bobadilla. 

1501.  Gaspar  Cortereal  sailed  a  sec- 
ond time  for  the  coast  of  North  America, 
to  continue  the  traffic  in  slaves,  but  was 
never  heard  from. 

FIRST  SANCTION  OF  NEGRO  SLAVERY. 

1,501.  A  royal  ordinance  was  passed 
permitting  Spanish  emigrants  to  the 
New  World  to  take  with  them  negro 
slaves  which  had  been  born  among 
Christians. 


1492-1506.] 

1502.  Feb.  13,  Don  Nicholas  de 
Ovando  was  sent  out  by  the  sovereigns 
after  a  long  delay,  to  supersede  Bobadilla 
as  governor  of  the  New  World.  He 
was  directed  to  repair  all  the  injuries  done 
to  the  rights  and  property  of  Columbus 
and  his  brothers. 

1502.  First  Mainland  Settlement. 
Alonzo  de  Ojeda  sailed  with  four  ships  on 
a  second  voyage.  He  passed  over  his 
former  route  through  the  Gulf  of  Paria, 
and  undertook  to  found  a  colony  upon 
the  coast  beyond.  It  was  soon  broken 
up  by  discord  among  its  members. 

1502.  May  9,  The  Fourth  Depart- 
ure. Columbus,  with  the  authority  of 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  sailed  from  Cadiz 
upon  his  fourth  voyage,  which  also  proved 
his  last  one,  with  four  hundred  and  fifty 
men  in  four  caravels  of  from  fifty  to  one 
hundred  tons  burden  each.  He  designed 
to  attempt  the  discovery  of  the  strait 
which  he  supposed  to  exist  at  the  south- 
west of  Cuba.  It  had  not  yet  been 
learned  that  Cuba  was  an  island. 

1502.  June  29.  He  arrived  at  San 
Domingo,  but  was  refused  admission  to 
the  harbor  by  Gov.  Ovando,  for  some 
reasons  unknown.  He  predicted  a  severe 
storm,  and  warned  a  fleet  which  was 
about  to  convey  Bobadilla  and  many 
others  to  Spain,  not  to  put  to  sea.  His 
judgment  was  rejected,  the  vessels  sailed 
immediately,  and  were  almost  all  carried 
down  by  the  tempest  which  Columbus 
foretold.  One  vessel  alone  was  able  to 
keep  on.  A  few  put  back  to  San  Do- 
mingo in  wretched  condition.  Many 
lives  were  lost,  including  Bobadilla ;  also 
much  treasure.  Columbus  shielded  his 
own  vessel  as  well  as  he  could  under  the 
lee  of  the  island,  and  soon  afterward 
sailed  on  his  way  to  the  west. 

1502.     Aug.  14.     Cape  Honduras  was 


THE  GREAT  DISCOVERT. 


105 


discovered  and  landed  upon  by  Colum- 
bus. 

1502.  Sept.  14.  Cape  Gracias  a  Dios 
was  discovered  and  named  by  Columbus, 
who  then  sailed  southward  along  the 
coast  of  Nicaragua  and  Costa  Rica,  and 
obtained  slight  quantities  of  gold  from 
the  natives.  At  last  he  abandoned  his 
search  for  the  strait,  and  returned  upon 
his  course. 

1502.  Miguel  Cortereal  sailed  from 
Portugal  to  the  North  American  coast  in 
search  of  his  brother  Gaspar,  but  was 
also  lost. 

1502.  Brazil  was  visited  by  Americus 
Vespucius,   under  the    authority    of    the 
king   of    Portugal.     He   discovered   the 
Bay  of  All  Saints,  built  a   fort   for   his ' 
stay   of   five    months,   loaded  a  cargo  of 
Brazil  wood,  and  returned  to  Spain. 

1503.  March.     A  settlement  was  at- 
tempted by  Columbus  in  the  district  of 
Veragua,  near  the   Isthmus  of  Panama, 
but  the  undertaking  was  broken  up  by 
the  fierceness  of  the  natives,  who  attacked 
the    Spaniards,   and   killed   many.     The 
admiral  was  not   to   have  the  honor   of 
planting  the  first  colony  upon  the  main- 
land.    Leaving  the  coast  he  sailed  to  the 
east,  passed    through   the   mouth  of  the 
Gulf  of  Darien,  and  then  bent  his  course 
northerly. 

1503.  June  24.  A  Lonely  Year.  He 
was  obliged  to  beach  his  worn-out  and 
worm-eaten  vessels  upon  Jamaica.  He 
arranged  them  for  defence  and  shelter, 
and  lived  in  them  about  one  year.  But 
it  was  a  trying  year.  Troubles  thickened 
about  him.  Differences  broke  out  among 
his  men,  and  at  one  time  a  portion  of 
them  revolted  and  separated  from  the 
vessels.  A  warfare  took  place,  which,  in 
addition  to  the  hostility  of  the  natives, 
made  the  position  of  Columbus  one  of 


106 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


extreme  peril.  The  natives  finally  re- 
fused to  furnish  food.  At  one  time,  Co- 
lumbus, knowing  that  an  eclipse  of  the 
moon  was  about  to  take  place,  sent  word 
to  the  Indians  that  the  Gi'eat  Spirit  was 
angry  with  them  for  their  treatment  of 
the  Spaniards,  and  that  the  moon  would 
be  darkened  that  night  as  a  sign  of  his 
displeasure.  The  natives  were  overawed 
by  the  occurrence  of  the  phenomenon,  as 
it  had  been  foretold,  and  for  a  time  fur- 
nished an  abundance  of  provisions.  But 
they  still  hated  the  visitors  to  their  shores. 

A  DtiRIXQ  CAXOE  VOYAGE. 

1503.  It  soon  became  apparent  to 
Columbus  and  his  followers  at  Jamaica, 
that  they  must  have  relief  or  perish. 
Food  was  still  obtained  upon  the  island 
with  great  difficulty,  and  sometimes  only 
by  force.  Besides  this,  the  differences 
among  the  sailors  put  a  great  burden  of 
care  and  watchfulness  upon  the  shoulders 
of  Columbus,  which  he  could  not  long 
endure.  Hence  some  effort  must  be  made 
to  convey  information  concerning  the  con- 
dition of  affairs  to  Hayti.  Diego  Mendez,  a 
faithful  follower  of  Columbus,  volunteered 
to  attempt  the  passage  from  Jamaica  to 
Hayti  in  a  large  canoe.  But  the  hostility 
of  the  natives  broke  up  the  first  under- 
taking after  the  preparations  had  been 
made,  and  the  eastern  end  of  the  island 
had  been  reached,  where  Mendez  was 
intending  to  embark  upon  his  perilous 
adventure.  He  made  his  way  back  to  the 
admiral,  and  prepared  once  more  for  the 
trip.  This  time  there  were  ;wo  canoes, 
one  containing  Diego  Mendez  and  several 
companions;  the  other  containing  Bar- 
tholomew Fiesco,  with  several  others. 
Fiesco  was  also  a  devoted  friend  of  Co- 
lumbus. The  little  company  set  out  upon 
their  way  across  the  open  sea,  the  men 


taking  turns  in  paddling  their  frail  vessels 
day  and  night.  The  heat  of  the  first  clay 
was  excessive,  and  having  no  protection 
from  the  open  sun,  the  men  became  ex- 
ceedingly thirsty,  and  by  the  second  day 
all  the  drinking  water  on  board  had  been 
exhausted.  It  was  not  long  in  the  torrid 
atmosphere  before  the  torments  of  thirst 
grew  almost  unendurable.  A  small 
quantity  of  water  which  had  been  kept 
back,  was  now  given  in  small  amounts  to 
the  weakened  rowers.  Through  the  sul- 
try calm  they  slowly  made  their  way  over 
the  swells  of  the  ocean,  but  could  see  no 
land.  '  The  Indians,  of  whom  there  were 
a  number,  began  to  die.  Some  lay  help- 
less in  the  canoes.  Mendez  and  Fiesco 
almost  gave  way  to  despair.  The  suffer- 
ings of  all  were  almost  unexampled.  At 
last  they  caught  sight  of  a  small  island 
named  Navasa,  about  eight  leagues  from 
Hayti.  Here  they  found  rain  water,, 
but  this  boon  proved  the  death  of  some, 
who  drank  of  it  immoderately.  They 
remained  here  a  day,  resting  and  eating 
the  shell-fish  which  they  found  upon  the 
shore.  At  night  they  crossed  to  Hayti, 
making  the  entire  forty  leagues  in  a  little 
less  than  five  days.  They  were  now  one 
hundred  and  thirty  leagues  from  San 
Domingo,  a  distance  which  Mendez  im- 
mediately set  himself  to  accomplish.  This 
he  did  with  great  toil,  all  for  the  sake 
of  his  beloved  commander.  The  entire 
trip  is  one  to  which  great  romance  at- 
taches. Mendez  was  finally  instrumental 
in  securing  relief  for  the  admiral,  as  will 
be  seen. 

1503.  Negro  slavery  increased  to 
such  an  extent,  that  Ovando,  Governor  of 
Hayti,  wrote  to  the  Spanish  government, 
asking  that  the  importation  of  negro- 
slaves  might  be  stopped. 


108 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


1504.  June  28.  Columbus  sailed 
for  San  Domingo  in  two  vessels  which 
were  sent  to  his  relief,  one  by  the  faithful 
Mendez,  after  great  delay  forced  upon 
him,  and  the  other  by  Ovando,  who  found 
that  it  could  no  longer  be  deferred. 

1504.  Aug.  13.  He  arrived  at  San 
Domingo,  and  was  received  with  great 
apparent  favor  by  Ovando  and  the  people. 
He  found  his  own  estates  in  confusion, 
and  with  difficulty  could  make  arrange- 
ments for  a  return  to  Spain. 

1504.  Sept.  12.  Columbus  sailed 
from  San  Domingo  with  two  caravels, 
after  having  collected  all  the  rents  and 
dues  he  was  able  to  secure. 

1504.  Nov.  7.  He  reached  San  Lu- 
car,  Spain,  with  one  vessel,  the  other 
having  been  sent  back  to  San  Domingo 
after  a  tempest.  He  was  carried  to  Se- 
ville because  of  his  ill-health,  and  began 
at  once  to  try  to  retrieve  his  fortunes  and 
secure  a  better  administration  for  the  New 
World.  But  Queen  Isabella,  his  best 
friend,  soon  died,  and  Ferdinand  deferred 
attention  to  the  long-neglected  claims. 

1504.  The  Banks  of  Newfoundland 
are  known  to  have  been  visited  by  fisher- 
men   from  different  parts  of  Europe,  as 
early  as  this  year.     In  all  probability  they 
were  occupied  at  an  earlier  date.     The 
notice  of  the  immense  numbers  of  codfish 
in  this  vicinity  by  Cabot,  is  the  only  cer- 
tain record  of  the  place  before  this  year. 

1505.  May.     Columbus    visited  the 
Spanish  court  and  solicited  from    Ferdi- 
nand   the    restoration   of  his  rights   and 
privileges.     But  the  politic   king   feared 
to  give  so  much  power  to  one    subject, 
and  paid  little  heed  to  the  matter. 

1506.  The  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  was 
visited    by    John     Denys,    of   Honfleur, 
France,  who  afterward  published  a  map 
of  the  region. 


1506.  The  First  Sugar  Cane.  Ovan- 
do, Governor  of  Hayti,  worked  the  gold 
mines  of  the  island  with  great  energy 
and  secured  a  large  revenue  for  the  Span- 
ish government.  But  slips  of  sugar  cane 
brought  from  the  Canaries  were  found  to 
flourish,  mills  were  set  up,  and  the  mak- 
ing of  sugar  was  in  a  few  years  a  great 
part  of  the  labor  of  the  island. 

1506.  No  negro  slaves  could  here- 
after be  taken  to  the  New  World,  accord- 
ing to  a  royal  decree,  except  from  Seville, 
and  such  as  had  been  taught  Christianity. 

DEATH  OF  COLUMBUS. 

1506.  May  20.  Columbus  having 
sunk  away  under  increasing  infirmities, 
died  at  Valladolid,  aged  about  seventy 
years.  His  body  was  laid  in  the  convent 
of  St.  Thomas.  His  long  and  patient 
struggles  for  the  rights  to  which  he  was 
so  keenly  sensitive,  were  at  last  ended. 
Seldom  has  a  man  moved  through  so 
many  novel  and  exciting  scenes,  exhibit- 
ing such  excellent  and  remarkable  qual- 
ities. Many  rare  features  were  combined 
in  him.  His  quick  nature  drew  from  all 
quarters  the  supplies  necessary  to  its 
growth  and  productive  work.  He  was 
extremely  sensitive  when  a  boy,  to  the 
great  awakening  in  geographical  science 
then  taking  place  among  the  maritime 
nations  of  Europe.  He  became  what 
he  was,  because  of  the  age  in  which  he 
lived.  He  was  an  outgrowth  of  the 
period.  But  he  was  also  unusually  spon- 
taneous. He  became  one  of  the  great 
original  producers  of  the  world.  Both 
his  receptivity  and  his  spontaneity  arose 
from  the  activity  of  his  mind.  The  great 
Mediterranean  Sea  made  his  boyhood 
familiar  with  the  minute  indications  of 
storm  and  calm,  which  he  was  so  quick 
to  notice  in  later  years.  He  ranks  among 


1492-4506.] 


THE  GREAT  DISCOVERT. 


109 


the  most  eminent  navigators  which  the 
world  has  ever  had.  Nothing  escaped 
his  eye.  He  could  read  the  ocean  and 
the  sky  as  we  read  a  book.  His  power 
of  observation  was  extremely  keen,  and 
was  trained  to  an  exquisite  degree.  His 
imagination  was  also  powerful,  so  that 
possibilities  took  shape  before  his  mind  as 
glowing  probabilities.  He  never  lost 
faith  in  his  idea,  either  in  the  midst  of 
the  ridicule  of  scholars,  or  the  inertia  of 
royal  courts.  His  long  years  of  weari- 
some waiting  did  not  diminish  the  burning 
desire  within  his  breast.  There  is  a  unity 
to  the  life  of  Columbus  from  the  begin- 
ning to  the  end,  which  is  delightfully 
refreshing. 

His    moral    characteristics    were   also 
remarkable.      He    was    almost    always 


commanding,  not  through  harshness,  but 
through  the  moral  dignity  of  his  spirit. 
The  opposition  he  experienced  from  jeal- 
ous foes  and  from  uneasy  adventurers, 
the  long  disregard  to  his  rightful  claims 
by  the  Spanish  sovereigns,  the  almost 
at  times  inextricable  confusion  of  the 
colonies,  only  serve  to  bring  out  by  sharp 
contrast  the  moral  superiority  of  the 
man  to  all  ordinary  failings.  His  relig- 
ious sensibilities  were  elevated  to  such  a 
degree  that  he  loyally  connected  all  his 
explorations  with  the  faith  of  his  heart. 
Unselfish  and  pure  in  comparison  with 
men  of  his  times,  he  is  a  brilliant  exam- 
ple of  what  can  be  done  for  the  world 
by  patience  and  wisdom.  He  is  rightly 
entitled  to  the  honor  which  is  paid  to 
noble  spirits. 


SECTION   V. 


'HE  West  India  islands  could  not 
longer  limit  the  efforts  of  the  ener- 
getic Spanish  explorers  whom  the 
^  discovery  of  America  had  now 
raised  up.  It  began  to  be  known  that 
large  continental  lands  were  lying  near, 
which  offered  remarkable  scope  for  con- 
quest, and  perhaps  for  wealth.  The  fas- 
cination of  fitting  out  expeditions  and 
attempting  to  fix  settlements  in  these  en- 
tirely new  regions,  possessed  both  capable 
and  incapable  men.  Persons  without 
standing  and  in  debt  at  home,  plunged 
into  the  recesses  of  the  New  World  to 
make  a  fortune.*  Men  of  talent  burned 
to  make  themselves  a  name.  The  record 
of  successive  disasters  could  not  arrest  the 
work.  The  discovery  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean  by  the  heroic  Balboa,  the  first 
knowledge  of  the  strange  Mexican  em- 
pire gained  by  Grijalva,  and  the  sight  of 
Florida  forests  by  De  Leon,  gave  Spain 
and  Spaniards  a  truer  idea  of  the  addi- 
tions which  the  Spanish  realm  had  re- 
ceived. The  conquest  of  Mexico  was 
the  first  great  struggle  on  the  continent 
for  the  possession  of  a  kingdom.  The 
terrible  evil  of  slavery,  both  Indian  and 
negro,  grew  with  a  tropical  growth, 
enshrouding  much  that  was  noble.  We 


1507-1522. 


regret  that  the  workers  of  that  early 
time  could  not  have  laid  broader  and  bet- 
ter foundations,  that  we  might  have  had 
grander  national  structures  in  all  that  part 
of  the  continent  which  they  were  subdu- 
ing. But  their  life  was  as  yet  almost  en- 
tirely military  in  its  methods  and  spirit. 
It  had,  therefore,  all  the  abuses  of  military 
life  in  that  age.  There  was  yet  no  rooted, 
settled  growth. 


THE 


OF  AMERICA. 


1507.  America  was  named  this  year 
by  the  suggestion  of  a  European  geo- 
grapher, Waldsee  Miiller  (Martinus  Hy- 
lacomylus)  of  Freiburg,  who  called  it 
Americi  Terra,  in  honor  of  Americus 
Vespucius,  an  account  of  whose  voyage 
in  1499  had  just  been  published.  It  is 
not  probable  that  Vespucius  had  any  un- 
due voluntary  connection  with  this  cir- 
cumstance. The  term  was  at  first  applied 
only  to  what  is  now  South  America, 
which  was  regarded  as  an  Antarctic  con- 
tinent, but  in  time  it  came  to  be  used  of 
the  whole  western  world.  Americus 
Vespucius  thus  received  the  honor  of  dis- 
covery, though  Columbus  and  the  Cabots 
had  seen  the  mainland  of  the  New  World 
before  he  did. 

110 


1507-1522.]  BALBOA  AND  CORTES. 

1507.  A  board  of  trade  was  estab- 
lished by    Ferdinand,   to    have    supreme 
power   over  the   civil   affairs  of  all   the 
newly  discovered  lands,  subject  only  to  the 
crown.       An    ecclesiastical     government 
was  also   instituted.     The   Indians  were 
at  this  time  wasting  away  very  rapidly. 

1508.  Yucatan    was    discovered    by 
Vincente  Yanez   Pinzon  and  Juan   Diaz 
de  Soils. 

1508.  Thomas  Aubert,  a  Dieppe  pilot, 
visited  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  car- 
ried off  a  few.  natives  of  the  region  to 
France,  where  they  were  objects  of  great 
curiosity. 

1508.  Cuba  was  first  found  to  be  an 
island,  by  Sebastian  de  Ocampo. 

1509.  Don  Diego  Columbus,  son  of 
Christopher,  was  made  governor  of  Hayti 
in  place  of  Don  Nicholas  de  Ovando,  after 
a  long  effort  in  claiming  the  rights  inher- 
ited from  his  father. 

1509.     Porto  Rico  was  subjugated  by 

1509-1547.  Hen-     JUal1     P°nCe    de  LeOn>  wh° 

ry  vni  King  of  was  appointed  governor  by 
Ferdinand,  and  founded  a 
town  named  Caparra. 

1509.  Jamaica  was  colonized  by  Juan 
•  de  Esquivel. 

1509.  Nombre  de  Dios  on  the  conti- 
nent near  the  Isthmus,  was  founded  by 
Diego  de  Nicuesa,  with  seven  hundred 
men.  It  was  afterwaid  broken  up  by  the 
Indians  and  famine. 

1509.  San  Sebastian,  near  the  Isth- 
mus, was  founded  by  Alonzo  de  Ojeda. 
After  much  suffering  and  the  loss  of  many 
followers  by  the  Indians,  Ojeda  returned 
to  San  Domingo  for  aid,  having  left 
Francisco  Pizarro,  afterward  famous  in 
the  conquest  of  Peru,  in  command,  but 
was  never  able  to  revisit  the  colony.  Her- 
nando  Cortes  was  prevented  by  sickness 
from  sailing  in  this  expedition. 


113 

1510.  Santa  Maria.  Before  the  ar- 
rival of  Ojeda  at  San  Domingo,  Martin 
Fernandez  de  Enciso  sailed  with  supplies 
for  the  former's  settlement.  Vasco  Nu- 
nez de  Balboa,  afterward  the  discoverer 
of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  succeeded  in  escap- 
ing his  creditors,  and  sailed  with  Enciso 
by  secreting  himself  in  a  cask  till  they 
were  at  sea.  When  found,  he  was  at  first 
threatened  with  being  put  off  the  ship, 
but  was  retained  after  his  own  earnest 
solicitation.  His  presence  proved  a  great 
help  to  the  expedition.  Having  arrived 
on  the  coast,  Enciso  met  Pizarro  with 
the  remnant  of  the  colony  in  a  brigantine, 
sailing  for  Hayti.  They  all  returned  to 
San  Sebastian,  where  everything  had 
been  destroyed  by  Indians,  and  at  the 
recommendation  of  Balboa,  who  had 
been  on  the  coast  before  with  Bastides, 
they  proceeded  to  the  Gulf  of  Darien  and 
founded  a  city  called  Santa  Maria  de  la 
Antigua  del  Darien.  Enciso  soon  made 
himself  unpopular  by  his  authority,  and 
was  deposed  by  the  people,  who  elected 
Balboa  and  Zamudio  to  serve  as  alcaldes. 

1510.  Fifty  negro  slaves  were  sent 
by  Ferdinand  from  Seville,  to  work  in  the 
mines  of  Hayti. 

1510.  Bahia,  in  Brazil,  was  founded  by 
Correa,  the  Portugese  navigator,  under 
the  name  of  San  Salvador. 

1511.  The  remnant  of  the  colony  at 
Nombre  de  Dios  were  brought  to  Santa 
Maria.     Nicuesa  came  with  a  few  at  first 
by  invitation,  to  serve  as  governor  in  place 
of  Enciso,  but   upon   his   arrival  he  was 
prevented  from  landing,  and  at  last  sailed 
for   Hayti,  and   was   never   heard   from. 
After  his  departure  the  rest  of  his  follow- 
ers were  brought  away.     Enciso  and  Za- 
mudio were  sent  to  Hayti,  and    Balboa 
remained  in  sole  command  of  the  colony. 

1511.     Increased  Negro  Importation. 


114 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


Ferdinand,  learning  that  one  negro  was 
equal  to  four  Indians  for  work,  sent  a 
large  number  to  Hayti  from  Guinea. 

1511.  Cuba  was  subjugated   by   Don 
Diego  Velasquez  without  losing  a  man. 
He  founded  the  city  of  Bara^oa,  on  the 
Northeast  coast,  the  oldest   settlement   in 
Cuba. 

1512.  Balboa  was  appointed    captain 
general  of  Santa  Maria,  and  heard  this 
year  of  a  great  south  sea. 

1512.  Romance  in  Yucatan.  Val- 
divia  having  been  sent  from  Santa  Maria 
to  Hayti  for  supplies,  was  wrecked.  The 
survivors  were  stranded  on  the  shore  of 
Yucatan,  and  were  all  destroyed  by  the 
Indians,  except  two,  Gonzalo  Guerrero, 
who  was  adopted  into  a  tribe  and  rose  to 
great  influence  in  it;  and  Jeronimo  de 
Aguilar,  who  gained  power  in  another 
tribe.  Aguilar  was  found  and  taken 
away  by  Cortes  in  1519,  and  served 
through  the  conquest  of  Mexico.  Guer- 
rero refused  to  give  up  his  Indian  life,  to 
which  he  had  conformed  like  a  native. 

1512.  March  3.  The  Fountain  of 
Youth.  Juan  Ponce  de  Leon  sailed  with 
three  ships  to  find  the  fountain  which  the 
Indians  affirmed  to  exist  in  land  at  the 
North,  whose  waters,  upon  bathing  in 
them,  would  make  the  old  permanently 
young  again.  He  searched  through  the 
Bahamas  to  no  purpose,  and  then  sailed 
to  the  Northwest. 

1512.  April  2.  De  Leon  landed  near 
the  spot  where  St.  Augustine  was  after- 
ward founded,  and  named  the  country 
Florida,  because  of  the  abundant  vegeta- 
tion, and  perhaps  because  of  the  time 
when  he  first  reached  it.  His  first  view 
of  it  was  on  Palm  Sunday,  and  his  land- 
ing was  on  Easter  Sunday.  He  found 
neither  gold  nor  living  springs  and 
streams,  and  after  a  disappointing  search, 


he  finally  returned  to  Porto  Rico.  The 
Gulf  Stream  was  noticed  for  the  first  time 
by  Alaminos,  pilot  of  this  expedition,  who 
described  it  in  a  journal  of  the  voyage. 

1513.  Approval  of  Indian  Slavery. 
Owing  to  the  opposition  of  the  Domini- 
can priests  in  the  New  World  to  slavery, 
a  decree  of  the  Privy  Council  of  Spain 
was  finally  issued,  declaring  the  bondage 
of  the  Indians  to  be  warranted  by  the 
laws  of  God  and  of  man,  and  that  only 
so  could  the  natives  be  led  into  the  Chris- 
tian faith.  The  Dominicans  were  the 
first  abolitionists  of  America. 

THE  PACIFIC  OCEAN.  • 

1513.  Balboa  having  heard  that  En- 
ciso  had  lodged  a  successful  complaint 
against  him  in  Spain,  determined  to  set 
out  from  Santa  Maria  at  once,  for  the 
discovery  of  the  great  sea  which  was 
said  to  lie  at  the  south.  He  hoped  by 
so  doing  to  thwart  the  plans  of  his  ene- 
mies, and  re-establish  his  reputation  with 
the  king. 

1513.  Sept.  1.  He  started  with  one 
hundred  and  ninety  men,  besides  Indian 
guides  and  allies  whose  favor  he  had 
gained  by  kindness. 

1513.  Sept.  26.     After  a    very   diffi- 
cult  march  through   the   wilderness,  he 
discovered  the    Pacific  Ocean  from    the 
summit  of  a  mountain.     Thence  he  pro- 
ceeded with  his   followers    to   the   coast, 
and  took  possessi6n  for  the  Spanish  crown 
by  wading  into  the  water   with   a   royal 
standard,  and   proclaiming   it  subject   to 
the    Spanish  power.     He  called    it   the 
South  Sea.      Balboa  during  this  expedi- 
tion   heard  of  the  rich  kingdom  of  Peru 
at  the  south. 

1514.  Jan.    19.     Balboa   having   re- 
crossed    the    Isthmus,  arrived   at   Santa 
Maria,  and  sent  to  Spain  full  accounts  of 


FOUNTAIN  AND  AQUEDUCT— MEXICO. 


RIO  POLOCHIC,   GUATEMALA. 


115 


1507-1522.] 

his  discovery,  together  with  pearls  and 
gold,  which  he  had  obtained  in  large 
quantities. 

1514.  June  30.  Don  Pedrarias  Davila, 

who  had  been  appointed  governor  of  the 
region  of  Darien,  arrived  from  Spain 
•with  two  thousand  cavaliers  and  adven- 
turers. He  began  at  once  to  try  to  crush 
Balboa,  and  soon  undertook  legal  action 
against  him.  A  royal  ordinance  had 
instituted  an  ecclesiastical  government 
for  Darien,  and  a  Franciscan  friar  was 
sent  out  with  Davila  as  bishop.  The 
large  force  of  Davila  was  soon  depleted 
very  greatly  by  malarial  diseases.  Many 
returned  to  Cuba. 

1515.  Balboa  was  appointed  governor 
of   the    provinces    of    the    South    Sea. 
Peace  was  apparently  arranged  between 
him  and  Davila. 

1515.  July  25.  San  Cristobal  in 
1515-1547.  Franas  I.  Cuba  was  founded  and 
King  of  France.  afterward  became,  by 
removal,  the  present  city  of  Havana. 

1515.  Copper  was  mined  in  Cuba  for 
casting  cannon,  but  the  mines  were  not 
worked  long,  because  of  the  burdensome 
restrictions  put  upon  them  by  government. 

1516.  Jan.  1.     Juan  Diaz   de   Solis 
discovered  a  river  which  he  named  Rio 
Janeiro,  or  River  of  January.     He  after- 
ward entered  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  de  la 
Plata,  and  having  landed  with  a  portion 
of    his   crew,   was  captured,   killed  and 
eaten,  within  sight  of  his  vessels. 

1516.  Enlarged  Slave  Trade.  Charles 
V.  granted  the  Flemings  a 

1516-1556. 

Charles  v.King-  monopoly  of  the  slave  trade 
of  Spain  and  th*  with- New  Spain,  under  a 

Netherlands. 

patent  which  allowed  the 
importation  of  four  thousand  Africans 
each  year.  Under  Ferdinand,  Cardinal 
Ximenes  had  been  instrumental  in  restrict  - 


BALBOA  AND  CORTES. 


117 


ing  this  traffic,  because  of  his  own  moral 
opposition  to  it,  or  as  some  affirm,  because 
of  mere  political  and  financial  reasons. 
Whatever  the  reason,  he  at  any  rate  set 
himself  against  it  very  decidedly. 

FIRST  VESSELS  ON  THE  PACIFIC. 

1516.  Balboa's  remarkable  energy 
and  skill  as  a  leader  came  out  in  the  trans- 
portation  of  lumber  and  rigging  across 
the  Isthmus,  for  the  building  of  several 
brigantines  upon  the  great  South  Sea, 
now  the  Pacific  Ocean.  This  wonderful 
deed  was  accomplished  only  after  great 
pains.  Indians,  negroes  and  Spaniards 
were  set  to  the  work,  under  the  personal 
supervision  of  Balboa.  The  timber 
which  had  been  cut  on  the  Atlantic  coast, 
was  dragged  with  almost  infinite  toil 
through  the  forests  which  covered  the 
mountain  sides.  The  Indians  could  not 
stand  the  severe  labor,  and  many  of  them 
died.  The  timber,  which  was  first  trans- 
ported, proved  to  be  worthless,  because 
worm-eaten.  Balboa  speedily  set  about 
getting  more.  Rains  began  to  flood  the 
country,  and  almost  destroyed  all  the  un- 
dertaking. But  Balboa  would  not  desist, 
and  at  last  he  had  the  privilege  of  seeing 
a  European  sail  spread  upon  the  sea  he 
had  discovered.  This  deed  was  consid- 
ered one  of  the  most  eminent  in  the  list 
of  great  accomplishments  in  those  days. 
It  was  even  said  that  "  no  leader  save 
Balboa  could  have  conducted  such  an  en- 
terprise to  a  successful  issue."  Such  was 
the  man  who  was  doomed  soon  to  meet 
an  unworthy  end.  He  cruised  beyond 
the  Gulf  of  St.  Michael,  and  heard  fuller 
reports  of  the  great  kingdom  of  Peru. 


1517.     Feb.   8.     Francisco  Fernan- 
dez de  Cordova   sailed    from    Santiago, 


118 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


Cuba,  with  three  vessels  and  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  men,  on  a  voyage  of 
exploration.  He  was  driven  about  by 
tempests,  and  at  last  landed  on  an  un- 
known shore.  He  named  it  Yucatan, 
and  explored  it  as  far  as  Campeachy. 
He  was  struck  by  signs  of  a  higher  civil- 
ization than  had  been  seen  among  the 
Indians,  found  in  stone  houses,  cloth  gar- 
ments, and  cultivated  soil.  After  conflicts 
with  the  warlike  natives,  he  returned  to 
Cuba,  where  he  died  in  a  short  time  in 
consequence  of  the  ills  suffered  upon  the 
voyage  home,  or  of  a  wound  received  in 
battle  with  the  Indians. 

EXECUTION  OF  BALBOA. 

1517.  Davila,  governor  of  Darien, 
having  again  grown  jealous  of  Balboa, 
contrived  to  secure  his  arrest,  and  after  a 

1517.  Outbreak  force(l  trial»  beheaded  him 
of  Rejormaiion.  and  several  others.  In  Bal- 
boa the  Spanish  crown  lost  one  of  its 
best  leaders.  Although  of  noble  birth, 
he  knew  how  to  deal  with  followers  of 
all  ranks.  By  valor  and 

1517.    Copernicus 

discovered  the  general  popularity  he  won 
true  system  of  a  great  influence  over  most 

the  universe.  ° 

v  of  those  with  whom  he  as- 

sociated. He  was  born  at  Estremadura, 
Spain,  and  had  gone  to  Hayti  to  escape 
the  pressure  of  his  debts.  At  the  Isthmus 
he  soon  gained  power  by  his  real  help  to 
the  colony,  and  began  to  revolve  schemes 
of  exploration.  He  manifested  remarka- 
ble ability  and  energy  in  following  up  the 
report  of  a  great  sea  to  the  south,  and  by 
his  perseverance  has  linked  his  name  for- 
ever with  the  Pacific.  This  discovery 
seemed  to  work  a  change  in  the  entire 
feelings  and  bearing  of  the  man,  and 
demonstrated  thereby  the  innate  worth  of 
his  character.  He  rose  to  the  rank  of  the 
great  explorers  of  his  day.  Very  few  of 


them  have  a  record  as  free  as  his  is,  from 
what  is  dishonorable  and  impure.  Cut 
off  in  the  prime  of  life,  in  the  fortv-sec- 
ond  year  of  his  age,  he  illustrates  the  un- 
certainty of  even  great  achievements.  He 
fell  a  victim  to  the  meanest  jealousv  and 
the  most  unscrupulous  enmity,  when  he 
was  just  ready  to  enter  upon  the  greatest 
efforts  of  his  life.  The  pathos  attached 
to  his  death  is  not  lessened  by  any  dark 
stains  of  ill  desert,  which  blotted  the  fame 
of  so  many  of  the  Spanish  conquerors 
and  explorers. 

1518.  Francisco  Garay,  governor  of 
Jamaica,  fitted  out  an  expedition  which 
explored  the  coast  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
from  the  Tortugas  at  the  southern  ex- 
tremity of  Florida,  to  the  province  of 
Panuco  in  Mexico. 

1518.  Sable  Island,  near  Nova  Scotia, 
was  colonized  by  Baron  de  Lery,  but  the 
settlement  was  soon  broken  up.  Cattle 
were  left  upon  the  island,  and  their  off- 
spring proved  of  great  use  to  the  expedi- 
tion of  Marquis  de  la  Roche,  eighty  years 
afterward. 

1518.  May  1.  Juan  de  Grijalva 
sailed  from  Santiago  in  command  of  an 
expedition  fitted  out  by  his  uncle,  Don 
Diego  Velasquez,  governor  of  Cuba,  to- 
explore  the  lands  discovered  by  Cordova.  ' 
He  visited  the  Mexican  coast,  landed  at 
several  points,  named  the  country  New 
Spain,  and  obtained  from  the  natives  a 
large  quantity  of  gold  and  jewels.  He 
learned  that  the  country  was  ruled  by  a 
great  emperor  named  Montezuma.  The 
value  of  cochineal  as  a  dyeing  material 
was  discovered  by  the  Spaniards  in  Mex- 
ico at  this  time,  or  a  little  later.  The  na- 
tives took  great  pains  to  rear  the  insect 
upon  cactus  plants.  Grijalva's  men  were 
one  night  frightened  by  the  large  Mexi- 


ISLE   OF  SERPENTS,  RIO   DE  JANEIRO. 


RIVER  GUAYAQUIL,  ECUADOR. 


119 


1507-1522.] 

can  fireflies,  which  give  a  very  brilliant 
light.  They  imagined  that  an  army  with 
matchlocks  was  advancing  upon  them. 
Grijalva  discovered  and  named  the  island 
of  San  Juan  de  Uloa,  near  Vera  Cruz. 

1518.  Oct.  26.  Grijalva  arrived  at 
Cuba  to  find  himself  condemned  by  his 
uncle  for  not  attempting  to  found  a  col- 
ony, a  work  for  which  the  expedition  was 
not  intended.  At  this  very  time,  Velas- 
quez having  become  suspicious  of  Grijal- 
va, was  fitting  up  a  large  expedition  for 
the  conquest  and  settlement  of  New 
Spain.  He  chose  Hernando  Cortes  to 
command  it. 

HERX&XDO  CORTES. 

This  great  general  was  born  in  Spain 
in  1485,  of  a  good  family,  and  during  his 
youth  acquired  a  fair  education.  He 
became  a  resident  of  Hayti  at  some  time 
during  the  administration  of  Ovando. 
Upon  his  arrival  at  the  island,  he  entered 
into  private  life,  but  frequently  engaged 
in  military  expeditions,  being  naturally 
possessed  of  a  war-like  temperament. 
He  intended  to  embark  for  the  Darien 
colony  in  company  with  Nicuesa,  but  was 
severely  ill  at  the  time  the  expedition 
sailed.  He  took  part  in  the  conquest  of 
Cuba  under  Don  Diego  Velasquez,  and 
began  to  exhibit  the  popular  qualities 
which  afterward  gave  him  such  a  strong 
hold  upon  his  soldiers.  He  had,  at  times, 
some  contention  with  Velasquez,  but 
finally  settled  down  upon  a  place  near 
Santiago,  and  acquired  considerable  prop- 
erty. When  the  governor  had  fitted  out 
his  expedition  for  the  conquest  of  Mex- 
ico, he  was  persuaded  after  much  solicita- 
tion, to  appoint  Cortes  captain-general  of 
it.  The  latter  at  once  began  to  give  his 
entire  mind  to  the  project,  and  aided  in 
the  preparation  of  the  armament  by  all 


BALBOA  AND  CORTES. 


the  money  which  he  could  raise.  His 
heart  took  fire  at  the  prospect,  and  he  now 
felt  that  he  had  an  undertaking  worthy 
of  his  highest  ambition. 


1518.  Nov.  18.    Cortes,  having  heard 
that  Velasquez  proposed  to  remove  him 
from   the    command    through    jealousy, 
sailed  away  secretly  from  Santiago,  Cuba, 
and  proceeded  to  Macaca,  Trinidad  and 
Havana,  where    he  completed  his  outfit, 
and   raised   volunteers.      Orders   for   his 
arrest  were  sent  to  these  places  after  him, 
but  he  baffled  all  attempts. 

1519.  Feb.   18.     The  expedition  of 
Cortes  sailed  from  Cape  San  Antonio,  at 
the   extreme   western   end    of  Cuba,   in 
eleven  vessels,  the  largest  being  of  one 
hundred  tons,  with  one  hundred  and  ten 
sailors,  five  hundred  and  thirty-three  sol- 
diers, and  a  few  Indian  women.     There 
were  ten  heavy  guns,  four  light  ones,  and 
sixteen  horses. 

1519.  March  4.  Jeronimo  de*Agui- 
lar,  who  had  been  shipwrecked  and  had 
lived  among  the  Indians  for  eight  years, 
was  received  at  the  island  Cozumel  by 
Cortes,  who  then  set  sail  for  the  main- 
land. 

1519.  March  25.  A  severe  battle 
took  place  near  the  river  Tabasco,  where 
Grijalva  had  landed  in  1518,  and  traded 
with  the  natives,  in  which  the  Indians, 
though  in  large  numbers,  were  totally 
routed.  The  Spanish  horsemen  especially 
inspired  great  terror.  The  town  of  Santa 
Maria  de  la  Vittoria,  the  capital  of  the 
province  for  many  years,  was  built  upon 
the  place  of  battle. 

1519.  March  26.  Dona  Marina.  In- 
dian chiefs  visited  Cortes  and  presented 
him  gifts  of  gold,  cotton  and  food. 
They  also  brought  twenty  Indian  female 


122 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


slaves,  among  whom  was  Dona  Marina, 
who  became  so  much  attached  to  Cortes, 
and  did  him  such  great  service  as  an  in- 
terpreter during  the  conquest. 

1519.  April.  An  embassy  from  Mon- 
tezuma  arrived,  attended  by  one  hun- 
dred natives  bringing  gold,  ornaments  and 
pearls,  together  with  feather  and  thread 
work,  and  cotton  cloth  in  great  profusion. 
A  Spanish  helmet  which  had  been  sent 
by  the  previous  embassy  for  Montezuma 
to  see,  was  brought  back  full  of  gold. 
Two  plates  of  gold  and  silver  of  immense 
size,  were  among  the  "gifts.  Montezuma 
sent  word  that  he  could  not  see  the  Span- 
iards, and  that  they  must  return  home. 
In  a  few  days  he  sent  a  stricter  message. 

1519.  April.  Power  of  Cortes.  Cortes 
instituted  the  government  of  a  colony, 
which  he  named  Villa  Rica  de  Vera 
Cruz,  and  was  himself  elected  captain- 
general  and  chief-justice  of  it.  He  gained 
the  adhesion  of  some  of  the  neighboring 
provinces,  to  which  Montezuma's  power 
had  been  offensive,  and  caused  the  de- 
struction of  all  the  vessels  but  one,  thus 
cutting  off  immediate  return  to  Cuba. 
When  his  followers  learned  that  the  ves- 
sels had  been  destroyed,  they  became 
enraged,  and  almost  broke  out  into  open 
rebellion.  But  Cortes  plied  them  with 
ingenious  arguments  and  heroic  appeals. 
If  any  wished  to  desert  him,  they  had  full 
permission  to  take  the  remaining  vessel, 
and  return  at  once  to  Cuba.  At  last  the 
reaction  was  complete,  and  they  cried  out 
to  a  man,  "To  Mexico!  To  Mexico!" 

1519.  Sept.  5.  A  great  battle  was 
fought  between  the  Spanish,  now  on 
their  way  to  the  City  of  Mexico,  and  the 
Tlascalans,  in  which  a  vast  army  of  the 
latter  was  wholly  cut  to  pieces. 

1519.  Nov.  8.  Cortes  entered  the 
City  of  Mexico,  the  seat  of  Montezuma. 


He  had  come  through  the  city  of  Cho- 
lula,  in  which  he  had  massacred  a  large 
number  of  the  natives  because  he  had  de- 
tected a  conspiracy  to  destroy  his  follow- 
ers. His  journey  had  led  him  across  the 
side  of  the  great  volcano,  Popocatapetl, 
which  was  very  active  at  the  time.  He  sent 
some  one  to  find  out  about  the  column  of 
smoke  which  he  saw  in  the  distance,  but 
no  one  could  ascend  the  mountain  because 
of  the  snow.  Montezuma  received  the 
Spaniards  into  his  great  and  prosperous 
capital  with  apparent  cordiality.  Here  the 
eyes  of  the  invaders  were  astonished  by 
a  civilization  which  they  had  no  where 
else  seen  in  the  New  World.  Streets,. 
dwellings,  temples,  gardens  and  bridges 
were  all  laid  out  and  built  with  skill  and 
beauty.  A  palace  built  by  Montezuma's 
father,  became  the  shelter  of  the  Span- 
iards. In  the  palace  they  discovered  a 
room  which  had  been  walled  up,  full  of 
treasures  of  every  kind.  Cortes  resolved 
upon  the  seizure  of  the  emperor.  He  ac- 
complished his  design  by  craft,  securing 
the  monarch  while  on  a  visit  to  the  garri- 
son, and  henceforth  Montezuma  abode  a 
prisoner  in  the  Spanish  quarters.  Cortes 
also,  charging  them  with  having  mur- 
dered several  Spaniards  who  fell  into 
their  hands,  tried  and  executed  the  gover- 
nor of  one  of  Montezuma's  provinces,, 
together  with  several  of  his  officers. 
They  were  burned  upon  a  pile  of  Mexi- 
can weapons  in  the  great  square  of  the 
palace. 

1519.  Havana,  Cuba,  was  founded 
by  the  removal  of  the  village  of  San 
Cristobal  to  the  present  site. 

1519.  Panama  was   founded    by  the 
removal   of   Santa    Maria    to   the    west 
side  of  the  Isthmus. 

1520.  Jan.    12.      Fernando   Magal- 
haens,  known  as  'Magellan,   arrived  on 


1507-1522.]  BALBOA  AND  CORTES.  125 

the  coast  of  Brazil  with  a  fleet  in  which       was  soon  brought  that  the  Mexicans  had 
he  had  sailed  from  Spain  in  the  attempt 


to  reach  the  Spice  Islands  by  a  westerly 
course.  He  entered  the  La  Plata,  but 
soon  recognizing  it  as  a  river,  he  took  the 
coast  again  and  sailed  further  south.  In 
his  voyage  along  the  Brazilian  coast  he 
found  the  natives  using  vegetable  down, 
probably  cotton,  for  several  purposes. 

1520.  March  31.  He  discovered 
Patagonia,  and  found  shelter  during  the 
winter  in  one  of  its  harbors.  He  resumed 
his  search  for  a  strait  in  the  spring,  which 
corresponds  to  autumn  in  the  northern 
hemisphere. 

1520.  Montezuma  was  induced  to  ac- 
knowledge the  authority  of  the  kingdom 
of  Spain,  and  confessed  himself  subject  to 
it,  before  his  nobles.  He  ordered  his 
officers  to  collect  tribute,  and  a  large 
amount  of  treasure  was  accordingly 
brought  to  Cortes.  The  whole  is  reck- 
oned by  Prescott,  the  historian,  as  amount- 
ing to  $6,300,000.  - 

1520.  March.  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez 
was  sent  by  Velasquez,  governor  of  Cuba, 
with  an  expedition  of  eighteen  vessels 
and  nine  hundred  men,  to  assert  the  su- 
premacy of  the  governor  over  Cortes. 

1520.  May.  Cortes  left  a  garrison 
of  one  hundred  and  forty  men  in  the  City 
of  Mexico  under  Pedro  de  Alvarado, 
1445-1520.  Leon-  his  lieutenant,  and  marched 

ai^3.i520V'nCf'       raPic%  to   the   coast   with 
Raphael,    seventy    soldiers,  to    resist 

Narvaez,  of  whose  approach  he  had 
heard.  He  was  reenforced  by  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  soldiers  at  Cholula. 
Having  arrived  near  Cempoalla,  where 
Narvaez  was  encamped,  Cortes  entered 
the  city  by  night  in  a  violent  rain  storm, 
and  captured  the  entire  force  of  three 
times  the  number  of  his  own.  The  loss 
was  very  slight  on  either  side.  Word 


taken  arms  against  Alvarado,  and  Cortes 
at  once  started  upon  his  return  with  a  re- 
cruited force. 

1520.  June  24.  He  arrived  at  the 
City  of  Mexico,  and  found  the  garrison 
in  a  state  of  blockade.  Soon  after  his 
reentry  into  the  city,  the  inhabitants  at- 
tacked the  Spanish  quarters  with  great 
fury.  The  battle  raged  with  great  vio- 
lence, and  hundreds  were  mown  down  in 
the  streets  by  the  artillery.  At  last  Cortes 
induced  Montezuma  to  address  his  sub- 
jects from  the  roof  of  the  palace,  and  de- 
mand peace.  Montezuma  while  doing 
so  was  struck  and  severely  wounded  by 
weapons  thrown  at  him  by  Mexicans. 

DEATH  OF  MOXTEZUMti. 

1520.  June  30.  Montezuma  sank 
away  and  died,  refusing  to  take  food  or 
medicine.  Thus  passed  away  one  of  the 
greatest  native  monarchs  of  the  western 
continent.  He  was  about  twenty-three 
years  old  when  he  became  emperor,  and 
gave  promise  of  great  success  as  a  ruler. 
The  empire  reached  its  greatest  height 
under  him,  but  when  the  Spaniards  en- 
tered the  country  the  inhabitants  were 
complaining  of  the  severity  of  his  reign. 
He  was  forty-one  years  old  at  his  death, 
and  left  children.  Some  of  his  daughters 
married  Spanish  cavaliers,  and  from  them 
are  descended  noble  Spanish  houses. 


1520.  July  1.  The  Sorrowful  Night. 
The  Spaniards  evacuated  the  City  of 
Mexico.  Soon  after  their  departure  in 
silence  from  their  quarters,  they  were 
fearfully  beset  upon  all  hands  by  the  na- 
tives, who  had  found  out  their  intentions. 
They  had  to  fight  for  every  inch  of  their 
way,  and  only  reached  the  outskirts  of 


126 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


the  city  at  last  with  the  greatest  exertions, 
and  the  loss  of  many  men.  They  were 
nearly  overborne  by  the  immense  mass 
of  infuriated  Mexicans  who  crowded  the 
narrow  streets  and  attempted  to  blockade 
the  moats  of  the  city.  Cortes  probably 
lost  several  hundred  men,  besides  all  ar- 
tillery, muskets  and  ammunition.  The 
natives  lost  several  thousands. 

1520.  July  8.  A  great  battle  was 
fought  on  the  plain  of  Otumba,  in  which 
a  large  native  force  was  routed  by  the 
remnant  of  the  Spanish  army.  The  bat- 
tle was  saved  to  Cortes  by  the  death  of 
an  Indian  general  who  had  very  great 
influence.  The  city  of  Tempeaca  was 
afterward  taken  and  made  the  head- 
quarters of  the  army.  A  civil  govern- 
ment was  established  within  it. 

1520.  Lucas  Vasquez  de  Ayllon  and 
others  fitted  out  an  expedition  to  what 
is  now  South  Carolina,  where  they  en- 
trapped a  large  number  of  unsuspecting 
natives  on  board  their  two  ships,  and 
sailed  for .  San  Domingo  to  make  them 
slaves.  One  ship  was  lost  on  the  return 
voyage,  and  many  of  the  natives  in  the 
other  vessel  died. 

1520.  Oct.  20.  Magellan's  Straits. 
Magellan  having  resumed  his  voyage 
along  the  coast  of  Patagonia,  discovered 
the  passage  which  has  since  been  known 
by  his  name.  This  narrow  channel  is  so 
crooked  and  full  of  unexpected  rocks  and 
strong  currents,  that  one  of  Magellan's 
vessels  was  lost,  and  another  deserted  and 
returned  to  Spain.  For  several  weeks  this 
bold  navigator  struggled  on  his  way. 
He  named  the  land  upon  the  south 
Terra  del  Fuego,  or  Land  of  Fire,  from 
the  large  number  of  fires  lighted  by  the 
natives  at  night  along  the  shores. 

1520.  Nov.  28.  Pacific  Ocean  Named. 
The  three  remaining  vessels  cleared  the 


strait,  and  Magellan  named  the  great 
ocean  which  met  his  view,  Pacific.  They 
sailed  in  an  almost  direct  course  nearly 
one  hundred  days,  with  great  lack  of  food 
and  drink. 

1520.  Dec.  28.     Cortes  set  out  with 
his  army  from  Tempeaca  to  march  upon 
the  City  of  Mexico.      At  Montezuma's 
death  his  brother,  Cuitlahua,  had  assumed 
the    government,  but   had   died   of   the 
smallpox,  which  in  the  latter  part  of  this 
year  had  swept  away  thousands  of  the 
natives  through  the  provinces  of  Mexico, 
and  down  the  Pacific  coast.      A  negro 
who  came  with  the  expedition  of  Narvaez 
is  said  to  have  introduced  it    into   New 
Spain.      At  the  death  of  Cuitlahua,  his 
nephew  Guatemozin    was    chosen  mon- 
arch, and   was   inspiring   the    Mexicans 
with  a  war-like  spirit  in  view  of  the  return 
of  the  Spaniards. 

DEATH  OF  MAGELLAN. 

1521.  March  16.     In  an  attempt  to 
subdue  the  inhabitants  of  the  Philippine 
Islands,  Magellan  was   killed    upon    the 
island  of  Mactan.     The  only  vessel  now 
left  of  his  fleet,  named  Vitoria,  sailed  on 
under  the  command  of  Juan   Sebastian 
Cano.     Magellan  was  a  Portuguese  by 
birth,  but  had  entered  the  service  of  Spain. 
He  was  on  the  water  from  an  early  age. 
The  eminence  of  Portugal  in  navigation 
confirmed  his  tastes  and  developed    his 
qualities.     He  became  one  of  the  boldest 
and  most  persevering  navigators  whom 
the  little  kingdom  had  sent  out. 

DEATH  OF  DE  LEON. 

1521.  Juan  Ponce  de  Leon  embarked 
upon  an  expedition  for  the  conquest  of 
Florida.  He  landed  on  the  coast,  and  in 
a  battle  with  the  natives,  was  wounded 
and  carried  aboard  his  ship.  He  returned 


1507-1522.] 

to  Cuba  and  died,  a  broken  old  man. 
Possessing  an  eager,  visionary  tempera- 
ment, he  could  ill  bear  disappointment  in 
any  undertaking.  He  came  to  the  New 
World  on  the  second  voyage  of  Colum- 
bus, and  did  good  service  in  much  of  the 
fighting  with  the  natives.  He  was  a  true 
soldier,  without  the  genius  of  a  great 
explorer. 

1521.  Aug.  13.  Cortes  took  the 
City  of  Mexico  after  a  siege  of  seventy- 
seven  days.  He  succeeded  only  after 
many  repulses,  by  destroying  everything 
as  fast  as  he  could  gain  access  to  it,  thus 
narrowing  constantly  the  limits  within 
which  the  doomed  inhabitants  could  exist. 
Guatemozin,  the  emperor,  was  captured 
during  the  final  assault,  while  attempting 
to  escape  in  a  boat.  Cortes  had  achieved 
a  terrible  victory,  from  the  effects  of 
which  it  took  days  to  cleanse  the  city. 

1521.  Nicaragua   was   explored   by 
Gil    Gonzales   de   Avila,   who   marched 
into  its  interior,  but  was  at  last  convinced 
that   he  could  not   go   further   with  his 
present  force,  and  prudently  retraced  his 
steps. 

1522.  Fascual    de     Andagoya     at- 
tempted   to    explore    the    Pacific    coast 
from  Panama  toward  the  south,  but  did 
not    get   beyond   the   limits  of  Balboa's 
voyage. 

1522.  Juan  Bermudez  on  his  way 
from  Spain  to  Cuba  with  a  cargo  of 
hogs,  was  wrecked  upon  the  Bermuda 
Islands,  thus  discovering  that  group. 

1522.    Sept.  6.    First  Voyage  Round 


BALBOA  AND  CORTES. 


127 


the  World.  The  Vitoria  of  Magellan's 
expedition  arrived  in  Spain,  having  sailed 
on  after  Magellan's  death  by  way  of  the 
Spice  Islands  and  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  thus  completing  the  first  circuit  of 
the  globe.  She  was  commanded  by  Juan 
Sebastian  Cano. 

1522.  Oct.  15.  A  royal  commission 
constituted  Cortes  governor,  captain-gen- 
eral, and  chief-justice  of  Mexico.  He 
rebuilt  the  city  in  a  substantial  and  beau- 
tiful manner,  devised  meth-  1522.  Xavterin 
ods  of  drawing  thither  a  7«<#a- 
Spanish  and  Indian  population,  estab- 
lished settlements  in  the  whole  region  of 
New  Spain,  and  arranged  for  an  enlarged 
and  steady  cultivation  of  the  soil.  He 
sent  a  force  under  Christoval  de  Olid  to 
settle  Honduras,  and  began  to  think  of 
searching  for  the  desired  strait  from  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  into  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

FIRST  NEGRO  INSURRECTION. 

1522.  Dec.  27.  The  negro  slaves  In 
Hayti  rose  in  an  insurrection  for  the  first 
time.  They  committed  murders  and  dep- 
redations, but  were  soon  overcome  by  the 
prompt  action  of  the  Spaniards.  The 
long  New  World  tragedy  of  results  from 
negro  bondage  began  at  this  date. 

1522.  The  crater  of  Popocatapetl 
was  descended  by  Francisco  Mantano, 
who  was  one  of  the  number  sent  by 
Cortes  to  ascend  the  volcano.  He  was 
let  down  into  the  crater  by  ropes,  to  a 
depth  of  seventy  or  eighty  fathoms. 
There  is  no  other  recorded  ascent  for 
three  hundred  years. 


SECTION  VI. 


MHE  fingers  of  Spanish  power  were 
gradually  stretching  themselves 
out  over  the  New  World.  The 
second  great  national  subjugation 
now  began.  The  crushing  of  Peru  was 
an  enterprise  of  much  longer  date  than 
that  of  Mexico.  The  empire  was  a 
theater  for  the  exhibition  of  the  most 
disgusting  bickerings,  personal  envies 
and  retaliations  between  the  Spanish 
leaders.  But  at  last  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment was  as  well  established  as  it  has 
ever  been  on  the  continent.  By  1550  the 
fetters  which  the  native  races  of  America 
wore  till  the  first  part  of  the  present  cen- 
tury, were  clasped  upon  them.  We  see, 
however,  prophetic  gleams  of  the  light 
of  liberty,  as  in  Nicaragua  in  1549. 
Meantime,  restless  Spaniards  had  been 
seeking  Florida  with  great  expeditions 
which  came  to  sad  ends  in  those  untrod- 
den malarial  forests.  The  brave,  humane 
De  Soto,  was  the  greatest  sacrifice.  The 
march  to  the  Amazon  from  Quito  was  a 
similar  gigantic  undertaking  in  South 
America.  Other  nations  were  behind 
Spain  in  finding  their  opportunity  for 
colonizing  America.  Portugal  was  slowly 
establishing  herself  in  Brazil.  England 
was  making  only  the  slightest  attempts, 


.    1523 -1550. 


now  somewhat  obscure.  France  began 
to  look  with  longing  eyes  across  the 
Atlantic.  Verrazzano  made  his  care- 
ful examination  of  the  Atlantic  coast. 
Jacques  Cartier  entered  the  great  St. 
Lawrence,  and  first  of  white  men,  saw 
the  heights  of  Cape  Diamond  and  the 
beautiful  Isle  Royale.  The  strife  of  ex- 
ploration had  not  yet  come. 

1523.  Central  America.  Cortes  sent 
a  strong  force  under  Pedro  Alvarado  to 
subdue  Central  America,  a  work  which 
this  energetic  leader  accomplished  during 
this  and  the  next  year.  Alvarado  led  to 
the  conquest  three  hundred  infantry,  thir- 
ty-five cavalry,  two  hundred  Tlascalans 
and  Cholulans,  and  one  hundred  Mexi- 
cans. 

1523.  Granada  and  Leon,  cities  situ- 
ated, the  former  on  the  shore  of  Lake 
Nicaragua  and  the  latter  on  the  shore 
of  Lake  Managua,  were  founded  by  per- 
sons sent  out  from  the  Isthmus  by  the 
Spanish  governor. 

1523.  Cumana,  capital  of  one  of  the 
states    of    Venezuela,   was   founded    by 
Diego  Castellon. 

1524.  May   14.     A  great  victory  in 
Central  America  gave  Alvarado  posses- 
sion of  the  first  province,  the  empire  of 

128 


1523-1550.]  GREAT  EXPEDITIONS. 

Utatlan.  Thousands  of  natives  were  de- 
feated and  swept  away  by  the  Spaniards. 
Multitudes  had  attempted  to  block  the 
narrow  defiles  jn  the  mountains,  but 
Alvarado's  men  had  hewn  their  way 
through.  This  defeat  broke  the  spirit  of 
the  Indians.  Two  other  provinces  were 
readily  secured. 

1524.  July  25.  Santiago,  in  Central 
America,  was  founded  by  Alvarado,  be- 
cause the  site  was  so  fine  as  to  attract 
many  of  his  men  to  make  it  a  permanent 
residence.  A  city  was  inaugurated,  and 
eighty-seven  citizens  were  enrolled.  It 
is  known  now  as  Old  Guatemala. 

1524.  North  American  Coast.  John 
Verrazzano,  a  Florentine  navigator,  in 
the  service  of  Francis  I.  of  France,  ex- 
plored the  coast  of  North  America  very 
carefully  from  North  Carolina  to  Nova 
Scotia,  entering  the  harbors  of  New  York 
and  Newport.  He  gave  the  first  detailed 
and  accurate  description  of  the  coast,  and 
is  said  to  have  prepared  a  map  of  it.  He 
made  his  voyage  with  one  small  vessel 
named  the  Dolphin.  His  expedition  lay 
at  the  foundation  of  the  French  claim  to 
North  America. 

1524.  Oct.  12.  A  remarkable  march 
was  begun  by  Cortes  across  the  country 
from  the  City  of  Mexico  to  Honduras. 
He  had  heard  that  Christoval  de  Olid 
having  subdued  Honduras,  was  setting  up 
a  government  of  his  own.  Guatemozin 
and  the  Indian  nobles  were  taken  upon 
this  journey  to  prevent  them  from  having 
a  chance  to  rebel  in  the  absence  of  their 
conqueror. 

FRANCISCO  PIZARRO. 

The  minds  of  the  colonists  upon  the 
Isthmus  had  been  frequently  aroused  by 
reports  of  that  wealthy  and  powerful 
kingdom  which  was  said  to  lie  at  the 
south.  After  a  time,  three  men  named 

9 


129 

Francisco  Pizarro,  Diego  de  Almagro 
and  Fernando  de  Luque,  made  an  agree- 
ment to  explore  and  subdue  it.  The  last 
named,  who  was  an  ecclesiastic,  was  to 
furnish  the  greater  part  of  the  funds. 
Almagro  was  to  oversee  the  preparations 
and  the  supplies  of  the  vessels,  while 
Pizarro  was  to  command  the  expedition. 
The  latter,  who  was  afterward  the  chief 
spirit  in  the  conquest  of  Peru,  was  born 
at  Truxillo,  Spain,  about  the  year  147!  5 
and  was  the  son  of  a  soldier  who  had 
gained  a  reputation  for  valor.  He  grew 
up  in  a  neglected  condition,  without  edu- 
cation, and  when  fortune  favored,  came  to 
the  New  World.  He  accompanied  Alon- 
zo  de  Ojeda  to  Darien  in  1509,  and  was 
one  of  the  few  who,  with  Balboa,  crossed 
the  mountains  and  discovered  the  Pacific. 
The  reports  of  the  kingdom  of  Peru  ex- 
cited his  adventurous  spirit,  and  at  last  he 
entered  upon  that  long  conquest  which 
will  always  be  most  intimately  connected 
with  his  name.  The  romantic  story  of 
his  energy  and  sufferings  is  full  of  fasci- 
nation. 


1524.  Nov.  14.    Pizarro  left  Panama 
with  one  vessel  and  about  one  hundred 
men.     Almagro  remained   behind  to  fit 
out  and  follow  in  a  second  vessel  as  soon 
as  possible. 

GUATEMOZIN. 

1525.  Feb.  15.     Cortes  was  told  at 
one  point  on  the  march  to  Honduras  that 
the  Indian  nobles  were  conspiring  to  slay 
the   Spaniards  in   some   difficult  part  of 
the  journey.      He  immediately   arrested 
Guatemozin    and    his   lords,  and   finally 
executed  them.     He  seemed  to  have  felt 
driven  to  thrs  cruel  deed  in  order  to  make 
himself  secure  ever  after.     It  is  said  that 
Cortes  since  the  capture  of  the  City  of 
Mexico,  had  not  gone  the  least  distance 


130 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


without  taking  Guatemozin  with  him,  so 
confident  did  he  feel  that  the  fallen  but 
unconquered  monarch  would  cause  a.n 
uprising.  After  severe  trials  throughout 
his  long  and  exhausting  journey,  Cortes 
arrived  at  Honduras,  found  that  Olid  had 
died,  and  that  his  own  authority  was  re- 
established. He  began  to  plan  for  the 
conquest  of  Nicaragua,  but  determined  at 
last  to  return  to  Mexico,  because  of  certain 
ill-reports  from  that  province. 


onize  South  Carolina  under  a  patent 
obtained  for  that  purpose.  He  landed 
his  followers,  but  the  natives  remember- 
ing the  terrible  cruelty  he  had  been  guilty 
of  a  few  years  before  in  kidnapping  a 
large  number  of  their  race,  allured  the 
colonists  to  a  feast  by  friendly  treatment, 
and  then  falling  upon  them,  killed  nearly 
the  entire  force.  The  leader  escaped  and 
made  no  further  exploration. 

1525.     Pizarro  continued  his  explora- 


CAPE   HORN. 


1525.  Estavan  Gomez,  of  Corunna, 
under  the  patronage  of  Charles  V.,  ex- 
plored the  Atlantic  coast  of  North  Amer- 
ica quite  extensively,  but  the  limits  of  his 
trip  are  unknown.  He  carried  back  a 
cargo  of  Indians,  who  were  sold  as  slaves. 

1525.  Cape  Horn.  It  is  claimed  that 
Garcia  Jofre  de  Loaya,  a  Spanish  com- 
mander, was  the  first  to  see  Cape  Horn, 
though  he  did  not  double  it. 

1525.  Indian  Revenge.  Lucas  Vas- 
quez  de  Ayllon  made  an  attempt  to  coi- 


tion of  the  coast  south  of  Panama,  was 
several  times  terribly  distressed  for  lack 
of  supplies,  for  which  the  vessel  once 
returned  to  the  Isle  of  Pearls,  and  finally, 
after  having  had  conflicts  iszs.  Peasant 
with  the  natives  and  having  t™"™'***  >" 

(jermany    tinaer 

obtained  a  slight  quantity  Thomas  Mumer. 
of  gold  ornaments,  sailed  back  to  Chicama 
near  Panama.  Almagro  had  sailed  south 
with  another  vessel  and  seventy  men,  but 
had  at  last  concluded  that  Pizarro  was 
lost.  During  his  return  he  heard  that 


1523-1550.] 


GREAT  EXPEDITIONS. 


131 


Pizarro  was  at  Chicama,  where  the  two 
soon  after  met. 

1525.  December.     The  conquest  of 
the  Central  American  provinces  was  now 
complete.     Here  again  a  small  force  of 
trained  soldiers  was  superior  to  hordes  of 
natives. 

1526.  March  10.     A  great  contract 
between  Pizarro,  Almagro  and  De  Luque 
was  drawn  up  in  the  most  solemn  form, 
dividing    the   country    which    should    be 
conquered  by  them,  with  all  it£  products 
and    resources,  into    three    equal   parts. 
Two   vessels   were   fitted   up   in   which 
Pizarro  and  Almagro  sailed.     They  ex- 
plored the  coast  and  found  gold  in  the 
Indian  villages,  some  of  which  Almagro 
took  back  to  Panama  in  order  to  secure 
recruits.     Pizarro  explored  the  land  still 
more,  while  the  pilot  of  the  expedition 
sailed  further  south  in  the  remaining  ves- 
sel, and  was  the  first  to  cross  the  equinoc- 
tial line  on  the  western  coast  of  South 
America.       He    found    evidences    of    a 
higher    civilization,    and    sailed    back    to 
Pizarro,  whom  he  found  in  considerable 
distress.      Almagro   returned   with   new 
adventurers  from  Panama,  and   all  pro- 
ceeded south. 

1526.  July.  Luis  Ponce  de  Leon 
having  been  sent  out  as  a  commissioner 
to  inquire  into  the  condition  of  New 
Spain  and  investigate  the  acts  of  Cortes, 
arrived  in  Mexico.  He  died  soon  after 
his  arrival,  and  left  the  trust  to  another 
who  also  died  soon,  and  bequeathed  the 
duties  to  Estrada,  who  added  to  the  diffi- 
culty of  the  situation  by  his  hostility  to 
Cortes.  The  power  was  afterward  with- 
drawn and  conferred  upon  a  new  com- 
mission called  the  Royal  Audience  of 
New  Spain. 

1526.  Arizona  was  explored  by  Don 
Jose  de  Vasconcellos. 


1526.  Nov.    22.      A   great  uprising 

occurred  in  Central  America.  A  severe 
battle  took  place  between  Alvarado  and 
the  natives.  The  severity  of  Gonzalo 
Alvarado  who  had  ruled  in  the  absence 
of  his  brother  Pedro  for  some  months, 
had.  enraged  the  Indians.  The  latter 
were  wholly  routed.  Two  kings  were 
taken  and  held  in  close  captivity  for  fif- 
teen years.  This  defeat  served  to  fix  the 
Spanish  power  upon  the  broken-spirited 
Americans. 

1527.  Sebastian  Cabot  now   in  the 
service  of  Spain,  and  commander  of  an 
expedition  sent  out  in  search  of  a  south- 
western  passage,  entered    the   river  La 
Plata  and  sailed  up  the  stream  one  hun- 
dred  and   twenty   leagues.    1469.1537. 

He  explored  the  region  for  Machiaveiu. 
several  years,  and  discovered  Paraguay. 
This  is  the  last  connection  of  this  accom- 
plished navigator  with  the  New  World. 
He  was  in  the  employ  of  Spain  for  some 
time  and  subsequently  in  that  of  England, 
and  made  several  voyages.  He  was  liv- 
ing in  the  year  1557,  but  where  or  when 
he  died  or  where  he  was  buried,  no  one 
knows.  His  qualities  were  of  the  high- 
est order,  and  rightfully  made  him  a  man 
of  great  eminence  in  his  day.  No  dis- 
honor is  attached  to  his  name. 

1527.  Pizarro's  Persistence.  Pizarro 
and  Almagro  continued  their  journey 
under  great  difficulty.  At  one  time 
when  almost  all  wished  to  give  up  and 
go  back  to  Panama,  Pizarro  drew  a  line 
on  the  sand,  and  pointing  with  his  sword 
said,  "There  lies  Peru  with  its  riches; 
here  lies  Panama  with  its  poverty. 
Choose,  each  man,  what  best  becomes  a 
brave  Castilian.  For  my  part  I  go  to  the 
south."  Stepping  across  the  line  he  was 
followed  by  a  small  number,  who  thus 
became  the  nucleus  of  the  force  which 


132 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


finally  subdued  the  great  kingdom.  The 
timid  ones  sailed  for  home.  The  rest 
sailed  south  to  the  city  of  Tumbez  in  the 
Gulf  of  Guayaquil,  which  was  found  full 
of  riches.  The  cultivation  of  the  soil 
and  the  government  of  the  country  were 
of  a  higher  order  than  further  at  the 
north,  save  in  Mexico.  Pizarro  sailed  to 
latitude  9°  S.  and  then  returned  in  order 
to  report  at  Panama  the  success  of  his 
trip.  The  derision  with  which  their 
efforts  had  been  followed  by  many  was 
now  turned  into  wonder.  Pizarro  brought 
back  with  him  several  natives  and  llamas, 
cotton  fabrics  of  different  kinds,  and  gold 
and  silver  works  of  art. 

1527.  A  ship-canal  from  the  Atlan- 
tic to  the  Pacific  to  run  through  Lake 
Nicaragua,  was  first  proposed  this  year. 

1528.  May.     Cortes  arrived  in  Spain 
from  Mexico  to  free  himself  from  false 
accusation,  and  to  lay   his  achievements 
before  the  government  for  approval.    He 
was  paid  distinguished  honor  and  restored 
to  the  confidence  of  the  emperor. 

1528.  Pizarro  went  to  Spain  to  lay 
the  project  of  conquering  Peru  before  the 
emperor,  and  to  gain  if  possible  the  royal 
encouragement  and  support.  He  was 
thrown  into  prison  upon  his  arrival,  but 
was  released  as  soon  as  the  nature  of  his 
mission  was  known.  Pizarro  exhibited 
the  treasures  he  had  brought  with  him, 
and  gave  a  full  account  of  the  two  jour- 
neys he  had  already  made,  and  of  the 
sufferings  experienced  upon  each.  He 
met  Cortes  in  Spain,  and  received  trom 
the  Conqueror  of  Mexico  material  assist- 
ance in  presenting  his  petitions. 

1528.  Disaster  in  Florida.  Pamphilo 
de  Narvaez,  having  received  authority  to 
invade  and  conquer  Florida,  landed  there 
with  three  hundred  men,  eighty  of  them 
upon  horse.  They  struck  into  the  for- 


ests, and  after  eight  hundred  miles  of 
wandering  they  came  out  near  the  Bay 
of  Pensacola.  The  leader  and  most  of 
his  followers  were  ship-wrecked  in  boats 
they  had  made,  and  were  1471-1528. 
lost.  Others  perished  of  Aibert  Durer. 
hunger.  Four  persons  reached  Mexico 
in  1536,  after  eight  years  of  travel  across 
the  country.  The  expedition  was  a  com- 
plete disaster. 

1528.  San   Salvador,  capital    of  the 
republic  of  the  same  name,  was  founded 
by  Jorge  de  Alvarado,  brother  of  the  con- 
queror, in  a  beautiful  and  elevated  valley 
on  the  site  of  an  old  Indian  town. 

1529.  July   6.     Cortes   was   created 
Marquess  of  the  Valley  of  the  Oaxaca, 
and   received    a    grant   of   land   in   that 
province,  together  with  grants   in  other 
parts  of  New  Spain.     He  was  made  by 
another  royal  ordinance  captain-general  of 
New  Spain  and  the  South  Sea.     But  the 
government  refused  to  send  him  back  in- 
vested with  the  civil  authority  of  Mexico. 

1529.  July  26.     Pizarro  was  granted 
by  a  royal  instrument  the  right  to  con- 
quer Peru  for  two  hundred  leagues  south 
of  Santiago,  and  was  made  captain-gen- 
eral and  governor  of  the  region  for  life. 
Almagro  was  to  command  at  Tumbez. 
The  salaries  of  the  three  were  appointed 
from  the  spoils  of  conquest. 

1530.  January.      Pizarro   sailed   in 
haste  from  San  Lucar,  Spain,  to  avoid 
government    officers,    who    1471.i530.    car- 
were  to  inspect  his  vessels,    dinal  Wohey. 

•c    u-  ^Ci.  153°-      Spinning- 

and   see   if  his   outfit   was    wheei for flax  in. 
complete.     He  was  accom-    vented  by   jor- 

i  •        i  i          i         gens. 

panied  by  his  three  broth- 
ers, Hernando,  Gonzalo,  and  Juan.    They 
reached  N  ombre  de  Dios  in  safety,  and 
with  the  other  associates  began  to  prepare 
for  an  expedition. 

1530.     Cortes  sailed  for  Mexico  in  the 


1523-1550.] 

spring  and  landed  at  Hayti,  where  he 
was  tried  on  several  charges  by  the  Roy- 
al Audience.  No  action  on  the  part  of 
the  government  ever  came  of  the  trial. 

1530.  July    15.      Cortes   landed   in 
Mexico.     He  proceeded  to  Tlascala  and 
Tezcuco,  and  was  received  with  affection 
by  the  people,  much   to   the    disgust   of 
some  of  the  magistrates.      After  awhile 
he  took  up  his  residence  at  Cuernavaca. 

1531.  January.     Pizarro  sailed  from 
Panama  with  three  vessels  and  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  men.     He  took  twenty- 
seven  horses.     A  part  of  the  force  was 
landed  at  the  Bay  of  St.  Matthew,  and 
marched  along  the  coast,  while  the  rest 
proceeded  in  the  vessels.     They  captured 
and  plundered  settlements  in  the  province 
of  Coaque,  where  they  found  great  booty 
of  precious  stuffs   and   metals.      Pizarro 
sent  back  a  large  amount  of  it  to  Panama, 
and  at  once  excited  many  to  join  his  ex- 
pedition.    A  re-enforcement  under  Her- 
nando  de  Soto  soon  reached  him. 

1531.  The  dyewoods  of  Brazil  had 
become  such  a  source  of  traffic  with  nav- 
igators that  John  III.  of  Portugal  began 
to  colonize  the  country  in  order  to  prevent 
what  he  considered  a  violation  of  his 
rights. 

1531.  The  first  settlement  in  Guiana, 
named  St.  Thomas,  was  made  by  Diego 
de  Ordaz. 

1532.  The  silver  mines  of  Zacatecas, 
in  Mexico,  were  discovered,  and  for  many 
years  stood    at  the   head  of  the  mining 
districts  of  that  country. 

1532.  Civil  War  in  Peru.  During 
the  spring  of  this  year,  Huascar  and 
Atahuallpa  Capac,  between  whom  the 
kingdom  of  Peru  had  been  divided  at 
the  death  of  their  father,  Huayna  Capac, 
were  at  war.  The  latter,  to  whom  the 
province  of  Quito  had  been  given,  took 


<;REAT  EXPEDITIONS. 


133 


his   elder  brother  captive,  and  is  said  to 
have  murdered  many  Inca  nobles. 

1532.  May  16.  San  Miguel.  Pizarro, 
having  marched  to  Ttimbez  and  found  it 
almost  wholly  destroyed,  proceeded  some 
leagues  south,  where  he  founded  a  city 
which  he  named  San  Miguel.  It  was 
afterward  removed  to  the  river  Piura. 
Pizarro  melted  down  the  gold  and  silver 
which  had  been  collected,  and  forwarded 
it  to  Panama  to  remove  the  burden  of 
debt  from  the  expedition. 

1532.  Sept.  24.  Pizarro  left  San 
Miguel  on  a  march  for  the  camp  of 
Atahuallpa,  which  was  said  to  be  near. 
He  led  his  little  force  through  a  beautiful 
country,  and  at  last  sent  out  De  Soto  to 
reconnoiter.  In  a  week  De  Soto  returned, 
accompanied  by  an  ambassador  from  Ata- 
huallpa, who  brought  valuable  presents 
and  a  cordial  invitation  to  visit  the  Peru- 
vian camp.  Pizarro  sent  presents  in  re- 
turn, and  resumed  his  march.  With  con- 
siderable difficulty  the  troops  climbed  the 
Cordilleras,  but  finally  descended  into  the 
lovely  plain  where  Caxamalca  lay.  The 
camp  of  Atahuallpa  was  upon  the  side  of 
the  hill,  just  outside  the  city. 

1532.  Nov.  15.  Pizarro  entered  the 
city  of  Caxamalca,  which  had  been  de- 
serted by  its  inhabitants  for  his  use.  An 
embassy  sent  to  the  camp,  saw  great 
riches  and  perfect  discipline.  That  night 
the  Spanish  officers  in  council  determined 
to  seize  the  person  of  the  Inca. 

1532.  Nov.  16.  Atahuallpa  visited 
the  Spanish  camp  in  the  area  of  Caxa- 
malca. Friar  Vincente  de  Valverde  at- 
tempted to  secure  from  Atahuallpa  an 
acceptance  of  the  Catholic  faith,  and  an 
acknowledgement  of  submission  to  the 
Spanish  government.  At  the  refusal  of 
the  Peruvian  monarch,  he  and  his  attend- 
ants were  assailed  at  a  given  signal,  and 


134 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


after  a  great  massacre,  Atahuallpa  was 
taken  captive.  No  Spaniard  was  killed. 
Much  gold  and  silver  were  found,  and 
large  numbers  of  llamas  were  in  the  val- 
ley. The  people  seemed  weak  as  soon 
as  their  leader  was  taken.  Atahuallpa 
offered  to  fill  the  room  in  which  he  was 
confined,  twenty-two  feet  long,  and  sev- 
enteen feet  wide,  full  of  gold,  to  a  height 
of  nine  feet,  as  a  ransom.  He  also  prom- 
ised to  fill  another  room  twice  full  of  sil- 
ver. Pizarro  accepted  his  offer,  and 
messengers  were  at  once  sent  forth  to 
collect  gold  and  silver  from  all  parts  of 
the  realm.  Atahuallpa,  fearing  that  his 
brother,  Huascar,  would  escape  from 
prison  through  the  reported  offer  of  a 
ransom  larger  than  his  own,  secured  his 
death.  It  is  related  that  Atahuallpa, 
while  in  prison,  got  some  Spaniard  to 
write  the  name  of  God  upon  his  thumb 
nail,  and  presented  it  to  every  one  who 
visited  him.  When  each,  upon  looking 
at  it,  gave  him  the  same  explanation,  his 
wonder  increased  at  the  silent  writing. 
Once  when  Francisco  Pizarro  came  to 
his  cell,  the  Inca  held  up  the  same  to  him, 
and  noticing  the  confusion  in  the  look  of 
the  conqueror,  who  could  neither  read 
nor  write,  he  ever  after  esteemed  the 
Spanish  leader  an  inferior  man. 

1533.  February.  Much  gold  had 
now  been  brought  in  for  the  ransom  of 
Atahuallpa.  At  last  the  Spanish  soldiers 
clamored  for  a  division  of  the  spoil, 
though  it  lacked  something  of  being  the 
full  amount.  The  royal  fifth  was  selected, 
and  Hernando  Pizarro  was  sent  with  it 
to  Spain.  The  rest  was  melted  down 
and  amounted  to  about  $15,500,000  gold, 
besides  a  large  quantity  of  silver.  It  was 
divided  according  to  rank  and  service. 
Atahuallpa  now  demanded  his  release, 
but  rumors  of  an  uprising  of  the  people 


reached  the  ears  of  Pizarro.  It  was  de- 
cided to  try  the  captive  monarch  upon 
this  charge  of  having  secretly  instigated 
a  rebellion.  It  was  done,  and  at  last,  in 
spite  of  the  remonstrance  of  a  few,  he 
was  sentenced  to  death. 

1533.  Aug.  29.  Atahuallpa  was  ex- 
ecuted by  the  garrote  instead  of  by 
burning,  as  had  been  first  decreed,  the 
former  method  being  adopted  upon  his 
professed  acceptance  of  the  Catholic  re- 
ligion in  his  last  hours.  Pizarro  conferred 
the  crown  upon  Toparca,  a  brother  of 
Atahuallpa,  and  invested  him  with  the 
civil  power  of  the  realm,  according  to  the 
regal  customs. 

1533.  September.  Pizarro  set  out  for 
Cuzco.  Their  journey  lay  for  a  part  of 
the  way  over  the  great  road  of  the  realm, 
which  had  been  built  at  some  time  with 
great  labor,  along  the  sides  of  mountains 
and  across  deep  chasms.  Upon  this 
journey  the  newly  appointed  Inca  died, 
and  Pizarro  received  negotiations  from 
Manco  Capac,  brother  of  Huascar,  asking 
for  recognition  as  ruler  of  the  kingdom. 
He  was  met  plausibly,  and  was  promised 
support. 

1533.  Nov.  15.  Cuzco  was  entered 
by  the  Spanish  army.  It  was  found  to  be 
a  city  of  great  regularity,  and  of  substan- 
tial architecture.  Considerable  wealth  was 
found  in  it  and  divided  among  the  soldiers. 
It  is  said  by  some  to  have  been  even 
greater  than  the  ransom  of  Atahuallpa. 

1533.  Lower  California  was  explored 
by  two  expeditions  sent  out  by  Cortes  in 
this  and  the  previous  year. 

1533.  Cartagena,  a  city  of  Colombia, 
South  America,  was  founded  and  after- 
ward fortified  at  a  cost  of  $29,000,000. 
Its  situation  upon  a  small  island  makes  it 
the  chief  naval  port  on  the  northern  coast 
of  South  America. 


1523-1550.J 


GREAT  EXPEDITIONS. 


135 


1533.  The  first  recorded  eruption  of  \ 

Cotopaxi,  a  volcano  situated  in  Ecuador, 
S.  A.,  the  highest  active  volcano  in  the 
world,  took  place.  Its  summit  is  about 
19,000  feet  above  the  sea. 

1534.  January.     Hernando  Pizarro 
arrived  in   Spain   upon   his  mission,  and 
presented  all  his  treasures  before  the  gov- 
ernment.      Previous   contracts   were   all 
confirmed,    and    the   territory    extended. 
Almagro  was  granted  the  right  to  con- 
quer the    country   two    hundred  leagues 
south  of  Pizarro's   territory.     Hernando 
Pizarro  was  created  a  Knight  of  Santi- 
ago and  ordered  to  fit  up  an   expedition 
to  sail  to  Peru  for  assistance  in  the  con- 
quest.    This  expedition  was  almost  en- 
tirely annihilated  at  its  start  by  a  terrible 
storm,    only    a    few    of   the    adventurers 
reaching  Peru  at  last. 

1534.  Quito  was  captured  by  Sebas- 
tian Benalcazar,  whom  Pizarro  had  placed 
in  charge  of  San  Miguel.  He  was  dis- 
appointed in  not  finding  any  wealth  in 
the  city. 

1534.  March  24.  Pizarro  invested 
Manco  Capac  with  the  government  of 
the  realm,  and  received  his  submission  to 
the  Spanish  crown.  He  organized  a 
municipal  corporation  for  Cuzco.  Father 
Valverde  was  appointed  bishop. 

1534.  April  20.  Jacques  Cartier,  an 
eminent  French  sailor,  left  St.  Malo, 
Fi'ance,  with  two  vessels  of  sixty  tons 
each,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-two 
men,  for  a  voyage  of  exploration  to  the 
New  World.  He  had  in  all  probability 
been  upon  the  Newfoundland  banks  in 
previous  years. 

1534.  May  10.  After  a  quick  pas- 
sage of  twenty  days,  he  reached  New- 
foundland, where  he  was  obliged  to  re- 
1494-1534.  main  for  a  time  on  account 

Corregffio.  of  the  ice.  He  subsequently 


sailed  around  the  island  through  the 
Straits  of  Belle  Isle.  He  visited  and 
named  the  Baye  de  Chaleur. 

1534.  July.  He  erected  a  cross  bear- 
ing the  French  arms  upon  the  shore  of 
Gasp6  as  a  sign  of  the  French  dominion. 
He  then  sailed  up  the  St.  Lawrence  as 


JACQUES   CARTIER. 

far  as  the  island  of  Anticosti,   at  which 
point  he  turned  back  to  France. 

1534.  The  city  of  Quito,  S.  A.,  was 
founded  upon  the  remains  of  the  old  In- 
dian town,  ten  thousand  feet  above  the 
sea. 

1535.  Jan.  6.    Lima.   Pizarro  selected 
and  laid  out  the  site  of  a  capital  city  of 
Peru,  and  named  it  "  City  of  the  Kings." 
The    name   was   afterward    changed   to 
Lima.      A   large    number   were   set   to 
work    at   once  upon   the   buildings   and 
streets,  and  many  of  the  foundations  then 
laid,  have  remained  till  this  day. 

1535.  May  19.  Cartier's  Second  Voy- 
age. Jacques  Cartier  sailed  on  his  sec- 
ond voyage  from  St.  Malo,  France,  with 
three  vessels,  the  largest  one  being  of  one 
hundred  and  ten  tons  burden.  He  reached 
the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  sailed  up 
the  river  of  the  same  name. 

1535.  June  12.  Pizarro  and  Alma- 
gro executed  another  agreement  at  Cuzco, 
by  which  they  pledged  lasting  friendship. 
This  was  caused  by  the  assumption  of 


136 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


supreme  power  at  Cuzco  by  Almagro, 
.who  contended  that  the  city  lay  within 
the  limit  of  his  grant  from  the  crown. 
Almagro  now  undertook  an  expedition 
to  Chili,  and  succeeded  in  raising  five 
hundred  and  seventy  men,  who  were  dis- 
patched at  different  times.  Pizarro  en- 
couraged adventurers  to  other  parts  of 
his  realm,  and  established  cities  at  differ- 
ent points. 

1535.  Oct.  2.  Site  of  Montreal.  Car- 
tier  having  stopped  for  a  time  at  the 
present  site  of  Quebec  in  intercourse 
with  Donnacona  and  his  Indian  subjects, 
and  having  passed  up  through  beautiful 
Lake  St.  Peter,  arrived  at  the  Indian 
village  of  Hochelaga,  situated  upon  an 
island.  He  ascended  the  mountain  back 
of  the  village,  and  named  it  Mont  Roy- 
ale,  which  has  passed  into  the  name  of 
the  island,  and  of  the  great  city  now 
upon  it,  as  Montreal.  The  French  then 
re-embarked  and  went  down  to  the  mouth 
of  the  St.  Croix,  now  the  St.  Charles, 
and  there  remained  for  the  winter. 

1535.  Buenos  Ayres  was  founded  by 
a  Spanish  expedition  under  Don  Jorge 
de  Mendoza.  It  was  abandoned  in  1538, 
and  did  not  become  permanent  till  1580, 
when  colonies  had  already  begun  to 
flourish  in  the  interior. 

1535.  New  Spain,  now  Mexico,  was 
erected  into  a  vice-royalty,  and  Don 
Antonio  de  Mendoza  was  appointed 
viceroy. 

FIRST  PRINTING. 

1535.  Under  the  direction  of  the  vice- 
roy, printing  was  established  in  the  city 
of  Mexico.  "  The  Spiritual  Ladder,"  a 
school  manual,  was  printed  there  one 
hundred  and  four  years  before  a  printing 
press  was  set  up  in  the  United  States, 
being  the  first  book,  or  very  nearly  the 
first  book  printed  on  the  American  conti- 


nent. Mexico  gave  birth  to  ninety-three 
other  books,  and  Peru  to  seven,  before 
the  close  of  the  century.  Nineteen  of 
them  were  written  in  Latin. 

FIRST  MINT. 

1535.  A  mint  was  established  in  the 
City  of  Mexico,  and  began  the  coinage 
of  silver,  thus  preceding  all  similar  work 
on  the  continent. 

FIRST  HISTORY. 

1535.  A  history  of  America  by  Gon- 
zalo  Hernandez,  governor  of   San   Do- 
mingo, was  published   at  Seville,  Spain. 
It  contains  the  first  known  mention  of 
the  pine-apple. 

1536.  February.    Manco  Capac,  hav- 
ing escaped  from  Cuzco,  in  which  city  a 
strict   watch   was    kept   over    him,   and 
having  appeared  among  the  people,  the 
natives  rose  and  besieged  Cuzco  with  twa 
hundred  thousand  men.     A  large  portion 
of  the  city  was  burned.     Lima   was  be- 
sieged at  the  same  time,  and  all  commu- 
nications were  cut  off.      Pizarro  sent  for 
Almagro  to  return  from  Chili,  to  aid  in 
putting  down  the  rebellion. 

1536.  February.  Juan  Pizarro  lost 
his  life  in  attempting  to  take  a  strong- 
hold held  by  the  Peruvians.  He  was 
the  first  of  the  four  brothers  to  fall,  and 
was  in  most  respects  the  most  worthy  of 
the  number.  He  was  a  valiant  soldier, 
and  was  free  from  most  of  the  harsh 
characteristics  of  his  times. 

1536.  March  6.  Jacques  Cartier, 
having  spent  the  winter  with  his  men  on 
the  St.  Lawrence,  and  having  lost  twen- 
ty-five of  the  little  company  by  scurvy, 
at  last  sailed  for  France,  taking  with  him 
the  Indian  chief,  Donnacona,  and  nine  of 
his  inferioi  chiefs,  of  whom  he  gained 
possession  by  deceit. 


1523-15oO 


GREAT  EXPEDITIONS. 


137 


1536.  An  expedition  under  Master 
Hore  sailed  from  London  to  plant  a  col- 
ony on  Newfoundland,  but  the  attempt 
came  to  an  end  after  much  suffering. 

1536.  Asuncion,  the  capital  of  Par- 
aguay, S.  A.,  was  founded  by  Juan  de 
Ayolas.  It  served  as  the  capital  of  the 
La  Plata  provinces  till  1620. 

1536.  Almagro  returned  from  Chili, 
having  effected  nothing  to  advance  his 
fortunes.  His  troops  had  suffered  much 
from  cold  and  fatigue.  When  he  reached 
the  vicinity  of  Cuzco  and  found  it  be- 
sieged, he  held  communications  with  Man- 
co  Capac,  but  without  result,  through 
misunderstanding. 

FROM  FLORIDA  TO  MEXICO. 

1536.  July  22.  Cabaga  de  Vaca,  one 
of  the  survivors  of  the  expedition  of 
Narvaez  into  Florida,  arrived  with  two 
or  three  companions  in  Mexico,  after  a 
fearful  journey  of  eight  years  across  the 
continent.  It  is  uncertain  whether  they 
1483-1536.  crossed  the  Mississippi,  thus 

Martin  Luther,  becoming  its  discoverers,  or 
passed  its  mouth  in  boats  which  they  used 
for  a  little  time  along  shore.  They  were 
1467-1536.  kept  in  a  severe  captivity 

Erasmus.  for  a  long  time  by  the  In- 
dians, and  suffered  much.  At  last  they 
escaped  and  began  their  long  march 
across  the  continent  through  Texas  and 
New  Mexico.  They  finally  reached 
their  countrymen  and  were  sent  to  Spain, 
where  they  were  received  with  great 
honor.  They  gave  the  first  account  of 
the  Pueblo  Indians,  and  brought  about  by 
their  statements,  the  subsequent  explora- 
tion of  New  Mexico  and  California. 

1537.     April  8.     Cuzco  was  seized  by 
Almagro,  who   had  been  refused  an  en- 


trance  into  the  city  till  the  rival  claims  of 
himself  and  Pizarro  could  be  decided. 
He  seized  the  place  by  night  and  put 
Hernando  and  Gonzalo  Pizarro  into  con- 
finement.  The  former  had  just  before 
returned  from  Spain. 

1537.  July  12.  Almagro  captured 
Alonzo  de  Alvarado,  one  of  Pizarro's 
officers,  with  a  force  of  five  hundred  men, 
who  had  been  sent  to  relieve  Cuzco. 

1537.  The  siege  of  Cuzco  was  now 
wholly  broken  up  by  Almagro.  Pizarro, 
upon  hearing  of  the  seizure  of  Cuzco, 
sent  a  messenger  to  negotiate  terms  of 
peace.  This  effort  was  broken  off  by  the 
death  of  the  messenger.  Almagro  now 
descended  to  the  seashore  and  attempted 
to  found  a  city  which  should  rival  Lima. 
Here  he  soon  heard  of  the  escape  of  sev- 
eral of  his  prisoners,  among  them  Gon- 
zalo Pizarro. 

1537.  Nov.  13.  An  interview  took 
place  between  Almagro  and  Pizarro, 
which,  after  some  altercation,  resulted  in 
the  agreement  that  Cuzco  should  remain 
in  Almagro's  hands  till  the  claims  to  it 
could  be  adjusted  in  Spain;  and  that 
Hernando  Pizarro  should  be  set  at  lib- 
erty on  condition  that  he  would  leave 
the  country  in  six  weeks.  This  was 
done,  and  Hernando  Pizarro  was  sent 
to  his  brother's  quarters.  Francisco  at 
once  released  Hernando  from  all  oblisra- 

o 

tion  to  obey  the  agreement  to  leave  the 
country,  and  announced  to  the  army  his 
intention  of  making  war  upon  Almagro. 
He  then  returned  to  Lima  and  intrusted 
the  prosecution  of  the  war  to  Hernando. 

INDIANS  DECLARED  HUMAN. 

1537.  A  decree  was  issued  by  Pope 
Paul  III.,  declaring  the  native  Americans 
to  be  rational  creatures,  and  entitled  to 
the  privileges  of  Christians. 


138 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


1538.  April  26.  Almagro  was  cap- 
tured in  a  great  battle,  which  was  fought 
at  Las  Salinas,  near  Cuzco. 

1538.  July  8.  Almagro  was  exe- 
cuted for  levying  war  upon  the  Spanish 
crown. 

1538.  Havana,  Cuba,  was  burned  by 
French  privateers. 

1538.  Santa  Fe  de  Bogota  in  the 
United  States  of  Colombia,  S.  A.,  was 
1538.  Diving  bell  founded  by  Gonzalo  Xim- 
imientea.  enes  de  Quesada,  who  start- 


better  educated  than  his  brother  Francis- 
co, and  was  a  man  of  great  self-possession 
and  vigor  in  the  midst  of  critical  circum- 
stances. But  he  had  a  revengeful  spirit, 
and  was  not  troubled  by  the  sight  of 
blood,  nor  the  reflection  that  it  was  due 
to  his  own  injustice.  When  he  came 
out  of  prison  he  was  an  aged  and  infirm 
man. 

1539.  May  30.  Hernando  de  Soto 
having  returned  from  Peru  on  account  of 
the  feuds  which  were  raging  there,  and 


DE   SOTO'S   MARCH. 


ed  the  city  with  twelve  houses  in  honor 
of  the  twelve  apostles. 

1539.  Hernando  Pizarro  sailed  to 
Spain  because  he  learned  that  Almagro's 
friends  were  trying  to  secure  redress. 
He  arrived  safely,  and  at  first  successfully 
resisted  the  imputations  cast  upon  him. 
But  he  was  finally  arrested,  thrown  into 
prison,  and  confined  for  twenty  years, 
being  released  in  1560.  Hernando  Pizarro 
disappeared  from  the  scene  of.  action  in 
Peru,  leaving  upon  his  name  a  reputation 
for  harshness,  even  to  cruelty.  He  was 


having   determined    while    governor    of 

Cuba  upon   making    an    expedition    into 

Florida,  arrived  at  Tampa 

Bay   with  nine  vessels,  six 

hundred  men,  and  a  herd  of 

swine,  besides  all  manner  of 

supplies.      Then   began    a 

long   and    toilsome    march 

across   the   country   to   the 

west.    During    this   year    they    reached 

as  far  as  the  head  of  the   Bay  of  Ap- 

palachee,   where   they    stopped   for    the 

winter. 


1539.     Pins  first 
used  by  Cathar- 
ine Howard, 
queen  of  Eng- 
land. 

1539.     Universi- 
ty of  Geneva 
founded  by   Cal- 
vin. 


1523-1550.] 

JUAN  ORTIZ. 

1539.  When  De  Soto  had  marched 
with  his  men  a  short  distance  from  Tam- 
pa Bay,  Juan  Ortiz,  a  man  who  had 
come  to  Florida  in  the  expedition  of 
Narvaez  in  1528,  met  them  and  proved 
of  great  value  to  the  expedition.  He 
related  to  De  Soto  a  romantic  story  of 
his  capture  and  experience  among  the 
Indians.  He  was  at  first  doomed  by 
King  Ucita  to  death  by  burning,  for 
which  purpose  they  placed  him  upon  a 
scaffold,  and  kindled  a  blazing  fire  be- 
neath it.  Before  the  flames  had  reached 
him  his  life  was  besought  by  the  daugh- 
ter of  the  chief  from  her  father,  who 
seemed  not  to  have  yielded  out  of  com- 
passion, but  because  of  the  arguments  of 
his  child,  among  which  was  one  that  it 
would  be  a  great  honor  to  keep  a  white 
man  in  captivity.  Ortiz  was  retained  as 
a  slave,  but  was  again  in  danger  of 
death  a  few  years  afterward,  when  the 
Indian  princess  aided  him  in  escaping 
beforehand.  He  lived  with  other  Indians 
till  De  Soto's  entrance  into  the  country, 
when  he  served  as  guide  and  interpreter 
for  that  explorer.  He  died  a  short  time 
before  De  Soto. 


GREAT  EXPEDITIONS. 


139 


1539.  An   expedition   sent   out   by 
Cortes,  under   Francisco    de  Ulloa,  ex- 
plored the  coast  of  California  to  the  far 
north.     Ulloa    sent   home    a  vessel,  but 
never  returned  himself.     This  ended  the 
explorations  of  Cortes. 

1540.  De  Soto  and  his  followers  re- 
sumed their  march  into  the  region  lying 
northwest  of  the  present  State  of  Florida. 
They  met  at  one  point  with  resistance 
from  the  natives,  and  burned  an  Indian 
ISM.    Order  oj    town    with    great    destruc- 

"Vesniis    founded      .•  r  i*c         TM        o  •        i 

f  ,.  tion  of  life.    The  Spaniards 

bv     Ignatius  t? 


Ign 
ioyola. 


lost  eighteen   men,  besides 


all  their  baggage.  Many  men  were 
wounded.  They  stopped  for  the  winter 
in  Northern  Mississippi. 

1540.  April  22.  The  Seven  Cities. 
An  expedition  under  Coronado,  was  sent 
by  Mendoza,  viceroy  of  New  Spain,  to 
search  for  the  seven  cities  of  Cibola, 
concerning  which  vague  reports  had 
reached  them.  He  explored  the  Pueblo 
cities  of  Arizona  and  New  Mexico,  and 
died,  his  followers  returning  to  Mexico. 

AMAZON  EXPEDITION. 

1540.  Gonzalo  Pizarro  upon  assum- 
ing the  government  of  Quito  to  which 
he  had  been  appointed  by  his  brother, 
fitted  up  an  expedition  to  the  east.  He 
raised  three  hundred  and  forty  Spaniards 
and  four  thousand  Indians,  and  furnished 
them  with  all  necessary  supplies.  The 
men  experienced  great  suffering  in  pass- 
ing the  cold  heights  of  the  Cordilleras 
and  descending  into  the  heat  and  rains 
of  the  region  beyond.  They  reached 
the  region  of  cinnamon,  where  the  bark 
could  be  gathered  in  great  quantities, 
but  it  was  of  no  avail  to  them.  They 
pushed  on,  having  been  told  by  natives 
that  a  land  of  gold  lay  a  few  days  be- 
yond. After  much  difficulty  in  break- 
ing through  the  tropical  undergrowth, 
they  reached  the  river  Napo,  a  great 
tributary  of  the  Amazon.  They  hoped 
to  find  a  more  practicable  way  along 
its  banks.  Here  they  built  a  boat  to 
carry  their  baggage  and  the  persons 
who  had  grown  weak.  They  cut  tim- 
ber, made  nails  out  of  old  horse-shoes, 
pitched  the  bottom  with  gum  from  the 
forest,  and  used  old,  worn-out  garments 
as  oakum.  They  were  two  months  in 
building  it,  but  at  last  had  a  boat  both 
strong  and  large.  Pizarro  put  a  large 
portion  of  the  company  aboard  under 


140 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


Francisco  de  Orellana,  and  sent  them 
along  the  river.  The  boat  was  finally  sent 
ahead  for  provisions  with  orders  to  return 
and  meet  the  rest  as  soon  as  possible. 
Pizarro  waited  for  weeks,  then  deter- 
mined to  proceed  along  the  river,  and  in 
two  months  came  to  the  Amazon.  No 
sign  of  the  boat  met  him.  It  was  now 
1541.  But  at  last  he  found  Sanchez  de 
Vargas  who  had  been  put  out  of  the 
boat  because  he  opposed  the  desertion  of 
the  land  company.  He  stated  that  the 
rest  had  sailed  on  down  the  river  with 
the  design  of  going  to  Spain.  It  may 
be  as  is  claimed  by  one  record,  that 
Orellana  was  led  to  this  by  finding  no 
provisions,  and  that  his  return  to  the 
land  party  would  be  very  slow  on  ac- 
count of  the  swift  current.  At  any  rate, 
with  him  belongs  the  glory  of  the  real 
discovery  of  the  Amazon.  He  kept  on 
down  the  stream,  now  near  starvation 
for  lack  of  food  which  could  be  seldom 
obtained,  now  fighting  with  his  worn-out 
company  the  Indians  who  beset  them  in 
some  places  by  thousands.  They  were 
seven  months  in  reaching  the  Atlantic. 
At  one  place  they  stopped  to  strengthen 
or  rebuild  their  weakened  vessel.  At 
one  time  "there  was  nothing  to  eat  but 
the  skins  which  formed  their  girdles,  and 
the  leather  of  their  shoes,  boiled  with  a 
few  herbs."  Finally  they  reached  the 
Atlantic  and  turned  north  along  the 
coast,  reaching  Cubagua  in  due  time. 
From  here  Orellana  sailed  to  Spain  and 
obtained  a  grant  of  the  lands  along  the 
Amazon,  but  his  plans  were  cut  short 
by  his  death,  which  took  place  before  he 
could  reach  the  land  of  his  great  adven- 
ture. In  June,  1542,  Gonzalo  Pizarro 
reached  Quito  upon  his  return  from  the 
great  wilderness.  He  had  been  a  full 
year  in  making  his  way  back.  Only 


eighty  Spaniards  remained,  and  they 
were  worn  out  and  broken  down.  Hun- 
dreds of  the  Indians  had  perished.  This- 
expedition  must  ever  rank  as  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  adventures  in  the  New 
World. 

1540.  Vaca  de  Castro,  an  ambassador, 
was  •  appointed  by  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment to  visit  Peru,  inquire  into  its  dis- 
turbances, and  use  his  authority  in  re- 
storing order. 

1540.  Cortes  again  returned  to  Spain 
in  order  to  present  further  requests  to 
the  government. 

1540.  Gold    was   discovered    in    the 
coast  range  of  Venezuela,  S.  A. 

1541.  Feb.  24.     Santiago,  Chili,  was 
founded  by  Pedro  de  Valvidia. 

1541.  May.  The  Mississippi.  De 
Soto  after  numerous  trials  in  penetrating 
the  wilderness,  arrived  at  the  Mississippi 
River,  thus  connecting  his  name  forever 
with  that  great  stream. 

1541.  May  23.  Cartier's  Third  Voy- 
age. Jacques  Cartier  sailed  on  his  third 
voyage,  to  be  followed  by  Lord  Roberval,. 
who  was  to  bring  further  supplies  with 
which  to  found  a  colony.  Lord  Rober- 
val had  received  a  commission,  granting 
him  the  government  of  New  France, 
and  had  made  Cartier  captain-general  of 
the  expedition. 

PIZARRffS  DEATH. 

1541.  June  26.  Francisco  Pizarro 
was  assassinated  in  his  own  home  in 
Lima,  by  a  party  who  had  attached 
themselves  to  Almagro,  whose  father, 
Diego  de  Almagro,  had  been  executed 
some  time  before.  The  attack  was  made 
in  the  daytime,  and  Pizarro  was  killed 
only  after  a  severe  resistance  by  himself 
and  his  attendants,  many  of  whom  were 


1523-1550.] 

also  slain.  The  conqueror  was  at  his 
death  about  seventy  years  of  age,  but 
was  still  in  the  full  vigor  of  life.  The 
exposure  and  suffering  which  he  had 
been  through  seem  to  have  been  borne 
with  wonderful  physical  endurance. 
When  his  followers  gave  out  by  the 
score,  he  only  redoubled  his  exertions. 
Francisco  Pizarro  was  a  man  of  great 
energy  of  spirit,  which  was  at  times  ex- 
hibited in  deeds  strongly  marked  by 
cruelty  and  self-interest.  His  treatment 
of  Atahuallpa  has  always  been  a  reason 
for  his  condemnation.  But  at  the  time 
it  seemed,  without  doubt,  as  if  the  whole 
cause  would  be  the  better  prosecuted,  and 
the  natives  of  Peru  would  more  readily 
receive  a  new  government  if  their  old 
leader  were  dead.  Nor  can  we  truly 
estimate  the  deed  until  we  have  the  his- 
torical discernment  of  other  circumstan- 
ces, such  as  the  light  value  placed  by 
any  one  upon  the  life  of  an  enemy,  and 
the  feeling  of  the  Spanish  that  the  na- 
tives of  America  were  an  inferior  •  race. 
Pizarro,  compared  with  other  explorers 
of  his  time,  was  evidently  much  less 
moved  by  moral  considerations,  and  was 
possessed  of  a  coarse,  more  cruel  and 
unscrupulous  nature.  But  even  he  should 
be  judged  by  the  light  of  his  own  time 
and  nation.  Everything  in  Pizarro's 
life  was  bent  to  his  ambition,  which  was 
a  purely  secular  and  avaricious  one.  He 
was  not,  like  Columbus  and  Cortes,  pos- 
sessed of  a  religious  ambition.  He  could 
•deny  himself  any  minor  pleasure  if  his 
great  aim  could  be  met.  He  was  ready 
for  any  labor,  and  was  always  devising 
ways  to  secure  greater  power  over  his 
followers.  He  did  not  give  way  to  eat- 
ing, drinking,  or  sleeping.  Not  having 
learned  to  read  or  write  in  his  youth,  he 
•was  not  patient  enough  to  do  so  in  the 


GREAT  EXPEDITIONS. 


141 


roving  public  life  he  afterward  lived. 
He  was  eminently  a  soldier,  and  knew 
nothing  except  a  soldier's  life.  In  this 
he  was  thoroughly  at  home.  Yet  by 
his  plans  for  public  improvements  in 
Peru,  his  founding  of  Lima  and  other 
citie,s,  it  is  evident  that  he  wished  to  build 
up  a  nation.  In  all  his  plans  he  was 
persistent  in  the  highest  degree.  His 
long  life  was  one  of  undeviating  energy. 
He  halted  not,  save  for  death,  which 
came  at  last.  By  his  hand  Spain  had 
acquired  a  vast  empire,  which  afterward 
poured  tons  of  silver  into  her  treasury. 
Buried  at  first  in  secrecy  and  terror,  his 
remains  now  repose  in  honor  in  the 
cathedral  at  Lima.  He  left  a  son  and  a 
daughter  by  an  Indian  princess.  The 
former  died  in  youth.  The  latter  went 
to  Spain,  and  her  descendants  are  said  to 
be  found  at  Truxillo. 


1541.  Aug.  23.  Cartier  reached  the 
St.  Croix,  and  soon  passed  up  to  the 
river  of  Cap  Rouge.  Here  he  built  two 
forts  and  remained  for  the  winter,  waiting 
for  Lord  Roberval,  who  did  not  come 
when  expected. 

1541.  Vaca  de  Castro  arrived  in  Quito 
and  displayed  his  royal  letters  of  author- 
ity, gaining  adherents  to  himself  as  a  rep- 
resentative of  the  crown.  At  Lima  the 
young  Almagro  had  entered  at  once  upon 
military  preparations  for  the  support  of 
his  new  power  as  governor  of  Peru, 
which  he  had  assumed  upon  the  death  of 
Pizarro. 

1541.  A  flood  of  water  from  a  volca- 
no destroyed  the   city   of  Guatemala  in 
Central  America.     A  new  city  was  built 
further  down  in  the  valley. 

1542.  April     16.      Lord     Roberval 
sailed  from  Rochelle  with  two   hundred 
colonists,  for  New  France. 


142 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


DE  SOTO. 

1542.  May  21.  De  Soto  having  wan- 
dered through  the  region  of  the  Arkansas 
River,  and  having  selected  a  site  on  the 
Mississippi  for  a  colony,  died,  and  was 
buried  by  his  followers  in  the  waters  of 
the  stream  he  had  discovered.  The  sur- 
vivors continued  their  wanderings.  Her- 
nando  de  Soto  was  born  about  1496,  in 
Estremadura,  Spain,  and  was  of  noble 
blood.  He  received  something  of  an  ed- 
ucation, and  came  to  America  in  1519. 
He  was  always  a  supporter  of  the  best 
qualities  in  his  companions,  and  in  the 
confused  moral  conditions  attending  the 
exploration  of  the  New  World  he  seems 
never  to  have  lost  his  better  impulses. 
He  joined  Pizarro  in  Peru  soon  after  that 
leader's  entrance  upon  the  conquest,  and 
while  a  member  of  the  army,  became 
prominent  for  his  intrepid  spirit  and  un- 
wavering energy.  Upon  Pizarro's  march 
to  Caxamalca,  De  Soto,  with  a  few  men, 
penetrated  the  country  as  an  advance 
guard,  and  discovered  the  great  road  to 
Cuzco.  At  the  capture  of  the  latter  city 
he  exhibited  bravery  beyond  that  of  his 
companions  in  arms.  He  became  a  friend 
of  the  Inca,  Atahuallpa,  in  his  captivity, 
and  was  greatly  shocked  upon  his  return 
to  Caxamalca  from  an  expedition,  to  find 
that  the  royal  prisoner  had  been  falsely 
tried  and  executed.  De  Soto  subsequently 
returned  to  Spain  and  fitted  up  the  expe- 
dition which  resulted  so  disastrously.  He 
was  a  man  of  uncommon  perseverance 
and  enjoyed  better  the  work  of  explora- 
tion than  he  did  the  more  bloody  work  of 
conquest.  He  impresses  us  as  being  a 
hero  possessed  of  much  manliness,  one 
whose  valor  in  fight  resulted  from  the 
strength  of  his  character,  rather  than 
from  the  sway  which  passion  had  over 
his  spir't. 


1542.  June  8.  Lord  Roberval  reached 
Newfoundland  and  found  Cartier,  who 
had  grown  weary  of  waiting,  and  had 
broken  up  the  colony,  on  his  way  to 
France.  Lord  Roberval  tried  to  force 
him  back,  but  Cartier  departed  secretly 
and  returned  to  France.  The  new-comer 
passed  up  the  river  and  settled  on  the  spot 
abandoned  by  the  others.  A  dreary  win- 
ter was  spent,  and  the  colony  was  at  last 
broken  up  and  carried  back  to  France. 

1542.  Sept.  16.  The  young  Almagro 
was  met  and  conquered  by  Vaca  de  Cas- 
tro on  the  plains  of  Chupas.  Almagro 
fled  to  Cuzco  and  was  arrested.  De  Cas- 
tro also  proceeded  to  Cuzco,  where  Al- 
magro was  tried  and  executed.  Some  of 
his  chief  adherents  were  executed,  and 
others  banished.  De  Castro  at  once  be- 
gan to  settle  the  province  in  true  peace 
and  order.  He  founded  schools  for  Indi- 
ans, and  prevented  oppression  as  far  as 
possible. 

1542.  The  government  of  the  prov- 
inces of  Spain  in  the  New  World  was 
brought  to  the  attention  of  Charles  V.  by 
Las  Casas,  who  was  very  anxious  about 
it.  A  new  code  was  drawn  up,  making 
Peru  a  viceroyalty,  and  specifying  certain 
improvements  in  the  methods  of  treating 
the  Indian  population.  Certain  restric- 
tions were  put  about  slavery,  both  Indian 
and  negro,  virtually  abolishing  it.  The 
viceroy  was  to  have  a  Royal  Court  of 
Audience  of  four  persons.  Lima  was  to 
take  precedence  of  Panama  as  capital  of 
the  Pacific  coast.  Blasco  Nunez  de  Vela 
was  appointed  to  the  government. 

1542.  Nov.  20.  A  Royal  Audience 
was  established  for  Central  America,  on 
account  of  the  death  of  Alvarado.  It 
was  first  seated  at  Valladolid  de  Coma- 
yagua.  There  was  very  little  peace  in 
the  province  after  the  conqueror  died. 


1533-1550.] 

1543.  The  first  vessels  ever  built  on 
the  Mississippi  were  seven  frail  brigan- 
tines,  in  which  the  followers  of  De  Soto 
floated  down  the  river  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  Their  members  were  very 
much  reduced,  and  their  sufferings  before 
they  reached  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  were 
very  great. 

1543.  Cartier's  Last  Voyage.  Car- 
tier  is  said  to  have  been  sent  to  New 
France  this  year,  to  bring  home  Lord 
Roberval  and  his  companions.  This 
voyage,  if  made,  was  Cartier's  fourth 
and  last  one  to  Canada.  He  wintered 
there,  and  returned  the  next  year.  From 
this  time  he  is  not  heard  of  in  explora- 
tions, and  is  supposed  to  have  lived  at  St. 
Malo  until  he  died,  about  1555.  Scarcely 
anything  is  'known  of  him  beyond  his 
voyages  to  Canada,  which  cover  a  period 
of  ten  years.  He  is  supposed  to  have 
been  about  forty  years  of  age  at  his  first 
expedition.  He  appears  as  a  man  of  en- 
durance and  good  character.  His  name 
will  always  be  intimately  associated  with 
the  great  St.  Lawrence,  although  France 
was  not  ready  to  avail  herself  of  his  en- 
terprise in  building  up  at  once  upon  his 
explorations. 

1543.  Nov.    3.     Blasco    Nunez    de 
Vela,  the    new   viceroy    of  Peru,   sailed 
from  San  Lucar  for  his  province.     In  the 
meantime  his  appointment,  and   the  new 
code   of  regulations    for    the    province, 
caused  great  agitation  among  all  the  in- 
habitants.    The  property  of  many  would 
be   severely  reduced,    if    they    were   no 
longer  allowed  to  have  a  gang  of  Indi- 
ans to  do  their  bidding. 

1544.  January.    The  Viceroy's  Fail- 
ure.     Blasco    Nunez  de    Vela   reached 
Nombre  de  Dios   on   the    Isthmus,   and 
caused  hostility  at  once  upon  his  arrival 
by  freeing  certain  Indians  who  had  been 


ORE  A  T  EXPEDITIONS. 


143 


brought  from  Peru  as  slaves.  He  arrived 
at  Tumbez,  and  entered  upon  his  admin- 
istration by  the  execution  of  the  laws  of 
the  new  code  just  as  decreed,  without 
fear  or  favor.  Great  excitement  resulted. 
Gonzalo  Pizarro  was  proclaimed  at 
Cuzco  procurator  general  of  Peru,  and 
was  empowered  by  the  municipal  author- 
ities to  present  their  remonstrances  to  the 
viceroy,  and  solicit  redress.  He  also  in- 
sisted upon  having  the  power  to  raise  an 
army.  Nunez  proceeded  to  Lima,  and 
arresting  De  Castro  after  awhile  as  being 
concerned  in  the  rebellion  of  Pizarro, 
threw  him  into  confinement.  Pizarro 
was  marching  toward  Lima.  The  ex- 
citement of  the  people  grew  more  violent. 
At  last  the  Royal  Audience  arrested 
Nunez  because  they  differed  from  him  in 
carrying  out  the  decrees.  He  was  de- 
posed from  office  and  confined  on  an 
island  near  by,  in  waiting  to  be  sent  to 
Spain.  Pizarro  drew  near  the  city,  and 
demanded  to  be  acknowledged  governor. 
The  judges  asked  him  to  disband  his 
force,  inasmuch  as  the  ordinance  objected 
to,  had  been  suspended.  He  refused, 
and  declared  he  would  pillage  the  city 
unless  his  authority  was  recognized. 

1544.  Oct.  28.  Pizarro  entered  Lima  at 
the  head  of  his  force,  and  was  proclaimed 
governor  of  Peru  till  the  emperor  could 
be  heard  from.  This  was  followed  by 
acclamations  and  days  of  feasting.  Vaca 
de  Castro  escaped  to  Spain,  was  confined 
twelve  years,  but  was  at  last  fully  ac- 
quitted upon  trial. 

1544.  October.  The  Viceroy's  Ee- 
lease.  The  captain  who  was  to  take 
Nunez  to  Spain  released  him  soon  after 
sailing.  Nunez  returned  to  Tumbez  and 
raised  an  army  by  a.  public  call.  He 
went  to  Quito  and  then  to  San  Miguel. 
He  secured  five  hundred  men. 


144 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


1544.  Cartagena,  S.  A.,  was  taken 
by  the  French. 

1544.  Manco     Capac,   the    Inca  of 
Peru,  was  shot  by   Spaniards  who  had 
been  received  into  his  camp.     Since  the 
siege   of   Cuzco   failed,  he  had    lived   in 
the  mountains,  and  had  been  a  great  ter- 
ror to  the  Spaniards.     Efforts  had  been 
made  to  gain  his  submission,  but  without 
success.       He   was   deadly   opposed   to 
Spanish  rule,  and  would  by  no  means 
help  it  in  the  least.     The  Spaniards  who 
killed  him   were  immediately  killed    by 
the  Indians.     This  unfortunate  Peruvian 
monarch  seems  to  have  had  great  deter- 
mination,  and    much   power    over    his 
subjects. 

1545.  March  4.      Gonzalo   Pizarro, 
having   garrisoned    Lima,   set    out    for 
Truxillo  in  order  to  proceed  against  the 
viceroy.     He  found  that  the  latter  had 
left  San  Miguel,  and  immediately  set  out 
in  pursuit  through  the  mountains.     For 
two  hundred    leagues   the   pursuit   was 
kept  up  at  great  suffering  on  both  sides, 
until   Pizarro  stopped   at  Quito,  Nunez 
having  gone  further  north  to  Popayan. 

POTOSI  SILVER  MINES. 

1545.  An  Indian  named  Hualpa, 
climbing  the  mountains  in  pursuit  of 
wild  goats,  accidentally  discovered  the 
silver  mines  of  Potosi,  Bolivia,  by  pull- 
ing a  bush  from  the  earth  by  the  roots, 
in  his  efforts  to  save  himself  from  falling. 
1545.  NeedUs  His  eye  fell  at  once  upon 
first  made.  the  ore  beneath.  For  a 

time  he  kept  it  secret,  but  his  possession 
of  silver  was  at  last  noticed,  and  he  told 
a  friend  where  he  obtained  it.  They 
soon  quarreled  over  it,  and  thus  the  secret 
was  given  to  the  world.  The  mines  are 
in  a  mountain  which  rises  at  its  summit 
above  the  surrounding  mountains  in  a 


perfect  cone-like  form,  to  a  height  of 
16,000  feet  above  the  sea.  In  this  cone 
over  five  thousand  mines  have  been 
opened,  running  in  all  directions,  and 
completely  honeycombing  the  top  of  the 
mountain.  During  the  next  two  hun- 
dred and  forty-four  years  the  yield  was 
$  i  ',000,000,000.  There  is  still  a  great 
amount  of  silver  and  other  minerals  in 
the  mountain  lower  down.  Indians  have 
always  been  the  chief  workers  in  these 
mines. 

HIGHEST  CITY  Otf  THE  GLOBE. 

1545.  A  little  settlement  began  to  be 
formed  about  the -silver  mines  of  Potosi, 
and  a  city  grew  up  at  an  elevation  of 
1 3,300  feet  above  the  sea.  There  are 
other  higher  mountain  points  inhabited, 
but  no  higher  city  in  the  world.  It  had 
a  population  of  150,000  inhabitants  two 
hundred  years  ago,  but  has  now  sunk  to 
less  than  30,000.  Much  of  the  place  is 
in  ruins,  although  only  three  places  in 
Bolivia  exceed  it  in  size.  The  mint 
coins  $2,000,000  every  year  from  the  sil- 
ver of  the  region.  There  is  considerable 
life  and  enterprise  still  left  in  the  city. 


1545.  The  yellow  fever  made  its  first 
appearance  in  Mexico. 

1546.  Jan.  12.    The  Viceroy's  Death. 
A  great  battle  was  fought  just  north  of 
Quito,  between   Nunez,  who  had  been 
reenforced  by  Benalcazar,  and   Pizarro, 
who    had    gained     many    adherents   in 
Quito.     The  viceroy  was  defeated   and 
slain.     The  people   hailed   Gonzalo   Pi- 
zarro as  deliverer. 

1546.  Gonzalo  Pizarro's  Power.  Car- 
bajal  pursued  and  entirely  scattered  the 
forces  of  Diego  Centeno,  who  had  re- 
belled against  Pizarro.  The  power  of 
Pizarro  was  now  felt  throughout  Peru. 


THE  FALLEN   MONARCH. 


MOSQUITO   COAST. 


145 


1523-1550.] 


GREAT  EXPEDITIONS 


147 


He  made  a  triumphant  entry  into  Lima 
with  great  pomp.  He  obtained  posses- 
sion of  Panama  and  Nombi'e  de  DIGS 
upon  the  Isthmus,  and  could  command  the 
communications  with  Spain.  He  was 
urged  by  some  to  throw  off  the  authority 
of  the  crown  and  erect  an  independent 
kingdom.  But  he  did  not  consent  to 
take  this  step.  He  prepared  to  send  a 
mission  to  Spain. 

1546.  Pedro  de  la  Gasca,  who  had 
been  appointed  to  visit  Peru  and  assume 
the  presidency  of  the  Royal  Audience, 
arrived  at  Nombre  de  Dios,  which  was 
held  by  Pizarro's  men.  Gasca  was  a 
very  able,  wise,  and  persevering  priest. 
He  gained  the  respect  of  the  officers  of 
the  Isthmus,  and  when  Pizarro's  ambas- 
sador to  Spain  arrived  at  Panama, 
Gasca  led  him  to  give  up  his  mission  and 
confess  allegiance  to  the  crown. 

1546.  Nov.  19.  Gasca  received  the 
peaceful  surrender  of  the  Isthmus  and 
the  fleet  stationed  there,  thus  gaining  a 
great  victory  by  his  wisdom  in  approach- 
ing and  winning  men. 

1546.  A  map  was  published  in  Ven- 
ice, representing  Asia  and  America  as 
joined  in  latitude  38°. 

1547.  Gasca  began  to   raise  troops, 
because    attempts    to    open    negotiations 
with  Pizarro  himself  had   been  rejected. 
He   sent   public   letters    into.  Peru   with 
great  effect  upon  the  people. 

1547.  Centeno  now  again  rebelled, 
marched  on  Cuzco,  took  it,  and  soon  had 
an  army  of  one  thousand  men  in  the  field, 
1547-1559.  Henry  ready  to  oppose  Pizarro. 
//.  Kin*  of  The  latter  also  raised  one 

France.       Cath- 
erine de  Medici,    thousand  men.     A  process 
Queen.  was   issuecl  against    Gasca, 

1547-1553.       Ed-  . 

ward  vi.  Kjrtg  at  Lima,  and  condemned 
oj  England.  hjm  to  death  for  treason. 
This  manifesto  was  laughed  at  by  some 


who  said  if  Gasca  could  be  caught  they 
would  execute  him  without  a  process, 
and  if  he  could  not  be  caught,  it  would 
do  no  good. 

1547.  April  10.  The  fleet  of  Gasca 
sailed  from  Panama,  and  after  a  severe 
storm,  arrived  at  Tumbez.  He  found  a 
change  favorable  to  himself  among  the 
people,  wrought  by  his  manifestoes.  He 
gathered  his  forces  after  a  while  at 
Xauxa. 

1547.  Oct.  26.  Pizarro  defeated  the 
rebel  Centeno,  who  had  a  force  at  this 
time  twice  his  own,  and  succeeded  in 
totally  overthrowing  him.  Pizarro  in- 
stantly executed  many  of  the  captives. 
Centeno  escaped.  Pizarro  entered  Cuzco, 
where  his  victory  was  celebrated. 

DEATH  OF  CORTES. 

1547.  Dec.  2.  Hernando  Cortes,  the 
conqueror  of  Mexico,  died  near  Seville 
in  Spain  in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his 
age.  This  great  soldier  lived  through 
all  the  dangers  of  war  to  die  peaceably 
in  his  bed  in  his  native  land.  He  had 
outlived  all  the  great  explorers  of  his 
country  whose  names  are  connected  with 
Florida,  Mexico,  Central  America  and 
South  America.  A  new  realm  was  con- 
quered by  him  for  the  satisfaction  of  the 
avai'ice  of  Spain,  and  for  the  relief  of 
her  treasury  in  the  wars  she  was  waging 
at  home.  He  was  preeminently  the 
representative  soldier  among  the  explor- 
ers of  his  time.  The  Pizarros  were 
brave  and  persistent  soldiers,  but  there 
is  so  much  of  personal  ambition  and 
cruel,  selfish  policy  in  their  history,  that 
we  cannot  claim  for  them  the  position  of 
true  military  heroes.  But  the  harshness, 
the  coolness  at  the  sight  of  blood,  the 
readiness  to  fight,  which  we  find  in 
Cortes,  seem  to  be  connected  closely  with 


148 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


the  military  character  of  the  time  rather 
than  with  personal  defects  in  the  man 
himself.  We  do  not  think  of  Cortes  as 
being  intensely  selfish  like  Francisco 
Pizarro.  His  whole  soul  was  in  the  con- 
quest,  and  he  prided  himself  upon  his 
own  achievements.  He  always  felt  keen- 
ly the  criticisms  made  upon  his  conduct. 
But  he  cannot  be  called  an  utterly  selfish 
man.  There  is  much  that  is  unlovely 
and  disagreeable  in  his  character.  He 
was  cunning  and  bigoted.  But  we  can- 
not deny  him  the  praise  of  being  one  of 
the  best  soldiers  whom  Spain  had  in  the 
New  World.  His  power  over  his  men 
seems  to  have  been  gained  by  the  hearty, 
wholesome,  generous  bearing  which  he 
had  toward  them,  rather  than  by  any 
assumed  favor  for  them.  Yet  they  all 
knew  that  he  would  have  them  for  fol- 
lowers, not  for  leaders.  In  this  way  he 
made  a  victorious  army  out  of  men  of 
different  ranks  in  life,  and  of  different 
moral  characters  running  through  all 
grades.  Cortes  was  a  really  great  gen- 
eral. His  victories  were  not  gained  by 
dash  and  superior  force,  but  by  judgment 
and  military  perception.  He  was  also 
a  man  of  great  general  knowledge  and 
practical  sense.  He  began  at  once  to 
notice  the  resources  of  Mexico,  and  when 
the  conquest  was  complete  he  immedi- 
ately set  about  the  erection  of  a  nation 
upon  the  old  ruins.  After  he,  like  Co- 
lumbus, had  been  denied  by  the  Spanish 
government  the  full  reward  which  he 
had  anticipated  and  desired,  he  eagerly 
sought  some  other  quarter  where  his 
adventurous  spirit  could  find  delight  in 
action.  For  this  reason  he  set  on  foot  the 
expeditions  to  California.  But  nothing 
appeared  equal  to  his  former  field.  The 
conquest  of  Mexico  was  the  great  work 
of  his  life.  In  that  the  remarkable  na- 


ture, abilities  and  character  of  the  man 
were  very  fully  shown.  His  ashes  now 
rest  in  the  land  which  his  valor  added  to 
the  Spanish  domain. 

1548.  March.  Gasca,  after  having 
waited  for  reinforcements  at  different 
points,  at  last  led  forward  nearly  two 
thousand  men,  the  largest  single  force 
that  had  ever  been  known  in  Peru. 

GONZALO  PIZARRO. 
1548.  April  8.  The  battle  of  Xaqui- 
xaguana  took  place  near  Cuzco,  in  which 
Pizarro's  forces  were  easily  routed. 
Many  of  Pizarro's  officers  and  privates 
took  flight  to  the  other  army  and  surren- 
dered themselves  to  the  new  president. 
This  proved  the  downfall  of  their  com- 
mander. The  battle  had  scarcely  begun 
when  desertions  rapidly  multiplied,  and 
Pizarro,  when  he  saw  that 

1548.     Orange 

his  cause  was  hopeless  be-    trees  brought' 
cause  of  the   dissolution   of    into  Europe- 
his  army,  gave  himself  up.    Francisco  de 
Carbajal,  an  officer  eighty  years  of  age, 
who  was  true  to  Pizarro,  coolly  watched 
the  course  of  events,  and  was   heard   to 
hum  the  words  of  a  comic  Spanish  bal- 
lad which  was  a  favorite  with  him : 

"The  wind  blows  Ihe  hairs  off  my  head,  mother, 
Two  at  a  time  it  blows  them  away." 

When  nearly  all  his  fellow  soldiers 
had  fled,  he  attempted  to  make  his  es- 
cape, but  was  taken  and  afterward  exe- 
cuted. He  was  one  of  the  most  remark- 
able characters  of  the  conquest.  Gasca's 
army  acquired  a  large  amount  of  booty. 
Gonzalo  Pizarro  was  beheaded,  and 
some  of  his  officers  were  executed  in  dif- 
ferent ways.  Thus  perished  the  last  of  the 
four  Pizarros,  at  about  forty-two  years 
of  age.  He  had  been  only  second  to  his 
brother  Francisco  throughout  the  con- 


1523-1550.] 


GREAT  EXPEDITIONS. 


149 


quest,  in  the  energy  and  ability  with 
which  he  had  striven  to  subjugate  Peru. 
His  expedition  across  the  Cordilleras  into 
the  region  of  the  Amazon  was  un- 
equaled  in  that  time,  and  almost  in 
any  time,  for  boldness  and  romance.  He 
loved  show,  and  was  less  insensible  to 
allurements  of  all  kinds  than  his  brother 
Francisco  was.  After  the  Litter's  death, 
Gonzalo  felt  that  the  honor  of  the  name 
rested  upon  him  to  perpetuate.  His 
gigantic  efforts  to  retain  a  hold  upon 
Peru  were  well  nigh  successful,  but  utter 
disaster  came  upon  him  at  last.  His  ed- 
ucation was  like  Francisco's,  an  educa- 
tion of  the  camp.  His  moral  nature  was 
much  the  same.  His  head  was  set  up  at 
Lima  and  marked  as  that  of  a  traitor. 
His  property  was  confiscated,  and  his 
home  in  Lima  utterly  destroyed.  His 
body  was  laid  in  Cuzco,  with  the  bodies 
of  Almaero  and  his  son. 


1548.  La  Paz,  the  chief  commercial 
city  of  Bolivia,  was  founded  by  Alonzo 
de  Mendoza.     It  is  situated    near   Lake 
Titicaca,  and    is    13,000    feet    above    the 
sea.     It  has  85,000  inhabitants. 

1549.  Settled  Administration.    After 
the  death  of  Pizarro,  Gasca  entered  upon 
the  administration  of  affairs,  and  endeav- 
ored to  meet  the  needs  of   all   by  a  wise 
distribution  of  rewards  and  favors.     He 
took  measures  to  investigate  the  condition 
of  the  Indian  population.     He  introduced 
many  reforms,  and   settled    the  govern- 
ment upon  a  new  and  firm    basis.     He 


did  it  all  without  charge,  save  for  his 
necessary  expenses,  and  saved  a  large 
sum  for  the  royal  treasury.  He  even  re- 
fused to  receive  presents  from  the  people. 
1549.  First  Jesuits.  Thome  de  Souza 
was  appointed  governor  of  Brazil  by  the 
Portuguese  crown,  and  made  San  Salva- 
dor the  capital  of  that  province  under 
the  name  of  Bahia.  Jesuits  for  the  first 
time  came  to  America  with  De  Souza. 

1549.  The  independence  of  Spanish 
America  was  proclaimed  by  two  brothers, 
Hernando   and    Pedro  de   Contreras,  of 
Nicaragua.     Panama  submitted  to  them, 
but  before  a  long   time  their  cause  de- 
clined, and  ended    with  their  deaths  in 
1550.     This  abortive  attempt  dimly  fore- 
told  the   revolutionary  movements   two 
and  a  half  centuries  later. 

1550.  January.     Gasca  embarked  at 
Lima  for  Spain,  leaving  the  Royal  Audi- 
ence to  govern  the  province  of  Peru  till 
a  new  viceroy  could  be  sent.     He   took 
to  Spain    1,500,000  ducats,  and    after  a 
favorable  voyage  reached  home  in  safety. 
His  mission  had  been  a  complete  success, 
and  was  worth  an  inestimable  amount  to 
Spain.      He  lived  till   1567,  and  left  the 
reputation  of  having  been  a  wise,  great 
and  good  man.     After  his  departure  the 
regulations  of  1542  were  broken  down, 
so  far  as  slavery  was  concerned.  Negroes 
and    Indians  were   reduced    to   bondage 
again. 

1550.  Two  millions  of  Indians  had 
been  worked  to  death  in  Hayti  by  the 
Spaniards  in  fifty  years. 


SECTION  VII. 


.    1551-1602. 


*HE  last  half  of  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury presents  a  new  element  in  the 
growing  life  of  the  New  World. 
i  The  most  prominent  feature  of  the 
period  is  the  large  number  of  English 
explorers  who  emerge  into  view.  The 
achievements  of  the  Cabots  had  not  been 
closely  followed  up  fifty  years  before.  But 
now  English  sailors  began  to  cruise  all 
waters.  Some  sailed  simply  for  gain  and 
were  not  scrupulous  about  getting  it  with 
plunder  and  bloodshed  if  necessary.  The 
greed  of  Hawkins  and  the  vindictive 
spirit  of  Drake  spread  blots  on  American 
history  which  can  never  be  erased.  They 
aided  the  development  of  the  buccaneer 
life  which  began  before  their  day,  but 
reached  its  most  frightful  extent  in  the 
seventeenth  century.  These  men  made 
no  attempt  to  colonize.  The  designs  of 
others  were  wholly  commendable.  Men 
like  Gilbert  could  not  have  too  much  to 
do  with  the  study  of  a  new  continent. 
The  zeal  of  Raleigh  deserved  a  better 
result  than  to  be  forever  puzzled  with 
the  lost  Roanoke  colony.  All  the  Eng- 
lish efforts  were  futile.  France  made 
few  and  feeble  attempts.  The  mournful 
story  of  Huguenot  failure  in  Brazil,  and 
the  blood-red  page  of  Huguenot  exter- 


mination in  Florida  are  mere  incidents  in 
the  suffering  of  that  distressed  people. 
The  weak  movements  toward  New 
France  at  the  close  of  the  period  were 
without  promise.  Holland  had  not  yet 
reached  out  strongly  into  the  western 
continent.  Meantime  comparative  quiet 
reigned  throughout  Spanish  America, 
which  was  growing  as  far  as  the  condi-. 
tions  would  permit.  Mining  was  attain- 
ing considerable  dimensions.  Education 
was  increasing.  Towns  were  multiply- 
ing. St.  Augustine,  the  oldest  city  in  the 
United  States,  was  founded. 

1551.  A  band  of  pirates  under  Jacob 
Sores  pillaged  the  wealthier  portions  of 
Havana,  Cuba,  seizing  or  destroying 
everything,  and  took  possession  of  the 
forty  but  soon  left,  as  booty  was  their 
only  object. 

1551.  Four  lines  for  a  ship -canal 
across  Central  America  were  indicated 
by  the  historian  Gomara.  A  work  of 
this  kind  was  warmly  and  earnestly  ad- 
vocated by  him  because  it  would  bring 
Spain  much  nearer  to  the  wealth  of  the 
Indies. 

1551.     Two  universities,  the  oldest  in 
America,  were  founded,  one  in  the  City 
of  Mexico,  and  one  in  Lima. 
150 


1490-1553.       Ra- 
belais, the  great 
French  author. 
1553  1558. 
-'Bloody  Mjry" 
Queen  of  Eng- 
land. 


1551-1602.] 

1554.  French  buccaneers  again  de- 

stroyed Havana,  Cuba.  A 
short  time  before  they  had 
seized  the  city  of  Santiago 
on  the  same  island,  and 
received  $80,000  for  its 
ransom.  They  swarmed  through  the 
West  India  waters,  and  hardly  any  town 
\vas  safe  from  them. 

1555.  November.      Huguenots    in 
Brazil.    Nicholas  Durand  de  Villegagnon 
with  a  colony  of  Huguenots  or  French 
Protestants,  arrived  in  the  harbor  of  Rio 
Janeiro  and  began  a  settlement  upon  an 
island.     He  had  sailed  from  France  upon 
his  undertaking,  with  the  favor  of  Coligny 
Admiral  of  France,  who  was  himself  a 
Protestant.     Villegagnon*  began   to   rule 
his    colony  with    such  strictness  that  he 
speedily  caused  much  trouble  and  created 
many    enemies    for    himself.      Thus    the 
settlement  which  had  some  principle   in- 
volved in  its  organization  came  to  grief 
because  of  the  unfortunate  dispositions  of 
the  ones  engaged  in  it,  and  especially  of 
its  leader.     Villegagnon  was  a  man  who 
had  been  exceedingly  brave  in  war,  and 
•was    accomplished    in    scholarship.       He 
was  evidently   unfitted  for  the  compara- 
tively limited  work  of  building  up  a  col- 
ony in  a  foreign  land.     Least  of  all  could 
he  bear  opposition.     Professing  to  be  a 
Protestant,  he  was  .readily  joined  in   his 
Brazilian  enterprise  by  many  who  thought 
they  would  be  free  from  danger  in  the 
exercise  of  their  faith  across  the  ocean. 
They  flew  to  ills  they  knew  not  of.    The 
-sufFerings  endwred  in  Fort  Coligny  as  the 
little   fortification   was  called,  were  very 
i556-ir,9a.  Philip    great.      The   harshness   of 

Villegagnon  irritated  his 
followers  almost  to  mad- 
ness. They  formed  a  plan 
to  overthrow,  perhaps  to  kill 


THE  GREAT  ENGLISH  EXPLORERS.  151 


//.     King  of 
Spain. 

1491-1556.    Ig- 
natius Loyola, 
jounder  of  the 
'Jesuits. 


him,  but  it  was  revealed,  and  therefore 
failed.  Famine-  began  to  stare  the  col- 
onists in  the  face.  The  difficulty  of  the 
situation  grew  every  day  more  extreme. 
The  future  was  not  long  in  deciding  the 
issue. 

1557.  March  9.     A  second  body  of 
colonists  reached  the  Huguenot  settlement 
at  Rio  Janeiro,  Brazil.     Villegagnon,  be- 
cause increasingly  despotic,  drove  off  the 
Calvinist  ministers  into  the  woods  until 
they  could  take  a  vessel  for  France,  and 
threw  some  of  the  colonists  who  were  of 
like  faith  into   the   sea.     He   soon  after 
sailed  for  France,  tired  out  with  his  experi- 
ment at  colonization,  and  was  henceforth 
a  zealous  Catholic. 

1558.  The  Huguenot  colony  in  Bra- 
zil was  broken  up  and  de-    ^   ^.^ 
stroyed  by  the  Portuguese,    wax  brought  into 
Thus    did    one    American    «*«**«'"*• 
settlement,  made  on    religious  principle, 
fail  because  of  lack  of  genuine  leadership. 

1558.  A  great  expedition  for  the  ex- 
ploration and  colonization  of  Florida  was 
fitted    up    at     Vera    Cruz,    i558-wo3.   Eiiz- 
Mexico,   and    sailed    under    **"*  *'"'*£ 

England.      Rise 

Tristan  de  Luna.  There  of  Puritanism. 
were  fifteen  hundred  soldiers,  some  of 
them  with  families.  They  reached  the 
coast  of  Florida  but  after  they  had  landed 
a  great  storm  broke  up  their  ships  so  that 
they  had  no  means  of  communication 
with  Mexico,  or  of  returning  thither." 
They  were  soon  distressed  by  a  lack  of 
supplies  and  lingered  for  a  year  or  two  in 
a  starving  condition,  till  the  survivors 
were  relieved  by  a  vessel  from  Mexico 
and  carried  home. 

1559.  Reverses  in  Chili, 
divia    who    had   been    con- 
ducting the  conquest  of  Chili, 
was  captured  by  the  Indians 
and  put  to  death.     The  war 


Pedro  Val- 

1559-1560.  Fran- 
cis II.    King  of 
France. 
1560-1574. 
Charles  IX. 
King  of  France. 


152 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


had  been  very  fearful  thus  far,  and  the 
natives  now  rallied  more  fiercely  than 
ever.  They  destroyed  Concepcion,  and 
assailed  other  places,  including  Santiago, 
more  or  less  severely. 

1561.  The  Amazon  was  again  visited 
by    a    company    of  Spaniards    including 
Lope  de  Aguirre,  who  obtained  the  com- 
iseo.   Knives        maiul     after    some    fearful 
first  made  in  En-    murJers    had    been     com- 

f?land-  •..        ,          rn, 

nutted.     1  he  company  were 

1497  1560.      Me-  '  i 

h,ncthon,  friend  nearly  a  year  going  down 
of Lut/ier.  tiie  Amazon  and  crossing 

over  to  the  Orinoco.  The  journey  was 
marked  by  wrangling  and  bloodshed  at 
almost  every  step. 

THE  SLAVE  TRtiDE. 

1562.  Sir  John  Hawkins  inaugurated 
the    English    slave    trade    in    the    New 
World    by    securing    three    hundred    ne- 
groes   on    the   coast    of   Guinea,    Africa, 
and  selling  them  on  the  island  of  Hayti 
at  great  profit.     He  obtained  part  of  the 
number  by  promising  them  free  transpor- 
tation to  a  new  and  better  clime.     The 
rest  he  took  in  battle.      Queen  Elizabeth 
consented    to  his  voyage  upon  condition 
that  he  would  not  take  any  away  from 
their  homes,  save  with  their  own  consent, 
a  condition  which  he  grossly  violated  so 
far  as  a  portion  of  his  captives  were  con- 
cerned, and  violated  in  spirit,  in  obtaining 
the  rest. 

1562.  Feb.  18.  A  company  of  Hu- 
guenots sailed  from  Havre  for  the  New 
World  in  two  vessels  commanded  by 
Jean  Ribaut  of  Dieppe. 

1562.  May  1.  They  reached  the  St. 
John's  River,  Florida,  and  named  it 
River  of  May.  They  erected  a  stone 
pillar  bearing  the  arms  of  France  upon 
the  bank,  and  then  sailed  north  along  the 

O 

shore. 


1562.  May  27.  They  reached  and 
named  Port  Royal,  South  Carolina,  at 
which  point  the  colony  landed  and  began 
a  settlement.  A  number  of  the  com- 
pany were  chosen  to.  remain  and  hold  the 
position. 

1562.  June  11.     Ribaut  sailed  from 
Port  Royal  for  France.     The  colony  fin- 
ished the  fort  which  had  been  begun,  and 
then      wandered      around      among     the 
Indians. 

1563.  The  colonists  at  Port   Royal 
having  become  sick  of  their  life,  because 
they  did  not  set  themselves   at  work  to 
build  up  the    colony,  built    a    brigantine 
and  sailed  for  France.     This  was  the  first 
vessel  built  upon  the  Atlantic  coast  of  the 
present     United    States.     The     colonists 
were    taken    prisoners    by     an    English 
vessel  and  part  of  them  were  carried  cap- 
tive to  England. 

1564.  A  French  colony  in  three  ves- 
sels under  Rene  de  Laudonniere,  landed 
on  the  River  of  May,  in   Florida,  where 
they    selected    a    spot    and    i509-i:>r,4. 
began    a    fort,  which  they         70/">  VaMn. 
named    Fort    Caroline.       Troubles    soon 
arose  in  the  colony,  and  lack  of  food  led 
some  to  turn  pirates.     They    set    out   for 
the  West  Indies  where  they  were  taken 
into  custody,  and  revealed   the  facts  con- 
cerning the  colony   in    Florida.     Others 
afterward  departed  as.  buccaneers. 

1564.  The  quicksilver  mines  of  Hu- 
ancavelica,  Peru,  were  discovered,  and  in 
a  year  or  two  began  to  be  worked.     The 
production  was  very   large  up  to  nearly 
the  beginning  of  the  present  century. 

1565.  Aug.  3.     The  vessels    of  Sir 
John  Hawkins,  on  the  return  from  a  sec- 
ond voyage  with  slaves  to  the  West  In- 
dies, touched    at   the    River  of  May  to 
obtain   water.     The   colony,   well    nigr. 
dead  with  hunger,  were  offered  a  passage 


DELTA   OK  THE  ORINOCO. 


DENIZENS   SWAMP   IN    CENTRAL   AMERICA. 


1551-1602.] 

to  France.  Laudonniere  finally  bought 
one  of  the  vessels,  and  Hawkins  de- 
parted. 

1565.  Aug.  24.  Before  the  colonists 
had  abandoned  the  fort  and  started  for 
France,  Jean  Ribaut  arrived  with  three 
hundred  men  and  ample  supplies. 

1565.  Sept.  4.  Pedro  Menendez  de 
Aviles,  a  Spanish  commander, arrived  on 
the  coast  of  Florida,  and  discovered  the 
French  colony,  to  overthrow  which  he 
had  fitted  out  his  expedition. 

ST.  AUGUSTINE. 

1565.  Sept.  8.  Menendez,  having 
sailed  south  from  the  place  where  he  ob- 
served the  French  colony  to  be  located, 
founded  St.  Augustine,  the  oldest  city  in 
the  United  States. 


THE  GREAT  ENGLISH  EXPLORERS. 


155 


1565.  Sept.  20.  Massacre  at  Fort 
Caroline.  Menendez,  having  marched 
across  the  country  while  Ribaut  had  gone 
to  attack  St.  Augustine,  fell  upon  Fort 
Caroline  and  massacred  the  inmates.  He 
afterward  captured  the  expedition  under 
Ribaut,  which  had  been  shipwrecked  on 
the  coast,  and  put  all  except  a  very  few 
to  the  sword,  in  the  most  horrid  and  de- 
liberate manner. 

1565.  A  mint,  which  is  still  in  opera- 
tion, was  established  at  Lima,  Peru. 

1566.  The  quicksilver  mines  of  Santa 
Barbara,    Peru,   began    to    be    worked. 
They  have  been   known  as  the  "  Great 
Mine,"    but   have   seldom  been    worked 
energetically.     At  one  time  two  hundred 
workmen  were  killed  by  the  falling  in  of 
the  mine.   Native  Peruvians  worked  these 
mines  for  paint  before  Spaniards  came. 

1566.  The  first  Jesuit  mission  in 
Florida  was  established  for  the  conver- 
sion of  the  natives.  The  province  was 
afterward  abandoned. 


1566.  An    eruption    of    Pichincha, 
"  The  Boiling    Mountain,"  hurled  ashes 
and  stones  upon  Quito,  five  miles  away, 
to  a  depth  of  three  feet.     Boiling  water 
and    bitumen    were    emitted    in    floods. 
This  volcano  is  16,000  feet  high,  and  has 
a  crater  2,500  feet  deep,  the  deepest  crater 
on  the  globe. 

1567.  Rio  de  Janeiro   was   founded 
by  the  Portuguese,  upon  the  bay  of  the 
same  name. 

1567.  Sir  John  Hawkins  made  a 
third  voyage  to  Guinea,  for  which  Queen 
Elizabeth  helped  him  to  prepare,  and  ob- 
taining five  hundred  negroes,  he  at- 
tempted to  sell  them  in  the  colonies  of 
Spain,  in  the  New  World.  Being  un- 
successful at  first,  he  repaired  to  Carta- 
gena, and  there  disposed  of  them.  But 
he  lost  part  of  his  vessels  in  a  battle  with 
the  Spanish  fleet  on  the  coast  of  Mexico, 
and  returned  to  England  somewhat  dis- 
appointed. He  afterward  served  the 
English  navy  in  different  capacities,  until 
1595,  when  he  took  part  in  an  expedition 
against  the  West  Indies. 

1567.  The  city  of  Caraccas,  the  seat 
of  government  in  Venezuela,  was  founded 
by    Diego    Lasada.      The    revolution    of 
South  America,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
present   century,   was    "cradled    in    this 
city." 

1568.  April.  De  Gourges'  Revenge. 
Dominique  de   Gourges  arrived   on   the 
coast  of  Florida  from  France,  and  having 
attacked    Fort    San    Mateo,   which    the 
Spaniards  had  built  out  of , Fort  Caroline, 
put  the  Spanish  garrison  to  death.     He 
also  captured  and  slew  a  garrison  on  the 
other  side  of  the  river. 

1570.  The  Inquisition  was  estab- 
lished in  America  by  Philip  II.,  but  the 
Indians  were  exempted  from  its  juris- 
diction. 


156 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


1570.  An  earthquake  almost  totally 
destroyed  the  city  of  Conception,  Chili. 
Two  thousand  persons  lost  their  lives. 

1570.  Six  Jesuits  who  had  been  sent 
out  by  Menendez  to  found  a  colony  upon 
the  Potomac  in  Virginia,  were  slain  by 
the  Indians,  and  the  mission  broken  up. 

SIR  FRdXCIS  DRAKE. 
Sir  Francis  Drake  was  born  in  the 
south  of  England  about  the  year  1545, 
and  began  his  life  upon  the  sea  at  a  very 
early  age,  his  father  having  been  chaplain 
in  the  navy.  He  is  said  to  have  owned 
and  commanded  a  small  vessel  at  eight- 
een years  of  age,  and  to  have  sold  it  in 
order  to  participate  in  Sir  John  Hawkins' 
third  voyage  for  slaves  in  1567.  Sir 
John  being  a  relative,  the  young  Drake 
was  given  the  command  of  a  vessel  in 
the  fleet.  He  returned  home  poor,  hav- 
1572.  Massacre  ing  lost  nis  gains  in  the  bat- 
of  st.  Bart/wio-  tle  on  the  coast  of  Mexico, 
^  which  so  injured  Sir  John's 

1505-1072.     jfo/in  J  -' 

Knop,  the  Scotch    fleet.      Being    refused    re- 

Jteformer. 


eminent  he  vowed  to  take  it  into  his  own 
hands.  This  was  the  origin  of  his  pirat- 
ical career  afterward. 

1572.  He  sailed  with  two  small  ves- 
sels under  a  commission  from  the  queen, 
and  after  having  been  joined  by  a  third 
vessel  near  South  America,  he  attacked 
and  pillaged  the  towns  upon  the  coast  of 
New  Granada,  destroyed  Spanish  vessels, 
and  greatly  injured  the  entire  line  of  set- 
tlements. He  returned  to  England  very 
rich,  and  was  treated  by  the  queen  and 
the  people  with  great  consideration. 


1573.  A  great  cathedral  was  begun 
in  the  City  of  Mexico  which  was  not  fin- 
ished till  1667,  nearly  one  hundred  years 
after. 


SIX  MARTIN  FROBISHER. 
Sir  Martin  Frobisher  was  born  at 
Yorkshire,  England,  about  1530,  and  was 
a  sailor  from  his  youth  like  most  of  the 
other  great  navigators  of  his  day.  The 
idea  of  finding  a  great  northwest  passage 
to  India  took  possession  of  his  mind  till 
he  declared  the  accomplishment  of  it  to 
be  the  only  thing  left  by  which  "  a  nota- 
ble mind  might  be  made  famous  and  for- 
tunate." For  fifteen  years 

J  1574-1589.  Henry 

he    endeavored    to    secure    ///.  King-  of 
patronage    for    an    expedi-    France- 
tion.     Finally  he  was  aided  in  fitting  out 
three  vessels   of   thirty,    twenty  and  ten 
tons,  respectively. 

1576.  June  8.     He  sailed  down   the 
Thames   and    was    greeted 

by  the  hand  of  Queen  Eliz-  Titian,  thegreat 
abeth  at  Greenwich.  In  a  Iialian  painier' 
severe  storm  the  smallest  vessel  went 
down  with  all  on  board.  The  second 
went  back  to  England.  Frobisher  kept 
on,  reached  the  coast  of  Labrador,  ex- 
plored the  strait  which  bears  his  name,, 
and  sailed  to  England  with  some  small 
stones  as  a  sign  of  possession.  Gold  was 
apparently  found  in  one  of  the  stones 
and  immediate  preparations  were  begun 
for  another  expedition. 

1577.  May.     Frobisher  sailed  on   a 
second    voyage    with    three    ships,  and 
reaching  the  New  World,  loaded  them 
with  two  hundred  tons  of  the  supposed 
ore.     This  does  not  seem  to  have  been 
assayed  till  after  the  third  expedition  had 
sailed. 


1577.  Dec.    13.     Sir  Francis  Drake 
sailed  from  England  with  an  expedition 
of  several  vessels  in  an  attempt  to  reach 
the  west  coast  of  South  America  for  the 
sake  of  plunder. 

1578.  May.     He  passed  through  Ma- 


1551-1602.] 

gellan's  Straits   and  entered  the  Pacific 

•O 

with  only  one  vessel.  The  others  had 
deserted  and  returned  to  England,  or 
been  turned  adrift  because  unseaworthy. 
Drake  was  driven  down  the  west  coast 
of  Terra  del  Fuego  by  a  storm  until  he 
saw  Cape  Horn.  He  then  sailed  north, 


THE  GREAT  ENGLISH  EXPLORERS. 


157 

1578.  A  Bubble  Burst.  Frobisher 
sailed  with  fifteen  vessels  for  another 
cargo  of  earth.  A  colony  was  intended, 
but  not  attempted.  Upon  the  return  of 
the  fleet  the  so-called  ore  was  found  to 
be  worthless,  and  thus  a  golden  dream  of 
the  queen  and  others  was  dissolved. 


SIR   MARTIN    FROBISHER. 


committed  depredations  upon  the  Spanish 
provinces  and  explored  the  coast  ot  Cali- 
fornia. Failing  to  find  a  passage  back 
to  the  Atlantic  at  the  north,  he  named 
the  country  New  Albion  and  decided  to 
sail  back  to  England  by  the  way  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in  order'  to  escape 
Spanish  vessels  which  had  been  fitted 
out  against  him  at  the  south. 


1578.  June  11.  Sir  Humphrey  Gil- 
bert obtained  a  patent  for  territory  in 
North  America,  and  entertained  the  first 
true  plans  for  successful  colonization. 

1578.  Brazil  passed  under  the  domin- 
ion of  Spain  till  1637. 

1579.  Gilbert,    having     collected    a 
miscellaneous    company,   sailed    for   the 
New  World.     This  voyage  was  entirely 


158 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


unsuccessful,  and  is  but  little  known.  One 
vessel  was  lost.  It  is  supposed  that  the 
attempt  was  made  to  colonize  Newfound- 
land. 

1579.  Pedro  Sarmiento  de  Gamboa 
was  sent  out  from  Peru  to  resist  and  cap- 
ture Drake,  but  had  failed.    He,  however, 
gave  the  first  good  account  of  the  south- 
west   portion    of  the    South    American 
coast.     He  advocated   the   placing  of  a 
colony  in  Magellan's  Straits,  to  prevent 
the  passage  of  hostile  vessels.     A  colony 
was  planted  there,  but  was  destroyed  in  a 
few  years. 

1580.  Tanned  hides    began    to    be 
shipped  from  Brazil  to  Castile. 

1580.  Nov.  3.  Sir  Francis  Drake 
arrived  in  England  from  his  voyage  round 
the  world.  Queen  Elizabeth  made  him 
a  knight,  and  refused  to  give  him  up  to 
Spain,  who  claimed  him  as  a  buccaneer. 

1580.  Guiana,  in  South  America,  be- 
gan to  be  settled  by  the  Dutch. 

1581.  Mogens   Heineson,   a   famous 
Danish  sailor,  was  sent  out  by  Frederick 
II.    of    Denmark,   to   see   if   Northmen 
could   be    found    in    Greenland.      There 
were  reports  that  the  old  colonies  had  not 
i58i.  Aicdioiin-    been  entirely  destroyed.  He 

trodhced  among      reached        the       vicinity        of 

English  soldiers  J 

as  a  cordial.  Southeastern  Greenland,but 
was  deceived  by  the  transparency  of  the 
air,  by  which  the  far-off  mountains  of  the 
coast  looked  close  at  hand.  Being  super- 
stitious, he  thought  his  vessel  to  be  under 
the  power  of  evil  spirits,  and  sailed  for 
home. 

1581.  New  Mexico.  Augustin  Ruyz, 
with  two  fellow  priests  and  eight  soldiers, 
started  from  Northern  Mexico  for  an  ex- 
ploration of  the  region  of  the  "  seven 
cities  of  Cibola."  One  priest  was  soon 
killed  by  the  Indians,  and  the  soldiers  set 
out  on  their  return,  leaving  the  two  re- 


maining priests  unprotected.  They  went 
on,  and  nothing  was  afterward  known  of 
them. 

1582.  Antonio  de  Espejo  fitted  up  an 
expedition  to  go  in  search  of  Ruyz  and 
his  companion.  They  went  north  into 
New  Mexico,  after  passing  up  the  Rio 
del  Norte,  and  came  upon  the  famous 
cliff  cities  which  still  exist  in  that  region,, 
though  not  so  dense  as  then  in  their  pop- 
ulation. Espejo  and  a  portion  of  his 
followers  wandered  for  months  through 
the  wonderful  country,  and  found  rich 
silver  veins  in  some  places.  They  did 
not  find  Ruyz,  but  returned  with  fuller 
reports  of  the  curious  cities  about  which 
they  had  heard  so  many  rumors.  The 
occupation  of  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico, 
by  the  Spaniards,  is  usually  dated  from 
this  time,  a  part  of  Espejo's  men  having 
stationed  themselves  there.  It  had  been 
a  populous  Indian  pueblo  for  a  long  time. 
It  is  counted  the  second  oldest  city  in  the 
United  States. 

1582.  March  25.  Sir  Walter  Ealeigh 
obtained  a  patent  from  the  queen,  similar 
to  the  one  conferred  upon  his  step-brother, 
Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert.  He  aimed  to 
colonize  further  to  the  south  than  Gilbert 
had  attempted  to  do. 

1582.  April  27.  Raleigh  sent  out  two 
vessels  under  Philip  Amidas  and  Arthur 
Barlow.  They  sailed  the  usual  route,  by 
way  of  the  Canaries  and  the  West 
Indies. 

1582.  July    13.     Having   arrived    off 
the  coast  of   Carolina,  they  landed   and 
took    possession.     They    explored  Albe- 
marle  Sound   and   Roanoke  Island,  and 
then  returned  to  England.     As    a   result 
of  this  expedition  the  country  visited  was 
named  Virginia,  in  honor  of  the  virgin 
Queen  Elizabeth. 

1583.  Gilbert's  Second  Voyage.    Sir 


1051-1002.] 


THE  GREAT  ENGLISH  EXPLORERS. 


159 


Humphrey  Gilbert  sailed  again  in  five 
vessels,  with  two  hundred  and  sixty  men. 
He  landed  on  Newfoundland  and  read 
his  royal  commission  in  the  presence 
of  all  the  shipmasters  he  could  get  to- 
gether. The  royal  arms  were  erected, 
and  government  proclaimed.  He  then 
undertook  a  search  for  the  precious  metals, 
but  finally  became  discouraged.  The 
decision  was  at  last  taken  in  favor  of  re- 
turning to  England.  Gilbert  himself 
took  passage  in  the  Squirrel,  a  small  ves- 
sel of  ten  tons.  During  some  severe 
weather  he  was  asked  to  come  into  a 
larger  vessel,  but  replied,  "  We  are  as 
near  heaven  by  sea  as  by  land."  In  the 
morning  the  Squirrel  was  nowhere  to  be 
seen.  She  and  her  freight  had  gone  to 
the  bottom. 

1585.  April  9.  The  Roanoke  Colony. 
A  fleet  of  seven  vessels  with  one  hun- 
dred and  eight  colonists,  sent  out  by  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh,  sailed  under  Sir  Richard 
Grenville.  Ralph  Lane  was  to  command 
the  colony. 

1585.  June  26.  They  arrived  at 
Wocoken  and  proceeded  to  Roanoke 
Island.  After  some  exploration  the  col- 
ony was  left,  and  Grenville  sailed  back  to 
England.  Maize  and  tobacco  were 
noticed  by  the  colonists  in  their  uses  by 
the  Indians. 

1585.  June  7.  Davis'  Straits.  John 
Davis  in  two  vessels  named  the  Sunshine 
and  Moonshine,  fitted  out  by  London 
merchants,  set  sail  in  search  of  a  north- 
west passage.  He  reached  the  coast  of 
Greenland,  and  spent  the  summer  in  ex- 
ploring Cumberland  Sound  and  other 
waters  in  the  region.  He  named  the 
coast  of  Greenland  the  "  Land  of  Desola- 
tion," held  some  interviews  with  the 
natives,  entered  the  strait  which  bears  his 
name,  and  afterward  returned  to  England. 


1585.  Sir  Francis  Drake  made  another 
descent  upon  the  Spanish  American 
colonies  and  destroyed  much  property. 
He  made  an  unsuccessful  attack  upon 
Havana,  besieged  San  Domingo,  obtained 
a  ransom  of  twenty-five  thousand  ducats 
for  it,  seized  Cartagena,  S.  A.,  and  after 
other  depredations,  sailed  for  England. 
Sir  Martin  Frobisher  accompanied  Drake 
in  this  expedition  and  henceforth  had  no 
connection  with  American  soil.  Frobisher 
was  knighted  for  bravery  in  the  naval 
battle  with  the  Spanish  Armada  in  1588, 
and  afterward  died  of  a  wound  received 
in  1594.  His  character  is  one  of  the 
brightest  in  early  English  naval  history. 

1585.  A  history  of  New  Spain  was 
written   by   Father   Duran,   a   native  of 
Tezcuco  in  Mexico,  who  advocated  very 
strongly   the   theory   that    the    Mexican 
aborigines  were  descendants   of  the   so- 
called  ten  lost  tribes  of  Israel. 

1586.  June  8.     Return  of  Roanoke 
Colony.     Sir  Francis  Drake  on  his  way 
home  from  his  plundering   attack   upon 
the    West    Indies,  touched    at    Roanoke 
Island  to  visit  the  colony  sent  out  by  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh.     After  some  debate  the 
entire   colony   took   passage   in   Drake's 
vessels  for  England.    The  use  of  tobacco 
began  in  England  with   these   returned 
colonists.     Raleigh  was  among  the  ones 
who  learned  to  love  it.     His  servant  found 
him  smoking  one  morning  as  he  entered 
to  bring  his  master  a  mug  of  ale.     The 
smoke  which  issued   from   Sir  Walter's 
mouth  terrified  the  servant,  and  he  dashed 
the  ale  in  the  great  man's  face  to  put  out 
the  fire  which  he  supposed  was  consum- 
ing him.     He   then   plunged  down   the 
stairs,  crying  for  help.     It  was  not  yet  a 
common  thing  at  that  day  to  make  a  fire- 
place of  the  mouth. 

1586.     June.     Soon  after   the   depar« 


160 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


ture  of  the  Roanoke  colonists  with  Drake, 
Sir  Richard  Grenvilie  came  with  three 
vessels  and  an  abundance  of  supplies. 
Not  finding  any  one  he  placed  fifteen 
men  on  Roanoke  Island  to  hold  the  spot 
for  a  colony,  and  sailed  away.. 

1586.  John  Davis  made  a  second 
Voyage  to  Greenland.  He  found  the 
natives  whom  he  had  met  on  his  former 
trip,  explored  a 
part  of  the  Lab- 
rador shore,  and 
after  a  consider- 
able  time,  re- 
turned to  Eng- 
land. 

1586.  An 
earthquake    de- 
stroyed the  Port 
of  Call ao    in 
Peru.     A   sea 
wave  about  nine- 
ty feet  high  ac- 
companied the 
shock. 

1587.  Jan.  6. 
Another     Free- 
booter. Thomas 
Cayendish,     in 
command  of  an 
expedition  of 

three  vessels  fitted  out  to  prey  upon  the 
1587.  Mary,  Spanish  American  settle- 
Queen  of  scots,  ments,  entered  the  Straits 

beheaded  after 

nineteen  years'  of  Magellan  and  reached 
imprisonment.  tiie  pacific  after  thirty-three 
days.  Here  he  burned  several  Spanish 
towns  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  took  one 
Spanish  vessel  with  one  hundred  and 
twenty-two  thousand  Spanish  dollars  on 
board,  besides  other  cargo.  He  then 
went  to  England  by  the  way  of  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope,  and  was  knighted  by 
Queen  Elizabeth  upon  his  arrival. 


SIR    WALTER    RALEIGH    SMOKING 


1587.  April  26.  City  of  Raleigh, 
Virginia.  A  colony  of  men  and  women 
sent  out  by  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  to  found 
a  city  in  the  New  World  named  the  City 
of  Raleigh,  sailed  from  England  to  Vir- 
ginia. John  White  was  appointed  gov- 
ernor. 

1587.  July  23.  They  arrived  at 
Roanoke  Island  and  found  that  the  men 
left  by  Grenvilie 
had  been  entirely 
destroyed  by  In- 
dians. They  in- 
augurated their 
city  on  the  spot 
abandoned  by 
Lane. 

1587.  Aug.  13. 
Manteo,  an    In- 
dian   chief,   was 
baptized  at  Ra- 
leigh and  made 
u  Lord  of  Roan- 
oke," the    first 
and  only  peerage 
created  by  Eng- 
land  upon    this   continent.      Manteo 
was  also  the  first  Indian  ever  baptized 
by  an  English  minister. 

1587.  Aug.  18.  The  first  Amer- 
ican child  of  English  parentage  was 
born  in  this  colony,  and  named  Virginia 
Dare.  She  was  a  grand-daughter  of  Gov. 
White  who  returned  at  this  time  to  Eng- 
land to  secure  colonists  and  supplies. 

1587.  John  Davis  made  a  third  and 
more  extensive  voyage,  in  which  he 
sailed  through  the  strait  which  bears  his 
name,  far  up  into  Baffin's  Bay.  Opposed 
effectually  by  the  ice  he  sailed  down  the 
coast  and  home  to  England,  thus  failing 
like  all  others  in  discovering  a  northwest 
passage.  He  had  however  gone  beyond 
any  other  navigator,  and  firmly  believed 


1551-1602.] 

that  a  passage  could  be  found.  He  tried 
to  secure  a  fourth  expedition  but  could 
not,  because  of  his  former  unavailing 
voyages.  He  was  an  intrepid  navigator, 
and  was  finally  killed  in  the  East  Indies 
in  1605. 

1588.  April  22.     Two  vessels  under 

1588,  First  ne^s-       G°V'      Whlte       Sailed     with 

paper  in  Eng-     supplies  for  Raleigh's  colo- 
ny,    but    after    adventures 
with  Spanish  ships  they  were  taken  back 
to  England. 

1589.  March    7.      Sir   Walter    Ra- 

°f     lack     °f 


THE    GREAT  ENGLISH  EXPLORERS. 


161 


K89-16W.  Henry 

iv.  King  of         means,  conceded    a    large 

part  of  his  proprietary  rights 

in  Virginia  under  his  patent  to  a  com- 

pany of  merchant  adventurers  in  London. 

LOST  ROttXOKE  COLONY. 

1590.     Gov.   White  sailed  with  sup- 
plies for  Virginia,  but  found 

1590.     Telescopes      - 

invented  by  jan-  that  the  colony  had  been 
totally  destroyed.  The  fate 
of  the  Roanoke  colony  has  been  one  of 
the  enigmas  of  American  history.  Ra- 
leigh is  said  to  have  sent  five  times  across 
the  water  in  attempts  to  get  some  trace 
of  the  lost  ones. 


1592.     The   Falkland    Islands,  three 

1533-1592.    Man-      hundred  milef  east    of  Ma- 

taigm,  t ke great    gellan's    Straits,  were    dis- 

FrencI,   essayist.      CQvered      by      John       Dayis 

who  was  on  a  voyage  with  Cavendish. 

1594.  Saved  by  Fireflies.  An  ex- 
pedition for  plunder  was  fitted  out  by 
Sir  Robert  Dudley  at  his  own  expense 

7594.  Jesuits  against  SPanish  America. 
banished  from  He  sailed  into  West  India 
waters  and  took  Spanish 
vessels.  It  was  on  this  trip  or  on  one  of 
Cavendish's  just  previous  that  the  Eng- 
lish, having  landed  at  night  upon  a  West 


India  island  for  booty,  saw  an  innumer- 
able body  of  tropical  fireflies,  and  fancy- 
ing that  a  large  Spanish  force  with 
matchlocks  was  advancing  upon  them, 
fled  to  their  boats  in  great  fright.  These 
fireflies  therefore  saved  the  place  or  places 
against  which  the  trip  was  planned. 
Ladies  are  said  to  wear  them  for  their 
brilliancy  in  the  ball-room.  They  in- 
close them  in  nets  of  gauze  and  adjust 
them  in  the  hair.  Some  of  these  flies 
emit  a  light  of  great  intensity. 

1595.  Death  of  Drake  and  Hawkins. 
Sir  Francis  Drake  and  Sir  John  Haw- 
kins sailed  with  twenty-six 

•  1544-1595.  Tasso, 

Vessels  to  attack  the  Spanish      the  great  Italian 

colonies  in  the  West  Indies.  *°et' 
The  commanders  did  not  agree,  and  the 
fleet  failed  to  accomplish  much  till  after 
Sir  John  Hawkins  died  at  Porto  Rico. 
Drake  then  committed  his  usual  depreda- 
tions until  he  was  taken  sick  and  died  of 
a  fever.  Thus  ended  the  lives  of  these 
two  skillful  navigators,  but  unfeeling  men. 
Their  faults,  to  some  extent  the  faults  of 
the  times,  compare  unfavorably  with  the 
defects  in  many  men  of  the  same  age. 
There  is  very  little  in  their  achievements 
to  be  emulated  by  any  one.  Their  deeds 
were  no  blessing  to  humanity. 

1595.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  in  an  ex- 
pedition fitted  up  by  his  own  friends 
sailed  to  South  America  in  search  of 
gold,  landed  in  Guiana,  and  went  up  the 
Orinoco  four  hundred  miles. 

1598.  A  Forlorn  Colony.  Marquis 
de  la  Roche  was  granted  the  right  to 
colonize  and  command  New  France.  He 
gathered  a  lot  of  criminals  1598-1621.  Philip 
and  having  crossed  the  At-  IH-Kinff°f 

Spain. 

lantic,  landed  forty  of  them  1593.  Edict  of 
on  Sable  Island,  off  Nova  Nantes>  grant' 

ing  toleration  to 

Scotia,  till  he  could  visit  the    Protestants. 
mainland.    He  was  driven  over  the  ocean 


162 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


by  a  storm  and  finally  returned  to  France. 
For  five  years  the  poor  deserted  crimi- 
nals subsisted  like  wild  men  upon  fish 
and  the  cattle  left  eighty  years  before  by 
De  Lery.  They  gathered  furs  on  the 
island,  and  at  the  end  of  five  years  were 
taken  off,  only  twelve  in  number.  By 
the  help  of  the  king  they  entered  upon 
the  Canadian  fur  trade. 

1599.  Tadousac.  Pontgrave,  a  French 
trader,  obtained  a  patent  for  the  coloniza- 
tion of  New  France,  and  left  sixteen  men 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Saguenay  River  on 
1553-1599.   Ed-      the  St.  Lawrence  to  obtain 

nundSpenser,         furs>         gome     djed      jn      th 
the  great    Eng- 

liskpoet.  winter,  and  the  rest   were 

scattered  among  the  Indians. 

1600.  The    New    Shetland    Islands 
i54e-i6oi.  Tycho    were  discovered  by    Dirck 

Brake  the  great      Qheritz        h       m  attempting 
Danish  astrono- 
mer, to  pass  through  the  seas  to 

the  south  of  Cape  Horn,  was  driven  off 
into  the  ocean. 

1602.  March  26.  Gosnold's  New 
England  Colony.  Bartholomew  Gos- 
nold,who  had  been  connected  with  Sir 
Waiter  Raleigh  in  supporting  the  Vir- 


ginia colonies,  sailed  from  Fahnouth, 
England,  with  one  vessel  named  "  Con- 
cord," and  thirty -two  persons,  of  whom 
twenty  were  to  remain  as  colonists  in  the 
New  World.  Gosnold  sailed  directly 
across  the  Atlantic  instead  of  taking  the 
general  route  by  way  of  the  Canary 
N Islands,  and  the  West  Indies.  He  thus 
shortened  the  distance  about  one  thousand 
miles.  He  arrived  in  seven  weeks  on 
the  New  England  coast  near  Nahant, 
Mass.,  and  sailing  thence  to  the  south 
passed  and  named  Cape  Cod,  because  he 
took  some  codfish  off  its  coast,  entered 
Buzzard's  Bay,  and  began  to  found  a  col- 
ony upon  one  of  the  Elizabeth  Islands, 
now  known  as  Cuttyhunk.  Having 
laded  the  vessel  with  sassafras  root,  and 
being  fearful  that  the  intended  colony 
could  not  be  maintained  in  that  spot,  they 
all  sailed  for  England.  These  were  the  first 
Englishmen  to  tread  New  England  soil. 

1602.  The  California  coast  was  ex- 
plored by  an  expedition  under  Viscaino. 

1602.  About  two  millions  of  grape 
vines  were  under  cultivation  by  the  Span- 
ish near  Asuncion,  Paraguay. 


SECTION  VIII. 


COMING 


MHE  work  of  the  historical  student 
at  this  point  is  to  study  with  ex- 
treme care  the  colonies  which  were 
\    now    planted    in    rapid    succession 
upon  the  shore  of  North  America.     The 
influences  which  are  finally  to  shape  the 
civilization  of  the  whole  continent  now 
rooted  themselves  and  began  to  flourish. 
The  germinal  points  of  English,  French 
and  Dutch  power  appeared  within  less  than 
thirty  years  at  the  beginning  of  this  cen- 
tury.   Jamestown,  Quebec,  New  Amster- 
dam, Plymouth,  Salem,  Boston  and    its 
associated  towns,  pass  before  us  in  quick 
review,  each  with  a  distinctive  character. 
The   men  who  framed   the   first  rough 
dwellings    in    these    different  settlements 
were  widely  contrasted  in  many  of  their 
social,  commercial,  political  and  religious 
qualities.    Outward  circumstances  shaped, 
and  in  some  cases  limited,  the  growth  of 
the    young    life.     Old    World    features 
were  impressed  upon  a  part  of  the  colo- 
nies.    Plymouth  sprang  into  being  with 
a  democratic   government    and  an  inde- 
pendent church,  and  thus   introduced   a 
unique  factor  into  the  problem  of  Ameri- 
can civilization.     Slight  traces  of  feudal 
principles  are  visible  in  the  early  days  of 
almost  all  the  colonies.     Crude  attempts 


.    1603-1630. 


to  inaugurate  manufactures  were  imme- 
diately made,  and  before  long  a  start  was 
obtained  which  led  the  English  govern- 
ment afterward  into  the  passage  of  laws 
which  exasperated  the  colonists.  The 
"  tobacco  fever  "  at  Jamestown  is  the  first 
of  those  excitements  in  many  lines  of  cul- 
ture or  labor,  which  have  marked  the 
history  of  our  country  every  few  years. 
The  great  Indian  massacres  had  their 
beginning  in  the  early  days,  and  imper- 
illed the  existence  of  the  infant  colonies. 

SAMUEL  DE  CHAMPLAItf. 

A  new  element  now  appeared  in  New 
France  in  the  person  of  one  who  was  to 
exercise  a  leading  part  in  its  fortunes  for 
nearly  twoscore  years.  Champlainwas 
born  in  1567  at  a  little  town  on  the  Bay 
of  Biscay  named  Brouage.  He  became 
accustomed  to  the  sea,  and  when  he 
reached  manhood  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
captain  in  the  royal  navy.  He  also 
fought  in  the  army  of  Brittany,  thus 
receiving  a  double  fitness  for  the  work  of 
exploration  and  settlement  awaiting  him, 
that  of  navigator  and  soldier.  He  sailed 
upon  an  expedition  to  Mexico,  of  which 
he  has  left  a  very  exact  and  vivid  account, 
with  all  the  flavor  of  romance  about  it. 

163 


164 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


1603-1625. 


He  could  not  be  himself  save  when  en- 
gaged in  some  adventure.  His  eager 
spirit  would  not  let  him  stop.  When  he 
returned  to  France  he  was  therefore 
before  long  pining  for  some  outlet  for  his 
energy.  In  this  condition  the  proposition 
which  looked  toward  his  taking  part  in 
an  expedition  to  New  France,  was  not 
unwelcome.  Here  he  found  his  life- 
mission.  He  stands  at  the  beginning  of 
successful  French  colonization  in  the 
New  World. 

1603.  Champlain  in  Canada.  Aymar 
de  Chastes,  Governor  of  Dieppe,  France, 
obtained  a  patent  for  the  colonization  of 
Canada,  and  having  formed  a  company 
of  merchants,  sent  out  two  vessels  of 
fifteen  and  twelve  tons  respectively,  to 
make  preliminary  explora- 
tion.  Pontgrave  was  com- 

of  England.  mander  and  at    the    solicita. 

tion  of  De  Chastes  Champlain  embarked 
in  the  expedition.  They  crossed  the 
Atlantic  safely,  ascended  the  St.  Law- 
rence to  the  Island  of  Montreal,  but 
found  no  trace  of  the  Indian  town  which 
Cartier  had  visited  there  in  1534. 
Champlain  tried  to  pass  the  rapids  in  a 
skiff,  but  failed.  The  expedition  soon 
returned  to  France. 

1603.  Martin  Pring  sailed  from  Eng- 
land with  two  vessels,  the  Speedwell  of 
fifty  tons,  and  the  Discoverer  of  twenty- 
six  tons,  with  forty-three  men,  the  expe- 
dition being  fitted  out  by  Bristol  mer- 
chants to  follow  up  Gosnold's  discoveries. 
Pring  reached  what  is  now  the  coast  of 
Maine,  passed  the  Penobscot,  Kennebec, 
Piscataqua  Rivers,  searched  along  the 
coast  of  Massachusetts  for  sassafras  root, 
and  finally  arrived  at  the  island  of 
Martha's  Vineyard,  whence  he  returned 
to  England. 


ACADIA. 

1604.  After  the  death  of  De  Chastes, 
Pierre  du  Guast,  Sieur  de  Monts,  obtained 
a  grant  for  the  colonization  of  a  region 
in  the  New  World  called  Acadie,  extend- 
ing from  the  fortieth  to  the  forty-sixth 
degree  of  north  latitude,  embracing  the 
country  now  between  Philadelphia  and 
Lake  St.  Peter,  in  the  St.  Lawrence 
River.  Champlain  and  Baron  de  Pou- 
trincourt  entered  the  expedition.  Hugue- 
nots as  well  as  Catholics  were  found  in 
the  number. 

1604.  April  7.  De  Monts  sailed 
with  one  vessel  from  Havre  de  Grace, 
leaving  Pontgrave  to  follow  in  another. 
With  the  design  of  escaping  the  cold  St. 
Lawrence  region  he  sailed  further  to  the 
south  and  reached  the  coast  of  Nova 
Scotia.  Here  he  waited  till  Pontgrave 
arrived,  when  he  entered  the  Bay  of 
Fundy  and  discovered  the  beautiful  An- 
napolis Harbor,  a  grant  of  which  Pou- 
trincourt  begged  for  himself,  naming  the 
place  Port  Royal.  Pontgrave  in  the 
meantime  sailed  to  the  St.  Lawrence  to 
trade,  and  thence  returned  to  France. 
De  Monts  sailed  around  the  Bay  of 
Fundy  and  out  into  Passamaquoddy  Bay. 
Here  an  island  was  chosen  for  the  site  of 
the  colony,  and  named  St.  Croix.  Build- 
ings were  at  once  erected  and  everything 
done  to  prepare  for  winter.  Poutrincourt 
sailed  for  France,  leaving  seventy-nine 
men  in  the  colony.  The  winter  set  in 
with  unusual  severity;  the  cold  was  in- 
tense; their  cider  and  wine  had  to  be 
cut  up  by  the  pound,  and  worst  of  all, 
the  scurvy  broke  out.  It  killed  thirty- 
five. 

1604.  September.  Champlain  made 
a  short  trip  from  St.  Croix  along  the  coast 
of  Maine.  He  named  Mt.  Desert,  and 
visited  the  Penobscot. 


1603-1630.] 


1604.  Guiana,  S.  A.,  was 

by  the  French. 

1605.  March.     An  expedition  to  the 
New  England  coast  under  George  Wey- 
mouth   reached    Cape    Cod,  and   sailing 
north    along    the    coast,    explored     the 
Penobscot  River.     Weymouth  entrapped 
five  natives  and  carried  them  to  England. 

1605.  June  16.  Pontgrave  arrived 
at  St.  Croix  with  supplies  from  France. 

1605.  June  18.  Champlain  set  off 
again,  accompanied  by  De  Monts,  to 
explore  the  coast  to  the  south.  They 
examined  the  shore  very  closely;  Cham- 
plain  took  particular  notice  of  the  horse- 
1605  shoe  crab,  and  afterward 

Gunpowder  Plot,  described  it  in  detail.  They 
went  as  far  as  Cape  Cod.  De  Monts 
upon  his  return  removed  his  colony  to 
Port  Royal  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  and 
sailed  for  France  to  prevent  enemies  from 
overthrowing  his  patent.  Pontgrave 
•was  left  in  command  at  Port  Royal. 

1605.  Barbadoes,  W.  I.,  was  first 
visited  by  the  English  who  took  posses- 
sion, but  did  not  colonize  till  1625. 

1605.  Wheat  was  sown  on  Long 
Island  by  a  ship's  company  from  London. 

1605.  The  lost  Norse  settlements  in 
Greenland   were    searched  for  by  three 
ships  under  Godske  Lindenow,and  James 
Hall   an  English  pilot.     The  expedition 
was  sent  out  by  Christian  IV.  of    Den- 
mark.    Several  other  efforts  were  made 
about   this   time,   but   nothing    came    of 
them.     West    Greenland  was  explored, 
but  the  eastern  coast  could  not  be  reached 
because  of  ice.     It  came  to  be  believed 
that  the  old  accounts  were  fictitious. 

FIRST  ENGLISH  CHARTER. 

1606.  April  10.    James   I.  King   of 
England,  granted  a  charter  giving  the 
London  company  the  right  to  colonize 


THE  COMING  POWER. 
colonized 


165 


in  America  between  the  thirty-first  and 
the  thirty-eighth  degrees  of  north  latitude, 
and  the  Plymouth  company  between  the 
fortieth  and  the  forty-fifth.  The  region 
between  the  thirty-eighth  leoe.  Pmver  of 
and  the  fortieth  was  open  <**<**%**• 

covered  by  Dr. 

to  either  under  certain  limi-  Gilbert. 
tations.  This  charter,  in  common  with 
most  which  were  given  in  America  by 
any  nation,  extended  its  grants  westward 
to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  No  power  of  self- 
government  was  conveyed  to  any  colony 
which  might  be  formed.  The  Church 
of  England  was  to  be  the  only  form  of 
religion. 

1606.  John  Knight's  expedition 
sailed  in  a  vessel  of  forty  tons  and 
reached  the  Labrador  coast.  Here  the 
vessel  was  repaired.  The  savages  made 
fierce  attacks  upon  the  crew.  Capt. 
Knight  and  some  of  his  men  were  lost. 
The  rest  reached  Newfoundland  and 
finally  England. 

1606.  July  27.  Port  Royal.  Pou- 
trincourt  having  been  sent  out  by  De 
Monts  in  one  vessel  for  the  aid  of  Port 
Royal,  arrived  at  Annapolis  Harbor  and 
found  but  two  Frenchmen,  the  rest 
having  built  boats  and  gone  off"  for  sup- 
plies of  game  and  fruits.  They  were 
soon  found  and  brought  back.  Pont- 
grave sailed  for  France.  Poutrincourt 
and  Champlain  explored  the  coast  to  the 
south  in  search  of  a  good  site  for  a  colony, 
but  returned  without  having  made  a 
selection.  During  their  absence  Lescar- 
bot,  the  historian,  commanded  at  Port 
Royal.  The  succeeding  winter  was  very 
mild  and  the  colony  flourished,  only  four 
men  dying  with  the  scurvy. 

1606.  Oct.  15.  First  Indian  Fight 
in  New  England.  Some  of  the  men 
who  accompanied  Pontgrave  and  Cham- 


166 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


plain  upon  the  trip  mentioned  above, 
slept  on  shore  one  night  and  were 
attacked  just  at  daylight  very  fiercely  by 
Indians.  Two  Frenchmen  were  imme- 
diately killed  and  the  rest  wounded.  An 
alarm  was  given  to  those  on  board  the 
boat,  and  Champlain  with  others  imme- 
diately came  to  their  relief.  After  the 
savages  were  driven  off  the  bodies  of  the 
dead  were  buried  at  the  foot  of  a  pillar 
bearing  the  arms  of  France.  When  the 
party  had  retired  to  their  vessel  again, 
the  Indians  came  back,  dug  up  the 
bodies  and  maltreated  them  in  the  sight 
of  their  friends.  The  French  afterward 
buried  them  again  and  departed. 

1607.  May  1.  Hudson's  First  Voy- 
age. Henry  Hudson,  of  whom  nothing  is 
known  previous  to  this  year,  sailed  from 
Gravesend,  on  the  Thames,  England,  in 
lew-mo.  King  the  employ  of  London 
James1  -version  merchants,  in  a  little  vessel 

of  the  Bible.  ,    , 

manned  by  ten  men  and  a 
boy,  for  the  discovery  of  a  Polar  Sea 
passage,  by  sailing  across  the  North  Pole. 
He  went  up  the  east  coast  of  Greenland, 
and  discovered  Spitzbergen,  but  could  not 
get  beyond  the  northern  extremity  of 
those  islands,  because  of  the  solid  walls  of 
ice.  He  soon  sailed  back  to  England. 

FIRST  ENGLISH  COLONY. 

1607.  May  13.  A  colony  of  one 
hundred  and  five  persons  sent  out  by  the 
London  company,  landed  on  the  James 
River  and  founded  Jamestown,  the  first 
permanent  English  settlement  in  Amer- 
ica. The  river  and  the  new  town  were 
named  in  honor  of  the  king,  the  headlands 
at  the  ocean  were  named  Cape  Charles 
and  Cape  Henry  in  honor  of  the  king's 
sons,  and  the  deep  water  for  anchorages, 
"  which  put  the  emigrants  in  good  com- 
fort," was  named  Point  Comfort.  Capt. 


John  Smith  and  Bartholomew  Gosnold 
were  members  of  the  colony.  There 
were  very  few  laborers,  and  no  families. 
Christopher  Newport,  who  commanded 
the  three  vessels  which  brought  the  com- 
pany, sailed  for  England  again  in  a 
month.  The  comtpany  entered  upon  a 
period  of  disunion,  suffering  and  death. 
Fifty  persons,  including  Gosnold,  died 
through  the  summer. 


1607.  Aug.  19.  Popham's  Kennebec 
Colony.  A  colony  sent  out  by  the  Ply- 
mouth company  landed  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Kennebec  River,  Maine,  built  a 
fort  and  a  little  town.  George  Popham 
commanded  the  colony.  Forty-nine  per- 
sons were  left  when  the  vessels  returned 
to  England.  A  winter  of  great  severity 
was  experienced.  The  snow  covered 
their  huts  to  the  very  chimneys,  and  food 
could  be  procured  with  great  difficulty. 

1607.  Port  Royal  Abandoned.  The 
patent  of  De  Monts  was  annulled,  and 
the  settlement  at  Port  Royal,  Nova  Sco- 
tia, was  abandoned  after  three  years  of 
hardship.  The  members  all  returned  to 
France. 

1607.  December.  Capt.  Smith  and 
Pocahontas.  Capt.  John  Smith  set  out 
to  explore  the  region  around  James- 
town. Having  been  captured  by  Indians 
and  condemned  to  death,  his  life  was 
saved  by  Pocahontas,  the  daughter  of 
the  chieftain  Powhatan.  It  lias  become 
quite  common  to  discredit  this  circum- 
stance, but  in  order  to  do  it  Capt.  Smith 
must  be  made  out  a  deceiver  in  the  narra- 
tive which  he  prepared  some  time  after 
the  event.  The  principal  argument  isr 
that  had  the  affair  been  real,  he  would 
have  told  of  it  before  Pocahontas  became 
famous.  On  the  other  hand,  it  might 


1603-1630.] 


THE  COMING  POWER. 


167 


only  occur  to  a  man  who  had  been 
through  many  adventures,  to  tell  such  a 
thing  after  the  participants  in  it  had  be- 
come widely  known.  Smith,  upon  his 
return  in  January,  found  the  colony  num- 
bering only  thirty-eight  persons.  He  at 
once  began  to  exert  his  personal  influence 
to  suppress  the  discontent. 

1608.  Feb.  5.  Popham  Colony  Aban- 
doned. George  Popham,  governor  of 
the  Kennebec  colony,  died.  Raleigh 
Gilbert  was  left  in  command,  but  soon 
learned  by  the  arrival  of  vessels  from 
England,  that  his 
brother,  Sir  John 
Gilbert,  had  died, 
leaving  an  estate 
to  him.  The  col- 
ony also  learned 
that  Sir  John 
Popham  had  died, 
and  having  be- 
come discouraged 
by  the  death  of 
their  chief  sup- 
porters, as  well  as 
by  finding  no 
mines, as  they  had 
hoped  to  do,  they 
abandoned  the 
place  and  sailed  to  England.  Thus 
ended  the  first  real  attempt  at  a  settle- 
ment in  what  was  called  Northern  Vir- 
ginia. These  colonists,  during  their  stay, 
built  the  Virginia,  a  pinnace  of  about 
thirty  tons,  the  first  vessel  built  by  Eng- 
lishmen in  the  New  World,  or  by  Euro- 
peans in  New  England.  This  vessel  af- 
terward traded  across  the  Atlantic,  and 
back  and  forth  upon  the  coast. 

1608.  April  21.  Hudson's  Second 
Voyage.  Henry  Hudson  sailed  again 
for  the  same  English  merchants  to  find  a 
passage  between  Spitzbergen  and  Nova 


I'OCAHONTAS. 


Zembla,  but  was  again  turned  back  by 
the  unbroken  ice. 

GERMS  OF  MANUFACTURE. 

1608.  One  hundred  and  twenty  per- 
sons arrived  this  year  at  Jamestown. 
Like  the  first  colonists  they  consisted  of 
adventurers  and  gentlemen,  with  a  few 
laborers.  There  were  "  eight  Poles  and 
Germans"  to  make  "pitch,  tar,  glass,  mills, 
and  soap-ashes."  A  glass-house  was 
erected  a  mile  from  Jamestown  in  the 
woods,  and  was  probably  "the  first  man- 
ufactory ever 
erected  on  this 
continent."  The 
people  also  began 
to  cut  clapboard- 
ing  and  wains- 
coting for  expor- 
tation to  Eng- 
land. Such  was 

the  humble  beginning  of  the  present 
immense  American  industries.  Many 
of  the  colonists  soon  ran  wild  over  a 
few  grains  of  supposed  gold  found  near 
Jamestown.  Capt.  Newport  carried  a 
load  of  earth  to  England.  Capt.  Smith 
made  another  exploring  expedition  and 
mapped  Chesapeake  Bay,  with  its  trib- 
utaries, in  an  essentially  correct  manner. 
Capt.  Smith  was  very  ingenious  in  deal- 
ing with  Indians.  At  one  time  he  saved 
himself  by  showing  his  captors  a  com- 
pass which  he  carried  on  his  person. 

1608.  July  13.  Quebec  Founded,, 
Champlain,  sent  out  by  De  Monts,  who 
had  renewed  his  right  to  trade  in  Can- 
ada for  one  year,  landed  at  the  present 
site  of  Quebec  and  began  to  erect  build- 
ings for  the  colony.  This  proved  the 
first  permanent  French  settlement  in 
North  America. 

1608.     Sept.    10.      First   Woman   at 


168 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


Jamestown.  Capt.  John  Smith  having 
returned  from  his  explorations,  was  chosen 
president  of  the  council  at  Jamestown, 
and  by  his  vigorous  efforts  to  promote 
real  labor,  brought  the  colony  into  better 
condition.  Seventy  colonists  soon  arrived, 
among  whom  were  two  women,  the  first 
ones  who  came  to  the  colony.  Smith 
wrote  home  that  he  would  rather  have 
thirty  working  men  than  one  thousand 
such  as  had  come. 

1609.  April  4.  Hudson's  Third 
Voyage.  Henry  Hudson  having  found 
employ  in  the  Dutch  East  India  Com- 
pany, sailed  from  Amsterdam  on  his  third 
voyage,  and  having  been  turned  back  at 
Spitzbergen  as  on  previous  voyages,  he 
was  induced  by  the  discontent  of  his 
crew  to,  sail  south.  He  coasted  the  shore 
of  New  England  and  beyond  as  far  as 
Chesapeake  Bay,  and  then  turned  back 
upon  his  course. 

1609.  May  23.  Second  Jamestown 
Charter.  The  London  company  having 
been  enlarged,  a  new  charter  was  ob- 
tained, abolishing  the  council  at  James- 
town, instituting  another  in  England 
whose  members  were  elected  by  the 
stockholders  instead  of  being  appointed 
by  the  king  as  under  the  previous  char- 
ter, and  providing  for  a  governor  who 
should  have  almost  absolute  power  over 
the  persons  of  the  colonists.  Lord  Dela- 
ware was  chosen  governor  and  captain- 
general  for  life.  A  fleet  of  nine  vessels 
with  five  hundred  colonists,  was  soon  sent 
out.  A  ship  containing  three  commis- 
sioners who  were  to  rule  the  colony  till 
Lord  Delaware  arrived,  was  wrecked 
upon  the  Bermudas  and  the  commission- 
ers did  not  reach  Jamestown  till  the  next 
year.  One  of  them  was  Sir  George 
Somers,  who  by  this  circumstance  has 
partially  given  his  name  to  the  islands, 


they  being  known  as  the  Bermuda  or 
Somers  Islands.  The  other  ships  arrived 
safely  and  Capt.  Smith  commanded  the 
colony  till  by  an  explosion  which  injured 
his  hand,  he  was  forced  to  visit  England 
for  surgical  aid.  Sheep  and  swine  were 
imported  into  Jamestown  this  year. 

1609.  July.  Lake  Champlain.  Cham- 
plain  having  joined  a  war-party  against 
the  Iroquois  who  lived  in  Central  New 
York  discovered  the  lake  which  bears  his 
name,  in  his  journey  from  Quebec  with 
his  Indian  allies;  and  after  a  battle  with 
the  Iroquois  near  Crown  Point,  returned 
to  his  settlement.  The  arms  of  Cham- 
plain  and  the  other  Frenchman  who  ac- 
companied him  were  a  great  terror  to  the 
Iroquois.  This  was  the  first  step  in  the 
long  course  of  trouble  between  the  French 
and  the  warlike  Five  Nations. 

1609.  Sept.  12.  Hudson  Hiver. 
Hudson  passed  the  Narrows  below 
where  New  York  now  stands,  and  discov- 
ered the  great  North  or  Hudson  River. 
He  sailed  up  the  river  in  the  "Half 
Moon,"  his  vessel,  to  where  Albany  is 
now  situated,  and  afterward  returned  to 
Europe.  It  is  said  that  at  one  point  on 
his  river  trip  near  Haverstraw  some 
Indians  were  induced  to  drink  liquor, 
which  made  at  least  one  of  them  so  intox- 
icated that  he  could  not  stand.  He  was 
undoubtedly  the  first  Indian  toper  in  all 
America.  As  a  result  of  Hudson's  voy- 
age trade  sprang  up  with  the  Indians  and 
led  finally  to  Dutch  settlements.  Holland 
was  then  rising  to  the  front  rank  in  com- 
mercial importance,  and  laid  claim  to 
New  Netherland  from  South  or  Delaware 
Bay  to  the  coast  of  Maine. 

1609.  The  missions  of  the  Jesuits  in 
Paraguay  were  inaugurated,  where  their 
work  afterward  became  so  powerful. 

1610.  Feb.  26.     Poutrincourt  sailed 


1603-1630.] 

from  Dieppe  with  men  and  supplies  to 
reestablish  a  colony  at  Port  Royal,  Nova 
Scotia.  He  found  the  buildings  and  fur- 
niture as  they  had  been  left.  He  sent 
back  his  son  Biencourt  during  the  sum- 
mer to  France. 

1610.  April  22.  Hudson's  Fourth 
Voyage.  Henry  Hudson  having  passed 
again  into  the  employ  of  the  Muscovy 
Company  of  England,  sailed  again  upon 


THE  COMING  POWER. 

1610.    June  8. 


169 

The  colonists  decided 
to  abandon  Jamestown,  and  sailed  down 
the  river  in  order  to  reach  Newfoundland 
and  find  English  fishermen  with  whom 
they  could  get  passage  to  England. 

1610.  June  9.  At  the  mouth  of 
the  river  to  which  they  had  come  down 
the  night  before,  they  met  ieio.  Henry  iv. 
Lord  Delaware  who  had 


arrived  with  supplies.  They 


»/*>«*«, 

assassinated  by 


1610,    Telescopes 
invented     by 
Galileo. 


his  fourth  and  last  voyage 
in  search  of  a  northwest 
passage.  He  discovered 
Hudson's  Bay,  which  he  at  first  took  to 
be  the  long-sought  passage.  By  the  time 
he  had  coasted  around  it  and  found  it  a  bay, 
he  was  shut  in  by  the  winter.  His  crew 
was  in  a  dissatisfied,  mutinous  condition. 

161O.  May  24.  "Starving  Time" 
at  Jamestown.  The  three  commissioners 
of  Lord  Delaware  arrived  at  James- 
town from  the  Bermudas  and  found  the 
colony  reduced  by  famine  from  five 
hundred  which  it  numbered  when  Capt. 
Smith  left  It,  to  sixty.  The  colonists  had 
brought  this  distress  upon  themselves  by 
not  exercising  ordinary  foresight. 


CAPT.  SMITH  AND  THE  COMPASS., 

were  all  glad  to  return   to 


uio-ms.  Louts 

XIII.  King-  oj 

their    homes     once     more,    France, nine 
which  they  had  fortunately    y">™  °ld-  Mary 

.    .          TO  j-j      de  Medici 

lett  uninjured.     So  near  did    regent. 
Jamestown  come  to  abandonment. 

1610.  June  10.  The  colony  was 
reinstated  in  its  former  quarters.  The 
commission  of  the  governor  was  read, 
divine  service  was  held  according  to  the 
Church  of  England,  and  the  government 
was  reorganized  with  hopefulness.  Vines 
were  imported  into  Jamestown  at  this 
time,  and  the  culture  of  grapes  began. 
All  colonists  were  to  be  obliged  to  at- 
tend church  twice  every  Sunday,  "  upon 
pain  for  the  first  fault  to  lose  their  pro- 
vision and  allowance  for  the  whole  week 


170 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


following;  for  the  second,  to  lose  said 
allowance,  and  also  to  be  whipped ;  and 
for  the  third,  to  suffer  death." 

1610.  June  19.  A  hundred  Iro- 
quois  warriors  on  the  St.  Lawrence  were 
destroyed  by  the  French  and  Indians 
under  Champlain. 

1610.  Aug.  8.  Champlain  sailed 
from  Quebec  for  France,  in  order  to 
arrange  with  the  French  government 
about  the  fur  trade. 

16 1O.  First  Trip  to  Lake  Huron. 
A  young  man  from  Quebec  went  into  the 
Huron  country  and  wintered  with  the 
Indians,  returning  when  the  Indians  went 
down  to  trade  the  next  year. 

1610.  A  colony  under  John  Guy,  a 
Bristol    merchant,   settled    at    Mosquito 
Cove,   Conception    Bay,  Newfoundland, 
and    maintained    an    existence   for   two 
years.     The  effort  was  at  last  given  up. 
There  were  thirty-nine  persons  who  came 
in   three   vessels.     Lord    Bacon    was    a 
partner  in  this  attempt. 

1611.  Jan.  26.    First  Jesuits  in  New 
France.     Pierre    Biard    and   Ennemond 
Masse,  Jesuit  priests,    having    bought  an 
interest    in    the    colony    at    Port    Royal, 
through  their  desire  to  obtain  a  foothold 
in  the^New  World,  sailed   from  France. 
They  were  the  first  Jesuits  to  land  in  New 
France,  and  were  very  unwelcome  addi- 
tions in  the  view  of  Poutrincourt. 

1611.  Lord  Delaware  failed  in  health 
and  returned  to  England,  leaving  one 
Percy  in  charge  at  Jamestown. 

1611.  May  10.  Severe  Rule.  Sir 
Thomas  Dale  arrived  with  supplies,  and 
assumed  the  charge  of  the  colony  at 
Jamestown,  administering  the  young 
church  and  state  by  martial  law. 

1611,  May  13,  Champlain  arrived 
from  France  at  Tadousac,  below  Quebec. 
He  went  at  once  to  the  Island  of  Mon- 


treal to  establish  a  trading  post.  He  se- 
lected a  site  for  it,  and  after  a  trading 
assembly  had  been  held  with  the  Hurons, 
he  again  returned  to  France.  The  young 
man  who  had  spent  the  winter  with  the 
Hurons,  and  had  come  down  with  them 
to  this  trading  assembly,  was  the  first 
white  man  to  shoot  the  rapids  in  the  St. 
Lawrence,  above  Montreal.  A  second 
man  tried  it,  but  was  drowned.  Cham- 
plain  was  carried  down  in  an  Indian 
canoe  before  his  departure  for  France. 

SAD  DEATH  OF  HUDSON. 
1611.  June  21.  Henry  Hudson,  his 
son  and  seven  men  were  thrust  into  a 
small  boat  by  the  rest  of  the  crew  in 
Hudson's  Bay  after  spending  the  winter 
there,  and  were  left  to  perish.  Hudson 
had  had  trouble  with  his  crew  on  each 
voyage,  and  does  not  seem  to  have  been 
born  to  command.  Yet  he  was  an  emi- 
nent navigator,  and  shared  in  the  sadness 
attaching  to  the  end  of  many  other  ex- 
plorers. When  turned  adrift,  a  fowling 
piece,  with  a  little  ammunition,  and  an 
iron  kettle,  with  a  bag  of  meal,  were 
thrown  to  them.  John  King,  carpenter 
of  the  ship,  having  refused  to  share  in  the 
deed,  was  one  of  the  seven.  The  other 
six  were  invalids.  The  leader  of  the 
mutiny  was  Henry  Green,  who  was 
deeply  indebted  to  Hudson  for  past  favors 
of  great  value.  Green  and  some  of  the 
other  mutineers  were  killed  by  the  Es- 
quimaux shortly  after.  The  others  after 
great  distress,  reached  England.  Hud- 
son and  his  companions  were  never  heard 
from,  having  probably  soon  perished. 
But  Hudson's  Bay  and  Hudson's  River 
immortalize  his  name. 


1611.    August.    Private  Property  in 
Jamestown.    Additional  supplies  and  col- 


1003-1 630.] 


THE  COMING  POWER. 


171 


onists  arrived  at  Jamestown  under  Sir 
Thomas  Gates,  who  succeeded  Dale  in 
the  charge  of  the  colony.  He  founded 
other  points  of  settlement  and  established 
private  property  for  the  first  time  in  the 
colony,  by  granting  to  each  man  a  few 
acres  for  private  cultivation.  A  large 
number  of  domestic  animals,  including 
cows,  were  brought  over  in  this  expedi- 
tion. There  were  now  seven  hundred 
people  in  the  colony. 


was  also  sent  to  England  from    the   col- 
onies for  the  first  time  this  year. 

TOBACCO  FIRST  CULTIVATED. 

1612.  John  Rolfe  began  in  Virginia 
this  year  the  first  successful  cultivation  of 
tobacco.  The  sale  of  tobacco  was  in- 
creasing in  England  and  elsewhere,  and 
it  soon  proved  that  it  .could  be  very  profit- 
ably raised  in  the  New  World.  There- 
fore a  great  many  seized  upon  it  as  a 


THE   FIRST  IN'DIAN   TOPER. 


1612.  March  12.  A  third  charter 
was  issued  for  the  Virginia  colony,  giv- 
ing the  stockholders  the  management  of 
affairs,  which  had  previously  been  held 
by  the  council.  The  limits  of  the  colony 
were  extended  so  as  to  include  the  Ber- 
mudas, by  making  them  run  three  hun- 
dred leagues  from  the  mainland.  The 
raising  of  money  by  lotteries  was  author- 
ized, and  as  a  result  of  this  process,  which 
was  employed  for  several  years,  .£29,000 
were  raised  for  the  colony.  The  first 
bricks  made  in  the  English  colonies  were 
produced  in  Virginia  this  year.  Wine 


means  of  wealth,  and  the  first  excitement 
in  that  long  list  which  has  grown  up  in 
subsequent  years  over  cotton,  sugar  cane,, 
silk,  and  other  productions,  began  with 
this  elate.  Very  soon  every  inch  of 
ground  at  command  was  planted  to 
tobacco.  Even  the  streets  of  Jamestown 
were  afterward  filled  with  it.  This  was 
in  spite  of  the  opposition  of  the  English 
government,  which  at  a  later  day  took 
measures  to  discourage  the  growth  of 
tobacco.  King  James  was  so  opposed  to 
it  that  he  wrote  a  «  Counterblast  to  the 
Use  of  Tobacco."  But  that  in  which 


172 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


great  profit  was  found,  could  not  be  easily 
suppressed.  It  finally  became  the  staple 
product,  and  the  currency  of  the  colony. 


1612.  A  grant  of  all  North  America, 
from  the  St.  Lawrence  to  Florida,  was 
obtained  by  Madame  de  Guercheville  and 
her  Jesuit  friends.  This  was  the  result  of 
months  of  scheming,  and  left  Poutrin- 
court's  colony  at  Port  Royal  hemmed  in 
on  all  sides  by  influences  disagreeable  to 
him. 

1612.  An  expedition   of  search  for 
Henry    Hudson  was  sent  out,  consisting 
of  two  vessels,  the  Resolution    and  the 
Discovery,  under    Sir   Thomas    Button. 
He  followed  on  Hudson's  track,  explored 
Hudson's  Bay,  and  wintered  in  the  vici- 
nity.    His  crew  suffered  much  during  the 
winter,  and   some   of  them  died.      The 
next  year  he  returned    to   England  and 
was  knighted.     He  felt  sure  a  northwest 

O 

passage  could  be  found. 

1613.  April  13.     Pocahontas  having 
been  entrapped  and  carried  to  Jamestown 
by  Capt.  Argall,  was  taken  in  marriage 
by  John    Rolfe,  a   young    Englishman. 
She  had  been  baptized  by  the  name  of 
Rebecca. 

1613.  May  13.  Mt.  Desert  Colony. 
A  vessel  sent  out  by  the  Jesuits  arrived  at 
Nova  Scotia,  and  having  taken  Biard 
and  Masse  on  board  at  Port  Royal,  pro- 
ceeded to  Mt.  Desert  on  the  coast  of 
Maine,  where  the  colonists  began  to  found 
a  settlement. 

1613.  May  27.  Champlain  having 
spent  the  year  1612  in  France  in  endeav- 
oring to  promote  the  interests  of  coloni- 
zation in  New  France,  and  having  re- 
turned to  Canada,  set  out  from  near  the 
Island  of  Montreal  to  follow  up  a  report 
made  to  him  by  a  man  named  Vignan, 


who  professed  to  have  passed  up  the 
Ottawa  and  to  have  found  a  river  which 
could  be  descended  to  the  shores  of  the 
great  ocean  at  the  west.  Champlain  fol- 
lowed up  the  Ottawa  with  great  trouble 
till  he  learned  that  his  informant  was  a 
deceiver,  and  having  wintered  in  an  In- 
dian camp,  gave  up  the  journey  in  great 
disappointment. 

1613.  First  Settlement  at  New  York. 
The  Dutch  began  to  build  houses  on 
Manhattan  Island  where  New  York  now 
stands.  It  was  at  the  first  a  mere  trading 
post.  Houses  began  to  be  built  near  this 
time  also  at  Albany. 

1613.  English  Hostility   to  French. 
Capt.  Samuel  Argall  sailed   north  from 
Jamestown  for  a  supply  of  codfish,  and 
having  learned  of  the  new  French  col- 
ony at  Mt.  Desert  from  the  Indians,  went 
thither  and  broke  it  up  entirely.     Some 
of  the  colonists  were   left   to  find   their 
way  to  France.     Others  were  taken  pris- 
oners to  Jamestown.      By  order  of  Sir 
Thomas  Dale,  governor  of  Jamestown, 
an  expedition  under    Capt.  Argall  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  Nova  Scotia  in  behalf 
of  the  English   crown,  destroyed  the  re- 
mains of  the  settlement  at  St.  Croix,  and 
reaching   Port   Royal  in  the  absence  of 
the   colonists,  burned  the  buildings   and 
crops  and  butchered  the  cattle.     The  set- 
tlers were  left  to  wander  among  the  In- 
dians during  the  winter  following.     This 
was  the  first  hostile  act  in  the  long  con- 
test between  France  and  England  in  the 
New   World.     Capt.  Argall    is    said    to 
have  entered  New  York  harbor  upon  his 
return  and  received  the  submission  of  the 
few  Dutch  traders  at  Manhattan. 

1614.  The    northwest  passage  was 
sought  for  this  year  by  an  expedition  sent 
out  under  Capt.  Gibbons. 

1614.   March.   New  England  Named. 


1603-1630.] 

Capt.  John  Smith  and  Capt.  Thomas 
Hunt  sailing  in  two  vessels  from  England, 
explored  the  coast  from  Nova  Scotia  to 
Cape  Cod.  Capt.  Smith  made  a  map  of 
it  and  named  it  New  England.  The 
map  was  sent  by  him  to  Prince  Charles, 
and  the  name  grew  into  use.  Capt. 
Hunt  kidnapped  twenty-seven  natives, 
carried  them  to  Spain,  and  sold  them  as 
slaves.  Among  them  was  Squanto  who 
afterward  went  to  England  and  found 
his  way  back  to  America.  He  was  in 
the  service  of  the  Pilgrims  at  the  time  of 
his  death. 

1614.  Adriaen  Block  explored  Long 
Island  Sound  and  visited  Narragansett 
Bay  and  the  island  which  bears  his  name. 
It  lies  off  Montauk  Point  at  the  east  end 
of  Long  Island:  He  was  the  first  Euro- 
pean to  sail  through  the  rocky  channel  in 
East  River  known  as  Hellgate.  The 
vessel  in  which  he  made  his  trip  was 
built  by  him  at  Manhattan  Island,  and 
was  the  first  built  by  the  Dutch  in  Amer- 
ica. It  was*forty-four  and  one  half  feet 
long  by  eleven  and  one-half  feet  wide, 
and  was  of  sixteen  tons  burden.  Capt. 
Block  named  it  the  "Unrest."  Capt. 
Hendricksen  afterward  used  it  in  explor- 
ing the  Atlantic  coast.  The  brigantine 
built  by  the  Huguenots  at  Fort  Caroline, 
Florida,  fifty  years  before,  and  the  thirty 
ton  pinnace  built  by  the  Popham  colo- 
nists in  Maine  in  1607,  preceded  the 
"Unrest"  as  examples  of  larger  boat- 
building by  Europeans  upon  the  Atlantic 
coast  of  North  America.  Small  boats 
had  been  built  by  the  French  in  Nova 
Scotia.  The  brigantines  built  by  the 
Spanish  upon  the  Mississippi  at  the  death 
of  De  Soto,  and  the  staunch  vessel  in 
which  Orellana  made  his  trip  down  the 
Amazon,  are  examples  of  boat-building 
under  difficulties. 


THE  COMING  POWER. 


173 


1614.     Capt.  Cornelis  Jacobsen  Mey 

in  a  vessel  fitted  out  by  Amsterdam  mer- 
chants, explored  the  coast  from  Cape  Cod 
to  Delaware  Bay,  and  mapped  it  as  he 
went  along.  He  named  Cape  Henlopen. 

1614.  The  Trench  reestablished  them- 
selves in  Acadia,  and  increased  to 
some  extent  in  numbers  and  trade,  but 
the  Jesuits  made  no  more  direct  efforts 
to  colonize  the  region. 

1614.  Oct.  11.  After  the  return  of 
Capt.  Mey  the  "  New  Netherland  Com- 
pany "  received  a  charter  by  which  the 
exclusive  privileges  of  trade  for  three 
years  from  Jan.  i,  1615,  between  the 
fortieth  and  the  forty-fifth  degrees  of 
north  latitude  in  America,  were  conferred 
upon  it. 

1614.  The  Bermuda  Islands  were 
settled  by  the  English  under  a  charter 
from  James  I. 

1614.  A  theater  was  built  in  Lima, 
Peru,  and    must  have   been    the  first  or 
among  the  first  on  the  continent. 

1615.  A  northwest  passage  expedi- 
tion under  Capt.  Bylot  accompanied  by 
William  Baffin,  one  of  the  most  learned 
navigators  of  the  day,  sailed  from  Eng- 
land   and    entered    Hudson's    Strait   in 
order  to  search  the    bay  for  a  passage. 
At  the  approach  of  winter  the   expedi- 
tion turned  back  and  returned  to  Eng- 
land.    Capt.  Bylot  made  an  unfavorable 
report  on  the  prospects  of  success  by  the 
way  of  Hudson's  Bay.     Baffin  had  twice 
before  been  in  Greenland  seas. 

1615.  May.  First  Mass  in  Canada. 
Four  Franciscan  friars  of  the  Recollet 
branch  reached  Quebec  from  France  to 
propagate  the  Catholic  faith  and  convert 
New  France.  They  came  at  the  solici- 
tation of  Champlain  and  the  first  mas? 
ever  celebrated  in  Canada  was  upon  their 
arrival. 

10 


174 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


1615.  Forms  of  law  were  first  in- 
troduced into  Newfoundland  by  Capt. 
Richard  Whitbourne,  who  undertook  to 
correct  abuses  among  the  fishermen. 

1615.  San  Luis  de  Maranhao,  Brazil, 
was  taken  by  the  Portuguese  from 
the  French,  who  had  founded  it  in  the 
attempt  to  get  a  hold  on  the  country. 

1615.  Lake  Huron  and  the  Iroquois. 
Champlain,  Joseph  le  Caron,  one  of  the 
priests,  and  twelve  other  men  went  into 
the  upper  country    at   the    return  of  the 
Hurons   from  their   annual    sale   at   the 
Island  of  Montreal,  and  discovered  Lake 
Huron,  unless  the  young  man  who  had 
wintered  with  the  Hurons  in  a  previous 
year  discovered   it.     At    the    request   of 
the  Hurons  the  French  agreed  to  march 
.against  their  enemies,  the  Iroquois.    After 
much    delay    the    Iroquois   towns   were 
reached  but  the  allies  expected   by   the 
Hurons  failed  to  appear,  and  the  conquest 
was  given  up  after  some  skirmishing. 

1616.  Pocahontas,  her  husband  and 
a  few  friends  went  to  England  with  Sir 
Thomas  Dale,  and    were    received   with 
great  favor. 

1616.  A  sever  o  pestilence  raged 
1564-1616.  among  the  Indians  of  New 

Shcikespeare.      TT>        i         i  j        j  ,1 

1547-1616  England  and  during  the 

Cer-vantes.  next  two  or  three  years 
carried  off  many  hundreds  of  them.  The 
infancy  of  the  colony  at  Plymouth  was 
safer  from  harm  because  of  this  severe 
affliction  upon  the  natives. 

1616.  Richard  Vines,  sent  out  at 
the  expense  of  Sir  Fernando  Gorges, 
spent  the  winter  at  Saco  Bay,  Maine. 
During  the  sickness  of  the  Indians  this 
year  Vines  gained  their  greatest  regard 
by  tending  them  carefully  and  curing 
many  through  his  knowledge  of 
medicine. 

1616.     Baffin's    Bay    was   discovered 


this  year  by  William  Baffin,  the  eminent 
navigator  who  had  accompanied  Capt. 
Bylot  on  a  previous  voyage.  Bylot 
seems  to  have  been  with  Baffin  upon 
this  voyage.  They  were  sent  out  by  the 
same  men  each  time  upon  the  long  search 
after  a  northwest  passage.  Baffin  entered 
and  named  several  sounds,  including  Lan- 
caster, but  seems  never  to  have  suspected 
that  they  led  through  to  other  regions. 
He  therefore  upon  his  return  reported 
that  the  sheet  of  water  he  had  examined 
was  probably  entirely  inclosed  by  land, 
and  that  no  passage  could  be  found  in 
that  direction.  It  was  therefore  named 
Baffin's  Bay,  and  so  thoroughly  did  he 
convince  the  world  of  his  opinion  that 
for  two  hundred  years  no  effort  was  made 
in  that  quarter.  Many  efforts  were  s£ill 
made  in  Hudson's  Bay.  But  Baffin  had 
contributed  very  much  to  a  knowledge 
of  northern  waters. 

1616.  The  Amazon  was  descended 
in  a  canoe  by  two  monks  who  had  been 
persecuted  and  driven  from  their  missions 
in  Peru  by  the  Indians.  After  great  ter- 
ror they  finally  reached  Para. 

1616.  Cape  Horn  was  this  year  seen 
by  two  Dutch  navigators  named  Schouten 
and  Le  Maire. 

1617.  Richard    Vines   followed    up 
Saco  River  and  entered  Crawford  Notch, 
being  the  first  white  man  to  describe  the 
White  Mountains. 

POCAHONTAS. 

1617.  June.  Pocahontas  died  in  Eng- 
land at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years. 
The  change  in  climate  and  life  had  great- 
ly affected  her.  Her  chai'acter  is  among 
the  interesting  ones  of  early  American 
history.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Pow- 
hatan,  the  powerful  chief  of  the  Indians 
who  occupied  the  territory  to  the  west  of 


1603-1630.] 

Chesapeake  Bay.  The  most  notable 
thing  in  her  history,  though  some  histor- 
ical critics  cast  discredit  upon  it,  was  her 
successful  intervention  in  behalf  of  Capt. 
John  Smith  during  his  captivity  among 
her  father's  subjects.  She  afterward 
saved  the  lives  of  Richard  Wyffin  and 
Henry  Spillman.  She  performed  the 
same  kind  service  for  Capt.  Smith  again 
by  revealing  to  him  a  plot  for  the  de- 
struction of  himself  and  men.  She  was 
often  sent  by  her  father  with  messages  to 
Jamestown  and  became  exceedingly  well 
known  to  the  settlers.  Upon  a  visit  to 
Japazaws,  the  chief  of  the  Potomac  In- 
dians and  a  great  friend  of  the  English, 
Pocahontas  was  enticed  on  board  a  vessel 
under  Capt.  Argall,  taken  to  Jamestown 
as  a  prisoner,  and  held  as  a  hostage. 
Powhatan  was  informed  of  the  imprison- 
ment of  his  daughter,  and  requested  to 
restore  certain  English  prisoners  and 
arms.  The  old  chief  evaded  the  demand, 
and  Pocahontas  was  still  held  a  prisoner. 
During  this  time  she  became  acquainted 
with  a  worthy  young  Englishman  named 
John  Rolfe  with  whom  a  mutual  attach- 
ment was  formed,  which  resulted  in  an 
engagement  of  marriage.  Her  father 
very  willingly  gave  his  approval  and 
sent  her  uncle  Opachisco  and  two  of  her 
brothers  to  be  present  when  the  ceremony 
was  performed.  The  marriage  resulted 
in  the  lasting  friendship  of  Powhatan  for 
the  English.  In  England  Pocahontas 
was  received  with  much  attention,  and 
entered  the  society  of  the  most  distin- 
guished people  of  the  nation,  always  pre- 
serving her  native  modesty  and  grace. 
She  was  about  to  embark  for  America 
when  she  was  taken  sick  and  died  at 
Gravesend.  She  left  an  infant  son  named 
Thomas  Rolfe,  who  lived  in  London  and 
was  educated  by  his  uncle,  Henry  Rolfe. 


THE  COMING  POWER. 


175 


He  afterward  came  to  America  and  be- 
came a  wealthy  and  influential  citizen. 
The  Randolphs  and  others  of  Virginia 
claim  descent  from  the  Indian  princess. 

POWHATAN. 

1618.  April.  Powhatan,  the  father 
of  Pocahontas,  died  at  an  advanced  age. 
His  original  name  was  Wahinsonacock. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  powerful  sachems 
connected  with  the  early  history  of  the 
United  States.  His  rule  covered  most  of 
the  territory  now  embraced  within  the 
States  of  Maryland  and  Virginia.  He 
had  residences  in  different  parts  of  his 
country  and  changed  his  abode  at  differ- 
ent seasons  of  the  year.  In  his  council 
house  at  Werowocomoco  he  had  a  throne 
erected  upon  which,  on  important  occa- 
sions, he  would  sit  dressed  in  his  robe  of 
skins,  with  a  crown  of  feathers  upon  his 
head  and  a  bodyguard  of  fifty  warriors 
about  his  person. 

At  the  time  of  his  first  acquaintance 
with  the  English  in  1607,  he  was  about 
sixty  years  of  age.  He  was  tall  and 
well-proportioned,  with  a  body  capable  of 
enduring  great  fatigue.  His  hair  was 
beginning  to  turn  gray,  and  gave  him  a 
venerable  and  majestic  appearance.  In 
all  his  dealings  with  the  English  he  pre- 
served a  dignity  of  bearing  arising  from 
his  royal  office,  even  while  displaying  a 
great  deal  of  shrewdness.  Powhatan 
showed  his  friendliness  to  the  English  by 
sending  them  articles  of  food,  of  which 
the  settlers  were  greatly  in  need.  If  the 
English  had  used  good  judgment  they 
could  have  kept  on  good  terms  with  this 
powerful  king  and  received  much  assist-, 
ance  from  him  as  well  as  prevented  the 
horrible  massacre  which  followed  in  later 
years.  Their  conduct  was  so  ill-advised 
and  often  so  unjust,  that  they  were  con- 


176 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


tinually  in  trouble  with  him.  Two  or 
three  times  Powhatan  planned  war 
against  the  English,  but  without  result. 
At  one  time  an  accident  occurred  which 
had  a  great  effect  upon  him.  Some  of 
his  men  had  obtained  powder  from  the 
English  and  were  experimenting  with  it 
when  a  powerful  explosion  suddenly  took 
place  and  killed  several.  This  so  greatly 
increased  Powhatan's  reverence  for  the 
English  or  fear  of  them,  that  he  sought 
peace  and  sent  to  the  colony  nearly  half 
his  crop  of  corn. 

On  the  death  of  Powhatan,  his  brother 
Opechancanough  succeeded  to  the  throne 
in  accordance  with  the  custom  by  which 
a  brother  takes  precedence  over  a  son  as 
heir  of  the  kingdom. 

SIR  WALTER  RdLEIGH. 

1618.  Oct.  29.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh 
having  been  arrested  by  the  English 
government,  was  beheaded,  and  thus 
closed  his  long  series  of  efforts  to  promote 
the  colonization  of  the  world.  His  death 
is  one  of  the  dark  spots  in  English  his- 
tory. No  student  of  American  history 
ought  to  pass  without  stopping  to  vener- 
ate the  man  who  did  so  much  to  make 
colonization  upon  a  surer  basis  in  the 
New  World  possible.  He  was  one  of 
those  broad-minded  men  whose  interest 
in  the  settlement  of  America  was  of  a 
higher  sort  than  that  which  characterized 
the  adventurers  of  the  period.  His  life 
which  exhibited  remarka- 

1618.  Circulation 

of  the  blood  dis-    ble  scholarship  and  qualities 

covered  by  Qf  characfer    js  ygj-  a  record 

Harvey.  J 

1618-1649.  Thirty    of     the     apparent     defeat 

years' war  be-  ^^  j  j 

ttveen  Protest- 
ants and  Catko-     some   of   the   best  men   in 
lies  of  Germany.    the  world<     He  was  at  dif- 
ferent times  banished  from  the  English 
court,  and   wrote  his  celebrated  History 


of  the  World  during  an  imprisonment  of 
twelve  years  in  the  Tower.  He  visited 
the  coast  of  South  America  twice.  His 
connection  with  the  Roanoke  colony  is 
an  entirely  honorable  one,  and  the  nature 
of  his  plans  is  visible  in  his  undertakings. 
He  deserves  to  be  written  among  the 
founders  of  America. 

1618.  Garcia   de   Nodales   was   the 
first  navigator  to  sail  completely  round 
the  island  of  Terra  del  Fuego,  and  thus 
proved  that  this  land  was  at  the  southern 
end  of  the  American  continent. 

1619.  A  northwest  passage  expedi- 
tion was  sent  out  by    Christian   IV.  of 
Denmark,  under  Jens    Munk,  an  emi- 
nent sailor,  with  two  vessels   and  fifty- 
three  men.     Hudson's  Bay  was  explored,, 
and  the  winter  was  spent  there.     Famine 
and  sickness  left  at  last  only  three  men 
alive.     These  found  a  plant  which  could 
be  eaten  with  good   effect,   and   finally 
they  reached  home  in  the  smaller  vessel, 

1619.  July  30.  The  first  colonial 
assembly  ever  called  in  America  assem- 
bled at  Jamestown.  It  consisted  of  the 
governor,  a  newly  appointed  council,  and 
twenty-two  representatives  from  eleven 
boroughs,  into  which  the  colony  wa& 
divided.  This  was  the  beginning  of  leg- 
islative liberty  on  this  continent,  and  in- 
troduced a  long  period  of  constitution 
forming.  The  assembly  proceeded  to" 
business  after  a  very  solemn  inauguration. 

1619.  A  "hundred  jail-birds"  were 
transported  from  England  to  Jamestown 
at  the  command  of  the  king,  and  were 
sold  to  the  planters  for  service.  This  is 
the  first  recorded  transportation  of  con- 
victs from  England. 

SALE  OF  JOUXG  WOMEN. 

1619.  On  account  of  the  great  in- 
crease in  the  number  of  emigrants  to 


1603-1630.] 


THE  COMING  POWER. 


177 


Jamestown  and  in  the  capability  of  self- 
support  through  private  property,  the 
London  company  secured  ninety  young 
women  suitable  for  wives,  and  sent  them 
out  to  the  colony,  where  they  were  bought 
by  the  planters  at  one  hundred  pounds  of 
tobacco  apiece,  to  pay  the  cost  of  passage. 
They  were  speedily  settled  in  a  satisfac- 
tory manner,  and  rendered  homes  a  pos- 
sibility. The  price  afterward  went  up  to 
one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  tobacco 
apiece.  Within  a  year  or  two  the  com- 
pany sent  out  others  and  disposed  of  them 
in  the  same  way,  much  to  the  happiness 
of  the  colony.  This  transaction  changed 
many  an  adventurer  into  a  citizen.  Vir- 
ginia now  began  to  be  a  genuine  colony. 
A  similar  event  will  be  found  a  little 
later,  in  the  history  of  Canada. 

HEXRICO  COLLEGE. 
1620.  The  London  company  set 
apart  one  thousand  acres  on  the  James 
River,  Virginia,  for  the  endowment  of  a 
college  for  the  Indians  and  settlers,  to  be 
known  as  Henrico  College.  Money 
was  raised  in  England  and  invested  in 
iron  works,  the  first  on  this  continent, 
which  were  established  near  Jamestown. 
Forty  famed  workmen  were  sent  out 
from  England  to  carry  them  on.  More 
workmen  were  afterward  sent.  The 
works  began  cleansing  the  bog-iron  ore 
of  the  region  by  the  use  of  charcoal. 


1620.  August.  Twenty  negroes  were 
brought  into  Jamestown  and  sold  for 
slaves,  by  a  Dutch  captain.  The  intro- 
duction of  slavery  within  the  English 
colonies  almost  coincides  with  the  landing 
of  the  Pilgrims  in  their  attempt  to  gain 
civil  and  religious  liberty. 

1620.  Nov.  3.  "Council  of  Ply- 
mouth." The  Plymouth  company  gained 

12 


their  "great  patent"  entirely    im  Tk^mome. 
distinct  from  the  charter  of    ters  invented  by 

xu      -\r-        •     •  '  Drebel. 

the  Virginia  company,  giv- 
ing them  exclusive  powers  of  all  kinds 
over  the  territory  from  the  forty -first  to 
the  forty-eighth  degree  of  latitude.  Un- 
der the  original  charter  the  London  and 
Plymouth  companies  had  been  substan- 
tially two  portions  of  one  company, 
separately  organized,  that  two  distinct 
settlements  might  be  made,  one  in  the 
northern,  the  other  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  territory  named  therein.  The 
London  or  Virginia  company  obtained 
a  separation  in  its  second  charter  in  1609. 
The  Plymouth  company  now  obtained 
the  same  in  spite  of  objections  made  by 
the  London  company,  whose  members 
wished  to  retain  a  hold  upon  the  fishing 
along  the  New  England  coast.  A  sepa- 
rate charter  was  given,  and  no  rights  left 
in  common  for  the  two  companies  to 
quarrel  about.  The  Plymouth  company 
now  became  known  as  the  "  Council  of 
Plymouth  for  New  England." 

THE  PILGRIMS. 

The  second  permanent  English  colony 
in  the  New  World  was  to  be  of  a  pecu- 
liar sort.  It  was  composed  not  of  people 
sent  out  by  England  for  the  sake  of  ex- 
tending her  empire  or  bringing  riches 
into  her  treasury,  but  of  people  driven 
out  from  her  because  of  their  religious 
principles.  The  troubles  of  English 
Protestantism  had  been .  growing  up  for 
many  years.  A  large  body  of  people  in 
the  Church  of  England  came  to  think 
that  her  purity  and  spiritual  life  were 
of  a  very  low  order.  The  spirit  and 
forms  of  public  worship,  the  widespread 
disregard  for  the  Sabbath,  led  them  in 
many  cases  to  earnest  remonstrance. 
Agitation  began,  and  these  people  soon 


178 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


came  to  be  called  Puritans.  They  did 
not  wish  to  separate  from  the  Church 
of  England,  because  they  believed  that 
the  State  had  supreme  authority  in 
matters  of  religion.  But  they  wished  to 
cleanse  the  service  of  religion.  Persecu- 
tions arose  and  many  of  them  suffered 
because  they  would  not  conform  to  the 
ritualistic  and  other  demands  made  upon 
them.  A  few  Puritans  at  last,  because 
of  their  persecutions,  began  to  question 
the  right  of  government  to  limit  worship 
in  any  way.  It  seems  to  have  set  them 
to  thinking  deeply.  They  soon  began  to 
hold  that  any  body  of  Christians  can 
constitute  themselves  a  church  without 
the  authority  of  government.  Thus  an 
inner  circle  grew  up  in  the  great  body 
of  Puritans.  The  members  of  it  began 
to  be  known  as  Separatists,  and  upon 
them  fell  the  heaviest  persecutions. 
They  were  searched  out  and  imprisoned. 
Small  companies  worshiped  in  different 
places,  but  at  last  many  escaped  to  Hol- 
land, where  they  were  permitted  to 
worship  in  peace.  The  Pilgrims,  who 
believed  thoroughly  in  separation  before 
they  came  to  America,  must  be  carefully 
distinguished  from  the  Puritans  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  who  were  not  led  by  the 
logic  of  events  to  such  a  plain  assertion, 
until  by  the  work  of  founding  a  new 
state,  they  were  made  to  see  the  true 
course  for  them  to  take,  and  dropped 
naturally  into  an  independent  church 
government.  In  Holland  the  Separatists 
did  not  feel  at  home.  They  were  sur- 
rounded by  a  strange  world,  and  longed 
to  get  away  from  it.  Hence  they  under- 
took to  come  to  America.  After  consid- 
erable effort  they  obtained  a  grant  from 
the  London,  now  known  as  the  Virginia, 
company  taken  out  in  the  name  of  Mr. 
John  Wincob,  "  a  religious  gentleman 


belonging  to  the  Countess  of  Lincoln." 
He  intended  to  accompany  them.  They 
also  made  a  contract  with  the  men  who 
were  to  bear  the  expense  of  the  voyage 
for  a  return  of  the  profits  of  the  colony 
for  a  certain  time  and  proportion.  They 
also  obtained  the  verbal  promise  of  the 
king  that  if  they  conducted  themselves 
peaceably,  they  should  not  be  molested. 
The  grant  was  however  of  no  use  to  them 
in  the  New  World,  because  they  did  not 
land  within  the  limits  of  the  company 
which  gave  it.  They  were  in  the  terri- 
tory of  the  Plymouth,  not  the  Virginia 
company.  A  portion  of  John  Robinson's 
church  in  Leyden,  Holland,  sailed  from 
Delft-Haven  for  America  in  the  May- 
flower and  the  Speedwell.  The  latter 
was  afterward  sent  back.  The  May- 
flower of  one  hundred  and  eighty  tons 
kept  on,  and  after  a  time  reached,  the 
shores  of  Cape  Cod. 

1620.  Nov.  21.  The  Mayflower 
arrived  in  Cape  Cod  harbor,  where  the 
Pilgrims  went  ashore.  Some  of  them 
explored  the  country  around,  while  the 
women  busied  themselves  in  washing  the 
clothes  of  the  company,  and  in  kindred 
duties.  A  child  named  Oceanus  Hopkins 
had  been  born  at  sea  and  another  named 
Peregrine  White  was  born  during  the 
stay  at  Cape  Cod.  Before  any  landed- 
the  celebrated  compact  of  civil  liberty 
was  drawn  up  and  signed  in  the  cabin 
of  the  Mayflower  by  the  forty-one  male 
adults.  It  reads  as  follows: 

"In  the  name  of  God,  amen.  We, 
whose  names  are  underwritten,  the  loyal 
subjects  of  our  dread  sovereign  lord  King 
James  by  the  grace  of  God,  of  Great 
Britain,  France  and  Ireland,  King,  De- 
fender of  the  Faith,  etc.,  having  under- 
taken for  the  glory  of  God  and  the 
advancement  of  the  Christian  faith  and 


1603-1630.] 


THE  COMING  POWER. 


179 


honor  of  our  King  and  country,  a  voyage 
to  plant  the  first  colony  in  the  northern 
parts  of  Virginia,  do  by  these  presents 
solemnly  and  mutually  in  the  presence 
of  God  and  of  one  another,  covenant  and 
combine  ourselves  together  into  a  civil 
body  politic  for  our  better  ordering  and 
preservation,  and  furtherance  of  the  ends 


the  year  of  the  reign  of  our  sovereign 
lord,  King  James  of  England,  France 
and  Ireland,  the  eighteenth,  and  of  Scot- 
land the  fifty-fourth  Anno  Domini  1620." 

Under  this  compact  John  Carver  was 
chosen  governor  for  one  year.  Miles 
Standish  was  chosen  military  captain. 

1620.    Dec.  21.    The  Pilgrims  landed 


LANDING  OF   TUB  PILGRIMS. 


aforesaid ;  and  by  virtue  hereof  to  enact, 
constitute  and  frame  such  just  and  equal 
laws,  ordinances,  acts,  constitutions  and 
offices  from  time  to  time  as  shall  be 
thought  most  meet  and  convenient  for 
the  general  good  of  the  colony;  unto 
which  we  promise  all  due  submission  and 
obedience.  In  witness  whereof  we  have 
hereunder  subscribed  ouV  names  at  Cape 
Cod  this  eleventh  day  of  November  in 


on  Plymouth  Rock,  and  at  once 
began  a  settlement.  The  first 
foot  which  touched  the  rock  is 
said  to  have  been  that  of  Mary 
Chilton,  a  young  woman.  They  did 
not  all  land  the  first  day.  The  work 
of  putting  up  some  shelter  from  the  cold 
and  stormy  weather,  began  at  once. 
Nineteen  plots  of  land  were  laid  out  near 
together,  and  hasty  dwellings  erected. 
They  were  soon  living  in  their  new 
homes.  A  new  state  was  born.  Town 
meetings  were  held  from  the  very  first  to 
decide  mutual  affairs  under  their  compact. 
Sickness  began  to  multiply.  The  first 
year  of  their  abode  in  the  wilderness  was 
to  be  made  dark  by  the  death  of  half 
their  number. 


180 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


1621.  March  16.  First  Indian  at 
Plymouth.  An  Indian  named  Samoset 
appeared  at  Plymouth  and  entered  the 
little  settlement  saying,  "  Welcome,  Eng- 
lishmen." His  coming  caused  terror  at 
1561-1621.  first,  but  this  was  dissipated 

Fronds  Paeon,  by  his  friendly  bearing. 
He  had  been  acquainted  with  English 
fishermen  upon  the  coast  of  Maine,  and 
gave  the  Pilgrims  much  information. 

1621.  March.  First  Offence  at  Ply- 
mouth. John  Billington  spoke  with  dis- 
respect of  the  lawful  authority  of  the 
captain,  and  was  adjudged  by  the  whole 
company  in  town  meeting  "  to  have  his 
neck  and  heels  tied  together." 

1621.  April  1.  Indian  Fidelity.  A 
league  was  formed  by  the  Plymouth 
settlers  with  Massasoit,  chief  of  the 
Wampanoags,  and  was  not  broken  for 
more  than  fifty  years. 

DEATH  OF  GOF.  CARVER. 

1621.  April  6.  John  Carver,  gov- 
ernor of  Plymouth,  having  been  taken 
sick  in  the  field  during  planting,  died 
after  a  short  illness,  less  than  four  months 
from  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims.  He 
was  a  man  upon  whom  the  Pilgrims  had 
learned  to  lean  with  a  great  confidence  in 
his  skill  and  prudence.  He  was  born  in 
England,  and  spent  an  uneventful  life  in 
his  younger  years.  He  was  one  of  the 
number  who,  for  the  sake  of  religious 
opinions  fled  to  Holland,  and  had  much 
to  do  in  making  the  arrangements  by 
which  the  colonists  were  enabled  to  cross 
the  water.  Upon  arrival  at  Cape  Cod 
he  was  elected  governor  of  the  little  state 
which  was  born  in  the  cabin  of  the  May- 
flower at  the  signing  of  the  compact. 
Dying  so  soon,  he  saw  nothing  of  its 
growth.  Hardships  were  pinching  the 
settlers,  and  sickness  depleting  their  num- 


ber. They  could  ill  afford  to  lose  a  man 
like  John  Carver.  Great  unselfishness 
and  childlike  piety  marked  his  everyday 
life.  He  was  always  ready  to  do  any- 
thing to  help  the  members  of  the  colony,, 
laboring  with  his  own  hands  for  their 
good,  as  he  was  needed.  His  property 
had  been  freely  spent  for  the  colonv. 
His  wife  died  about  six  weeks  later. 
William  Bradford  was  chosen  governor 
of  the  colony. 

1621.  May  12.  The  first  wedding  in 
Plymouth  took  place  between  Edward 
Winslow  and  Mrs.  Susanna  White. 

1621.  Courtship  of  Miles  Standish. 
It  was  in  the  spring  of  this  year  that  the 
courtship  made  famous  by  the  poet  Long- 
fellow, took  place.  Mrs.  Rose  Standish 
had  died  soon  after  the  arrival  of  the 
little  colony.  The  impetuous  Capt. 
Miles  had  been  dreary  and  lonesome  all 
winter.  So  one  day  he  sent  the  young 
John  Alden,  his  friend,  to  make  an  offer 
of  marriage  for  him  to  Priscilla  Mullens,. 
a  comely  Pilgrim  maiden.  When  she 
had  heard  the  request  of  the  Plymouth 
captain  presented  and  enforced  by  the 
lips  of  the  trusty  messenger,  she  looked 
the  bashful  young  man  archly  in  the  face 
and  said,  "  Prithee,  John,  why  do  you 
not  speak  for  yourself  ?"  The  messen- 
ger blushed  and  retired,  because  he. 
would  not  even  seem  to  be  untrue  to  the 
one  who  had  sent  him,  but  before  long 
an  understanding  was  arrived  at  between 
the  young  people,  and  in  course  of  time 
a  happy  wedding  took  place. 

1621.  June  18.  The  First  Duel  in 
New  England.  Prince,  in  his  chro- 
nology of  Plymouth  says,  "  The  second 
offence  is  the  first  duel  fought  in  New 
England  upon  a  challenge  of  single 
combat  with  sword  and  dagger  between 
Edward  Doty  and  Edward  Leister,  ser- 


1603-1630.] 


THE  COMING  PO  WER. 


181 


vants  of  Mr.  Hopkins;  both  being 
wounded,  the  one  in  the  hand,  and  the 
other  in  the  thigh,  they  are  adjudged 
by  the  whole  company  to  have  their 
head  and  feet  tied  together,  and  so  to 
lie  for  twenty-four  hours  without  meat 
or  drink,  which  is  begun  to  be  inflicted, 
but  within  an  hour,  because  of  their  great 
pains,  at  their  own  and  their  master's 
humble  request,  upon  promise  of  better 
carnage,  they  are  released  by  the  gov- 
ernor." Edward  Leister,  at  the  close  of 
his  apprenticeship  to  Mr.  Hopkins,  re- 
moved to  Virginia. 

1621.  July  24.  A  written  consti- 
tution, the  first  in  America,  was  pre- 
pared for  the  Jamestown  colony,  provid- 
ing for  a  legislative  body  and  for  trial  by 
jury,  as  in  England.  This  led  the  way 
in  the  development  of  political  constitu- 
tions in  this  country.  Cotton  seeds  were 
first  planted  this  year  as  an  experiment, 
and  succeeded  so  well  that  the  culture 
rapidly  increased.  The  heavy  duties  on 
the  tobacco  imported  into  England, 
which  had  been  laid  to  discourage  to- 
bacco cultivation  led  the  Virginia  compa- 
ny to  send  their  cargoes  of  it  to  Holland. 
The  English  government  decreed  at  once 
that  "  no  tobacco  or  other  productions  of 
the  colonies  should  henceforth  be  carried 
into  any  foreign  port  until  they  were  first 
landed  in  England  and  the  customs  paid." 
Hemp -rope  making  had  been  enjoined 
upon  the  colonists  a  short  time  before, 
and  in  Jamestown  the  rope-making  of 
the  country  originated. 

1621.  George  Calvert,  Lord  Balti- 
more, an  English  Roman  Catholic  no- 
bleman, was  made  proprietor  by  King 
James  of  a  portion  of  Newfoundland. 
He  sent  out  a  colony  which  erected  build- 
ings for  him  at  a  cost  of  £25,000.  He 
<lid  not  visit  the  colony  till  1625. 


1621.    Origin  of  Thanksgiving.    The 

harvest  having  been  abundant  at  Ply- 
mouth, a  festival  of  Thanksgiving  was 
appointed  and  held.  Massasoit  and  some 
of  his  followers  joined  in  the  occasion  by 
invitation  of  the  Pilgrims.  Half  of  the 
company  had  died  since  the  landing,  but 
the  hope  of  a  good  home  in  the  New 
World  was  now  strong  in  the  remainder. 
Three  days  were  occupied  with  the  fes- 
tivities. 

1621.  Nov.  10.  The  "  Fortune"  ar- 
rived at  Plymouth  from  England  with 
thirty-five  colonists  on  board.  It  brought 
also  a  letter  in  the  form  of  a  "patent" 
from  the  new  "  Council  for  New  Eng- 
land." This  patent  was  issued  for  John 
Pierce  and  associates,  and  was  the  first 
one  which  the  Council  had  granted.  It 
had  been  obtained  by  friends  of  the  Pil- 
grims when  it  was  known  that  the  col- 
ony had  settled  on  lands  subject  to  that 
company. 

1621.  Nova  Scotia,  comprising  the 
present  territory  known  by  that  name, 
and  the  adjacent  regions  to  the  St.  Law- 
rence, was  given  by  a  grant  to  Sir  Wil- 
liam Alexander  for  colonization,  but  the 
design  never  resulted  in  anything. 

1621.  Dec.  12.     The  first  American 
sermon  ever   printed    was   preached   in 
Plymouth  by  Robert  Cushman  upon  the 
"  Sin  and  Danger  of  Self-love."     It  was 
afterward  published  in  London. 

1622.  March  22.     Indian  Massacre 
at  Jamestown.     The  Indians  seeing  the 
increase  of  the  English,  and  irritated  at 
the  prospective  overthrow  of  their  own 
race,  fell  upon  the  settlements  at  midday 
and  massacred  three  hundred  and  forty- 
seven  persons.     Further  destruction  was 
prevented,  but  the  interests  of  the  colony 
were  greatly  damaged,  and  It  was  a  long 
time  before  the  recovery  was  complete. 


182 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


The  university  estate  and  iron  -  works 
were  devastated.  The  iron-workers 
were  killed  and  the  business  was  not  re- 
sumed till  1712. 

1622.  Western's  Weymouth  Colony. 
Robert  Weston  planted  a  colony  of  idle, 
dissolute  fellows  at  Weymouth,  Mass., 
but  the  whole  undertaking  was  broken 
up  within  a  year  by  the  hostility  of  the 
Indians,  whom  the  colonists  treated  un- 
justly. 

1622.  The  first  European  settlement 
in  Uruguay,  S.  A.,  was  made  by  Spanish 
Jesuits. 

1622.  Aug.  10.  Laconia.  The  ter- 
ritory between  the  Merrimac  and  Kenne- 
bec  rivers  was  granted  by  the  "  Council 
for  New  England"  to  Sir  Ferdinand 
Gorges  and  John  Mason,  who  named  it 
Laconia.  The  territory  of  the  grant 
contained  a  part  of  the  present  States  of 
Maine  and  New  Hampshire. 

1622.  Dec.  13.  Robert  Gorges,  son 
of  Sir  Ferdinand,  obtained  a  grant  of  ter- 
ritory extending  ten  miles  in  length  on 
the  coast  of  Massachusetts  Bay  and 
thirty  miles  inland. 

1622.  December.      Squanto,  or  Tis- 
quantum    as    he   was    sometimes   called, 
died  of  a  severe  sickness  while  attempting 
to  pilot  a  boat  from    Plymouth    Colony 
through  the  shoals   of  Cape  Cod.     This 
Indian  was  one  of  the  number  kidnapped 
by  Capt.  William  Hunt  or  more  probably 
by    Weymouth,  some    years   before   the 
Pilgrims  landed    in    America.     He  with 
the  others  was  taken  to  Spain  and  sold. 
Of  the  twenty-seven,  Squanto  alone  ever 
came   to   the    New    World    again.     He 
served  the  Plymouth  Colony  at  different 
times  with  great  apparent  friendliness. 

1623.  End  of  the  Weymouth  Colony. 
Capt.    Standish   with    a    company    from 
Plymouth,    rescued    the    settlement     at 


Weymouth  from  impending  destruction 
by  the  Indians.  But  the  colony  was 
abandoned.  It  did  not  have  the  ele- 
ments of  success  in  it.  The  destitution 
of  the  settlers  had  been  very  severe  at 
the  last.  They  had  subsisted  on  roots 
and  clams.  Many  times  they  had  come 
near  starving.  Some  of  the  people  went 
to  England,  and  some  to  Plymouth. 

1623.  July.  First  Fast  Day.  A 
drought  had  set  in  this  summer  long  and 
severe.  There  had  been  no  rain  for 
weeks,  and  the  crops  were  all  in  danger. 
The  people  became  very  anxious,  for 
they  very  well  knew  that  they  could  not 
sustain  themselves  without  a  successful 
season.  A  day  of  fasting  and  prayer 
was  entered  upon.  The  most  of  it  con- 
tinued clear  and  hot.  But  after  eight  or 
nine  hours  clouds  appeared,  a  gentle  rain 
set  in,  and  saturated  everything.  The 
result  had  a  great  effect  on  certain 
friendly  Indians. 

1623.  A  second  "patent"  was  ob- 
tained by  John  Pierce  from  the  "  Coun- 
cil for  New  England,"  for  the  col- 
ony at  Plymouth.  He  found  that  the 
settlement  was  likely  to  be  a  success  and 
hoped  by  this  patent  to  secure  it  to  him- 
self as  a  peculiar  property  by  a  sort 
of  feudal  tenure.  He  soon  sold  out  his 
rights  however  to  the  company,  because, 
of  loss  which  he  incurred  in  trying  to 
get  to  America.  The  ship  he  fitted  up 
and  set  sail  in  was  twice  driven  back  by 
tempests  for  repairs.  Having  finally 
crossed  the  ocean  it  reached  the  Piscata- 
qua  River,  N.  H.,  in  poor  condition.  It 
was  commanded  by  William  Pierce. 
John  Pierce  was  on  board  and  having 
returned  to  England  in  her,  made  over 
his  patent  to  the  company. 

1623.  Sept.  10.  The  Ann,  of  one 
hundred  and  forty  tons,  was  loaded  at 


1603-1630.] 

Plymouth  with  clapboards  for  England. 
These  were  among  the  first  exports  of 
the  colony. 

1623.  William  Blackstone  was  the 
first  white  man  to  settle  on  the  present 
site  of  Boston.  After  the  coming  of  the 
Puritans  he  sold  out  and  removed  to 
Rhode  Island.  It  is  said  that  Blackstone 
held  negro  slaves. 

1623.  Dover  and  Portsmouth,  N.  H., 
were  occupied  this  year  by  fishing 
villages  which  were  founded  in  the  inter- 
ests of  Gorges  and  Mason,  the  proprietors. 
Kittery  and  other  settlements  in  Maine 
were  begun. 

1623.  Walloon  Settlers.  The  Dutch 
West  India  Company  sent  out  Walloon 
settlers  who  were  Protestant  refugees 
of  French  descent,  to  colonize  New 
Netherland.  They  formed  the  first  real 
colonies  at  Manhattan  Island  and  Albany. 
They  also  settled  on  the  Delaware  River 
at  what  they  called  Fort  Nassau,  but 
are  supposed  to  have  given  up  this 
attempt  within  a  year  in  order  to  reen- 
force  the  colony  at  Manhattan  Island, 
which  contained  only  about  two  hundred 
persons.  The  first  Dutch  child  of  Ameri- 
can birth  was  born  this  year.  The  first 
worship  ever  held  at  New  Amsterdam 
as  the  settlement  on  Manhattan  Island 
was  afterward  called,  was  conducted 
very  soon  by  two  "  krank-besoeckers " 
or  "  comforters  of  the  sick,"  named 
Sebastian  Jansen  Krol  and  Jan  Huyck. 
They  began  their  work  by  holding  a 
meeting  of  the  people  on  Sunday  in  a 
room  up-stairs  in  a  horse-mill.  The 
service  consisted  of  the  reading  of  the 
Scriptures,  and  the  creeds.  There  was 
no  dominie  or  minister  as  yet. 

1623.  Germs  of  Literature.  George 
Sandys  of  Virginia  translated  Ovid's 
Metamorphoses,  the<  first  literary  work 


THE  COMING  POWER. 


183 


done  in  the  English  American  colonies. 
The  translation  was  published  in 
London. 

1623.  Silk  Culture  in  Virginia.  The 
legislature  of  Virginia  passed  an  order 
for  all  settlers  to  plant  mulberry  trees. 
This  was  a  part  of  the  attempt  to  turn 
attention  from  tobacco  raising  to  other 
products. 

1623.  St.    Christopher,  one   of    the 
Leeward    Islands,     was    settled    by    an 
English    colony     under     Sir      Thomas 
Warner,  the  first  English  colony  in  the 
West  Indies.     Within  a  very  short  time 
a  French  colony  settled   on   the   island, 
and  trouble  soon  arose.     At  last  it  was 
agreed  to  maintain  a  neutrality  and  make 
the  island  mutual  ground. 

1624.  The   London    Company    was 
dissolved    by    King  James,  who   made 
Virginia    a    royal    province,     the    first 
English    royal    province     in     America. 
This    step    was    taken   because   of   the 
increase  of  popular  power  in  the  govern- 
ment of  the  province  since    1619.     The 
king    appointed  a  governor  and  twelve 
councillors  to  take  entire  charge  of  the 
colony. 

1624.  Land  at  Plymouth.  Up  to 
this  time  the  colonists  had  been  appointed 
a  little  piece  of  land  each  year  for  culti- 
vation individually.  This  spring  an  acre 
was  set  apart  for  each  one  to  possess  as 
private  property.  The  amount  was  pur- 
posely small  to  prevent  the  wide  scatter- 
ing of  the  colonists,  which  would  weaken 
the  settlement  in  time  of  danger.  In 
1627  larger  amounts  were  given  to  each 
one  in  a  family.  Each  lot  of  that  date 
consisted  of  twenty  acres,  and  had  five 
acres  water-front. 

1624.  Religious  Trouble.  John 
Lyford,  an  Episcopal  minister,  arrived 
at  Plymouth,  and  in  connection  with 


184 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


John  Oldham  began  to  cause  an  agi- 
tation over  religious  faith  and  worship. 
They  were  soon  expelled  from  the 
colony. 

1624.  Nov.  5.  First  Great  Fire  at 
Plymouth.  Several  houses  were  burned 
together  with  an  amount  of  goods  and 
provisions.  The  storehouse  was  in 
danger,  but  was  saved.  It  was  after- 
ward found  that  incendiaries  had  tried  to 
communicate  the  fire  to  it.  Swine  and 
neat  cattle  were  first  imported  into  Ply- 
mouth this  year. 

1624.  Callao,  Peru,  was  besieged  for 
five  months  by  a  famous  English  bucca- 
neer named  Clark,  but  he  was  unable  to 
capture  it. 

1625.  Lord   Baltimore   removed    to 
his  Newfoundland  colony,  but  was  greatly 
disappointed  in  the  climate  and  soil. 

1625.  Jesuits  in  New  France. 
Montmorency,  viceroyal  governor  of 
Canada,  sold  his  claim  to  his  nephew  the 
Duke  de  Ventadour,  who  was  a  Jesuit. 
Three  Jesuit  priests,  Charles  Lalemant, 
Ennemond  Masse  and  Jean  de  Brebeuf, 
were  sent  out  and  joined  the  colony  at 
Quebec.  They  were  at  first  inhospitably 
received,  but  soon  gained  a  foothold  and 
acquired  power.  Brebeuf  spent  the  first 
winter  among  the  Algonquin  Indians. 

1625.  Sheep  and  swine  were  intro- 
duced into  the  Dutch  colonies  at  Man- 
hattan Island. 

1625.     Barbadoes,  W.  I.,  was  settled 

by  an  English  colony  of  forty  whites  and 

seven     negroes.     The   set- 

1625-1660. 

Charles  i.  King  tlement  was  named  James- 
of  England.  town  and  flourished  rapidly. 
The  island  has  always  remained  in  the 
possession  of  the  English.  No  other 
country  in  the  world  save  Malta  has  so 
many  inhabitants  to  the  square  mile.  It 
has  an  area  of  166  square  miles  and 


160,000  or    more    inhabitants,   or   about 
1,000  to  a  mile. 

1626.  May  4.  Peter  Minuit,  who 
had  been  appointed  governor  of  New 
Netherland  under  the  newly  established 
director-generalship  for  that  province, 
landed  at  Manhattan  Island.  He  very 
soon  succeeded  in  buying  the  island, 
which  contained  about  twenty-two 
thousand  acres,  from  the  Indians,  for 
sixty  guilders,  or  twenty-four  dollars. 
The  place  was  now  named  New  Ams- 
terdam, and  soon  became  the  important 
point  for  New  Netherland  trade.  Long 
Island  began  to  be  settled  by  the 
Dutch  this  year.  The  cultivation  of 
buckwheat  was  introduced  in  America  at 
Manhattan  Island.  Slavery  began  at 
this  time  in  New  Netherland. 

1626.  Indian  Missions.  Jean  de 
Brebeuf,  one  of  the  Jesuit  priests  of 
Canada  went  from  Quebec  on  a  mission 
among  the  Huron  Indians  who  lived 
near  the  lake  of  that  name.  He  re- 
mained in  the  region  three  years  without 
any  special  results. 

1626.  "Merry  Mount."  Thomas 
Morton,  a  lawyer,  obtained  power  in  a 
colony  settled  by  Capt.  Wollaston  at 
what  is  now  Wollaston  Heights  near 
Boston,  and  led  the  settlers  into  all  kinds 
of  revelry  among  themselves  and  with 
the  Indians.  He  named  the  place  "Merry 
Mount."  A  maypole  was  ^Barometers 
erected,  around  which  the  invented  by  Tor- 
drinking  and  dancing  were  rlcell>- 
held.  This  went  on  for  a  couple  of  years 
when  in  the  autumn  of  1628  John  Encli- 
cott  visited  the  place  from  Salem,  cut 
down  the  pole,  and  named  the  place  Mt. 
Dagon.  Morton  had  also  introduced 
guns  and  powder  among  the  Indians,  con- 
trary to  the  advice  of  the  other  settle- 
ments. He  was  subsequently  arrested 


1603-1630.] 

and  sent  to  England  for  trial,  but  was 
acquitted.  He  was  ever  after  a  dissolute 
man.  He  came  to  Boston  and  was  im- 
prisoned, and  finally  died  at  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

1627.  The  Pilgrims  purchased  the 
interest  of  London  merchant  adventurers 
in  their  colony. 

1627.  Richelieu,  of  France,  annulled 
the  rights  of  the  Caens  in  the  Canada 
trade  and  foi'med  a  company  of  one  hun- 
dred   associates,    himself    at    the    head. 
They  received  full  power  over  all  the  ter- 
ritory from  Florida  to  the  Arctic  circle, 
and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  headwaters 
of  the  St.  Lawrence.     They  also  received 
the  monopoly  of  the  fur  trade  forever, 
and  of  all  other  trade  for  fifteen  years. 
The  company  became   a  sort  of  feudal 
proprietor.      Huguenots  were   forbidden 
to  touch  the  shores  of  New  France. 

1628.  Mills  were  built  at  New  Am- 
sterdam, and  bricks  and  lime  were  manu- 
factured for  building  purposes. 

1628.  The  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 
Rev.  Jonas  Michaelis  was  the  first  minis- 
ter of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  in 
America.  He  came  to  New  Amsterdam 
and  began  to  administer  the  sacraments 
in  the  exercise  of  his  office. 

1628.  April.  A  fleet  sailed  from 
Dieppe,  France,  with  supplies  for  Quebec, 
but  it  was  met  and  destroyed  in  the  St. 
Lawrence  by  an  English  fleet  under  the 
command  of  three  French  refugee  Hu- 
guenot brothers  named  Kirk,  who  were 
Scotch  on  their  father's  side. 

SALEM  FOUNDED. 

1628.  Sept.  14.  The  first  Puritan 
colony  in  America  consisting  of  seventy 
persons  under  John  Endicott,  settled  on 
the  present  site  of  Salem,  Mass.  The 
Puritan  exodus  from  England  to  the  New 


THE  COMING  POWER. 


185 


World  began  with  these  settlers,  and  in  a 
few  years  filled  up  the  coast  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  with  prosperous  colonies. 
The  Puritans,  who,  desiring  reformation 
within  the  Church  of  England,  yet  be- 
lieved in  and  clung  to  her,  are  to  be  care- 
fully distinguished  from  the  Pilgrims  of 
Plymouth,  who  were  thorough  Separa- 
tists in  renouncing  all  obedience  to  and 
affiliation  with,  the  established  church. 
There  were  a  few  settlers  already  upon 
the  site  of  Salem,  chief  among  whom 
was  Roger  Conant,  who  had  served  as 
governor  of  a  little  Cape  Ann  settlement 
until  it  broke  up  a  short  time  before. 


1629.  March  29.  First  Massachu- 
setts Charter.  A  charter  was  granted 
by  the  Council  for  New  England  to  the 
"Governor  and  Company  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay  in  New  England."  This  was 
obtained  through  the  efforts  of  Rev. 
John  White  of  the  Dorchester  Adven- 
turers, and  was  intended  to  put  everything 
on  a  secure  basis.  John  Endicott  was 
appointed  local  governor  for  the  colony 
in  New  England. 

1629.  June  7.  Patroons.  The 
Dutch  West  India  Company  issued  a 
decree  called  the  "  Charter  of  Liberties  " 
giving  any  one  the  right  to  purchase 
large  tracts  of  land  in  New  Netherland, 
and,  upon  forming  a  colony  of  fifty 
persons  within  the  same,  to  govern  it. 
This  was  the  introduction  of  the  feudal 
tenui-e  which  endured  so  long  in  New 
York  in  the  order  of  wealthy  patroons. 

1629.  June  29.  A  large  number 
of  emigrants  arrived  at  Salem,  Mass., 
with  cattle,  goats,  tools  and  other  sup- 
plies for  the  Puritan  colony.  A  brick 
kiln  was  soon  set  up.  The  name  Salem 
was  conferred  upon  the  place  this  year. 


186 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


1629.  July  4.  Charlestown,  Mass., 
was  founded  bv  a  company  of  Puritans 
from  Salem. 

1629.  July  20.  Quebec  in  English 
Power.  English  ships  commanded  by 
the  Kirk  brothers  appeared  before  Que- 
bec which  they  had  not  dared  to  attack 
the  previous  year,  and  demanded  its  sur- 
render. J3eing  incapable  of  defence,  the 
city  was  given  up.  Upon  Champlain's 
arrival  in  London,  he  gained  from  King 
Charles  through  the  French  ambassador 
an  assurance  that  New  France  should  be 
returned  to  its  rightful  owners  in  accord- 
ance with  a  treaty  of  the  same  year. 

1629.  Aug.  6.  A  church  was  organ- 
ized by  the  members  of  the  Salem  colony 
with  the  counsel  and  fellowship  of  dele- 
gates from  Plymouth.  Gov.  Bradford, 
who  was  one  of  the  delegates,  and  his 
companions,  were  detained  in  their 
voyage  from  Plymouth  and  arrived  in 
the  midst  of  the  exercises  of  organization. 
Samuel  Skelton  was  appointed  pastor, 
and  Mr.  Higginson  teacher.  Thus  was 
Congregationalism  fully  established  in 
America  by  the  organization  of  this 
church,  which  was  the  second  of  that 
order  in  the  New  World.  Its  two  prin- 
ciples were  now  affirmed.  The  inde- 
pendent self-governing  of  each  church  and 
the  proper  fellowship  of  neighboring 
churches,were  now  fully  illustrated.  Just 
at  this  time'  the  first  religious  difference 
in  Massachusetts  Bay  occurred.  Two 
brothers  named  John  and  Samuel 
Browne,  who  with  considerable  discon- 
tent at  the  organization  of  the  Salem 
church  had  instituted  a  Church  of  Eng- 
land service  according  to  the  prayer 
book,  were  brought  before  the  governor, 
and  upon  maintaining  their  intentions, 
were  both  sent  back  to  England  in  ships 
about  returning.  This  may  seem  harsh, 


but  to  the  Puritans,  founding  a  state,  it- 
seemed  that  if  these  brothers  were 
allowed  to  go  on,  priest,  bishop  and  full 
religious  authority  would  soon  creep  into 
their  midst.  They  did  not  object  to  the 
single  service  which  the  Brownes  insti- 
tuted so  much  as  they  feared  that  it  would 
defeat  the  very  end  of  their  coming 
thither.  So  they  stopped  it  at  the 
beginning,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  they 
loved  and  many  of  them  revered  the 
Church  of  England. 

1629.  Aug.  29.  Self-government. 
The  government  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay  colony  was  transferred  to  the  people 
of  the  same,  so  that  the  colony  became 
the  company  and  had  power  to  elect 
their  governor,  deputy-governor  and 
eighteen  assistants,  who  constituted  a 
general  court  for  the  province.  This 
transfer  was  brought  about  in  England 
by  electing  as  officers  of  the  company 
men  of  great  character  who  agreed  to 
emigrate  if  the  charter  could  be  carried 
with  them,  and  administered  on  the 
ground.  John  Winthrop  was  elected 
governor.  The  English  government  did 
not  fully  know  of  or  comprehend  the 
step  until  it  had  been  taken.  The  efforts 
in  after  years  to  regain  the  charter  were 
in  vain  until  it  was  annulled  outright, 
and  happily  events  transpired  which 
made  even  this  ineffectual  after  a  short 
time.  The  transfer  of  the  charter  to 
the  New  World  was  of  vast  import. 

1629.  The  Recollet  priests  were 
driven  out  of  Canada  by  the  hostility 
of  the  Jesuits,  who  wished  to  have  exclu- 
sive control  of  the  province. 

1629.  The  Bahama  Islands  were 
settled  by  the  English  in  New  Provi- 
dence. In  the  next  century  and  a  half 
the  Bahamas  changed  hands  from  the 
English  to  the  Spanish,  and  back  again, 


1603-1630.] 


THE  COMING  POWER. 


187 


until  the  sixth  transfer  was  reached  in 
1 783, in  the  final  annexation  of  them  to 
England. 

1630.  January.  A  patent  for  Plym- 
outh colony  was  issued  by  the  Council 
for  New  England  to  William  Bradford 
and  others.  It  was  the  first  one  held  by 
the  colony  itself,  the  previous  grants  to 
John  Pierce  being  chiefly  for  his  individ- 
ual benefit.  The  present  patent  defined 
the  limits  of  the  territory  of  the  colony 
for  the  first  time,  and  gave  a  right  to  the 
soil.  Up  to  this  time  the  colonists  had 
hardly  felt  secure  in  their  attempts  to 
hold  individual  property. 

1630.     About  one  thousand  Puritans 

came  to  Salem  this  year  and  dispersing, 

founded  Roxbury,  Dorchester,  Newtown, 

1571-1630.  now    Cambridge,    Saugus, 

Kepler.    now  Lynn,  Watertown  and 

1630.     Venice 

Gazette  frst  is-  Boston.  John  Wmthrop, 
sued-  the  first  governor  under  the 

transferred  charter,  came  and  helped  to 
found  Boston.  Each  settlement  became  at 
once  a  complete  body  in  itself.  The  town 
governments  of  New  England  developed 
naturally  from  this  condition  of  affairs. 

1630.  July.  The  first  house  in  Bos- 
ton was  built. 

1630.  Guiana,  S.  A.,  began  to  be 
settled  by  the  English. 

1630.  Sept.  17.  Boston  was  founded, 
the  organization  of  the  town  being  for 
the  first  time  completed. 

1630.  Oct.  19.  The  first  general 
court  or  legislature  of  the  settlements 
around  Massachusetts  Bay  was  held  in 
Boston.  This  came  into  existence  under 
the  transferred  charter. 

1630.  October.  First  Execution  in 
New  England.  John  Billington,  a  profane 
and  dissolute  man  was,  after  trial, executed 
at  Plymouth  for  having  shot  John  New- 
comen,  who  died  of  his  wound.  The 


matter  was  referred  to  the  leading  men 
in  Massachusetts  Bay  for  advice,  and  it 
was  the  opinion  of  all  that  the  criminal 
should  be  subjected  to  capital  punishment. 
1630.  The  buccaneers  of  the  West 
Indies  fortified  themselves  on  the  island 
of  Tortugas,  and  made  a  large  colony 
apart  from  their  other  resorts.  This 
bloody  business  had  been  growing  up 
from  nearly  the  time  of  the  Spanish  con- 
quest. They  were  English  and  French 
roving  characters,  who  had  acquired  a 
hatred  of  everything  Spanish.  The  ships 
and  island  settlements  of  the  latter  were 
never  safe  unless  strongly  armed.  The 
buccaneers  at  this  time  increased  their  or- 
ganization,and  became  more  dreaded  than 
ever.  Bands  of  them  in  open  row  boats 
attacked  any  unwary  Spanish  merchant- 
man. They  took  much  booty  on  all 
hands.  Later  in  the  century  they  took  a 
wider  scope  and  plundered  some  of  the 
best  South  American  settlements.  Their 
history  is  fearful  with  misdeeds.  They 
pursued  the  Spanish  with  an  implacable 

hatred. 

AMERICAN  COLONIZATION. 

The  strange  story  of  the  settlement  of 
the  American  continent  presents  some 
features  worthy  of  being  studied  very 
thoroughly.  The  reservation  of  the  con- 
tinent from  all  foreign  tread  in  spite  of  its 
discovery  by  the  Norsemen,  can  be  un- 
derstood very  greatly  by  looking  at  the 
national  conditions  which  preceded  the 
fifteenth  century.  The  results  of  that 
reservation  are  very  important.  A  land 
embracing  every  climate,  every  topo- 
graphical feature,  every  mineral  resource; 
•wonderfully  open  and  accessible  to  navi- 
gation on  every  side  by  gulfs,  bays,  great 
rivers,  or  vast  lakes ;  a  land  full  of  vege- 
table richness,  both  living  and  decayed, 
was  left  as  a  sphere  for  the  exercise  of 


188 


DISCOVERT,  EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT, 


human  endeavor,  hardihood,  ingenuity, 
and  wisdom.  A  broad  place  was  thrown 
open  in  which  the  world  was  to  be  al- 
lowed to  build  according  to  pet  theories, 
or  hasty  notions,  or  consecrated  effort,  as 
the  case  might  be.  The  field  was  free, 
and  the  trial  fair.  Different  passions, 
aims,  religions,  were  to  enter  the  land 
and  either  "have  their  day  and  cease  to 
be,"  or  gain  the  ascendancy  in  the  inev- 
itable conflict.  The  variety  of  national- 
ities in  the  field  is  noticeable.  Still  more 
so  is  the  variety  of  elements  proceeding 
from  the  same  nationality.  This  is  most 
marked  in  the  case  of  England.  It  is 
also  seen  to  some  extent  in  French  colo- 
nization. Upon  our  shores  these  ele- 
ments began  to  get  a  place  to  live.  At 
first  it  was  a  sufficient  task  to  keep  a 
colony  alive.  Some  colonies  rooted  them- 
selves in  silence  for  years  before  the  inev- 
itable contest  for  domination  appeared. 
The  southern  half  of  the  continent,  well 


conquered  and  settled  with  the  older  and 
more  organized  system  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  church,  was  to  allow  a  fair  trial 
for  the  same  in  a  new  land,  and  upon  the 
minds  of  a  new  people.  The  greater 
part  of  North  America,  with  different 
religious  creeds  and  individual  convic- 
tions, was  to  give  a  broad  sphere  for  the 
growth  of  the  ones  which  had  most 
vigor  and  spiritual  power.  The  charac- 
ters of  nationalities  and  principles  were 
to  be  seen  in  new  and  untried  situations, 
in  places  freed  from  old-time  associations, 
and  in  needs  which  would  test  Old  World 
conceptions  of  humanity.  The  work  of 
building  new  institutions  in  a  new  land, 
was  to  give  those  who  had  lived  among 
old  institutions  a  peculiar  privilege  and 
responsibility.  It  would  be  their  work 
to  blindly  tread  the  path  of  the  Old 
World,  or  to  eliminate  the  elements  which 
there  hindered  advance.  The  broad, 
rich  continent  was  before  them. 


PART   III. 


LIFE. 


1631-1760. 


189 


u  Ah  !  I  do  think,  as  I  do  tread 
Thease  paeth,  W  elems  auverhead. 
That  all  thease  roads  that  we  do  bruise 
WT  bosses*  shoes,  or  heavy  Iwoads; 
And  hedges''  bands,  'where  trees  in  row 
Do  rise  an*  grow  arourf  the  lands, 
Be  works  that  we've  a-v<pund  a-wrought 
By  our  foref aethers'1  ceare  an*  thought. 

"  They  cleared  the  grourf  vor  grass  to  tcake 
The  pleace  that  bore  the  bremble  breake, 
An*  drained  the  fen,  where  water  spread, 
A-lyen  dead,  a  beane  to  men; 
An*  built  the  mill,  where  still  the  wheel 
Da1  grin1  our  meal,  below  the  hill; 
An1  turned  the  brudge,  W  arches  spread^ 
Below  a  road,  vor  us  to  tread. 

«*  They  voun1  a  pleace,  were  we  mid  seek 
The  gifts  e>'  greace  vrom  week  to  week; 
An1  built  wi"1  stwone,  upon  the  hill, 
A  tow*r  we  still  do  call  our  own; 
With  bells  to  use,  an1  meake  rejaice, 
Wi"1  giant  vaice,  at  our  good  news ; 
An '  lifted  stwones  an '  beams  to  keep 
The  rain  an '  cwold  vrom  us  asleep. 

"  Zoo  now  mid  nwone  ov  us  vor  get 
The  pattern  our  for  ef aethers  zet 
But  each  be  fain  to  underteake 
Some  work  to  meake  vor  others'*  gain, 
That  we  mid  leave  mwore  good  to  sheare^ 
Less  ills  to  bear,  less  souls  to  grieve, 
An  '  when  our  hands  do  vail  to  rest, 
It  mid  be  vrom  a-work  a-blest" 

"POEMS    IN   THE   DORSET    DIALECT."— WILLIAM   BARNES. 


190 


SECTION  IX. 


OF  SEZI7-  G  O 


*\y  N  the  study  of  the  following  period, 
I  the  first  political  interest  in  American 
I  history  is  developed.  We  see  the  first 
\^  faint  expression  of  principles  which 
have  become  household  words  to  later 
generations,  and  have,  to  a  very  great 
extent,  influenced  the  entire  continent. 
The  coming  power  of  Englishmen  is 
foreshadowed  in  the  origin  and  rapid  de- 
velopment of  their  colonies.  The  pecu- 
liar features  attending  the  life  of  Ply- 
mouth, left  alone  as  it  was  by  the  Eng- 
lish crown;  the  more  expansive  life  of 
the  Puritans  at  Massachusetts  Bay,  with 
the,  at  first,  unobserved  transfer  of  the 
government  to  the  colony  itself,  so  fruit- 
ful of  results;  the  indications  of  friction 
with  royal  power  in  the  cases  of  the 
settlers  in  the  Old  Dominion,  were  all  of 
them  prophecies  of  self-government  and 
wide  supremacy.  Town  meetings,  rep- 
resentative assemblies,  codified  laws, 
written  constitutions,  began  within  the 
limits  of  the  English  colonies.  The 
weaknesses  of  French  colonization  pre- 
sented it  from  getting  any  such  foothold, 
and  from  retaining  perpetually  what  it 
•did  get.  Dutch  power  could  not  long 
•endure  in  the  midst  of  the  more  vigor- 
ously self-asserting  conditions  on  each 


side.  The  full  intent  of  all  these  slight 
beginnings  has  not  yet  been  clearly  seen. 
The  continent  still  awaits  a  brighter 
reign  of  liberty. 

1631.  March  16.  The  first  conflagra- 
tion in  Boston  destroyed  two  dwelling 
houses.  The  fire  caught  in  a  wooden 
chimney.  The  building  of  such  chim- 
neys, or  of  thatched  roofs,  was  thereafter 
forbidden. 

1631.  Roger  Williams  and  John 
Eliot,  both  of  them  young  ministers  who 
became  prominent  in  New  England 
affairs,  arrived  at  Massachusetts  Bay  this 
year.  John  Winthrop,  Jr.,  son  of  Gov. 
Winthrop,  also  came. 

1631.  July  4.  "  The  Blessing  of  the 
Bay."  A  vessel  of  thirty  tons,  built  in 
New  England  by  Gov.  Winthrop,  was 
launched  at  Medford,  Mass.  It  was 
named  "  The  Blessing  of  the  Bay,"  and 
is  usually  called  the  first  vessel  built  in 
New  England,  but  the  pinnace  built  by 
the  Popham  colony,  preceded  it. 

1631.  The  Franchise.  At  the  sec- 
ond general  court  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  it  was  voted  that  nobody  should 
from  that  time  become  a  citizen  and  a 
voter,  unless  he  were  a  member  of  some 
church  in  the  settlements. 

191 


192 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


1631.  New  Hampshire.  Laconia  was 
divided  by  Mason  and  Gorges  between 
themselves,  the  former  taking  the  present 
territory  of  New  Hampshire,  which  he 
named  from  Hampshire  county,  Eng- 
land, and  the  latter  taking  all  the  land 
eastward  of  Mason's  tract. 

1631.  A    terrible    earthquake   oc- 
curred at  Lima,  Peru,  and  left  the  marks 
of  its  ravages  in  the  destruction  of  much 
property. 

1632.  June  20.  Maryland.  Cecil  Cal- 
vert,  Lord  Baltimore,  received  the  grant 
asked  for  by  his  father  before  the  latter's 
death,  and  named  it  Maryland  in  honor 
of  the  Queen   Henrietta   Maria.     Under 
this  patent   he   held    lands   west   of   the 
Delaware  River,  which  were  a  source  of 
controversy  for  over  a  century. 

1632.  July  5.  Quebec  was  returned 
to  the  French  according  to  the  stipulation 
with  the  English  crown  in  the  Treaty  of 
St.  Germain's.  All  Canada  and  Nova 
Scotia  passed  into  French  control  again. 
Two  Jesuit  priests  landed  at  Quebec  with 
Emery  de  Caen,  who  received  the  sur- 
render and  took  command  of  the  town. 

1632.  The  first  church  building  in 
Boston  was  erected  this  year.  It  was,  it 
is  said,  built  of  mud  walls  with  a  thatched 
roof,  near  the  present  corner  of  State 
.ind  Devonshire  streets. 

1632.  The  germ  of  a  second  house 
in  the  general  court  of  Massachusetts 
ma.  Gustavus  Ba7  appeared  this  year  in 
ims  died  at  the  election  of  sixteen  dele- 

i        ,,1  •     i  L  r 

gates  by  the  eight  towns  of 
the  province,  to  confer  with  the  governor 
and  his  assistants  about  the  raising  of  a 
tax.  This  precluded  the  necessity  of 
holding  a  general  assembly  of  the  free- 
men of  the  colony. 

1632.  A  Queer  Penalty.  An  act 
was  passed  in  Plymouth  colony,  subject- 


battle of  Lutzen, 


ing  a  person  who  should  refuse  the  office 
of  governor  to  a  fine  of  .£20,  and  a  per- 
son who  should  refuse  the  office  of 
councillor  or  magistrate  to  a  fine  of  .£10. 

1633.  May  23.  Champlain  resumed 
command  at  Quebec  under  commission 
from  Richelieu.  The  Jesuits  silently 
began  to  regain  control. 

1633.  Wouter  Van  Twiller,  who  had 
been  appointed  governor  of  New  Neth- 
erland  in  place  of  Peter  Minuit,  arrived 
at  New  Amsterdam.  The  first  school- 
master named  Adam  Roelandsen  came 
with  him.  Rev.  Everardus  Bogardus 
this  year  succeeded  Rev.  Jonas  Michaelis 
as  minister  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  in  America,  and  had  the  first 
church  building  erected  on  what  is  now 
Broad  Street.  Dominie  Bogardus  mar- 
ried the  widow  Annetje  Jansen  whose 
large  farm  was  known  as  the  Bowerie. 
and  now  forms  the  valuable  property 
held  by  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church. 
A  brewery,  the  first  in  the  province,  was 
erected. 

1633.  The  election  of  selectmen  ap- 
parently began  in  one  or  two  towns  of 
Massachusetts  Bay,  and  originated  the 
well  known  town  office  through  the 
greater  convenience  in  the  transaction  of 
much  of  the  town  business. 

1633.  Sheep  were  first  imported  into 
Massachusetts  Bay  colony  this  year. 

1633.  Hartford,  Conn.  A  trading 
post  was  established  near  the  present  site 
of  Hartford,  Conn.,  by  the  Dutch,  in 
order  to  hold  the  territory  to  which  they 
laid  claim.  They  also  reoccupied  Fort 
Nassau  on  the  Delaware  River. 

1633.  Sept.  16.  The  first  frame 
house  in  Connecticut  was  set  up  near 
Windsor,  above  the  Dutch  post  on  the 
river,  by  William  Holmes,  of  Plymouth, 
who  with  a  few  companions  brought  the 


1031-1661.] 


GERMS  OF  SELF-GO  VERNMENT. 


193 


frame  ready  to  be  put  together  in  order 
to  take "  immediate  possession.  The 
Dutch  planned  to  drive  them  out,  but  did 
not  attempt  it  by  force. 

1633.  October.      Devoted   Service. 
Father  Le  Jeune,  of  Quebec,  spent  the 
winter  with  a  wandering  party  of  Algon- 
quin Indians  in  order  to  teach  them  the 
Christian  faith.     It  was  a  great  exposure 
for  him  to  live  five  months  in  wigwams 
built  in  the  snow,  and  endure  the  hard- 
ships of  cold  and  fatigue,  but  he  did   it 
cheerfully  for  the  sake  of  his  mission. 

1634.  March   27.     Maryland   Colo- 
nized.     Leonard  Calvert,  sent  out  with  a 
colony   by  his  brother,  Lord  Baltimore, 
arrived  in  Maryland  and  founded  the  first 
settlement,  named  St.  Mary's,  upon  the 
site  of  an  Indian  village  which  was  pur- 
chased of  its  occupants.     Good  relations 
were  established  with  the  Indians.     The 
charter   granted    Lord    Baltimore    guar- 
anteed representative  government  to  the 
colony,  and  deprived  the  English   crown 
of  any  power  to  tax  or  superintend  the 
colony.     Perfect  religious  toleration  was 
also    declared.       The*    colony    began  to 
nourish,  and  never  suffered  the  depriva- 
tions endured  by  all  the  other  plantations. 

1634.  April  10.  Spirit  of  Liberty. 
Archbishop  Laud  of  Canterbury  and 
others  were  made  a  commission  to  exer- 
cise supreme  authority  over  the  English 
colonies,  and  if  necessary  to  revoke  char- 
ters. When  news  of  this  reached  Boston, 
measures  were  at  once  taken  for  defense. 
An  order  was  passed  for  fortifications  at 
Castle  Island,  Charlestown,  and  Dor- 
chester ;  also  for  the  training  of  unskillful 
men.  A  royal  request  was  sent  for  the 
charter,  but  the  magistrates  refused  to 
surrender  it.  This  prophecy  of  inde- 
pendence possesses  a  very  remarkable 

character  for  that  early  day. 
13 


.1634.  May  19.  Representative  Gov- 
ernment. Twenty-four  delegates  from 
the  towns  of  Massachusetts  colony  ap- 
peared before  the  governor  and  magis- 
trates at  their  annual  meeting  unexpect- 
edly, and  claimed  seats  with  them  in  the 
general  court  of  the  province.  Their 
request  was  granted.  This  was  the 
second  representative  body  on  the  Amer- 
ican continent.  The  House  of  Burgesses 
in  Virginia  in  1619  was  the  first.  The 
freemen  of  the  colony  were  now  becom- 
ing so  scattered  as  the  number  of  towns 
around  Boston  increased,  that  they  could 
not  be  safely  or  conveniently  called  to- 
gether at  once  in  a  colonial  general 
assembly.  Thus  was  democratic  gov- 
ernment of  necessity  given  up,  except  as 
it  remained  visible  in  the  management 
of  town  affairs.  The  Freeman's  Oath 
was  established  at  this  time,  by  which 
every  freeman  of  the  colony  was  obliged 
to  pledge  his  allegiance  to  Massachusetts 
instead  of  to  King  Charles. 

1634.  A  mission  among  the  Huron 
Indians  was  established  by  three  Jesuits 
who  went  from  Quebec  into  the  Huron 
country  and  took  up  their  residence  in  an 
Indian  village  near  the  lake  of  that  name. 
A  house  was  built  and  the  natives  were 
taught  with  considerable  success. 

1634.  All  British  colonies  were  put 
under  the  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  of  the 
Bishop  of  London. 

1634.  A  Roman  Catholic  mission  was 
established  among  the  Indians  of  Mary- 
land, by  Andrew  White,  but  was  broken 
up  at  the  close  of  twelve  years. 

1636.  A  representative  assembly  was 
held  in  Maryland  and  laws  were  enacted 
which  Lord  Baltimore  declared  void, 
because  he  claimed  that  with  himself 
rested  the  right  to  initiate  legislation.  He 
two  years  afterward  withdrew  this  claim. 


194 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


1635.  April  23.  Trouble  in  Mary- 
land. William  Clayborne  having  resisted 
the  authority  of  Lord  Baltimore  on  Kent 
Island,  an  attempt  was  made  to  arrest 
him.  A  fight  between  two  vessels  sent 
out  by  Maryland  and  one  under  Clay- 
borne's  authority,  took  place.  Clayborne 
fled  to  Virginia  and  his  estates  on  Kent 
Island  were  confiscated. 

1635.  April.  The  Plymouth  Com- 
pany resigned  their  patent  to  the  king 
and  assigned  the  territory  of  New  Eng- 
land to  the  members  by  particular  por- 
tions. Gorges  retained  the  land  between 
the  Piscataqua  and  the  Kennebec  which 
he  now  for  the  first  time  named  Maine. 
He  was  vested  with  large  powers  over 
this  province.  A  small  plantation  at 
Agamenticus  was  erected  into  a  munici- 
pal corporation  and  became  the  first  real 
city  in  New  England.  It  is  now  the 
town  of  York,  Me.  Mason  retained 
New  Hampshire.  A  writ  of  quo  war- 
ranto  was  now  issued  against  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  colony  to  dispossess  them 
of  their  charter  in  order  that  the  other 
patentees  might  take  possession  of  the 
lands  which  they  had  so  gladly  divided 
among  themselves.  The  prospect  was 
dark  for  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  if  Eng- 
land had  been  thoroughly  at  peace,  the 
colony  would  have  been  annihilated. 

1635.  May.  The  First  Ballot.  Voting 
by  slips  of  paper  seems  to  have  been  first 
used  at  the  general  election  in  Massachu- 
setts Bay  this  year,  and  to  have  been 
ordered  to  be  used  thereafter. 

1635.  A  Heavy  Currency.  Musket 
bullets  were  made  a  legal  tender  in  place 
of  farthings  in  Massachusetts  Bay,  but 
not  more  than  twelve  could  be  paid  at 
once.  This  step  was  taken  in  order  to 
retain  the  bullets  then  in  the  colony,  in 
view  of  the  anticipated  trouble  over  the 


charter  of  the  colony.  It  was  at  this 
time  that  the  famous  old  beacon-pole  was 
ordered  to  be  set  on  what  has  since  been 
known  as  Beacon  Hill,  Boston.  A  barrel 
of  tar  could  be  raised  to  its  top  and  set 
aflame  to  warn  the  surrounding  country. 

1635.  Trouble  in  Virginia.  Sir 
John  Harvey,  governor  of  Virginia, 
was  bitterly  complained  of  by  the  col- 
onists, and  resisted  in  office.  He  went  to 
England  by  mutual  agreement  to  be 
tried  upon  the  accusations  made  against 
him.  The  trouble  arose  from  the  repres- 
sion of  popular  power  in  the  province 
since  1624,  when  it  had  become  a  royal 
colony. 

1635.  Sept.  1.  The  first  grand  jury 
on  the  American  continent  met  in  Boston 
and  prepared  a  list  of  one  hundred 
offences  which  they  presented  to  the 
magistrates  for  trial. 

1635.  October.  Sentence  of  banish- 
ment was  passed  against  Roger  Williams 
by  Massachusetts  Bay,  because  of  his 
constant  opposition  to  magistrates  and 
church.  0 

1635.  November.  Saybrook,  Conn. 
A  colony  was  founded  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Connecticut  River  and  named  Say- 
brook,  in  honor  of  Lord  Say-and-Seal 
and  Lord  Brooke,  who  had  obtained  a 
grant  of  the  territory  in  1631. 

1635.  John  Steel  with  a  few  persons 
went  from  Massachusetts  Bay  to  the 
region  of  Wethersfield  and  Windsor. 

CH&MPLtilX. 

1635.  Dec.  25.  Samuel  de  Cham- 
plain  died  on  Christmas  day  at  Quebec, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  For 
over  thirty  years  he  had  been  closely 
connected  with  the  fortunes  of  New 
France,  and  had  been  the  leading  spirit 
in  founding  its  institutions.  His  character 


1631-1661.] 

and  aims  are  apparent  in  the  course  of 
the  events  which  have  been  recorded  of 
him  in  previous  pages.  He  was  religious 
and  connected  all  his  schemes  for  coloni- 
zation very  closely  with  his  faith.  But 
the  settlement  he  planned  embraced  ele- 
ments of  permanency  in  his  diligent 
founding  of  a  civil  state.  His  patience 
was  unsurpassed,  and  reminds  one  of  that 
of  Columbus.  Very  little  is  found  to 
stain  his  character,  and  none  of  that  loose- 
ness in  morals  appeared  in  him  which 
marked  the  roving  spirits  of  that  day. 
The  struggle  of  his  life  in  the  New 
World  was  long  continued  and  severe. 
The  little  beginnings  at  Quebec  under- 
taken by  him  inaugurated  a  fierce  effort 
for  the  supremacy  of  the  great  St.  Law- 
rence over  cold  and  hunger,  internal  dis- 
cord, and  outward  foes  in  the  shape  of 
the  deadly  Iroquois.  Though  the  growth 
was  slow,  it  was  sure,  and  a  state  grew 
up  beside  the  noble  river,  which  to-day 
owes  her  existence  to  the  untiring  hand 
of  Samuel  de  Champlain. 


GERMS  OF  SELF-GO  VERNMENT. 


195 


1636.  March  3.  Town  Govern- 
ments. The  general  court  of  Massa- 
chusetts passed  measures  recognizing  the 
towns  of  the  province  as  they  had  grown 
up,  and  defined  their  powers  for  the  reg- 
ulation of  town  meetings.  This  action 
simply  made  legal  and  permanent  the 
conditions  which  had  arisen  naturally  in 
the  infancy  of  the  colony. 

1636.  June.  The  Hartford  Colony. 
Hooker  and  Stone  emigrated  from  New- 
town,  Mass.,  and  founded  Hartford,  Conn. 
They  went  across  the  country  with  their 
families  and  took  one  hundred  and  sixty 
head  of  cattle  with  them.  The  journey 
was  accomplished  in  two  weeks.  Mrs. 
Hooker,  who  was  an  invalid,  was  carried 
upon  a  litter. 


1636.  June.  Quebec  Schools.  Charles 
Hualt  de  Montmagny  arrived  in  Quebec 
to  assume  the  office  of  governor,  left 
vacant  by  the  death  of  Champlain. 
Colonists  came  with  him.  There  was 
this  year  the  beginning  of  a  school  at 
Quebec  for  Huron  children.  A  college 
was  established  for  French  boys. 

1636.  Governor  Harvey.  Charles 
II.  of  England  would  not  hear  the 
charges  made  against  Sir  John  Harvey, 
governor  of  Virginia,  but  sent  him  back 
to  rule  the  province,  "  if  but  for  a  day." 

1636.  July  4.  Providence,  B.  I., 
was  founded  by  Roger  Williams,  who 
fled  secretly  from  Boston  after  hisbanjsh- 
ment,  in  order  to  avoid  transportation  to 
England.  A  compact  was  entered  into 
by  those  who  settled  at  Providence  "  to 
submit  themselves  in  active  and  passive 
obedience  to  all  such  orders  and  agree- 
ments as  should  be  made  for  the  public 
good  of  the  body  in  an  orderly  way,  by 
major  consent  of  the  present  inhabitants, 
masters  of  families,  incorporated  together 
into  a  township,  and  such  others  whom 
they  shall  admit  into  the  same,  only  in 
civil  things." 

1636.  First  West  India  Trade.  A 
vessel  of  thirty  tons  made  the  first  voyage 
between  Massachusetts  Bay  and  the 
West  Indies. 

1636.  Right  of  Taxation.  The  Ply- 
mouth colony  declared  that  no  taxes 
should  be  imposed  but  by  the  consent  of 
the  freemen  of  the  colony  in  public 
assembly. 

1636.  August.  Pequod  War.  An 
expedition  from  Boston  under  John  Endi- 
cott  proceeded  against  the  Indians  of 
Block  Island  and  the  Connecticut  coast, 
because  of  the  murder  of  Oldham,  an 
Indian  trader.  The  Indians  fled,  but 
their  towns  and  provisions  were  burned. 


196 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


This  aroused  the  Pequods,  and  the  towns 
in  the  Connecticut  colony  suffered  from 
their  attacks,  and  general  terror  began  to 
reign.  The  Narragansetts  were  kept 
peaceful. 

1636.  Harvard  College.  The  gen- 
eral  court  of  Massachusetts  Bay  voted 
four  hundred  pounds  for  a  school  or  col- 
lege. This  was  the  first  step  in  the  his- 
tory of  Harvard  College. 

1636.  Oct.  4.  Earliest  Colonial  Code 
of  Laws.  Plymouth  colony  chose  a  com- 
mittee to  codify  the  statutes  which  had 
grown  up  naturally  in  the  early  adminis- 
tration of  the  colony.  Fifty  or  sixty 
laws  were  thus  laid  down. 

1636.  December.      Local  Elections 
Prefigured.    The  general  court  of  Massa- 
chusetts decreed  that  as  all  freemen  could 
not  safely  leave  their  homes  at  the  same 
time  they  could  send  their  votes  to   the 
magistrates  by  proxy  thereafter.     A  mil- 
itary organization  of  three  regiments  was 
also  ordered  for  the  colony. 

1637.  The  Pequods  were    extermi- 
nated by  the  English  settlers  and  Narra- 
gansett  Indians.    The  few  who  remained 
at  the  close  of  the  summer  were  given  to 
the  Narragansetts  for  adoption. 

1637.  August.  The  first  ecclesias- 
tical council  ever  held  in  the  New  World 
came  together  at  Newtown,  now  Cam- 
bridge, Mass.,  to  consider  questions  of 
faith  and  heresy. 

1637.  Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson  was 
banished  from  Massachusetts  Bay  for  the 
opposition  to  the  religious  and  civil  life 
of  the  colony  into  which  her  peculiar 
views  brought  her.  She  held  that  out- 
ward purity  of  life  was  no  evidence  of  in- 
ward sanctification,  to  attest  which  an 
internal  revelation  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
alone  was  sufficient.  She  derided  and 
opposed  the  ordinary  views  of  the  col- 


onists. For  a  time  she  received  a  number 
of  supporters,  among  them  John  Cotton 
and  Henry  Vane,  but  some  of  them  after- 
ward saw  how  she  had  misled  them. 
Doubtless  the  opposition  to  her  and  her 
companions  was  illiberal  and  mistaken^ 
but  it  was  also  greatly  provoked. 

1637.  Nov.  17.  The  general  court 
of  Massachusetts  Bay  ordered  the  college 
to  be  established  to  be  put  at  Newtown 
(Cambridge). 

1637.  Navigation  Acts.  The  order 
of  1621  for  the  exclusive  importation  of 
tobacco  into  England  having  been  evaded 
by  the  Virginia  company,  a  fresh  injunc- 
tion was  issued  to  the  governor  to  bond 
each  vessel  for  the  sure  transportation  of 
its  cargo  to  Great  Britain. 

1637.  The  Ancient  and  Honorable 
Artillery  Company  of  Boston  was  organ- 
ized by  Robert  Keayne,  who  became  its. 
first  captain.  It  was  organized  upon  the 
plan  of  a  similar  company  in  London, 
It  was  known  at  first  as  the  1573-1637. 
Military  Company  of  Mass-  Ben  Jonson^ 
achusetts,  and  is  the  oldest  militia  organi- 
zation on  the  continent.  It  was  armed 
at  first  with  pikes,  "  hand-gounes  "  and 
"  snap-hances."  The  present  name  was 
taken  about  the  year  1700.  The  com- 
pany still  has  an  annual  training  day. 

1637.  Train-bands  and  Wards.  As. 
early  as  this  year,  if  not  earlier,  train- 
bands began  to  be  organized  in  Boston. 
Separate  portions  of  the  town  were  set 
apart  for  these  bands  to  keep  watch  and 
ward  over.  Thus  the  name  ward  has 
passed  into  general  use  in  America. 
These  train-bands  originated  the  training 
days  which  were  formerly  so  well  known 
in  New  England. 

1637.  An  expedition  up  the  Amazon 
was  led  from  Maranhao  to  Quito  by 
Pedro  de  Texeira,  a  Portuguese.  H& 


1631-1661.] 

had  with  him  seventy  Portuguese  sol- 
diers and  about  twelve  hundred  Indians, 
and  was  accompanied  by  the  two  monks 
who  had  come  down  the  river  from  Peru 
in  1616.  They  passed  up  the  Amazon 
and  its  branch  the  Napo,  and  at  last  after 
a  haixl  journey,  reached  Quito.  In  a  year 
or  two  he  returned,  accompanied  by  a 
chronicler  who  recorded  minute  observa- 
tions of  everything  on  the  way.  Full 
reports  of  both  trips  were  sent  to  Madrid, 
and  constitute  the  first  real  account  of  this 
\vonderful  stream  down  which  Orcllana 
passed  nearly  one  hundred  years  before. 

1638.  March.  Rhode  Island  Col- 
ony. Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson  and  her 
friends  having  been  ordered  to  leave 
Massachusetts  Bay,  formed  a  settlement 
on  Rhode  Island  which  they  had  pur- 
chased from  the  Indians.  Eighteen 
persons  signed  the  following  agreement, 
viz.:  "We  whose  names  are  under- 
written do  hereby  solemnly  in  the  pres- 
ence of  Jehovah  incorporate  ourselves 
into  a  body  politic,  and  as  he  shall  help, 
"will  submit  our  persons,  lives  and  estates 
unto  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  the  King 
of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords,  and  to  all 
those  perfect  and  absolute  laws  of  His 
Holy  Word  of  truth,  to  be  judged  and 
guided  thereby."  A  governor,  deputy- 
governor  and  five  assistants  were  entrusted 
with  the  government  of  the  colony. 

1638.  April  15.  New  Haven  Col. 
ony.  New  Haven  was  founded  by  a 
company  just  arrived  from  England 
under  John  Davenport,  a  clergyman,  and 
1638.  Jansenism  Theophilus  Eaton,  a  mer- 
foundedby  jan-  chant.  The  land  was 

senius,  of  Tpres.      i  Uj.       .r    .1.1         TV  r 

bought  of  the  Indians  for 
*'  twelve  coats,  twelve  hoes,  twelve  al- 
chemy spoons,  twelve  hatchets,  twenty- 
four  knives,  twelve  porringers,  four  cases 
French  knives  and  scissors."  Later  in  the 


GERMS  OF  SELF-GOVERNMENT. 


197 


season  a  government  was  organized,  and 
Theophilus  Eaton  was  chosen  the  first 
governor. 

1638.  Harvard  CoUege  Named.  The 
general  court  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
ordered  that  Newtown  be  named  Cam- 
bridge in  honor  of  Cambridge,  England. 
John  Harvard,  a  minister  of  Charlestown, 
died  and  left  the  new  college  about  eight 
hundred  pounds  and  all  his  library.  It 
was  therefore  named  Harvard  College. 

O 

Regular  instruction  began  this  year  by 
Nathaniel  Eaton. 

1638.  Exeter,  N.  H.,  was  founded  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Wheelwright,  who  had  been 
banished  from  Massachusetts  Bay  col- 
ony on  account  of  differences  between 
himself  and  other  preachers,  which  arose 
from  his  adoption  of  the  views  of  his 
sister-in-law,  Mrs.  Hutchinson. 

1638.  The  first  negro  slaves  in  New 
England  were  brought  by  a  vessel  which 
had  made  a  trading  voyage  to  the  West 
Indies. 

1638.  A  severe  earthquake  was  ex- 
perienced in  New  England.  Slight  quak- 
ings  were  felt  for  twenty  days  afterward. 

1638.  The  Massachusetts  charter 
was  again  demanded  by  the  commis- 
sioners, but  a  long  letter  refusing  it  was 
sent  by  Gov.  Winthrop.  There  was  so 
much  trouble  in  England  that  the  demand 
was  not  pressed  at  present. 

1638.  First  Cloth-making.  A  com- 
pany of  Yorkshire  clothiers  settled  at 
Rowley,  Mass.,  and  began  the  work  of 
their  trade.  "They  were  the  first  people 
that  set  upon  making  of  cloth  in  the 
Western  world,  for  which  end  they  built 
a  fulling  mill  and  caused  their  little  ones 
to  be  very  diligent  in  spinning  cotton, 
many  of  them  having  been  clothiers  in 
England."  The  business  grew  upon 
their  hands  very  rapidly. 


198 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


1639.  Jan.  14.  A  written  constitu- 
tion was  adopted  in  the  Connecticut  col- 
ony by  the  agreement  of  the  towns.  The 
colony  became  independent  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  and  elected  John  Haynes 
governor.  This  has  been  called  "  the 
first  example  in  history  of  a  written  con- 
stitution framed  by  the  people,  a  distinct 
organic  law  constituting  a  government, 
and  defining  its  powers."  The  legis- 
lative power  was  vested  in  an  assembly 
composed  of  the  governor,  six  magistrates 
and  representatives  elected  by  each  town. 

1639.  February.  The  statutes  of 
Maryland  were  completed  at  the  third 
session  of  the  assembly.  Civil  enact- 
ments were  passed,  and  penalties  provided 
for  criminal  offences.  A  house  of  bur- 
gesses was  provided  for,  of  which  repre- 
sentatives elected  by  the  people  should 
be  members.  The  voters  of  the  colony 
had  at  first  made  their  laws  in  a  public 
meeting  called  for  that  purpose.  Any 
planter  who  cultivated  tobacco  was  re- 
quired to  raise  two  acres  of  corn.  Steps 
were  taken  to  provide  for  the  building  of 
a  grist-mill. 

1639.  March.  The  first  printing 
press  in  the  English  colonies  was  set  up 
at"  Cambridge,  Mass.,  by  Stephen  Daye, 
who  issued  this  year  an  edition  of  the 
Freeman's  Oath  as  his  first  work,  and  an 
almanac  for  New  England  by  William 
Pierce,  Mariner,  as  his  second.  Rev.  Jesse 
Glover  acted  as  agent  in  getting  the  press, 
which  was  bought  by  subscription,  and 
was  obtained  at  Amsterdam.  A  font  of 
type  worth  .£49  was  given  to  the  college 
with  the  press.  Mr.  Daye  received  from 
Massachusetts  a  grant  of  three  hundred 
acres  of  land  because  he  was  the  first 
printer  in  the  North  American  colonies. 

1639.  June  4.  An.  assembly  of  the 
people  of  the  New  Haven  colony  was 


held  in  a  barn  belonging  to  Mi\  Robert 
Newman,  in  order  to  complete  their  polit- 
ical organization.  The  governor  and 
magistrates  who  were  elected  by  the 
church  members  of  the  colony  adminis- 
tered the  government. 

1639.  July  22.  Pejepscot,  now 
Brunswick,  Me.,  where  a  few  settlers 
under  Thomas  Purchas  had  planted  them- 
selves on  the  edge  of  the  territory  of 
Gorges,  put  itself  formally  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 

1639.  Aug.  1.  The  First  Hospital. 
Madame  de  la  Peltrie,  Marie  de  1'Incarna- 
tion  and  other  nuns  arrived  in  Quebec  and 
founded  the  Ursuline  Convent.  Three 
nuns  came  to  found  the  hospital  called  the. 
Hotel  Dieu  under  the  patronage  of  the 
Duchess  d'Aiguillon,  niece  of  Richelieu. 
This  was  the  first  hospital  in  America. 

1639.  Representative  government 
was  adopted  in  Plymouth  colony  after 
nineteen  years  of  pure  democracy.  It 
was  rendered  necessary  by  the  increase 
of  numbers  in  the  colony. 

1639.  The  Painted  House.  Rev. 
Thomas  Allen  of  Charlestown,  Mass., 
is  said  to  have  been  brought  before  the 
magistrates  on  the  charge  of  having 
paint  upon  his  dwelling  house.  He 
showed  that  it  was  put  on  before  he 
owned  the  house,  and  that  he  disapproved^ 
of  such  a  thing,  and  was  thereby  dis- 
charged. Paint  and  paper  hangings  were 
scarcely  known  in  the  colonies. 

1639.  A  house,  which  is  still  standing 
and  is  probably  the  oldest  in  the  United 
States,  was  built  in  Guilford,  Conn.,  for 
the  minister,  Rev.  Henry  Whitfield. 

1639.  Newport,  R.  I.,  was  founded 
by  William  Coddington  and  his  associ- 
ates who  had  separated  from  the  settle- 
ment of  Mrs.  Hutchinson  at  the  northern 
end  of  the  island. 


1631-1661.] 


GERMS  OF  SELF-GO  VERNMENT. 


199 


1639.  The  first  Baptist  church  in 
America  was  organized  in  Providence, 
R.  I.,  by  Roger  Williams. 

1639.  The  first  apple  trees  in  Amer- 
ica were  on  Governor's  Island,  Boston 
Harbor,  and  bore  this  year  "ten  fair 
pippins." 

1639.  Jean  Nicollet  crossed  from  the 
Huron  country  to  Green  Bay,  Wisconsin, 
and  it  is  thought  by  some,  to  the  Missis- 
sippi River. 

1640.  A  powder  mill  was  established 
in  Massachusetts,  but  it    was  afterward 
suppressed  by  English  laws. 

NEW  ENGLAND. 

1640.  About  twenty-one  thousand 
emigrants  among  whom  were  one  hun- 
dred ministers,  had  up  to  this  time  been 
received  into  New  England,  at  a  cost  to 
the  companies  of  over  one  million  dollars. 
There  were  twelve  settlements  east  of  the 
Hudson,  embracing  fifty  towns  and  vil- 
lages. Wampum  began  to  be  freely 
used  as  currency  among  the  colonists. 
Beaver  skins  were  used  in  trade  as  they 
were  also  in  New  Netherland,  where  the 
Dutch  minister  of  Albany  received  a 
salary  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  skins  a 
year.  New  industries  appeared  on  many 
hands.  Linen,  cotton  and  woolen  cloths 
were  made  by  the  colony  of  Yorkshire 
clothiers,  at  Rowley,  Mass.  Commerce 
with  the  West  Indies  sprang  up. 


1640.  The  Bay  Psalm  Book  was  is- 
sued at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  and  for  years 
was  thought  to  be  the  first  real  book 
printed  an  the  American  continent,  but 
books  were  printed  at  Mexico  over  a  cen- 
tury before.  A  copy  of  the  Bay  Psalm 
Book  was  "sold  at  auction  in  1876  for 
one  thousand  and  twenty-five  dollars." 

1640.     First   Nursery.      Gov.  Endi- 


cott  started  an  apple  tree  nursery  on  his 
farm  in  Danvers,  Mass.,  i64o.  The  Long 

di  ,1  IT  c     Parliament, 

began   the    selling    of   1577,1640 

young  trees  in  large  num-  Rubens. 

bers.  This  was  probably  the  first  nursery 
on  the  continent.  There  was  scarcely 
another  one  till  within  the  last  forty  years. 

164O.  An  ordination  by  laymen  took 
place  at  Taunton,  Mass.,  at  which,  though 
one  or  two  ministers  were  present,  the 
candidate  was  ushered  into  the  ministerial 
office  by  lay  members  of  the  church. 

1640.  The  first  brandy  made  in  the 
American  colonies  was  produced  at  Man- 
hattan, now  New  York. 

164O.  Brazil  was  erected  into  a  princi- 
pality and  the  Portuguese  heir  apparent 
was  made  Prince  of  Brazil. 

1640.  The   Bermuda   Islands   were 
put   under  a  regular  government  by  the 
English  crown. 

1641.  March  2.     The  charter  of  Ply- 
mouth     colony     was     surrendered      by 
William  Bradford  to  the  freemen  of  the 
whole  colony,  and  the   interest  held   by 
members  of  the   Council  for  New  Eng- 
land   was    bought    for    twelve    hundred 
pounds. 

1641.  April.  A  Sunday  liquor  law 
was  issued  by  the  authorities  of  New 
Amsterdam  on  account  of  the  increasing 
prevalence  of  drunkenness.  It  forbade 
the  "  tapping  of  beer  during  divine  service 
or  after  ten  o'clock  at  night,  under  a  pen- 
alty of  twenty -five  guilders,  i64i.  coffee  in- 
or  ten  dollars  for  each  <«**«*'**» 

England. 

offense,     besides    the     for-    i64i.  star 
feiture  of  the  beer  for  the    c^a^rand 

High  Commts- 
USe    of    the    Schout  Fiscaal,      sion  abolished. 

or  Attorney  General."  This  law  was 
adopted  because  they  said  "complaints 
are  made  that  some  of  our  inhabitants 
have  commenced  to  tap  beer  during 
divine  service,  and  use  a  small  kind  of 


200 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


measure  which  is  in  contempt  of  our  re- 
ligion, and  must  ruin  the  state." 

1641.  Curious  Financial  Peril. 
Wampum,  or  Indian  money,  formed  a 
great  part  of  the  currency  of  New  Neth- 
erland.  It  consisted  of  parts  of  sea  shells 
strung  together,  and  was  sometimes 
known  as  seawant.  During  this  year  the 
New  Amsterdam  city  council  com- 
plained "  that  a  great  deal  of  bad  sea- 
want,  nasty,  rough  things,  imported  from 
other  places,  was  in  circulation,  while  the 
good,  splendid  Manhattan  seawant  was 
out  of  sight  or  exported,  which  must 
cause  the  ruin  of  the  country." 

1641.  A  Singular  Marriage.  Richard 
Bellingham,  Governor  of  Massachusetts, 
made  proposals  of  matrimony  to  a  young 
lady  about  to  be  married  to  a  young  man, 
was  accepted,  and  without  complying 
with  the  rules  of  the  colony  in  regard  to 
publishing  the  bans,  performed  his  own 
marriage  ceremony,  by  virtue  of  his 
office  as  a  magistrate.  This  direct  viola- 
tion of  law  was  afterward  brought  up 
before  the  courts,  but  was  finally  care- 
lessly dropped. 

1641.  Indian  Missions.  Mr.  Richard 
Bourne  and  Mr.  Thomas  Tupper  began 
to  labor  among  the  Indians  of  Sandwich 
and  Cape  Cod,  within  the  Plymouth 
patent,  and  had  great  success  for  several 
years.  They  were  not  ministers,  but 
wealthy  laymen,  and  began  their  work 
very  quietly.  They  studied  the  Indian 
language,  and  soon  conducted  worship  for 
the  natives.  Mr.  Bourne  was  finally  or- 
dained pastor  of  an  Indian  church  at  Marsh- 
pee.  Both  were  men  of  great  energy. 

1641.  Two  Catholic  missionaries 
named  Jogues  and  Raymbault,penetrated 
to  the  outlet  of  Lake  Superior,  and 
preached  to  the  Indians. 

1641.  December.  The  "  Body  of  Lib- 


erties," prepared  by  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Ward,  of  Ipswich,  was  adopted,  and  be- 
came the  first  real  constitution  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay.  Previous  to  this  time  there 
had  been  no  code  of  laws.  It  was 
claimed  that  English  law  could  only 
have  a  restrictive  force  upon  acts  contrary 
to  it,  but  that  beyond  this  the  people  of 
the  colony  could  make  such  laws  as  they 
chose.  The  enactments  of  the  new  con- 
stitution were  one  hundred  in  number, 
forbade  husbands  to  chastise  their  wives, 
a  privilege  which  the  common  law  of 
England  allowed,  forbade  cruelty  to  ani- 
mals, and  decreed  capital  punishment  for 
certain  offenses,  among  them  witchcraft. 
It  also  provided  that  "  there  should  be  no 
monopolies  but  of  such  new  inventions 
as  were  profitable  to  the  country,  and 
that  for  a  short  time  only."  Applications 
for  patents  were  soon  made  under  this 
code.  It  was  also  provided  "that  there 
shall  never  be  any  bond  slavery,  villeinage 
or  captivity  among  us,  unless  it  be  lawful 
captives  taken  in  just  war,  such  as  will- 
ingly sell  themselves  or  are  sold  to  us, 
and  such  shall  have  the  liberties  and 
Christian  usage  which  the  law  of  God 
established  in  Israel  concerning  such  per- 
sons, doth  morally  require." 

1642.  Sir  William  Berkeley  arrived 
in  Virginia  to  succeed  Sir  Francis  Wyatt 
as  governor.  He  brought  orders  from 
the  king  for  the  restoration  to  the  people 
of  the  right  of  representation  by  the 
formation  of  a  general  assembly  com- 
posed of  the  governor  and  council, 
together  with  burgesses  elected  by  the 
different  plantations  or  towns. 

1642.  May  18.  Montreal  was  founded 
by  a  company  which  had  been  commis- 
sioned to  establish  Catholic  institutions 
upon  the  island.  A  seminary,  college,  and 
Hotel  Dieu  were  to  be  inaugurated  at  once. 


1631-1661.] 


GERMS  OF  SELF-GOVERNMENT. 


201 


1642.  Beligious  difficulties  and  re- 
bellion in  Maryland  for  two  or  three 
years,  prevented  the  full  progress  of  that 
colony. 

1642.  Aug.  2.  Iroquois  Barbarity. 
A  Huron  trading  party  and  four  Jesuits 
were  captured  on  the  St.  Lawrence  River 
1564-1643.  by  the  Iroquois,  and  carried 

Galileo.      into    Central      New      York. 
-Z5oO-  Ibxa. 

Richelieu.  The  captives,  among  whom 
was  Father  Isaac  Jogues,  were  horribly 
mutilated  by  Indian  torments  after  they 
had  reached  the  Five  Nations. 

1642.  The  White  Mountains.  An 
Irishman  named  Darby  Field  was  prob- 
ably the  first  white  man  to  ascend  the 
White  Mountains,  N.  H.  He  was  ac- 
companied by  two  Indians,  and  named 
these  now  well-known  hills  the  Crystal 
Mountains. 

1642.  Powder  Houses  in  New  Eng- 
land. A  law  was  passed  by  the  general 
court  of  Massachusetts,  obliging  every 
town  to  keep  a  supply  of  powder  on 
hand,  and  thus  the  little  powder  houses 
once  seen  throughout  New  England, 
began  to  be  built. 

1642.  Fines  in  Maryland.  A  full 
code  of  laws  was  provided  for  Maryland. 
Drunkenness  was  to  be  punished  by  a  fine 
of  one  hundred  pounds  of  tobacco,  and 
swearing  by  a  fine  of  five  pounds. 

1642.  First  Home  Missionaries. 
More  than  seventy  Puritan  settlers  of 
Virginia  sent  a  letter  to  Massachusetts 
Bay,  requesting  that  a  number  of  min- 
isters be  sent  to  them.  Three  were  sent 
and  commended  to  the  governor  and 
council  of  Virginia.  Their  services  were 
afterward  cut  off  by  lack  of  toleration. 

1642.  Oct.  9.  The  first  class  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College. 

1642.  The  Swedes  built  a  fort  on 
Tinicum  Island  in  the  Delaware  River, 


and    established   a    mission    among    the 
Indians. 

1642.  The  first  tavern  for  strangers 
on  Manhattan  Island  was  built  this  year 
near  the  head  of  Cowenties'  slip. 

1643.  March.   Religious  Intolerance. 
The  assembly  of  Virginia  passed  a  re- 
solve   to   enforce   conformity    with    the 
Church  of  England.      Non-conformists 
were  ordered  "  to  depart  the  colony  with 
all   conveniency."      This   broke    up  the 
labors    of   the    Puritan    ministers    from 
Massachusetts    Bay.      The    same    code 
abolished  servitude  as  a  punishment. 

1643.  Samuel  Gorton's  settlement  at 
what  is  now  Warwick,  Rhode  Island, 
was  broken  up  by  Massachusetts  author- 
ities because  of  his  decided  heretical  views, 
and  his  troublesome  bearing  toward  those 
among  whom  he  lived.  Even  Roger 
Williams  could  not  bear  him. 

1643.  May.  The  House  of  Com- 
mons ordered  that  a.11  exports  from  and 
imports  into  New  England  should  be 
without  duty. 

FIRST  COLONIAL  LEAGUE. 

1643.  May  19.  Massachusetts  Bay, 
Plymouth,  New  Haven,  and  Connecticut 
colonies  formed  a  league  under  the  name 
of  "  The  United  Colonies  of  New  Eng- 
land," for  mutual  protection  against  the 
Dutch  and  Indians.  An  assembly  com- 
posed of  two  commissioners  from  each 
colony  was  to  be  held.  Runaway  slaves 
and  criminals  were  to  be 

1643-1715.   Louts 

given   up.      This    was  the    xiv.    King  of 
first   colonial  coalition,  and      rctnce- 
presented  the  sight   of  colonists   taking 
their  affairs  into  their  own  hands. 


1643.  The  Jesuit  priest.  Isaac  Jogues, 
escaped  from  the  Iroquois  while  they 
were  trading  with  the  Dutch  at  Albany, 


202 


COLONIAL 


went  down  the  Hudson  and  to  France, 
where  his  mutilations  gained  him  great 
honor. 

1643.  First  Iron-works  in  New  Eng- 
land. A  charter  was  granted  and  a 
company  was  formed  for  the  manufacture 
of  iron  in  New  England.  John  Win- 
throp,  Jr.  and  others  raised  money  in 
England  for  the  establishment  of  the 
works.  A  beginning  was  made  this  year 
at  Saugus,  now  Lynn,  Mass.  The  name 
Hammersmith  was  bestowed  upon  the 
place,  because  several  of  the  workmen 
had  come  from  that  town  in  England. 
Among  these  workmen  was  Joseph 
Jenks,  who  has  been  called  "  the  first 
founder  who  worked  in  brass  and  iron 
on  the  Western  continent."  A  small 
quart  pot  was  the  first  article  turned  out, 
and  has  been  preserved  in  the  family  of 
Thomas  Hudson,  upon  whose  lands  the 
iron-works  stood.  A  similar  forge  was 
established  a  very  little  later  by  the  same 
company  at  Brainttee,  Mass.  These 
works  began  to  meet  the  demand  for 
iron-ware  and  tools.  Their  material  was 
bog  iron  ore,  found  in  the  lowlands  of 
the  vicinity.  Both  works  employed  men 
of  great  skill. 

1643.  A  massacre  of  the  Indians 
around  New  Amsterdam  was  insti- 
gated by  William  Kieft,  Governor  of 
New  Netherland.  It  brought  great 
trouble  upon  the  Dutch  colonies  after- 
ward. In  one  of  the  attacks  by  the 
Indians  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  who  had  re- 
moved into  New  Netherland,  was  killed. 

1643.  Representatives  from  the  towns 
of  New  Haven  colony  were  for  the  first 
time  associated  with  the  governor  and 
magistrates  in  the  general  assembly. 

1643.  Sugar  was  made  iff  the  West 
Indies  by  the  English  for  the  first  time, 
upon  the  island  of  St.  Christopher. 


NIAXTOXOMOH. 

1643.  September.  This  chief,  the 
nephew  of  Canonicus  the  powerful  sa- 
chem of  the  Narragansetts,  was  murdered 
by  a  Mohegan  Indian  in  Connecticut. 
For  many  years  Miantonomoh  and  Ca- 
nonicus had  held  the  rule  over  their  pow- 
erful nation.  Upon  the  first  coming  of 
the  whites,  the  former,  then  a  young 
man,  thought  of  making  war  upon  them, 
but  having  become  acquainted  with  them, 
he  decided  that  it  would  be  better  to  pre- 
serve peace.  At  the  time  of  the  murder 
of  Oldham,  Miantonomoh  made  every 
effort  to  find  the  guilty  parties,  and  gave 
great  assistance  in  arresting  them.  In  the 
Pequod  war  he  rendered  much  service- 
Nevertheless  the  English  authorities  were 
always  suspicious  of  him. 

There  seems  to  have  long  been  an  ani- 
mosity between  himself  and  Uncas,  the 
sachem  of  the  Mohegans.  In  1638  a 
treaty  was  drawn  up  between  the  chiefs 
in  which  among  other  things  they  agreed 
to  settle  their  difficulties  by  an  appeal  to 
the  English. 

It  having  been  afterward  reported  that 
Miantonomoh  was  plotting  against  the 
English,  he  was  sent  for  to  appear  at 
Boston  in  1642.  He  came,  and  for  two 
days  the  court  was  employed  upon  his 
case.  He  manifested  much  wisdom  and 
good  judgment  in  all  his  answers". 
Having  proved  his  innocence  he  asked 
for  his  accusers,  saying  that  they  ought  to 
suffer  the  same  punishment  as  was  in- 
tended for  himself.  But  they  did  not 
choose  to  show  themselves. 

The  difficulties  between  Miantonomoh 
and  Uncas  finally  led  to  a  war  in  1643,. 
in  which  the  former  was  taken  prisoner. 
He  was  taken  by  Uncas  to  Boston,  that 
his  fate  might  be  decided  by  the  English. 
The  latter  declared  that  the  case  was  not 


1631-1661.] 


GERMS  OF  SELF-GOVERNMENT. 


203 


within  their  jurisdiction,  and  handed 
him  over  to  the  Mohegans  for  punish- 
ment. Uncas  received  the  commission 
very  willingly.  While  going  with  his 
prisoner  between  Hartford  and  Windsor 
his  brother  came  up  behind  Miantono- 
moh  and  with  a  single  blow  of  the  toma- 
hawk split  open  the  skull  of  the  unfortu- 
nate chief. 

Thus  perished  on  account  of  the 
prejudice  of  the  English,  one  who  had 
always  been  peaceable  and  well-disposed 
toward  them.  Miantonomoh  could  not 
have  been  past  middle  age. 


1644.      March  14.     A  charter    was 

granted  Roger  Williams  for  his  settle- 
ments which  were  to  be  known  as 
"  Providence  Plantations."  He  obtained 
the  charter  by  a  visit  to  England.  The 
Providence  and  Rhode  Island  colonies 
which  had  been  separate  up  to  this  time, 
were  united.  The  government  was  to 
be  a  pure  democracy. 

1644.  April  18.  A  second  great 
massacre  of  the  settlers  in  Virginia  was 
attempted  by  the  Indians  with  such 
success  that  nearly  five  hundred  whites 
were  slain.  This  was  the  last  great 
organized  attack.  The  veteran  chief, 
Opechancanaugh,  was  taken  captive  and 
having  been  mortally  wounded  by  a  shot 
from  a  soldier,  soon  died.  The  Indians 
were  left  without  head  and  without 
energy. 


1644.  This  chief,  styled  the  King  of 
the  Pamunkeys,  was.  a  brother  of  the  once 
powerful  chief  Powhatan.  He  was  born 
about  the  year  1545  and  consequently  was 
nearly  one  hundred  years  old  when  he 
died.  In  the  winter  of  1608  the  English, 

O  ' 

having  used  up  their  food,  were  at  the 
point  of  starvation,  and  were  'unable   to 


get  anything  from  the  Indians  by  trade. 
Capt.  Smith  proceeded  to  Pamunkey, 
determined  to  secure  some  corn.  Find- 
ing all  his  efforts  to  trade  with  the  Indians 
in  vain,  he  suddenly  seized  Opechanca- 
naugh by  the  hair  and  with  a  pistol  at 
his  breast,  dragged  him  half  dead  with 
fright  out  among  the  whites.  The  chief 
was  then  held  as  a  prisoner  until  his 
people  brought  enough  provisions  to  fill 
the  boats.  The  English  then  released 
him  and  returned  to  Jamestown.  We  do 
not  hear  much  more  of  Opechancanaugh 
except  in  the  two  massacres  of  1622  and 
1644,  in  which  he  led.  In  the  latter  his 
feebleness  was  so  great  that  he  was  carried 
upon  a  litter.  While  a  prisoner  he  had 
not  strength  enough  to  raise  his  eyelids. 
Just  before  his  death,  when  he  Was  sur- 
rounded by  a  crowd  anxious  to  see  the 
venerable  warrior,  he  asked  that  Gov. 
Berkeley  be  brought  into  his  presence^ 
and  thus  addressed  him :  "  Had  it  been 
my  fortune  to  have  taken  Sir  William 
Berkeley  prisoner,  I  would  not  meanly 
have  exposed  him  as  a  show  to  my 
people."  He  left  no  one  to  fill  his  place 
in  the  leadership  of  the  people.  Their 
venerated  king  had  been  the  complete 
leader  of  all  their  movements. 

ELDER  BREWSTER. 

1644.  April  16.  William  Brewster, 
one  of  the  Pilgrims  who  came  over  in 
the  Mayflower,  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  He  was  born  at  Scrooby, 
England,  in  1560,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation at .  Cambridge  University.  He 
suffered  imprisonment  for  his  religious 
views,  but  finally  reached  Holland, 
where  he  taught  school,  and  set  up  a 
printing  press.  When  the  colony  came 
to  America,  the  principal  religious  care 
of  it  fell  upon  him,  because  it  was  deemed 


204 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


necessary  for  the  pastor,  John  Robinson, 
to  remain  in  Holland  with  the  rest,  and 
come  to  America  at  some  later  day.  But 
Mr.  Robinson  never  came,  and  Elder 
William  Brewster  continued  the  full  pas- 
toral care  of  the  colony  until  1629, 
though  he  could  never  be  induced  to 
administer  the  sacraments.  His  influ- 
ence grew  to  be  very  great,  and  deser- 
vedly so.  When  he  died  he  was  an 
object  of  great  veneration.  He  left  a 
library  of  two  hundred  and  seventy-five 
volumes,  sixty-four  being  in  the  learned 
languages.  The  library  was  valued  at 


1644.  April  29.  Joseph  Bressani, 
an  Italian  Jesuit,  was  captured  by  the 
Iroquois  as  he  was  going  to  the  Huron 
mission.  He  was  subjected  to  torment, 
and  afterward  sold  to  the  Dutch,  who 
sent  him  to  France. 

1644.  June.  The  first  internal  tax 
on  liquor  in  America  was  laid  by  the 
Dutch  West  India  Company,  at  Man- 
hattan, and  resulted  in  much  trouble. 

1644.  Two  Legislative  Houses  in 
Massachusetts.  A  case  of  difficulty  in 
regard  to  swine,  which  originated  in 
1636,  and  had  never  been  fully  settled, 
was  brought  up  again  before  the  magis- 
trates. The  sympathies  of  the  people, 
and  of  most  of  their  representatives, 
were  opposed  to  those  of  the  magistrates. 
The  animal  which  caused  the  difficulty 
by  running  at  large,  had  belonged  to  an 
ordinary  person.  On  account  of  the 
division  of  sentiment,  the  case  led  this 
year  to  the  establishment  of  two  branches 
of  the  general  court,  in  order  that  each 
one  might  possess  a  negative  vote  on  the 
other.  The  humble  swine  was  a  means 
of  originating  in  Massachusetts  this 
great  security  of  all  constitutional  gov- 


ernment. The  assistants  of  the  governor 
had,  however,  at  several  previous  times, 
claimed  the  power  to  negative  the  votes 
of  the  members  elected  by  the  freemen 
of  the  colony. 

1644.  Nov.  13.  Baptists.  A  law  was 
passed  in  Massachusetts  Bay,  pronoun- 
cing sentence  of  banishment  upon  all 
Baptists. 

1644.  The  second  Baptist  church  in 
America  was  founded  at  Newport,  R.  I., 
by  John  Clarke,  who  served  as'  its  pas- 
tor for  many  years. 

1644.  Nov.    19.     First    Protestant 
Missionary    Society.      The    Massachu- 
setts general  court  became  the  first  Prot- 
estant   missionary  society  of  the  world 
by  passing  an  order  for  the  county  courts 
to   care   for    the    Indians    within    their 
jurisdiction,  both   to    civilize    and  Chris- 
tianize them.     At  a    little   later   day  .it 
ordered  that  two  ministers  be  chosen  and 
sent  among  the  Indians  to  teach  them 
the  gospel.     There  is  no  earlier  modern 
missionary  undertaking  among  the  Prot- 
estants, unless  it  be  the  establishment  of 
a  Dutch  mission    in    Ceylon.     Ministers 
had  been  sent  by  Massachusetts  Bay  two 
years  before  into  Virginia,  at  the  request 
of  Puritan  settlers  there.     But  this  work 
was  the  real  inauguration  of  missionary 
effort. 

1645.  The  "One    Hundred    Asso- 
ciates"   who   had     held   the    power  of 
trade  over  New  France,  transferred  their 
monopolies  to  the  inhabitants  of  Canada, 
but  retained  their  seignorial  rights. 

1645.  July.  A  great  peace  council 
was  held  at  Sillery,  Quebec,  between  the 
Iroquois  and  the  French  and  Hurons. 
Isaac  Jogues  and  Couture  went  into  the 
Iroquois  country  at  its  conclusion. 

1645.  Aug.  3O.  A  treaty  was  made 
between  the  Dutch  and  the  Indians, 


1631-1661.] 

bringing    a   long   and   cruel   war 
close. 

1645.  Support  of  Harvard  College. 
The  commissioners  of  the  New  England 
league  recommended  that  every  family 
in  the  four  provinces  give  a  peck  of  corn 
or  a  shilling  to  Harvard  College.  This 
was  very  generally  complied  with,  and 
afforded  considerable  aid  to  the  insti- 
tution. 

1645.  Four  persons  were  executed 
for  witchcraft  in  Massachusetts.  This 
was  the  remote  beginning  of  the  trouble 
which  in  1692  became  so  serious. 

1645.  Negro  Slaves.  A  lawsuit  was 
held  in  Boston  over  the  kidnapping  of 
some  slaves  on  the  coast  of  Guinea, 
which  were  brought  to  New  England 
by  James  Keyser  and  James  Smith. 
They  were  held  to  have  been  taken  un- 
lawfully, because  without  their  own  con- 
sent, and  were  ordered  to  be  sent  back. 

1645.  William  Clayborne  incited  a 
rebellion  in  Maryland,  and  seized  the 
government  of  the  province  from  L'eon- 
ard  Calvert,  who  was  driven  away. 

1645.  The  territory  of  Brazil  north 
of  Pernambuco  had  been  entirely  seized 
during  the  last  two  or  three  years  by  the 
Dutch.      Para    was   the   only   spot   not 
captured. 

1646.  Jan.    31.     Father   De    Noue 
was  frozen  to  death  in   an   attempt   to 
reach  the  French  fort  on  the  Richelieu 
River.     This  was  the  first  Jesuit  death 
in  Canada. 

1646.  A  law  against  man-stealing 
was  passed  in  Massachusetts,  making  it  a 
capital  crime.  Similar  laws  were  soon 
formed  in  all  the  New  England  colonies. 

1646.  Certain  persons  were  arrested 
and  fined  in  Massachusetts  because  they 
petitioned  for  the  admission  of  those  who 
were  not  church  members  to  political 


GERMS  OF  SELF-GOVERNMENT. 
to   a 


205 


rights.     An  appeal  to  the  commissioners 
in  England  gave  them  no  redress. 

1646.  The  first  poll-tax  in  this  coun- 
try was  levied  in  Massachusetts  this  year. 
Up  to  this  time  a  certain  tax  had  been 
laid  upon  the  entire  province,  and  the 
total  amount  divided  among  the  towns, 
to  be  raised  as  might  seem  best.  At  this 
time  a  tax  of  i  s.  8  d.,  and  a  little  later 
2  s.  6  d.  was  laid  upon  every  male  over 
sixteen  years  of  age.  A  penny  a  £  was 
laid  on  personal  property  and  income. 

1646.    Leonard  Calvert  returned  with 
a   large  force  and  was    re-    164a.   Air  guns 
instated   in  his  position    as    invented. 
governor  of   Maryland,  from   which  he 
had  been  expelled  by  Clayborne  in  1645. 

1646.  Aug.  29.  Father  Gabriel 
Druilletes  set  out  on  a  mission  among 
the  Abenaqui  Indians  of  Maine  along  the 
Kennebec,  some  of  whom  had  been  to 
Canada  and  now  requested  that  a  mis- 
sionary might  be  sent  to  their  people. 
Druilletes  visited  and  taught  among  them, 
descended  the  river,  went  to  the  Penob- 
scot  along  the  coast,  stopped  at  the  Eng- 
lish stations,  and  the  next  year  returned 
to  Quebec. 

1646.  Oct.  28.  John  Eliot  preached 
to  the  Indians  for  the  first  time  in  their 
own  language,  in  what  is  now  the  city  of 
Newton,  Mass.  Meetings  were  soon 
held  in  other  places.  Converts  began 
to  multiply  under  his  influence,  and  a 
great  work  soon  grew  up. 

1646.  Thomas  May  hew,  Jr.  began 
preaching  among  the  Indians  of  Martha's 
Vineyard,  and  had  great  success  for  the 
next  score  of  years.  He  had  labored  in 
teaching  them  since  1643.  He  afterward 
perished  at  sea  on  board  a  ship  which 
foundered  on  its  way  to  England.  After 
the  death  of  the  son  his  father  continued 
the  work  with  Hiacoomes,  who  was  the 


206 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


best  Indian  preacher  of  whom  we  have 
any  account. 

1646.  December.  Edward  Winslow 
was  sent  to  England  to  answer  charges 
against  the  Massachusetts  colony  made 
by  disaffected  persons.  His  mission  was 
successful. 

1646.  The  first  license  law  in  Mas- 
sachusetts was  passed. 

1646.  First  Scythes.    Joseph  Jenks 
received  a  patent  for  fourteen  years  "  for 
the  making  of  engines  for  mills  to  go  by 
water  for  the  more  speedy  dispatch  of 
work  than  formerly,  and  for  the  making 
of  scythes  and  other  edged  tools."  These 
scythes  were  the  first  made  in  the  country, 
and   were    made    like   the   old    English 
scythe,  in  the  form  of  the  one  at  present 
used  for  bush-cutting. 

1647.  May.     First  Complete  Belig- 
ious  Liberty  in  the  World.     The  Provi- 
dence colony   was   organized   under  the 
1608-1647.  charter,  and  the  first  general 

Torriceiii.  assembly  held.  A  code  of 
laws  was  adopted,  declaring  the  colony 
democratic,  and  giving  equal  religious 
privileges  to  all,  of  whatsoever  name  they 
might  be. 

1647.  An  epidemic  influenza  raged 
through  the  colonies,  attacking  Indians, 
French,  Dutch  and  English. 

1647.  A  famous  escape  of  an  Al- 
gonquin squaw  named  Marie  Baptiste, 
from  the  Iroquois  towns  took  place.  She 
wandered  two  months  through  the  woods, 
and  at  last  made  her  way  to  Montreal. 

1647.  An  earthquake  destroyed  San- 
tiago, Chili,  killing  one  thousand  persons 
and  sixty  thousand  cattle. 

CANOXICUS. 

1647.  June  4.  This  powerful  chief 
who  ruled  the  great  Narragansett  tribe, 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years. 


Canonicus  was  the  grandson  of  Tash- 
tassuck,  whom  fame  reports  as  having 
been  the  most  powerful  sachem  of  his 
time.  At  the  time  of  the  advent  of  the 
white  settlers  in  New  England,  Canon- 
icus was  loud  in  his  threats  against  them. 
He  sent  one  of  his  men  to  Plymouth 
with  a  bundle  of  arrows  wrapped  in  a 
rattlesnake  skin  as  a  challenge  to  engage 
in  war.  On  receiving  this,  Gov.  Brad- 
ford defiantly  accepted  the  challenge  by 
returning  the  skin  filled  with  powder 
and  shot.  The  savage  chief  was  so  filled 
with  superstitious  dread  upon  the  recep- 
tion of  these  things,  that  he  refused  to 
touch  the  skin,  and  it  was  carried  about 
to  the  different  villages  of  the  tribe,  until 
it  was  finally  brought  again  to  Plymouth. 
Canonicus  concluded  to  remain  at  peace 
with  the  English,  and  throughout  his 
life  we  never  hear  of  his  taking  up  arms 
against  them.  This  is  partly  due  to  the  in- 
timacy which  he  had  with  Roger  Wil- 
liams at  Providence.  Canonicus  came  to 
hold  Mr.  Williams  in  great  esteem,  and  is 
said  to  have  loved  him  as  his  own  son  till 
the  day  of  his  death.  The  Pcquods,  before 
beginning  the  war  of  1637,  tried  very 
hard  to  induce  the  Narragansetts  to  join 
them  against  the  English.  A  council  of 
the  Narragansett  chiefs  was  held,  and 
they  were  nearly  on  the  point  of  yielding 
to  the  persuasions  of  the  Pequods,  when 
Mr.  Williams  came  to  the  wigwam  of 
Canonicus,  even  while  the  delegates 
sent  by  the  hostile  tribe  were  there,  and 
by  a  great  effort  persuaded  the  old 
sachem  to  consent  to  remain  at  peace 
with  the  English.  Canonicus  died,  hav- 
ing seen  more  than  fourscore  years, 
greatly  respected  for  his  wisdom  and 
the  moderation  of  his  disposition.  He 
had  a  large  share  of  the  virtues  of  the 
red  man. 


1631-1661.] 

1648.     The  first  known   mention  of 

Niagara  Falls  was  made  in  the  Jesuit 
Relation  for  this  year  by  Ragueneau. 

1648.  Margaret  Jones,  of  Charles- 
town,  Mass.,  was  hung  in  Boston  for 
witchcraft. 

1648.  August.  The  Cambridge  Plat- 
form. A  council  convened  at  Cambridge 
which  established  a  New  England  plat- 
form of  religious  belief,  known  since  as  the 
Cambridge  Platform.  The  Westminster 
Confession  was  also  adopted  by  the  body. 

1648.  The  first  temperance  meeting 
on  this  continent  was  held  at  Sillery,  near 
Quebec.  The  chief  address  was  made 
by  a  converted  Algonquin  chief,  who 
1648.  Thirty  exhorted  his  people  to  total 

rears'  War  end-      abstinence    an(J    declared    tO 

fd   by  Peace    of 


GERMS  OF  SELF-GOVERNMENT.  207 

FREE  SCHOOLS. 

1649.     A  law  was  passed  in  Massa- 
requiring    every 


Westphalia.  Or- 
igin of  "balance 
of  power"  in 
Europe. 


them  the  penalties  enacted 
against  drunkenness.  This 
was  a  part  of  the  effort 
made  by  the  priests  to  prevent  the  use  of 
liquors  among  the  settlers  and  Indians, 
especially  the  latter.  The  habit  of  drink- 
ing was  producing  great  harm  in  the 
province. 

1648.  Smelting  works  for  copper 
were  set  up  by  Gov.  Endicott  at  Salem, 
Mass.,  because  he  had  discovered  that  ore 
on  his  farm.  Men  were  imported  from 
Germany  and  Sweden  to  do  the  work. 

1648.  Behring's  Straits.  A  Russian 
expedition  under  the  Cossack,  Semoen 
Deshniew,  sailed  through  Behring's 
Straits  on  a  trip  from  the  Kolyma  River, 
on  the  northern  coast  of  Siberia,  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Anadir,  just  south  of  the 
straits.  Deshniew  thus  discovered  the 
passage  which  Behring  did  not  see  till 
nearly  a  century  afterward,  and  then 
did  not  sail  through,  as  Deshniew  did. 
This  was  a  voyage  not  made  before  or 
since,  until  the  recent  expedition  of 
Nordenskjold  in  1879. 


chusetts  requiring  every  township  to 
maintain  a  free  school,  and  every  town 
of  one  hundred  families  to  maintain  a 
grammar  school  capable  of  "fitting 
youths  for  the  university."  Connecticut, 
Plymouth  and  New  Haven  afterward 
took  steps  in  the  same  direction. 

JOHN  WINTHROP. 

1649.  March  26.  John  Winthrop,  for 
many  years  governor  of  Massachusetts 
Bay  colony,  died  at  Boston  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two  years.  He  was  educated 
at  Trinity  College,  Cambridge  University, 
and  afterward  studied  law.  He  was 
prominent  among  the  supporters  of  the 
company  which  was  attempting  to  plant 
the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  being 
thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  the  reform 
aimed  at  by  the  Puritans.  He  came  to 
America  in  the  large  body  of  colonists 
who  arrived  June  12,  1630.  Soon  after 
his  arrival  at  Salem,  he  moved  to  Charles- 
town,  and  chose  the  site  of  Boston  as  that 
of  the  capital  of  the  colony.  He  was 
instrumental  in  securing  friendly  relations 
with  the  Pilgrims  at  Plymouth.  For 
several  different  terms  he  served  the  col- 
ony as  governor,  and  was  defeated  at 
several  other  times,  because  of  particular 
issues.  He  was  governor  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  John  Winthrop,  Jr.,  after- 
ward governor  of  Connecticut,  was  his 
only  son  by  a  first  marriage.  By  a  third 
marriage  he  left  four  sons.  He  was  less 
harsh  and  uncompromising  than  Endicott, 
but  as  thoroughly  loyal  to  principle.  He 
was  a  broader  man  mentally,  though 
none  the  truer  of  heart.  He  had  a  de- 
cidedly literary  turn,  which  has  contrib- 
uted to  the  original  historical  records 
of  New  England  much  valuable  matter. 


208 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


Of  such  strong  stuff  as  was  in  Govs.  Endi- 
cott  and  Winthrop,  was  Massachusetts 
made. 

1649.  Intolerance  in  Virginia.  A 
Puritan  church  in  Virginia  which  had 
escaped  the  action  of  1643  was  obliged  to 
leave  the  colony.  Its  members,  which 
numbered  one  hundred  and  eighteen, 
went  mostly  to  Maryland. 

1649.  The  Pate  of  the  Hurons.  The 
Huron  towns  were  destroyed  by  the  Iro- 
1649.  Charles  i.  quois,  and  many  killed, 
of  England  exe-  together  with  a  part  of 

cuted,  and  com-  ,          T          .  r^.          TT 

momveaithestab-  the  Jesuits.  The  Hurons 
lisked.  abandoned  their  territory 

and  were  scattered  abroad,  ceasing  to 
exist  from  this  time  as  a  nation.  The 
remaining  Jesuits  reestablished  their  mis- 
sion among  the  refugees,  on  an  island  in 
Lake  Huron. 

1649.  Upon  the  execution  of  Charles 
I.  in  England  and  the  proclamation  of 
Charles  II.  as  king,  Maryland,  Virginia, 
and  the  English  colonies  in  the  West 
Indies  also  proclaimed  the  latter. 

1649.  Virginia  had  at  this  time  fifteen 
thousand  white  inhabitants  and  three 
hundred  negroes.  There  were  also 
''  twenty  thousand  cattle,  two  hundred 
horses,  fifty  asses,  three  thousand  sheep, 
five  thousand  goats,"  besides  swine  and  all 
kinds  of  fowl.  There  were  "  six  public 
brew  houses,  four  windmills,  and  five 
water  mills  for  grinding  corn."  There 
were  twenty  churches. 

1649.  Maryland  Act  of  Toleration. 
The  assembly  of  Maryland  passed  the 
"Act  of  Toleration"  giving  the  rights 
of  liberty  to  all  Christian  sects.  The 
provisions  .of  the  Rhode  Island  Act  of 
1643  were  broader  in  granting  toler- 
ation to  all  religious  forms  of  faith  and 
worship. 


1649.  Jesuits  were  forbidden  by  law 
to  enter  Massachusetts.  If  any  came  a 
second  time,  they  were  to  be  punished  by 
death. 

1649.  July  27.     A  "  society  for  prop- 
agating the   gospel  in   New    England  n 
was  formed  in  Great  Britain  by    Act   of 
Parliament,  with  special  reference  to  the 
conversion  of  the  Indians.     Gov.  Wins- 
low  and  fifteen  others  composed  the  cor- 
poration. 

1650.  June  10.     The  Jesuit  mission 
among  the  Hurons  was  abandoned,  and 
the  few  who  were  left  set  out  for  Quebec, 
where  they  lived  as  a  mere  remnant,  and 
are  to  be  found  to-day  in  Indian  Lorette, 
west  of  the  city.     This    ended    the   chief 
glory     of    Jesuit    missions     among    the 
Indians.     The  annihilation    of  a  nation 
robbed  these  patient  men  of  success. 

1650.  The  boundary  line  between 
New  Netherland  and  New  Haven  was 
decided  by  commissioners,  and  thus  a  long 
dispute  was  settled. 

1650.  The  House  of  Commons  pro- 
hibited trade  with  Virginia  and  with 
island  colonies  which  had  refused  to 
acknowledge  the  commonwealth,  de- 
claring them  to  be  in  a  state  of  rebellion, 
and  sending  an  armed  force  against 
them. 

1650.  Slavery  was  made  lawful  in 
Connecticut  under  certain  restrictions. 

1650.  Sept.  1.  Druilletes  again  set 
out  into  the  Kennebec  region  to  arrange 
for  trade  and  military  aid  between  the 
French  and  English  colonists  of  New 
England.  He  visited  Boston,  and  was 
received  hospitably  in  spite 
of  the  law  against  Jesuits, 
then  returned  to  Quebec  hopeful  of  good 
results,  though  nothing  could  be  done  till 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Federal  com- 
missioners. 


Descartes. 


founded  by 
George  Fox. 


•witk  -wooden 
rails  near  New- 
castle. 


1631-1661.] 

1650.     Colonists  from  Virginia  settled 
1650.  "Friends"    on   the    Chowan  River   in 
the  present  State  of  North 
Carolina. 

1650.  Dutch  Guiana,  S.  A.,  was 
1650.  Railroads  taken  by  the  English. 

1650.  Chocolate  was  first 
exported  from  Mexico  to 
Europe. 

1650.  The    General    Assembly    of 
Maryland  was  divided  into  two  houses. 
A  declaration   was  made  that  no  taxes 
should  be  placed  upon  the  colony  except 
with  the  consent  thereof 'to  the  same. 

1651.  A  patent  was  given  to  Gov. 
John  Winthrop  to  enable  him  to  work 
mines    in   the    vicinity    of    Middletown, 
Conn. 

1651.  Father  Druilletes  and  Jean 
Paul  Godefroy  were  sent  to  New  Haven 
from  Canada  to  enlist  the  English  colo- 
nists against  the  Iroquois,  but  the  attempt 
was  unsuccessful.  The  Federal  commis- 
sioners refused  all  proposals. 

1651.  Wampum.  An  order  was 
passed  in  Massachusetts  preventing  wam- 
pum from  being  longer  received  in  the 
colony  in  payment  of  taxes.  It  was  cur- 
rent in  New  Netherland  for  a  long  while 
after. 

1651.  July  26.  Raphael  Lambert 
Closse,  a  great  Indian  fighter  of  Canada, 
with  sixteen  men,  fought  a  band  of  In- 
dians who  were  attacking  Montreal,  and 
after  a  day's  hard  contest  drove  off  the 
entire  number. 

1651.  Navigation  Act.  It  was  or- 
dered by  the  House  of  Commons  that  all 
exports  from  the  colonies  and  imports 
into  them  must  be  shipped  in  English 
vessels,  and  that  no  sugar,  cotton,  tobacco 
and  other  articles  should  be  exported 
from  the  colonies,  save  to  English  domin- 
ions. This  order  was  issued  because  the 

14 


GERMS  Of  SELF-GOVERNMENT. 


209 


laws  of  1621  and  1637  requiring  all  com- 
modities to  be  shipped  from  the  colonies 
to  England,  were  evaded  by  allowing 
Hollanders  to  do  the  carrying  trade  in 
their  own  vessels.  The  Navigation  Act 
gave  great  enterprise  to  the  colonial  ship- 
yards, because  it  brought  a  great  deal  of 
the  carrying  trade  into  the  hands  of  the 
colonists. 

1651.  Taxation  in  Barbadoes.  Sir 
George  Ayscue  was  sent  out  with  a  force 
to  reduce  Barbadoes  to  the  authority  of 
Parliament,  but  was  unsuccessful  until 
reenforced.  There  was,  however,  in  the 
terms  of  surrender  an  express  stipulation 
that  no  taxes  should  be  laid  on  the 
islanders,  save  by  themselves,  thus  an- 
ticipating the  principle  of  the  American 
Revolution. 

1651.  Difficulties  with  the  Baptists. 
John  Clarke,  Obadiah  Holmes  and  a  Mr. 
Crandall  were  arrested  in  Massachusetts 
for  disseminating  Baptist  doctrines  in  op- 
positipn  to  the  injunctions  of  the  magis- 
trates. They  were  visiting  a  Baptist 
brother  who  had  been  permitted  to  live 
for  several  years  in  Lynn  in  perfect  peace 
because  he  did  not  violently  intrude 
his  ideas  upon  the  notice  of  those  around 
him.  Clarke  and  Holmes  were  Baptist 
ministers.  The  three  visitors  were  tried 
and  fined.  The  fines  of  Clarke  and 
Crandall  were  paid,  but  Holmes  refused 
to  have  his  paid,  and  was  whipped  with 
thirty  lashes.  Two  men  who  expressed 
sympathy  with  him  were  fined  forty 
shillings  and  committed  to  prison. 

1651.  Fort  Casimir.  Gov.  Stuyve- 
sant  of  New  Netherland,  went  to  the 
Delaware  River,  and  having  secured  an 
Indian  title  to  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
erected  Fort  Casimir  near  the  Swedish 
Fort  Christiana. 

1651.     The  first  Seventh  Day  Baptist 


210 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


church   In   America   was   established   at 
Newport,  R.  I. 

1651.  The  manufacture  of  wines  and 
the  cultivation  of  hemp  were  encouraged 
in  Virginia  by  premiums. 

1651.  Grenada,   one   of   the   Wind- 
ward Islands,  was  settled  by  the  French 
under  Gov.  Du  Parquet,  of  Martinique. 
The  French  soon  gained  the  hatred  of 
the  Caribs  by  their  cruelty  to  them.    The 
Caribs  began  to  retaliate  by  murdering 
unprotected  settlers.     Troops  were  sent 
against  them  and  destroyed  large  num- 
bers  of  them.     A   small   number   who 
were   left,  upon   being    closely   pursued 
mounted  a  steep  rock,  and   rather   than 
surrender  to  the  foe,  plunged  oF  headlong 
to  destruction.     This  cliff  has  since  been 
known  as  the  Hill  of  the  Leapers. 

1652.  March    12.      The   Common, 
wealth  in  Virginia.     The  English  fleet 
under  Capt.  Edward  Curtis,  received  the 
submission    of   the    Virginia   colony   to 
Parliament  after  some  delay  on  the  part 
of  Sir  William    Berkeley.      The  terms 
provided   for   non-taxation,  save   by  the 
provincial  assembly;  for  the   use  of  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer  one  year,  and 
for  one  year  in   which   any   one   could 
remove  who  did  not  wish  to  submit  to 
the    Commonwealth.      Gov.    Berkeley's 
commission  was  declared  void,  and  Ben- 
nett was  elected  governor. 

1652.  Commissioners  having  been 
appointed  "to  reduce  and  govern  the 
colonies  within  the  bay  of  Chesapeake," 
proceeded  to  act  upon  Maryland,  and  by 
so  doing  brought  about  difficulties  be- 
tween William  Stone,  the  representative 
of  Lord  Baltimore,  and  the  parliamen- 
tary authority,  which  lasted  several  years. 

1652.  The  first  regular  bookseller 
in  the  English  colonies  was  Hezekiah 
Usher,  of  Boston. 


1652.  Some  of  the  towns  in  the 
province  of  Maine  submitted  to  the 
jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts.  In  a  couple 
of  years  the  authority  of  Massachusetts 
extended  to  the  Kennebec  River. 

1652.  May  13.  Prohibition  of  Slavery 
in  Rhode  Island.  The  following  act  to 
prevent  negro  slavery,  was  passed  by  the 
Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Planta- 
tions : 

"  Whereas  there  is  a  common  course 
practiced  among  Englishmen  to  buy 
negroes,  to  that  end  they  may  have  them 
for  service  or  sla'ves  forever;  for  the  pre- 
venting of  such  practices  among  us,  let 
it  be  ordered,  that  no  black  mankind  or 
white  being  shall  be  forced  by  covenant, 
bond  or  otherwise,  to  serve  any  man  or 
his  assignees  longer  than  ten  years,  or 
until  they  come  to  be  twenty -four  years 
of  age,  if  they  be  taken  in  under  four- 
teen, from  the  time  of  their  coming  within 
the  liberties  of  this  colony ;  at  the  end  or 
term  of  ten  years  to  set  them  free  as  the 
manner  is  with  the  English  servants. 
And  that  man  who  will  not  let  them  go 
free,  or  shall  sell  them  away  elsewhere  to 
that  end  they  may  be  enslaved  to  others 
for  a  longer  time,  he  shall  forfeit  to  the 
colony  £40." 

In  spite  of  this  strict  prohibition,  slav- 
ery existed  in  Rhode  Island  for  many 
years,  and  the  city  of  Newport  gained  a 
large  amount  of  wealth  as  a  result  of 
profit  in  the  slave  trade.  The  greed  of 
business  would  not  permit  the  abolition 
of  so  hopeful  a  source  of  riches. 

1652.  June  10.  First  Mint  in  the 
English  Colonies.  The  general  court  of 
Massachusetts  established  a  mint  at  Bos- 
ton, under  the  charge  of  John  Hull, 
goldsmith.  Silver  pieces  were  issued  of 
the  value  of  twelve  pence,  six  pence,  and 
three  pence.  The  largest  piece  became 


1631-1661.] 

known  as  the  pine-tree  shilling,  from  a 
pine  tree  stamped  upon  one  side.  The 
whole  issue  became  known  as  pine-tree 
money.  This  mint  operated  for  thirty 
years,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  in  Eng- 
land it  was  regarded  as  an  insult  to  royal 
power.  The  master  of  the  mint  was 
allowed  fifteen  pence  out  of  every  twenty 
shillings.  The  mint  largely  increased  the 
circulation  of  coin  in  place  of  wampum, 
bullets,  and  articles  of  barter.  The  only 
other  colony  which  issued  silver  coins  be- 
fore the  Revolution,  was  Maryland. 
Several  others,  however,  minted  copper 
coins.  The  dies  for  the  Boston  mint 
were  made  by  Joseph  Jenks  at  the  iron- 
works at  Lynn. 

1652.  Slavery  in  New  York.  The 
New  Netherland  Company  granted  per- 
mission for  the  direct  importation  of 
slaves  from  Africa  into  New  Amsterdam. 
There  was  no  immediate  result,  but  in  a 
couple  of  years  the  trade  enlarged  and 
negroes  were  brought  there  from  Cura- 
coa,  W.  I. 

1652.  An  iron  bloomery  and  forge 
was  erected  at  Taunton,  Mass.,  by  Henry 
and  James  Leonard.     Other  works  were 
soon  established  in  other  colonies,  and  the 
manufacture  of  iron  besran. 

o 

1653.  An  elective  municipal   gov- 
ernment was   established  at  New  Am- 
sterdam. 

1654.  January.      Cromwell   having 

dispersed  the  Parliament  in 
England,   Stone    issued    a 
came  Lord  Pro-     proclamation  in  Maryland, 

tector   of   Eng-        ,      ,       .  ,.          T        J  '  -B 

jand.  declaring  him    Lord    Pro- 

tector. 

1654.  Bennett  and  Clayborne  of  Vir- 
ginia deposed  the  Maryland  officials,  and 
appointed  commissioners  to  govern  the 
province.  Roman  Catholics  were  de- 
prived of  their  civil  rights. 


GERMS  OF  SELF-GOVERNMENT 


211 


1653.     Oliver 
Cromivell  be- 


1654.  Troops  were  sent  to  New 
England  by  Cromwell,  to  engage  in  war 
with  New  Netherland,  but  before  the 
New  England  auxiliaries  could  be  raised, 
peace  was  declared  between  England  and 
Holland.  The  same  troops  under  Major 
Sedgwick  were  turned  against  Acadia, 
procuring  its  surrender  to  English  au- 
thority. 

1654.  A  minister  must  be  supported 
by  each  town  in  Massachusetts,  according 
to  a  law  passed  this  year. 

1654.  Lands  were  set  apart  for  a  col- 
lege in  the  New  Haven  colony,  according 
to  a  suggestion  of  Mr  Dav-  1654,  Airpumps 
enport,  who  claimed  that  invented. 
the  settlement  needed  better  educational 
privileges.  Nothing  resulted  from  it, 
however. 

1654.  Syracuse  Salt  Springs.  Father 
LeMoyne  visited  the  Onondaga  Indians, 
making  a  French  settlement  among  them, 
and  while  there  discovered  the  famous 
salt  springs  of  Onondaga,  now  the  city 
of  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

1654.  The  Mississippi  River.  Col. 
Wood,  of  Virginia,  is  said  to  have 
crossed  the  mountains  and  reached  a 
branch  of  the  Mississippi  River,  but  the 
evidence  is  slight. 

1654.  First  American  Fire-engine. 
Mr.  Joseph  Jenks  of  the  Lynn  iron- 
works, agreed  to  build  for  the  city  of 
Boston  "  an  engine  to  carry  water  in  case 
of  fire."  Very  few  attempts  had  been 
made  in  the  world  before  this  to  construct 
such  a  machine.  Paris  had  none  for 
fifty  years  after  this  time. 

1654.  Cayenne,  S.  A.,  was  abandoned 
by  the  French. 

1654.  The  Dutch  were  entirely  ex- 
pelled from*  Brazil  by  the  Portuguese, 
wr\p  regained  the  territory  by  the  most 
persistent  efforts.  By  1660  the  Dutch 


212 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


had  given  up  their  attempts  to  hold  the 
province. 

1655.  Mrs.  Ann  Hibbins  was  hung 
in  Massachusetts  for  witchcraft. 

1655.  Conflict  in  Maryland.  Wil- 
liam Stone  made  an  armed  attempt  to 
restore  the  proprietary  government  in 
Maryland,  resulting  in  a  severe  defeat 
of  the  Catholics,  and  the  establishment 
of  Protestant  power. 

1655.  May.  First  Modern  Scythe. 
The  modern  scythe  originated  with  Mr. 
Joseph  Jenks,  who  obtained  a  patent  upon 
it  for  seven  years.  The  blade  was  made 
longer  and  thinner  than  in  the  old  scythe, 
and  a  strap  of  iron  running  along  the 
back  gave  it  the  necessary  strength.  Up 
to  this  time  Mr.  Jenks  had  made  at  the 
foundry  in  Lynn  the  old  English  scythe. 
His  improved  form  of  it  has  remained 
essentially  unchanged. 

1655.  May  10.  Jamaica  was  captured 
by  an  English  fleet  sent  out  by  Cromwell 
against  the  Spanish  West  Indies.  Some 
of  the  inhabitants  persisted  in  maintaining 
their  independence  in  one  part  of  the 
island.  An  attempt  was  made  to  colo- 
nize the  island,  but  without  much  imme- 
diate result.  Most  of  the  slaves  on  the 
island  fled  into  the  mountains  and  com- 
mitted lawless  depredations  for  years. 
The  yellow  fever  at  this  time  killed  five 
hundred  British  soldiers.  San  Domingo 
was  unsuccessfully  attacked  by  this  same 
expedition,  which  consisted  of  nine  thous- 
and seven  hundred  men  under  Admiral 
Penn  and  Gen.  Venables. 

1655.  The  Dutch  settlements  around 
the  Hudson  were  attacked  by  the  Indians 
who  made  desperate  raids  upon  Hoboken, 
Pavonia  and  Staten  Island,  in  revenge  for 
William  Kieft's  assault  upon  the  Indians 
a  few  years  before.  For  several  days 
great  terror  reigned,  but  was  at  last  dissi- 


pated by  conciliatory  measures  which 
secured  peace.  The  settlements  had 
suffered  greatly. 

1655.  Sept.   25.      End   of  Swedish 
Power.     Gov.  Stuyvesant  of  New  Neth- 
erland    captured   the     Swedish   forts  on 
the  Delaware,  and  thus    ended  Swedish 
power  in  North  America,  though  other 
Swedish  colonists  came  at  a  later  day. 

1656.  July.   First  Quakers  in  Amer- 
ica.    Two  Quaker  women,  named  Anne 
Austin    and    Mary     Fisher,    arrived   in 
Boston,   were    imprisoned   immediately, 
and  sent  back  to  Barbadoes  whence  they 
had   come.      The   same    summer   eight 
more  landed  in   Boston   from    England, 
but  were  immediately  tried  and  sent  back. 
The  Quakers  were  at  that  time  exciting 
the  religious  world   by   their  fanaticism, 
and  the  first  effort  of  all  the  colonists  was 
to  keep  them  away.      Nothing  else  was- 
contemplated  at  the  beginning. 

1656.  The  Caribs  massacred  all  of 
the  French  colonists  of  St.  Barthol- 
omew, W.  I. 

1656.  The  Palmarese  Nation.  Run- 
away armed  negroes  formed  a  colony 
in  Brazil  and  set  up  a  government  of 
their  own,  with  a  full  list  of  laws.  They 
have  since  been  known  as  the  Palmarese 
nation. 

MILES  STANDISH. 

1656.  Oct.  3.  Miles  Standish  who 
came  over  with  the  Pilgrims  in  the  May- 
flower, though  he  had  not  been  a  mem- 
ber of  their  church  or  congregation,  died 
at  Duxbury,  Mass.,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two  years.  He  had  served  in  the  army 
in  Netherland  and  was  elected  military 
captain  of  Plymouth,  where  John  Carver 
was  elected  governor.  He  was  a  natural 
warrior  of  quick,  impetuous  disposition. 
He  was  always  the  leader  of  the  colony 
in  their  military  affairs,  and  was  ever 


1631-1661.] 

ready  to  undertake  an  expedition  of 
peace  or  war.  His  wife,  Rose  Standish, 
died  soon  after  they  came  to  America, 
and  in  trying  to  secure  the  hand  of  Pris- 
cilla  Mullens  through  John  Alden,  he 
unwittingly  served  as  the  instrument  of  a 
happy  marriage.  Hobomok,  a  friendly 
Indian,  lived  with  Standish  for  awhile, 
and  became  much  attached  to  him.  Capt. 
Standish  left  several  children  by  a  second 
wife.  He  was  an  heir  to  large  property 
in  England  which  had  been  kept  from 
him.  He  was  very  faithful  to  Plymouth 
colony  in  all  its  interests.  His  body  was 
laid  at  Duxbury,  near  Plymouth,  where 
a  monument  has  since  been  erected  to 
his  memory. 

1657.  The  support  of  ministers  and 
grammar  schools  was  made  compulsory 
in  the  towns  of  Plymouth  colony  by  an 
act  of  the  general  court  passed  this  year. 

1657.  March.  Legacy  for  Educa- 
tion. Edward  Hopkins,  Ex-governor  of 
Connecticut,  died  in  London  and  left 
,£1,000  for  grammar  schools  in  Hartford 
and  New  Haven,  and  .£500  for  a  college, 
which  sum  was  given  to  Harvard,  as 
there  was  no  college  in  Connecticut. 

1657.  More  Quakers.  Mary  Dyer 
and  Anne  Burden,  Quakers,  arrived  in 
Boston,  and  were  imprisoned.  Anne 
Burden  was  sent  back  to  England,  but 
Mary  Dyer  was  taken  by  her  husband  to 
Rhode  Island.  Soon  afterward  a  num- 
ber arrived  in  Rhode  Island  by  way  of 
New  Amsterdam.  Mary  Clarke  went 
to  Boston,  was  arrested,  and  whipped. 
Others  came  to  the  colonies  with  various 
results. 

GOVERNOR  BRADFORD. 

1657.  May  9.  William  Bradford, 
one  of  the  Pilgrims  who  came  over  in 
the  Mayflower,  died  at  Plymouth,  Mass., 


GERMS  OF  SELF-GOVERNMENT. 


213 

at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  He  was 
born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  in  1588, 
and  received  a  good,  though  not  a  learned 
education.  At  the  death  of  Gov.  Carver 
in  1621,  he  was  elected  in  his  room  and 
held  the  place  for  thirty-one  years,  serv- 
ing in  that  office  till  he  died,  save  for  five 
periods  of  one  year  each,  when  he  de- 
clined a  re-election.  He  was  an  earnest, 
faithful  man,  a  fine  scholar,  and  had  much 
native  ability  of  the  finer  sort.  He  wrote 
a  history  of  Plymouth  colony,  from  1602 
to  1647,  which  is  considered  one  of  the 
authorities  on  that  subject.  His  personal 
contribution  to  the  success  of  Plymouth 
colony  in  its  internal  administration,  in 
its  dealings  with  the  Indians  and  in  its 
contact  with  the  Massachusetts  colony, 
was  very  great.  His  strength  and  wis- 
dom were  largely  laid  into  the  foundations 
of  the  colony.  He  wore  long  and  well 
in  the  New  World,  and  his  reputation  is 
unblemished.  His  death  was  lamented 
far  and  wide. 

1657.  July.     Increase   of  Quakers. 
Two   Quakers    arrived    in     Salem    and 
began  their  efforts  to  extend  their  faith 
by  very  questionable  methods.     Others 
appeared  elsewhere  and  began  to  make 
converts.     Some   were  arrested,  impris- 
oned, and  whipped.    Some  in  New  Am- 
sterdam "  testified  "  in  defiance  of  all  law 
and  order,  were  arrested,  and  sent  on  to 
Rhode  Island.     To  the  authorities  of  all 
the  colonies  it  seemed  as  if  the  coming 
of  this  new  sect  brought  only  religious 
ruin.     The  fear  of  them  was  very  great 
among  all  classes  and  faiths. 

1658.  The  French  colony  upon  Lake 
Onondaga  in  the  Iroquois  country,  find- 
ing that  their  destruction  was   intended, 
escaped  from  the  region  and  made  their 
way  to  Quebec. 


214 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


1658.  Oct.  20.  Death  was  threat- 
ened in  Massachusetts  against  the  Quak- 
ers, who,  having  been  once  expelled  from 
the  country,  should  return.  The  mere 
announcement  of  this  penalty  was  ex- 
pected to  be  effectual  in  keeping  away 
these  zealous  sectarians. 

1658.  A  massive  Concordance  of  the 
less.  Oliver  Bible  was  issued  by  Rev. 
Cromwell  died.  Samuel  Newman,  of  Reho- 

His  son  Richard     ,        ,      -.  ,  T  .          , 

became  Prouc-      both,  Mass.     It  was  printed 
tor>  in   England,  and  for  a  long 

time  was  the  most  complete  thing  of  the 
kind  in  existence. 

1658.  The  Lake  Superior  region  was 
visited   by   two   traders   who   spent   the 
winter  and  returned  to  Canada  the  next 
summer.     These  men  were  among  the 
very  first  white  visitors  of  that  country. 

1659.  Francis     Xavier     de    Laval 
Montmorency     was     appointed     grand 
vicar  apostolic  of  Canada,  and  sailed  for 
his  new  home  at  the  age  of  thirty-six. 

1659.  Oct.  27.  Two  Quakers  named 
William  Robinson  and  Marmaduke 
Stephenson,  were  hung  in  Boston.  The 
terrible  tragedy  was  increasing  in  vio- 
lence. 

1659,  Campeachy  was  taken  by  the 
English. 

1659.  The  first   Indian    church   in 
America     was    gathered    on     Martha's 
Vineyard  by  Mr.  Mayhew. 

1660.  Navigation     Acts.      At     the 
restoration  of  Charles  II.  Sir    William 
Berkeley  was  re-elected  governor  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  Philip  Calvert  was  commis- 
sioned   governor  of   Maryland   by  Lord 
Baltimore,  who  had  been  restored  to  his 
proprietary  rights.     Parliament  this  year 
added  to   the   force   of    the   Navigation 
Acts  against  the  colonies,  and  all  foreign 
ships  were  excluded  from  Anglo  Ameri- 
can harbors  in  the  New  World.     It  was 


provided  that  a  list  of  certain  "  enumer- 
ated articles  "  should  not  be  shipped  from 
the  colonies,  except  to  English  ports. 

1660.  The  Regicides.  Edward 
Whalley,  William  Goffe,  and  John  Dix- 
well,  three  of  the  judges  who  condemned 
Charles  I.,  fled  to  New  England,  where 
they  escaped  vengeance  by  being  con- 
cealed. 

1660.  March.  Mary  Dyer,  Quaker, 
was  hung  in  Boston.  . 

1660.  Praying  Indians.  The  second 
Indian  church  in  America  was  founded 
at  Natick,  Mass.,  by  John  Eliot.  Mr. 
Eliot's  success  now  increased  very 
greatly,  and  in  a  few  years,  leeo-icss. 
with  the  assistance  of  other  Qharhs  n.  King 

,    ,  ,  ,       ,  ,      of  England. 

laborers,    he    had    secured    Restoration  of 
eleven  hundred  praying  In-    the  stuarts. 
dians.     Several  churches  were  organized. 
The  results  of  his  labor  were  diminished 
very  much  in   King  -Phillip's   War   in 
1676. 

ADAM  DAULAC' S  HEROISM. 

1660.  May.  One  of  the  most  note- 
worthy exploits  and  heroic  self-sacrifices 
in  early  American  history,  occurred  in 
the  daring  adventure  of  Adam  Daulac 
and  his  sixteen  companions,  who  threw 
their  lives  into  the  scale  to  save  Montreal 
from  an  overwhelming  attack  by  Iro- 
quois  warriors.  It  was  known  that  a 
large  number  of  Iroquois  Indians  and 
their  allies  had  passed  the  winter  on  the 
upper  Ottawa,  and  it  was  suspected  that 
in  the  opening  spring  an  attack  upon. 
Quebec  and  Montreal  would  be  carried 
out.  Daulac  conceived  the  bold  idea  of 
anticipating  their  design,  and  striking 
them  a  terrible  blow  upon  their  way 
down  the  river.  From  the  governor  he 
begged  permission,  which  was  finally 
granted  him.  Arrangements  were  soon 
completed,  and  sixteen  young  men  as 


1631-1661.] 

brave  as  himself  gave  in  their  adherence 
to  the  undertaking.  After  the  most  sol- 
emn farewell  ceremonies  were  performed, 
the  "  forlorn  hope  "  departed  up  the  river 
in  their  canoes,  with  plenty  of  ammuni- 
tion and  supplies.  The  threatened  de- 
struction of  Canada  was  pending,  and  they 
were  to  strike  the  first  blow  for  safety. 
After  surmounting  several  obstacles  along 
the  way,  they  at  last  came  to  Long  Saut, 
a  difficult  place  to  pass,  on  the  Ottawa. 
Here  was  an  old  Indian  battle  ground 
with  a  somewhat  dilapidated  palisade 
built  of  small  logs.  The  forest  sloped 
gently  upward  from  either  bank  of  the 
stream.  Daulac  and  his  companions 
pitched  their  tents,  and  the  next  day  were 
joined  by  a  party  of  forty  Christian  Hu- 
rons  and  four  Algonquins  from  Montreal, 
eager  for  a  fray.  Within  a  day  or  two 
a  couple  of  canoes  containing  five  Iro- 
quois  appeared  up  the  river.  A  volley 
greeted  them  and  killed  three  or  four, 
while  one  escaped  to  warn  the  two  hun- 
dred warriors  who  were  making  their 
way  down  the  river.  The  Frenchmen 
had  scarcely  time  in  which  to  secure 
themselves  within  the  palisade,  before  the 
foe  were  about  them.  The  Iroquois  were 
quickly  repulsed  by  the  leaden  storm  that 
poured  forth  from  the  twenty  loopholes 
with  such  disastrous  effect.  A  second 
and  a  third  attack  brought  like  results  to 
the  irritated  and  confused  savages  who, 
being  so  effectually  checked,  dispatched 
a  canoe  for  five  hundred  allies,  whom 
they  were  to  meet  at  Richelieu.  The 
aid  arrived  after  five  days,  which  time 
the  French  spent  in  strengthening  the 
palisade.  Deafening  yells  arose  when 
the  reinforcements  appeared  upon  the 
field.  Among  the  latter  were  several 
Hurons  who  implored  their  kindred  war- 
riors within  the  palisade  to  desert  the 


GERMS  OF  SELF-GO  VERNMENT. 


215 


French  and  come  as  friends  among  the 
Iroquois.  All  but  their  gallant  chief, 
Annahotaha,  and  the  four  Algonquins, 
deserted.  The  whole  party  had  gone 
without  water  or  sleep  for  five  days.  A 
final  attack  was  made  and  as  quickly 
repulsed  by  the  thirsty,  worn-out  French- 
men. All  was  now  confusion  and  disa- 
greement outside.  To  give  up  the 
attempt  would  be  a  keen  disgrace  to  In- 
dian sensibility,  much  more  to  such  an 
army  in  the  circumstances.  After  much 
hesitation  a  number  of  volunteers  made 
an  attack.  An  attempt  was  made  to 
throw  over  the  palisade  into  the  Indian 
ranks  a  musketoon  which  had  been  filled 
with 'powder,  in  order  that  it  might  do 
the  work  of  a  grenade.  It  caught  on  a 
timber,  and  falling  back  within,  burst, 
killing  and  wounding  almost  all  of 
the  heroic  defenders.  At  this  moment 
the  Iroquois  effected  an  entrance,  and 
Daulac  was  killed.  The  Frenchmen 
fought  so  long  as  they  had  strength  to 
lift  an  arm,  until  they  were  all  shot 
down  in  their  places.  Four  of  them 
were  found  to  be  still  breathing,  and 
three  of  them  were  burned  at  once.  The 
fourth  was  reserved  for  further  torture. 
The  Huron  deserters,  only  five  of  whom 
remained  alive,  were  treated  likewise. 
The  Iroquois,  amazed  and  disheartened 
by  such  a  reception  from  a  few  men 
behind  a  feeble  defense,  decided  at  last  to 
go  home  without  making  further  attacks 
on  the  cities  below.  Daulac  had  had  a 
somewhat  extended  military  experience 
in  France,  whence  he  came  to  Canada 
in  the  French  army.  A  trifling  affair 
caused  a  slight  blemish  on  his  character, 
and  created  a  resolve  in  him  to  obliterate 
it  from  the  memory  of  others.  The  heroic 
deed  now  chronicled,  places  his  name  high 
among  the  early  protectors  of  Canada. 


216 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


1660.  The  last  eruption  of  Pichin- 
cha,  the  Boiling  Mountain,  took  place. 

1660.  A  Lake  Superior  mission  was 
attempted  upon  the  south  shore  of  that 
lake   by  an  old  Jesuit    named    Menard, 
who    soon    perished  in    some    way  un- 
known. 

1660.  The  Brandy  Quarrel.  Vicar  Gen. 
Laval  of  Canada  issued  an  excommuni- 
cation against  those  engaged  in  the  liquor 
traffic,  because  of  the  effect  intoxicating 
drinks  had  upon  the  Indians.  One  man 
was  afterward  shot  and  one  whipped  for 
selling  brandy  to  the  Indians.  The  citi- 
zens, many  of  whom  had  their  trade  at 
stake,  were  arrayed  against  the  prelates, 
and  busy  opposition  was  made  to  the 
ecclesiastical  measures.  Prohibition  could 
not  be  carried  through.  The  agitation 
continued  for  the  next  few  years  with 
considerable  violence  at  times. 

1661.  Indian  New  Testament.  John 
Eliot   published    his   translation   of    the 
New  Testament  into  the  Indian  language. 
The  word  Savior  on   the   title   page   is 
written  Nuppoquohwussuaeneumun.    Pie 
also    issued   the    "  Christian    Common- 
wealth," which  was  condemned  by  the 
Massachusetts  general  court  as  "  too  full 
of  thev  seditious  doctrines  of  clefnocratic 
liberty."     The  author  soon  suppressed  it. 
A    bookbinder     named    John    Ratcliffe 
came  from  England  for  the  purpose  of 
binding  the  Indian  Bible.     He  could  turn 
out  one  copy  a  day. 

1661.  The  Regicides.  An  order 
from  Charles  II.  commanded  the  arrest 
of  the  fugitive  regicides  in  New  England. 
They  were  sought  for  with  great  perse- 
verance and  fled  from  place  to  place  in 
advance  of  their  pursuers.  At  one  time 
they  lived  in  a  cave  and  were  finally  lost 
from  view  at  Hadley,  Mass.  They  were 
never  arrested  by  the  royal  officers,  and 


lived  in  obscurity  for    the    remainder  of 
their  days. 

1661.  Intolerance  in  Virginia.  The 
Church  of  England  was  reestablished 
in  Virginia,  and  non-conformity  was  sub- 
ject to  penalty.  Quakers  were  closely 
followed  up,  and  many  of  them  went 
into  North  Carolina.  Separatist  meet- 
ings were  not  allowed. 

LAST  QUAKER  EXECUTION. 
1661.  William  Leddra,  Quaker,  was 
hung  on  Boston  common.  This  was  the 
last  execution  of  the  kind.  Quakers 
were  afterward  whipped  from  town  to 
town  for  several  years,  until  royal  com- 
mands were  issued  forbidding  it.  Much 
of  the  hostility  to  the  Quakers  must  be 
accounted  for  by  the  spirit  of  the  age,  and 
by  the  eccentricities  of  the  sect.  It  is  no 
wonder,  when  their  remonstrances  were 
made  during  divine  services,  causing  great, 
interruptions,  and  when  young  Quaker 
women  marched  naked  through  the 
streets  of  Salem  as  a  sign  against  the  sin 
of  the  place,  and  when  they  persisted  in 
returning  to  do  the  same  things  having 
been  once  sent  away,  that  strict  Puritan 
feelings  were  outraged,  and  easily  went 
to  unjustified  cruelties. 


1661.  William  and  Mary  College. 
Funds  were  appropriated  in  Virginia  for 
the  college  which  afterward  became  the 
College  of  William  and  Mary.  By  the 
same  act  schools  were  to  be  established. 

1661.  Taxation  in  Massachusetts. 
The  general  court  of  Massachusetts  de- 
clared that  no  taxes  should  be  laid  on  the 
colony,  except  with  its  own  consent. 

MASSASOIT. 

1661.  This  powerful  sachem  of  the 
Wampanoag  Indians  died  at  about 
eighty  years  of  age.  At  the  landing  of 


1631-1661.] 


GERMS  OF  SELF-GOVERNMENT. 


217 


the  Pilgrims  he  held  sway  over  all  the 
country  between  Narragansett  and  Mas- 
sachusetts Bays.  He  made  his  home 
chiefly  at  a  place  called  Pokanoket  by 
the  Indians,  and  Mt.  Hope  by  the  whites, 
near  the  present  site  of  Bristol,  R.  I. 
The  above  large  territory  was  occupied 
by  numerous  tribes,  all  of  whom  ac- 
knowledged allegiance  to  him.  That 
he  was  able  to  hold  together  so  many 
tribes  under  his  one  rule,  shows  that  he 
possessed  more  than  ordinary  governing 
powers.  He  was  of  a  mild  nature,  pos- 
sessing much  kindness  of  heart,  and 
desiring  the  welfare  of  his  people.  In 
his  intercourse  with  the  English  he  was 
always  peaceable.  We  know  nothing 
certainly  of  his  history  previous  to  the 
landing  of  the  Pilgrims.  In  1623  Mas- 
sasoit  became  sick,  and  hoping  to  receive 
some  benefit  from  the  English,  sent  for 
one  of  them  to  come  and  see  him.  They 
sent  Mr.  Edward  Winslow,  and  through 
his  ministration  the  chief  recovered.  Out 
of  gratitude  for  this  kindness,  he  revealed 


a  plot  on  the  part  of  some  of  his  subor- 
dinate tribes  for  the  extermination  of  the 
whites. 

In  1632  Massasoit  commenced  a  war 
against  the  Narragansetts,  which,  owing 
to  the  assistance  given  him  by  the  Eng- 
lish, lasted  but  a  short  time.  During 
this  war,  according  to  an  Indian  custom, 
he  changed  his  name,  and  was  ever  after 
known  as  Ousamiquin.  In  1635  he  gave 
to  Roger  Williams  a  tract  of  land  con- 
sisting of  the  island  of  Rhode  Island, 
which  had  been  for  some  time  in  dispute 
between  himself  and  the  Narragansetts. 
He  afterward  sold  to  Miles  Standish  and 
some  others  a  tract  of  land  seven  miles 
square,  on  which  Bridgewater  now 
stands,  for  seven  coats,  nine  hatchets, 
eight  hoes,  twenty  knives,  four  moose 
skins,  and  ten  and  a  half  yards  of  cotton 
cloth.  Massasoit  died  very  much  re- 
spected by  the  whites  for  his  excellent 
qualities.  He  left  two  sons,  who  were 
called  Alexander  and  Philip,  by  the 
English. 


[NOTE.— For  twenty  years  later  than  this,  the  suffering's  of  Quakers  in  England  were  terrible.  Thousands  were  im- 
prisoned in  the  foulest  cells,  scores  died  in  jail,  their  churches  and  dwelling-  houses  were  torn  down,  women  and  children 
dragged  through  the  streets  by  the  hair,  their  property  destroyed  to  the  amount  of  £1,000,000,  their  fines  made  enormous, 
and  their  persons  insulted  everywhere.  In  Massachusetts  four  were  executed,  others  whipped  and  imprisoned,  but  with- 
out the  indignities  used  in  England.  The  persecution  in  America  nearly-ceased  years  before  it  had  spent  its  force  in 
England.] 


SECTION  X. 


X   CTIVITY  in  exploring  the  Mis- 
/jl     sissippi    Valley  and    the   country 

[\  around  the  Great  Lakes,  is  one  of 
j^J^  the  marked  features  of  the  present 
section.  Marquette  and  LaSalle  threw 
open  a  region  which  had  been  full  of  un- 
certainty. In  the  meantime  the  strength 
which  was  finally  to  dominate  those  vast 
areas  was  slowly  maturing  along  the  At- 
lantic sea-board.  The  friction  between 
royal  power  and  colonial  independence 
became  more  and  more  pronounced,  and 
the  slender  shoots  of  self-government 
were  toughening  in  the  exposure  to  which 
theyv  were  subjected.  The  overthrow  of 
Dutch  power  in  New  Netherland  took 
place,  by  which  event  the  English  crown 
gained  a  rich  territory,  and  a  site  for  a 
great  metropolis.  Pennsylvania  was 
born  through  the  efforts  and  wisdom  of 
its  great  founder.  The  outlines  of  colo- 
nial life  were  becoming  more  clearly  de- 
fined. Intelligence  was  doing  its  work 
in  elevating  all  political  and  business  en- 
terprises. Dark  features  appear  in  the  per- 
secution of  the  Quakers  and  in  the  witch- 
craft delusion,  but  a  comprehensive  study 
of  the  world  at  that  time  will  show  that 
in  spite  of  these  abnormal  actions  the  life 
of  the  colonies  was  of  a  higher  order 


1662-1692. 


than  life  elsewhere  in  the  world.  Stagna- 
tion marked  the  whole  southern  sections 
of  the  continent,  which  were  to  await  the 
day  when  the  spirit  of  the  English  col- 
onies had  asserted  itself,  before  they  woke 
from  their  slumber. 


1662.  January.  A  severe  earth- 
quake shock  was  felt  in  New  England. 

1662o  April  23.  First  Connecticut 
Charter.  A  royal  charter  was  granted 
for  the  first  time  to  the  Connecticut  col- 
ony. Its  limits  embraced  the  New  Haven 
colony,  which  was  at  first  hostile  to  the 
union,  but  afterward  waived  its  objections. 
The  charter  was  in  many  respects  a  lib- 
eral one,  and  was  secured  by  John  Win- 
throp,Jr. 

1662.  Three  persons  were  executed 
for  witchcraft  in  Connecticut. 

1662.     The  king  demanded  that  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  England  should 
have  the  right  to  vote  in  Massachusetts. 
The  difference  between  this    iszs-ieez. 
colony  and  the   royal  gov-  Pascal. 

eminent  was  slowly  creeping  on  to  a 
condition  which  would  make  reconcilia- 
tion impossible. 

1662.  Children  were  made  free  or 
slave  in  Virginia,  according  to  the  con- 


1662-1692.] 

dition  of  the  mother,  by  an  act  passed  this 
year. 

1662.  A  premium  of  ten  pounds  of 
tobacco  for  every  dozen  pairs  of  woolen 
or  worsted  stockings  made  in  Virginia 
was  offered  by  the  assembly  of  that 
province,  and  an  equal  premium  was 
offered  for  every  woolen  or  fur  hat  made 
in  the  province.  Six  pounds  of  linen 
thread  must  also  be  annually  raised  and 
manufactured  by  each  taxable  person  in 
Virginia.  Each  pound  of  silk  raised  was 
to  receive  a  premium  of  fifty  pounds  of 
tobacco,  and  the  best  specimens  of  linen 
and  woolen  cloth  were  also  to  receive 
premiums.  Tan-houses  were  also  erected. 

1662.  A  Doubtful  Support.  The 
following  record  is  found  for  the  New 
England  seaport  towns  of  this  year. 
«  The  court  proposeth  it  as  a  thing  they 
judge  would  be  very  commendable  and 
beneficial  to  the  towns  where  God's  prov- 
idence shall  cast  any  whales,  if  they 
should  agree  to  sett  apart  some  p'te  of 
every  such  fish  or  oyle  for  the  incourage- 
ment  of  an  able  and  godly  minister 
amongst  them." 

1662.  The  English  first  began  to  cut 
logwood  on  the  coast  of  Yucatan.  Set- 
tlements were  made  in  Yucatan  by  New 
England  people,  for  cutting  and  exporting 
this  tree. 

ALEXANDER. 

1662.  Alexander,  the  eldest  son  of 
the  Wampanoag  sachem  Massasoit,  and 
brother  of  the  celebrated  warrior,  King 
Philip,  died  one  year  after  his  father's 
death.  The  two  brothers  were  desirous 
of  having  English  names,  and  the  set- 
tlers to  flatter  them  bestowed  upon  them 
the  names  of  the  two  Macedonian  kings, 
Alexander  and  Philip.  The  former  name 
of  Alexander  was  Wamsutta.  He  mar- 
ried an  energetic,  strong-minded  female 


THE  WIDENING  FIELD. 


sachem,  Namumpum  by  name,  who 
owned  extensive  lands  in  her  own  right. 
In  1662  she  made  complaint  to  the  court 
at  Plymouth  that  her  husband  had  sold 
her  lands  without  her  consent.  It  is  not 
known  whether  this  was  before  or  after 
his  death.  Upon  the  death  of  Massasoit 
the  chieftainship  of  the  tribe  fell  to 
Alexander. 

In  1662  it  was  rumored  that  he  was 
plotting  against  the  English,  and  trying' 
to  draw  the  Narragansetts  into  war  with 
them.  He  was  accordingly  summoned 
to  appear  at  Plymouth,  and  explain  the 
matter.  This  he  readily  promised  to  do, 
but  as  he  delayed  for  a  time,  Major  Win- 
s-low was  sent  to  bring  him  by  force. 
This  so  wounded  the  feelings  of  the  high- 
spirited  young  chief  that  he  was  thrown 
into  a  fever.  Although  he  was  well 
cared  for  by  the  English,  he  died  in  a 
few  days  after  being  taken  back  to  his 
people. 

1663.  Feb.  5.  An  earthquake  oc- 
curred in  Canada,  with  frequently  recur- 
ring shocks  for  six  months. 

1663.  March  24.  Carolina.  The 
region  south  of  Virginia  was  granted  by 
patent  to  Lord  Clarendon  and  seven  as- 
•sociates.  The  government  provided  for 
full  liberty  of  conscience,  and  for  a  pop- 
ular election  of  governor  and  assembly. 
A  little  settlement  had  been  made  by  dis- 
senters from  Virginia  upon  the  Chowan 
River  near  Albemarle  Sound,  and  was 
called  the  Albemarle  County  colony. 
A  few  people  from  New  England  had 
also  undertaken  to  settle  near  Cape  Fear, 
but  the  attempt  was  afterward  given  up. 

1663.  March  26.  A  seminary  of 
learning  was  founded  at  Quebec  by 
Laval,  to  which  Laval  University  has 
since  been  added. 


220 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


1663.  The  persecution  of  Quakers  in 
New  Netherland  ceased. 

1663.  A  law  defining  slavery  was  for 
the  first  time  passed  in  Maryland.  It 
provided  that  the  condition  of  the  child 
should  follow  that  of  the  father,  because 
English  women  married  negro  slaves. 

1633.  A  property  qualification  for 
voters  was  established  in  Connecticut. 
Each  voter  must  have  an  estate  worth 
Xzo,  about  sixty-six  dollars,  besides  cer- 
tain personal  property. 

1663.  Navigation  Acts.  Parliament 
decreed  that  no  articles  grown  or  manu- 
factured in  Europe  could  be  shipped  to 
the  English  colonies  except  from  England, 
and  in  English  shipping.  Exceptions 
were  made  of  salt,  wines,  and  provisions 
from  Scotland.  The  government  de- 
clared that  it  aimed  by  these  navigation 
acts  at  a  "  firmer  dependence  of  the  col- 
onies on  the  home  country,  the  increase 
of  English  shipping,  and  a  sale  for  Eng- 
lish manufacturers."  Such  things  as  this 
were  rapid  steps  in  the  alienation  of  the 
colonies. 

1663.  Eliot's    Indian   Bible.     John 
Eliot  published  his  translation  of  the  Old 
Testament    into    the    Indian   language. 
This,  with  the  New  Testament  published 
in  1 66 1,  makes  up  Eliot's  Indian  Bible,, 
which  has  been  sold  in  recent  years  for 
one  thousand  dollars.     Col.  J.  Hammond 
Trumbull,  of  Connecticut,  is  said  to  be  the 
only  man  living  who  can  read  it.      This 
Bible  was    printed    on   the    Cambridge 
printing  press,  and  was  entirely  set  up  by 
an  Indian  compositor. 

1664.  May   24.      Company   of  the 
West.    Louis    XIV.  of  France,  created 
the  "  Company  of  the  West,"  which  was 
to  have  a  monopoly  of  trade  for  forty 
years   in   South    America,  between    the 
Amazon  and  Orinoco,  and  in  all   New 


France.  The  managers  of  it  were  under 
obligation  to  settle  and  Christianize  the 
regions  under  their  control.  This  affected 
Canada  adversely  until  certain  changes 
for  the  better  were  made  in  the  agree- 
ment. 

1664.  May  28.  First  Baptist  Church 
in  Boston.  A  Baptist  church  was  se- 
cretly organized  in  Boston  by  Thomas 
Gouldaud  and  eight  associates.  When 
known  to  the  authorities,  the  leaders  were 
fined  and  banished,  but  still  the  church 
lived  and  grew. 

1664.  May  29.  Clarendon  County 
Colony.  Sir  John  Yeamans  landed  with 
a  colony  at  Cape  Fear  River,  Carolina. 
This  was  the  first  really  successful  settle- 
ment, although  colonists  had  gone  from 
other  provinces  into  the  region  before. 
The  colonists  of  Sir  John  Yeamans 
brought  negro  slaves  with  them.  A 
government  was  established,  and  Wil- 
liam Drummond  elected  governor.  This 
was  called  the  Clarendon  County  colony, 
to  distinguish  it  from  the  Albemarle 
County  colony  upon  the  Chowan  River. 

1664.  The  whole  of  New  Nether- 
land,  together  with  territory  east  of  the 
Kennebec  River  in  Maine,  was  granted 
by  Charles  II.  of  England,  to  his  brother 
James,  Duke  of  York.  This  grant 
was  based  upon  the  English  claim  to  the 
soil  founded  on  the  original  exploration 
of  the  Cabots. 

1664.  June.  New  Jersey.  The 
Duke  of  York  granted  the  region  from 
the  Hudson  to  the  Delaware  to  Lord 
Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Carteret.  It 
was  named  New  Jersey  in  honor  of  Loixl 
Berkeley's  former  governorship  in  the 
Isle  of  Jersey. 

1664.  Sept.  8.  Surrender  of  New 
Amsterdam.  An  expedition  fitted  out 
by  the  Duke  of  York  appeared  before 


1662-1692.] 

New  Amsterdam  and  received  its  surren- 
der to  English  authority.  The  name 
was  now  changed  to  New  York,  and 
Fort  Orange  became  Albany.  Col. 
Richard  Nichollswas  appointed  governor. 
Gov.  Stuyvesant  in  his  headstrong  way 
wished  to  resist  the  English,  but  the  peo- 
ple did  not  agree  with  him.  Therefore 
the  transfer  was  made  peaceably,  and 
Dutch  power  in  North  America  fell  with- 
out a  blow. 

1664.  The  royal  commissioners  ar- 
rived in  Massachusetts  to  assert  the  power 
of  the  crown  over  that  somewhat  refrac- 
tory province. 

1664.  Taxation.  The  assembly  of 
Rhode  Island  declared  that  "  no  aid,  tax, 
tallage  or  custom,  loan,  benevolence, 
gift,  excise,  duty,  or  imposition  whatever, 
shall  be  laid,  assessed,  imposed,  levied  or 
required  of  or  on  any  of  His  Majesty's 
subjects  within  this  colony,  or  upon  their 
estates  upon  any  manner  of  pretense  or 
color,  but  by  the  assent  of  the  general  as- 
sembly of  this  province." 

1664.  French    Guiana   was  retaken 
from  the  English  by  a  French  force. 

JOHN  ENDICOTT. 

1665.  March  15.    John  Endicott,  first 
governor  of  Massachusetts,  died  at  Bos- 
ton at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.     He 
was   born    in    Dorchester,   England,   in 
1589,  and   came  to  the  New   World  in 
charge  of  the  company  which  settled  at 
Salem  in  1628.      When  the  charter  was 
brought  across  the  water,  he  was  chosen 
governor.      He    was   reflected    to   that 
office  at  different  times  subsequently,  and 
served  with  great  fidelity  and  exactness. 
He  was  a  thorough  Puritan  in    all   his 
sympathies,  being  naturally  intolerant  of 
opposition,  and  energetic  in  his  procedures 
against  it.     He  cut  out  the  red  cross  from 


THE  WIDENING  FIELD. 


221 


the  military  standard  at  Salem  with  a 
dash  of  his  sword,  because  it  reminded 
him  so  strongly  of  popery,  which  he 
hated  with  a  zealous  hatred.  In  man- 
ners and  morals  he  could  bear  nothing 
which  bordered  upon  the  general  laxness 
then  prevalent  in  England  and  on  the 
continent.  The  strength  of  his  charac- 
ter was  very  rugged,  and  yet  he  was 
possessed  of  a  native  nobility  which 
made  him  a  great  influence  in  the  early 
days  of  the  Bay  colony. 


1665.  A  free  school  was  supported 
by  each  town  in  New  England. 

1665.  May.  The  political  contro- 
versy between  the  royal  commissioners 
and  Massachusetts  resulted  after  a  long 
time,  to  the  discomfiture  of  the  former, 
who  found  that  they  must  needs  be  very 
careful  if  they  would  deal,  successfully 
with  the  Massachusetts  colonial  officers. 
They  had  visited  the  other  New  Eng- 
land colonies  with  some  degree  of 
success. 

1665.     The  Indian  named  Cheeshah- 
teaumuck      graduated      at 
Harvard  College. 

1665.  June  12.  New 
York  City  was  incorpora- 
ted by  Gov.  Nicholls  under 
a  mayor,  five  aldermen,  and 

a  sheriff.     Thomas  Willett  was  the  first 
mayor. 

1665.  The  wild  mountain  tribes  of 
Chili,  after  a  century  of  hard    fighting, 
forced  the   Spaniards  in  that  province  to 
sign  a  treaty  setting  apart  certain  terri- 
tory for  the  former. 

1666.  January.     Gov.  Courcelles  of 
Canada,  with  five  hundred  men,  marched 
into   the     Mohawk    country    from    the 
north,  but  turned  back  at   Schenectady, 
N.   Y.,   without    attacking    the    Indian 


1665- 1701. 

Charles  II. 
King  of  Spain. 
1665.     Great 
plague  in    Lon- 
don.   Sixty 
thousand  per- 
sons died. 


222 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


towns.  Quite  a  portion  of  his  men 
were  lost  upon  the  retreat,  by  Indians 
and  the  severe  cold. 


Robert  Cavelier,  Sieur  de  la 
•Salle,  was  born  at  Rouen,  France,  in 
1643,  of  a  family  which  had  considera- 
ble wealth,  and  was  well-known  for  its 
integrity.  Different  members  of  it  had 
at  times  been  in  the  employ  of  govern- 
'ment,  and  acquitted  themselves  with 
honor.  The  young  boy  had  the  best 
privileges  of  study  which  were  to  be  had 
at  that  day,  and  soon  proved  himself  a 
fine  scholar.  His  mind  most  readily 
grasped  whatever  involved  mathemati- 
cal principles.  He  early  ^displayed  those 
strong  qualities  of  character  which  ex- 
hibited themselves  in  his  after  life  when 
he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources, 
and  was  excited  by  the  hints  of  great 
unexplored  regions,  and  of  mighty  rivers 
in  the  western  wilderness.  The  coming 
man  was  clearly  foreshadowed  in  the 
growing  youth.  During  his  early  years 
he  had  some  connection  with  the  Jesuits, 
but  while  it  resulted  in  no  complete  subjec- 
tion of  his  will  to  this  great  organization, 
neither  did  it  bring  to  pass  any  violent 
alienation.  LaSalle  was  too  good  a 
Catholic,  and  had  himself  from  the  very 
beginning  under  too  thorough  control  to 
be  unduly  exercised,  even  in  a  scheme  of 
life  to  which  his  innate  qualities  of  mind 
and  will  made  it  impossible  that  he 
should  submit.  He  was  always  most 
truly  himself,  and  would  never  surrender 
himself  to  be  the  bare  instrument  of  any 
other  human  authority.  Therefore  he 
separated  from  the  Jesuits,  and  began  to 
look  about  for  some  path  in  life.  The 
French  law  at  the  time  made  it  impossi- 
ble for  the  one  who  had  been  associated 


with  Jesuits  to  inherit  property  from 
parents.  Hence  LaSalle  was  left  to  his 
own  support,  save  the  slight  matter  of 
three  or  four  hundred  livres  a  year.  The 
energetic  young  minds  of  the  period 
were  easily  turned  toward  the  New 
World.  An  elder  brother  of  LaSalle 
was  already  in  Canada,  and  it  was  there- 
fore not  strange  that  a  journey  thither 
should  be  among  the  first  enterprises 
thought  of.  His  powerful  mind  reached 
forth  over  that  mass  of  unknown  terri- 
tory lying  behind  the  tiny  settlements 
scattered  along  the  Atlantic  coast  of 
North  America.  He  did  not  yet  know 
that  he  was  to  link  his  name  with  the 
great  Mississippi  Valley,  and  that  within 
it  he  was  to  meet  his  death  before  his 
work  was  half  done,  by  one  of  those  un- 
accountable circumstances  which  show 
that  the  temporal  destiny  of  the  great 
and  wise  is  often  held  at  the  disposal  of 
the  reckless,  the  revengeful  and  the  de- 
structive spirits  of  the  world.  Without 
knowledge  of  aught  save  that  a  power- 
ful ambition  for  activity  could  there  find 
scope,  LaSalle  set  forth  for  New  France. 
1666.  LaSalle  arrived  in  Canada  and 
received  a  grant  of  land  above  Montreal, 
at  LaChine.  He  began  a  seignory,  and 
soon  was  aroused  in  mind  by  the  reports 
of  great  rivers  hi  the  interior  w*hich  he 
felt  sure  must  form  a  passage  to  the 

Pacific. 

MtiRQUETTE. 

1666.  Jacques  Marquette  was  sent 
to  the  missions  of  Canada.  He  formed 
an  important  addition  to  the  number  of 
Catholic  leaders  in  the  New  World. 
He  was  born  at  Laon,  France,  in  1637, 
and  became  a  member  of  the  Jesuit  order 
at  seventeen  years  of  age.  His  character 
was  from  the  first  singularly  sincere  and 
devout.  The  remarkable  elevation  of  spirit 


1663-1692.] 


THE  WIDENING  FIELD. 


223 


which  showed  itself  in  him  a  few  years 
later,  just  before  his  deatn,  grew  upon 
him  from  his  boyhood.  His  endowments 
wei'e  very  great  in  all  respects.  Ta- 
dousac,  upon  the  St.  Lawrence,  below 
Quebec,  the  spot  where  the  fur-trade 
originated  before  there  was  any  settle- 
ment in  Canada,  was  the  place  of  his 
first  appointment.  For  it  he  began  his 
preparations  by  a  study  of  the  Mon- 
tagnais  language. 


1666.  Against  the  Mohawks.  Lieut- 
General  Tracy,  of  Canada,  marched 
with  thirteen  hundred  men  by  way  of 
Lakes  Champlain  and  George  into  the 
country  of  the  Mohawks,  and  with  more 
perseverance  than  that  displayed  by 
Courcelles,  he  destroyed  the  Indian 
towns  and  winter  supplies.  Peace  was 
kept  after  this  severe  lesson,  for  twenty 
years.  Gov.  Nicholls  of  New  York 
sent  to  the  New  England  colonies  a  re- 
quest that  they  should  join  him  in  resist- 
ing the  French,  but  the  desired  aid  was 
refused. 

1666.  First  Naturalization  Act.  An 
1666.  Greatfire  act  for  the  naturalization 

in  London.  Five-         f        i-  ii_        £•  <?     •, 

sixths  of  city  °f     ahenS>     the     firSt     °f    ltS 

burned.  kind   in  the   colonies,   was 

passed  by  the  assembly  of  Maryland. 

1666.  Tortola,   the    most   important 
Virgin  island    in  the   West  Indies,  was 
taken  possession  of  by  England,  and  she 
has  held  the  most  of  that  group  since. 

1667.  Feb.  4.  First  Ball  in  Canada. 
A  record  in  the  "Jesuit  Journal"  men- 
tions the  first  ball  ever  given  in  Canada, 
followed  by  the  wish,   "  God  grant  that 
nothing  more   may    come  of   it."     The 
priests  were  at  this  time  greatly  troubled 
by  the  passion  for  dress  among  the  Cana- 
dian ladies,  and  by  the  theatrical  enter- 
tainments which  began  to  appear. 


1667.  Business  in  Canada.  Intend- 
ant  Talon  of  Canada,  built  the  first 
brewery  in  New  France,  in  order  to  keep 
money  in  the  country.  He  isis-iee?. 
established  trade  with  the  J^emy  Taylor. 
West  Indies,  and  encouraged  manufac- 
tures. He  also  arranged  a  more  regular 
emigration  to  Canada  from  France. 
Soldiers  were  induced  by  large  bounties 
to  settle  in  the  province. 

1667.  Wives  for  Canada  Settlers. 
For  some  years  maidens  had  been  sent 
over  to  become  the  wives  of  the  settlers 
in  Canada.  A  large  class  of  young  men, 
retired  soldiers  and  others,  was  growing 
up,  and  the  usual  privileges  of  courtship 
and  marriage  were  as  few  as  in  the  Eng- 
lish colony  of  Jamestown  at  an  earlier 
date.  This  year  a  better  class  were  sent, 
and  during  the  next  few  years  large 
numbers  came.  One  thousand  were 
sent  by  the  year  1673.  Sometimes 
thirty  settlers  were  married  at  a  time. 
It  was  once  in  a  while  found  that  some 
young  woman  had  come  and  left  a  law- 
ful husband  at  home.  We  do  not  learn 
that  these  French  girls  were  ever  sold 
as  were  the  English  women  at  James- 
town. 

1667.  July  31.  The  Treaty  of  Breda 
between  England,  Holland,  France  and 
Denmark,  confirmed  New  Netherland 
to  the  former  power  in  return  for  Suri- 
nam in  Guiana,  S.  A.,  which  was  to  be 
given  up  to  Holland.  Nova  Scotia  was 
to  be  returned  to  France. 

1667.  The  Cathedral  of  Mexico,  be- 
gun in  1 573,  was  finished.  It  cost  $2,000,- 
ooo,  and  is  full  of  great  wealth  in 
ornaments  and  altars.  Its  length  is  five 
hundred  feet,  and  its  breadth  four  hun- 
dred and  twenty.  The  site  of  the  cathe- 
dral is  the  spot  on  which  Montezuma's 
temple  stood. 


FRONT  OF  CATHEDRAL  OF  MEXICO. 


1662-1692.] 


THE   WIDENING  FIELD. 


1668.  Jacques  Marquette  was   sent 
into  the  upper  lake  region  to  preach  to 
the    Indians.     He    visited    the    outlet    of 
Lake  Superior  whither  the  Indians  came 
in  large   numbers  to  fish,  and  then  went 
on  to  the  western  end  of  the  lake,  where 
he  established  the  mission  of  St.   Esprit. 
He  here  fii'st  learned  of   the  Mississippi 
River  from  the  Illinois  Indians  who  came 
to  the  lake  to  fish,  and  formed  the  desire 
to  explore  its  course. 

1669.  First    Survey    of    Magellan's 
Straits.     Sir  John  Narborough  was  sent 
out  by  Charles  II.  to  explore  the  region 
of  Magellan's  Straits,  and  to  make  plans 
of  the  coast  and  anchorages. 

1669.  May.  The  Old  South  Church 
was  organized  in  Boston  by  a  minority 
of  the  Boston  church.  The  separation 
originated  in  the  trouble  which  arose 
from  the  "  Half  Way  Covenant,"  by 
which  those  who  were  not  church  mem- 
bers were  admitted  to  the  sacraments  as 
a  means  of  grace. 

1669.  The  Grand  Model.  John 
Locke  finished  drawing  up  the  "  Grand 
Model,"  or  "Fundamental  Constitutions" 
for  Carolina.  It  was  a  very  elaborate 
piece  of  work,  and  though  adopted  by 
the  proprietaries,  was  never  made  the 
basis  of  legislation. 

1669.  July  6.  LaSalle  and  his 
companions  set  out  on  an  exploration. 
They  reached  Lake  Erie,  but  the  course 
of  their  journey  is  not  known  with  cer- 
tainty. It  is,  however,  asserted  that  in- 
vestigations prove  that  on  this  and  a  sub- 
sequent trip  La  Salle  discovered  the  Ohio 
and  the  Mississippi,  before  Marquette 
reached  the  last  named  river. 

1669.  Recollet  priests  were  allowed 
to  return  to  Canada  from  which  they 
were  driven  in  1629  at  the  English  con- 
quest. 

15 


225 

1669.  Green  Bay  Mission.      Father 
Claude  Allouez  was  sent  to  Green  Bay, 
Wisconsin,   to   found   a    mission  at  that 
place    among   the   Indians.     He  entered 
the    region  with    considerable   difficulty, 
and  commenced  preaching. 

1670.  Thankfulness  for  Ignorance. 
Sir  William  Berkeley,  Governor  of  Vir- 
ginia, in  a  report  of  the  condition  of  the 
colony  to  the  commissioners  in  London, 
wrote  as  follows :     "  I  thank  God  there 
are  no  free  schools  nor  printing,  and  I 
hope   we  shall  not  have  these  hundred 
years,  for  learning  has  brought  disobedi- 
ences into  the  world,   and   printing   has 
divulged  them  and  libels  against  the  best 
governments.     God  keep  us  from  both." 

1670.  The  Mississippi  River  is  said 
to  have  been  reached  through  the  wilder- 
ness from  the  east  by  Capt.  Bolton,  but 
the  proof  is  not  sufficient. 

1670.  The  Carteret  County  Colony. 
William  Sayle  and  Joseph  West  landed 
a  colony  at  Port  Royal,  S.  C.,  proceeded 
to  what  is  now  Charleston  Harbor,  and 
established  their  settlement  above  the 
mouth  of  the  Ashley  River,  naming  it 
Charlestown. 

1670.  Allouez  was  joined  at  Green 
Bay,  Wis.,  by  Dablon,  and  together  they 
visited  some  of  the  Indian 

1670.       Bayonets 
towns      in      the      vicinity     of     invented  at  Bay- 

Lake    Winnebago.      They    onne- 

were  told  much  by  the  Indians  about  the 

great  river  at  the  west. 

1670.  Bees  were  introduced  into 
America  at  Boston  by  the  English. 

1670.  Slavery  was  defined  for  the 
first  time  in  Virginia  by  a  law  passed 
this  year. 

1670.  The  Hudson  Bay  Company,  an 
English  corporation  composed  of  adven- 
turers and  merchants,  was  organized  under 
the  patronage  of  Prince  Rupert,  with  ex- 


226 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


elusive  rights  of  trade  in  all  the  country 
which  drains  its  waters  into  Hudson's  Bay. 
It  was  to  hold  the  lands  forever.  This 


posts."  Great  energy  marked  its  opera- 
tions, and  great  wealth  flowed  into  its 
treasury.  The  fur  trade  of  French  Can- 


•A 


tWv 


CANADIAN  TRAPPER. 


very  soon  became  a  large  company  and 
extended  itself  over  its  territory  in  every 
direction  by  means  of  little  "trading 


ad  a  at  this  time  was  carried  on  by  means- 
of  the  Indians  and  of  roving  French 
hunters  known  as  coureurs  des  bois  or 


1662-1692.] 

wood-rangers,  who  gathered  up  the  furs 
as  an  individual  enterprise,  and  took  them 
to  the  merchants  of  the  colony. 

1670.  December.  Panama  was 
sacked  and  burned  by  Henry  Morgan, 
the  English  buccaneer.  It  was  afterward 
rebuilt  on  its  present  site,  three  miles 
from  the  old  one.  He  had  upon  this 
same  trip  captured  Porto  Bello  and  the 
booty,  he  seized  in  both  places  made  him 
a  very  wealthy  man.  He  was  really  for 
some  years  the  leader  of  all  the  West 
India  pirates,  and  made  his  name  remem- 
bered as  a  terrible  scourge.  He  was  a 
Welshman  by  birth.  The  active  part  of 
his  life  was  spent  in  the  nefarious  pursuit 
indicated  above.  He  was  knighted  by 
Charles  II.  during  his  residence  in  Ja- 
maica, where  he  lived  after  the  close  of 
his  expeditions. 

1670.  Balize,  British   Honduras,  was 
first   settled  by    the   English.      Trouble 
with    the    Spaniards   continued   a   long 
time,  because  the  latter  claimed  that  the 
English  had  no  right  in  those  regions. 
Wood-cutters  had  been  attracted  to  the 
place  for  years. 

1671.  A    great    council  of   Indians 
was  called  by  the   French  at  Sault  Ste. 
Marie  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Superior,  and 
possession  of  the  lake  region  was  taken 
in  the  name  of  the  French  crown.     The 
name  Chicago  appears  for  the  first  time 
in  the  account  of  this  council. 

1671.  Early  Abolitionism.     George 
Fox,  while  laboring  in  Barbadoes,  pub- 
licly besought  the  "  Friends  "  to  let  their 
slaves  go  free  after  a  while,  and  not  to  let 
them  depart  unbenefited. 

1672.  An  anti-rent  insurrection  oc- 
curred in  New  Jersey.     It  arose  from  the 
demand    of  the  proprietors  of  the  prov- 
ince for  a  half-penny  an  acre  as  a  quit- 
lent   from    the    householders   who   had 


THE  WIDENING  FIELD. 


227 


bought  their  lands  of  the  Indians.  The 
injustice  of  this  caused  great  trouble. 
The  people  deposed  Philip  Carteret  and 
elected  James  Carteret  governor  in  his 

stead. 

THE  FIRST  MAIL. 

1672.  A  mail  was  established  between 
Boston  and  New  York  through  Hart- 
ford. The  round  trip  was  to  be  made 
once  a  month.  Postage  was  fourpence 
for  each  letter  carried  less  than  sixty 
miles,  and  twopence  for  each  additional 
one  hundred  miles. 


1672.  The  first  copyright  law  in 
America  was  passed  by  the  general  court 
of  Massachusetts,  granting  John  Usher 
the  privilege  of  issuing  on  his  own  ac- 
count a  revised  edition  of  the  laws  of  the 
colony. 

1672.  George  Fox,  the  founder  of 
the  Quaker  sect,  made  a  missionary  tour 
through  the  English  colonies  in  North 
America,  but  did  riot  enter  Massachusetts 
or  Connecticut. 

1672.  The  White  Mountains  were 
mentioned  for  the  first  time  in  print  in 
John  Josselyn's  "  New  England's  Rari- 
ties Discovered,"  an  account  of  an  ex- 
ploration made  by  the  writer,  and  devoted 
very  largely  to  the  flora  of  the  region. 
The  same  writer  afterward  issued  an  ac- 
count of  the  mythology  of  the  hills.  Mr. 
Josselyn  spent  several  years  in  New 
England,  and  probably  visited  the  moun- 
tains themselves. 

1672.  Bunaway  slaves  could  be  law- 
fully killed  in  Virginia,  according  to  a 
decree  of  the  assembly. 

1672.  St.  Thomas,  one  of  the  Virgin 
Islands,  was  settled  by  the  Danes,  who 
soon  after  also  settled  St.  John.  These 
two  islands  have  remained  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Denmark  till  the  present  time. 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


1672.  The  Bahama  Islands  were 
colonized  by  the  English. 

1672.  All  English  vessels  carrying 
logwood  from  Yucatan  were  captured  by 
the  Spanish. 

1672.  Kingston,  Canada.  Count 
Frontenac,  Governor  of  Canada,  and  La 
Salle,  made  an  expedition  to  Lake  On- 
tario and  built  Fort  Cataraqui  on  the 
northern  shore.  It  afterward  became 
known  as  Fort  Frontenac,  and  was  granted 
to  LaSalle  as  a  seignory.  It  is  now  the 
city  of  Kingston. 


the    New  World   from    the  home   sov- 

o 

eminent. 

1673.     Virginia  was  unjustly  granted 
by  Charles  II.  to  the  Earl    162S.1673 
of  Arlington  and  Lord  Cul-  Moiiere. 

pepper  for  a  term  of  thirty-one  years. 
It  caused  great  trouble  among  the 
citizens. 

1673.     Jacques  Marquette  and  Louis 
Joliet  started  in  search  of  the  Mississippi 
River,    passing   up    Green    1615.m3. 
Bay    and   the    Fox    River,     Saivator  Rosa. 
and    crossing   over   into   the    Wisconsin 


MARCJUETTE  DESCENDING  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 


1673.  February.  First  Internal 
Colonial  Taxation.  The  British  minis- 
try passed  an  act  levying  duties  on  sugars, 
tobacco,  indigo,  cotton,  wool,  etc.,  which 
should  be  carried  from  one  American 
colony  to  another.  This  was  the  very 
first  tax  laid  on  the  internal  trade  of  the 
colonies.  Royal  custom-houses  were  for 
the  first  time  established  in  the  colonies 
to  collect  these  duties.  This  step  was 
pronounced  unconstitutional  by  some  of 
the  colonies,  and  was  quite  a  marked  step 
in  the  process  of  alienating  the  settlers  of 


River,  to  which  they  were  guided  by 
Indians. 

1673.     June    17.     They  reached  the 

Mississippi  and  floated  out  into  it  from 
the  Wisconsin.  They  were  greatly  re- 
joiced at  the  sight  of  that  stream  of  which 
they  had  heard  so  much.  They  com- 
mitted themselves  to  its  strong  current,  to 
be  carried  they  knew  not  whither. 

1673.  June  25.  Marquette  and  Joliet 
having  pursued  their  way  down  the  Mis- 
sissippi without  finding  any  signs  of  in- 
habitants for  a  long  time,  at  last  saw  foot- 


1662-1692.] 


THE   WIDENING  FIELD. 


229 


steps  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  fol- 
lowed a  path  in  the  neighboring  woods 
till  they  came  upon  several  Indian  vil- 
lages. Advancing  they  made  themselves 
known,  and  were  received  with  great 
honor.  The  Indians  were  found  to  be 
the  Illinois.  The  Frenchmen  smoked 
the  pipe  of  peace  with  the  -chiefs,  and 
were  feasted  upon  Indian  meal  boiled  in 
grease,  boiled  fish,  a  dish  of  cooked  dog's 
meat,  and  another  of  buffalo  meat.  The 
leader  of  the  feast  fed  the  visitors  with 
his  own  hands.  The  Frenchmen  re- 
mained in  the  villages  till  the  next  morn- 
ing, and  having  been  conducted  back  to 
their  canoes  by  several  hundred  attend- 
ants, set  out  once  more  upon  their  voyage 
of  discovery. 

1673.  July  17.  They  reached  the 
mouth  of  the  Arkansas  River,  and  after 
some  intercourse  with  Indian  tribes  in 
that  region,  they  decided  to  set  out  upon 
their  return  for  fear  that  something  might 
occur  if  they  went  further,  to  make  the 
knowledge  they  had  gained  unavailable 
to  their  country. 

1673.  July  30.  New  York  was  re- 
taken by  a  Dutch  fleet  through  the  weak- 
ness of  the  garrison. 

1673.  September.  Marquette  and 
Joliet  reached  Green  Bay  upon  their  re- 
turn, the  former  being  in  very  poor  health. 
Joliet  went  at  once  to  Quebec  to  report. 

1673.  A  short-lived  insurrection  oc- 
curred in  Brazil  under  Beckman,  whose 
watchword  was  "  Down  with  the  Jesuits 
and  all  monopoly." 

1674.  Feb.    19.      The     Treaty     of 
Westminster     was    concluded    between 
England  and  Holland   by  the  terms  of 
which  New  York  and  all  associated  ter- 
ritory were  restored  to  the  English. 

1674.  Laval  was  appointed  the  first 
bishop  of  Quebec. 


1674.  Aug.  10.  An  awful  hurricane 
occurred  in  Barbadoes,  and  did  great 
damage.  Scarcely  a  house  or  tree  was 
left,  save  as  it  might  have  been  sheltered 
by  the  hills.  Ruin  was  visible  every- 
where, and  many  lives  were  lost. 

1674.  Oct.  25.  Father  Marquette 
set  out  on  a  trip  down  the  Mississippi  to 
found  a  mission  at  Kaskaskia,  among 
the  Illinois  Indians.  He  was  accompa- 
nied by  two  Frenchmen,  and  was  joined 
on  the  way  by  parties  of  Indians.  They 
passed  down  the  shore  of  Lake  Michi- 
gan, and  entered  the  river  Chicago.  At 
a  short  distance  up  this  stream  the  health 
of  Marquette  became  so  enfeebled  that 
the  party  was  obliged  to  stop  and  make 
preparations  for  spending  the  winter. 
They  remained  till  the  following  March, 
living  upon  game,  and  visited  by  wan- 
dering tribes  of  Indians. 

1674.  Oct.  31.  Edmund  Andros  hav- 
ing been  appointed  governor  of  the 
lands  belonging  to  the  Duke  of  York, 
arrived  in  New  York  and  received  the 
city  from  the  Dutch. 

1674.  An  Indian  mission  was  es- 
tablished near  Easthampton,  Mass.,  by 
Rev.  Samuel  Treat,  who  began  his  ar- 
duous labors  among  them  with  great 
enthusiasm,  and  accomplished  a  gigantic 
work.  He  visited  and  preached  in  dif- 
ferent villages.  The  Indians  became 
very  much  attached  to  him.  The  ap- 
proaching King  Philip's  war  was  very 
disastrous  to  the  "  praying "  Indians 
scattered  through  Massachusetts.  It  did 
not  affect  those  of  Plymouth  colony  so 
greatly.  At  the  close  of  this  century 
there  were  about  three  thousand  "  pray- 
ing "  Indians  in  New  England.  Only 
two  hundred  and  five  of  them  were  in 
Massachusetts.  The  rest  were  in  Ply- 
mouth colony,  and  on  the  islands  of 


230 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


Southern  Massachusetts.  These  praying 
Indians  have  since  wasted  away.  A 
remnant,  of  impure  blood,  still  remain. 

1674.  The   first  Sunday    School  in 
America  was  started  at  Roxbury,  Mass. 

1675.  An  Effectual  Rebuff.    Edmund 
Andros,  governor  of  New  York,  visited 
the  Connecticut  River  with  the  design  of 
claiming  this  territory  as    being  within 
the  grant  of  the  Duke  of  York.     But  he 
was  not  allowed  to  read  the  patent  of  the 
Duke  to  the  people  at  Fort   Saybrook. 
He    was   prevented    from  doing  so    by 
Capt.    Bull,  of  that   place,  who   would 
not  listen  to  any  assumption  of  authority 
by  Gov.  Andros.      So   the   disappointed 
officeholder  returned  to  New  York. 

1675.  Father  Marquette,  being 
stronger,  set  out  for  his  destination,  the 
Indian  village  of  Kaskaskia,  near  the 
Mississippi.  Finding  before  long  that 
his  strength  was  again  failing,  he  set  out 
upon  his  return  to  the  northern  missions. 
He  reached  Lake  Michigan  and  began 
his  trip  up  the  eastern  shore  toward 
Michillimackinac. 

DEATH  OF  MARQUETTE. 
1675.  May  19.  Father  Marquette 
died  upon  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan, 
at  a  spot  where  his  followers  were 
obliged  to  stop  on  account  of  his  extreme 
weakness.  He  sank  rapidly  away,  and 
died  calmly  at  last.  His  was  one  of  the 
noblest  spirits  of  early  Canadian  history. 
His  talents  were  remarkable,  and  his 
character  pure  and  holy.  The  interest 
in  his  work  is  destined  to  increase.  The 
man  has  never  been  fully  known  in 
America. 

1675.  The  Seneca  Indians  gave 
trouble  in  Virginia.  The  planters  were 
aroused,  and  many  were  killed  on  both 
sides,  by  an  irregular  warfare. 


1675.  June  24.     King  Philip's  war 
broke  out  in  New  England  by  an  attack 
upon  Swansea,  in  which  some  of  the  in- 
habitants  were  killed  as  they   returned 
from  meeting.     The  town  was  afterward 
burned.     This  was  the  opening  of  that 
bloody  struggle  which  filled  so  many  of 
the  growing   villages  with  sorrow    and 
ashes.     It   swept   from   one   to    another 
with    frightful   rapidity.       The    colonists 
speedily-took  up  arms,  and  there  was  con- 
stant bloodshed  till  Philip's  death  in  1676. 

1676.  Bacon's  Rebellion.    Nathaniel 
Bacon  of  Virginia,  originated  a  rebellion 
against  Berkeley's  government,  because 
prompt  measures  were  not  taken  to  sup- 
press  Indian    outrages.      The  difficulty 
passed  through  several  stages,  during  one 
of  which  Jamestown  was  burned   by  the 
conspirators,  and  was  never  rebuilt.     Ba- 
con finally  died,  and  the  rebellion   sank 
away.      Berkeley  inflicted  many  punish- 
ments  during   this   year    and   the  next. 
Twenty-two  of  Bacon's  followers  were 

hanged. 

KING  PHILIP. 

1676.  Aug.  12.  King  Philip  was 
slain,  and  his  war  brought  to  a  speedy 
close.  King  Philip  was  the  second  son 
of  Massasoit,  the  Wampanoag  sachem. 
His  former  Indian  name  was  Metacomet. 
Upon  the  death  of  his  elder  brother, 
Alexander,  in  1662,  after  a  short  rule  of 
about  one  year,  Philip  succeeded  to  the 
chieftainship  of  the  tribe.  From  the 
very  first  the  English  seem  to  have  sus- 
pected him  of  plotting  against  them. 
One  of  his  first  acts  was  to  proceed  to 
Plymouth  with  some  of  his  principal 
chiefs  and  there  sign  a  treaty,  setting 
forth  his  desire  to  remain  on  the  same 
terms  of  friendship  with  the  English, 
which  had  been  maintained  by  his  father 
and  brother.  For  the  first  nine  years  of 


1662-1692.] 


THE  WIDENING  FIELD. 


231 


his  rule  nothing  of   importance   is  men- 
tioned as  having  taken  place. 

In  1671  signs  of  a  plot  against  the 
English  seemed  more  apparent.  A 
council  was  held  as  soon  as  possible  at 
Taunton,  in  which  Philip  confessed  his 
guilt  and  signed  a  treaty,  the  conditions 
of  which  he  failed  to  fulfil.  At  another 
hearing  in  Boston  he  made  the  same 
pledges.  But  at  the  same  time  he  was 
making  preparations  for  a  general  war. 
The  neighboring  tribes  had  been  secretly 
enlisted  for  the  work.  The  powerful 
Narragansetts  had  promised  to  have  four 
thousand  warriors  ready  for  the  war  by 
1676.  Several  Christian  Indians  had 
hinted  to  the  English  that  war  was  med- 
itated. John  Sassamon,  a  converted  In- 
dian, formerly  a  subject  of  Philip,  was 
sent  to  preach  among  the  Namasket 
Indians.  He  had  not  been  among  them 
long  before  he  became  convinced  that 
war  would  be  begun  at  no  distant  day. 
As  soon  as  possible  he  communicated 
with  the  governor  at  Plymouth,  at  the 
same  time  enjoining  upon  him  the  strict- 
est secrecy.  Philip  soon  learned  in  some 
way  that  Sassamon  had  revealed  the 
plot,  and  the  life  of  the  latter  soon  paid 
the  penalty.  The  trial  and  execution  of 
three  Indians  for  this  murder,  hastened 
the  outbreak  planned  by  Philip.  The 
full  tide  of  horrid  Indian  warfare  was 
soon  rolling  over  Massachusetts.  For  a 
time  terror  reigned  complete.  But  after 
awhile  reverses  began  to  dampen  the 
ardor  of  Philip's  allies. 

The  Deerfield  Indians,  then  the  Nip- 
mucks  and  Narragansetts  retired  from 
the  contest.  Another  series  of  reverses 
followed.  From  July  nth  to  Aug.  ist 
he  lost  many  of  his  people  by  death  and 
capture.  Upon  the  last  date  his  wife  and 
his  son,  then  nine  years  old,  were  taken. 


Such  was  his  affection  for  these  that  he 
is  said  to  have  declared  that  his  heart  was 
ready  to  break,  and  that  he  was  now 
willing  to  die.  The  pursuit  was  kept 
up  until  the  Indians  took  refuge  in  a 
swamp  near  Pokanoket.  This  last  re- 
treat was  surrounded  by  the  whites  early 
on  the  morning  of  Aug.  12  th,  the  situation 
having  been  made  known  by  an  Indian 
deserter.  A  force  under  Capt.  Golding 
was  sent  into  the  swamp.  Philip,  just 
aroused  from  sleep,  started  to  flee  with 
only  a  portion  of  his  clothing.  He  was 
soon  confronted  by  an  Englishman 
named  Caleb  Cook,  with  the  Indian  who 
had  betrayed  the  place,  and  was  named 
Alderman.  Cook  took  deliberate  aim, 
but  his  gun  missed  fire.  The  Indian, 
whose  gun  was  loaded  with  two  balls, 
then  fired,  and  Philip  fell,  shot  through 
the  heart.  His  head  was  cut  off,  taken 
to  Plymouth,  and  exposed  upon  a  gibbet 
for  twenty  years  afterward.  The  body 
was  denied  burial.  Philip,  like  his  father, 
Massasoit,  was  always  opposed  to  the 
Christian  religion.  The  conduct  of  the 
English,  often  as  barbarous  as  that  of  the 
savages  themselves,  was  not  such  as  to 
favorably  incline  the  minds  of  these  war- 
riors toward  the  faith  of  the  white  man. 
Philip  was  a  man  of  many  good  traits, 
but  his  impatient  spirit  rebelled  at  the 
injustice  practiced  toward  his  people ;  an 
injustice  which  has  been  the  part  of  the 
red  man  from  his  first  contact  with  the 
whites  down  to  the  present  time. 


1676.  Indian  Slaves.  Major  Wal- 
dron  seized  by  a  stratagem  a  large  num- 
ber of  Indians,  including  some  of  King 
Philip's  men  who  had  fled  thither,  at 
Dover,  N.  H.  He  sent  three  hundred  of 
them  into  slavery.  This  occasioned 
fresh  Indian  outbreaks  for  years. 


232 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


1676.  Right  of  Taxation.     Virginia 
declared  it  to  be   the   "  right  of   Virgin- 
ians as  well  as  of  all  other  Englishmen, 
not  to  be  taxed  but  by  their  own  consent, 
expressed  by  their  representatives." 

1376.  Edward  Randolph  came  to 
Massachusetts  as  a  royal  commissioner, 
but  he  could  effect  nothing  with  that 
colony.  There  was  too  much  wit  and 
knowledge  in  the  sturdy  colonial  magis- 
trates. He  soon  returned  to  England. 
The  trade  of  Massachusetts  was  now 
reaching  such  an  extent  as  to  cause 
serious  opposition  in  England. 

1677.  February.    A  great  naval  bat- 
tle was  fought  between  a  French  fleet 
and    a    Dutch   fleet   near   the   island    of 
Tobago.     The  former  were  attempting 
to  get  possession  of  the   island,  but  failed. 
The   battle   was   very    severe.     Twelve 
vessels  were  burned,  and  all  the  rest  dis- 
mantled.    The  result  was  almost   com- 
plete destruction. 

1677.  The  Province  of  Maine  was 
bought  from  the  heirs  of  Gorges,  by 
Massachusetts,  for  £1,250.  Mr.  Usher 
of  Boston  made  the  transaction,  and 
passed  the  right  over  to  the  colony  sub- 
sequently. The  colony  thus  outwitted 
the  king,  who  was  planning  to  buy  the 
right  for  the  government,  and  get  the 
settlements  out  from  the  jurisdiction  of 
Massachusetts. 

1677.  December.  Tobago  was  finally 
taken  by  the  commander  of  the  French 
fleet,  who  landed,  and  utterly  destroyed 
the  property  of  the  island.  He  trans- 
ported the  inhabitants.  The  French  did 
not  repeople  the  island.  The  island  has 
changed  hands  several  times  since,  but  is 
now  English. 

1679.  A  synod  was  held  in  New 
England  to  deliberate  upon  the  subject 
of  public  calamities,  and  to  promote 


reformation  of  manners   throughout   the 

O 

colonies. 

1679.  New  Hampshire  was  made  a 
royal  province,  the  authority  of  Massa- 
chusetts over  it  having  been  annulled. 
John  Cutts  was  made  governor.  This 
was  the  first  royal  province  in  New 
England. 

1679.  The  English  residents  in  Yu- 
catan were  seized  by  the  Spanish  and 
sent  to  Havana  as  prisoners.  Their 
property,  to  the  amount  of  £100,000, 
was  confiscated. 

1679.  First  CoUectors.  Edward 
Randolph  landed  in  Boston  to  assume 
the  duties  of  royal  collector,  to  which  he 
had  been  appointed.  He  was  made  col- 
lector, surveyor  of  all  New  England,  and 
was  to  appoint  deputies  for  the  other 
New  England  colonies.  He  attempted 
his  work,  but  was  constantly  opposed  and 
could  get  no  redress  from  the  colonial 
courts.  The  ship-owners  treated  him 
with  constant  aversion.  He  was  at  one 
time  imprisoned.  In  other  colonies  the 
collectors  did  not  fare  much  better. 
Conflicts  took  place  for  a  time,  but  ceased 
at  last,  because  the  collectors  ceased  to 
carry  out  their  orders  exactly.  Thus  the 
laws  fell  into  disuse  very  greatly  until 
the  necessity  of  raising  money  at  the 
close  of  the  French  and  Indian  war  in 
the  next  century,  caused  the  restrictions 
which  precipitated  the  Revolution. 

1679.  The  first  vessel  ever  built  on 
the  upper  lakes  was  constructed  on  the 
United  States  shore  just  above  Niagara 
Falls  by  LaSalle,  and  was  named  the 
"  Griffin."  It  was  of  forty-five  tons  bur- 
den, and  sailed  through  Lake  Erie,  the 
Straits  of  Detroit,  Lake  St.  Clair,  up  to 
Michillimackinac.  LaSalle  proceeded 
down  the  shores  of  Wisconsin  in  canoes 
and  sent  back  the  Griffin  to  Fort  Fron- 


1663-1692.] 

tenac  with  a  load  of  furs,  and  directions 
to  return  as  soon  as  possible  with  aid. 
With  fourteen  men,  among  them  several 
priests,  LaSalle  pushed  on  in  four  heavily 
laden  canoes.  They  were  soon  near  the 
Wisconsin  shore,  but  were  put  in  great 
danger  of  destruction  by  gales  which 
came  on  with  great  severity,  and  lasted 
several  days.  They  sustained  themselves 
as  best  they  could,  and  at  last  pushed  on 
to  the  southern  end  of  Lake  Michigan. 
Here  LaSalle  decided  to  wait  for  the  ex- 
pected reinforcements  from  Michillimack- 
inac.  They  began  building  a  fort,  and 
remained  until  a  man  named  Tonty 
reached  the  camp  with  a  small  company. 
The  Griffin  was  never  heard  from.  It 
is  probable  that  she  sank  in  a  gale  while 
on  her  way  to  Fort  Frontenac. 

1680.  January.  LaSalle  in  Illinois. 
After  much  difficulty  LaSalle  and  his  com- 
panions reached  the  vicinity  of  the  present 
city  of  Peoria,  Illinois.  Here  they  built 
a  fort  which  was  named  Fort  Crevecoeur, 
and  was  the  first  spot  at  which  white 
men  attempted  to  make  a  permanent 
habitation  in  Illinois.  It  was  here  that 
LaSalle  became  convinced  of  the  loss  of 
the  Griffin,  upon  which  he  had  relied  to 
return  and  bring  an  outfit  for  a  second 
vessel  to  be  built  for  the  descent  of  the 
Mississippi. 

1680.  Feb.  29.  A  party  set  out 
from  Fort  Crevecoeur  to  explore  the 
river  Illinois  to  its  mouth. 

1680.  March  2.  LaSalle  and  five 
companions  set  out  from  Fort  Crevecoeur 
ror  Fort  Frontenac,  in  order  to  obtain  sup- 
plies necessary  for  the  further  voyage 
down  the  Mississippi. 

1680.  May  6.  A  Great  Journey. 
LaSalle  arrived  after  surmounting  almost 
incredible  difficulties,  at  Fort  Frontenac, 
on  Lake  Ontario.  He  had  marched 


THE  WIDENING  FIELD. 


233 


about  one  thousand  miles  in  sixty-five 
days,  and  had  accomplished  "  the  most 
arduous  journey  ever  made  by  French- 
men in  America."  Here  he  found  that 
his  property  had  been  seized,  and  yet  he 
gained  at  Montreal  new  supplies  for 
another  trip.  But  news  soon  reached 
him  that  almost  the  entire  garrison  he 
had  left  at  Fort  Crevecoeur  had  destroyed 
what  they  could  at  that  place  and  had 
deserted, going  north  to  Michillimackinac, 
and  committing  depredations  at  several 
places.  These  were  the  difficulties  over 
which  LaSalle  constantly  and  cour- 
ageously triumphed. 

1680.  Aug.  10.  LaSaUe  with  twejity- 
five  men  set  out  from  Fort  Frontenac  to 
attempt  once  more  the  exploration  of  the 
Mississippi.  He  desired  to  relieve  Tonty 
who  remained  faithful  to  his  leader 
through  all  changes,  and  to  whom  a 
large  place  should  be  given  in  any  full 
account  of  this  great  enterprise.  Tonty 
was  now  waiting  at  Fort  Crevecoeur  to 
know  the  further  plans  of  LaSalle. 

1680.  December.  LaSalle  reached 
the  ruins  of  Fort  Crevecoeur,  but  found 
no  traces  of  Tonty  and  the  few  men  who 
had  remained  faithful.  He  descended 
the  river,  found  that  the  Illinois  Indians 
had  been  terribly  slaughtered  by  the 
Iroquois,  and  finally  turned  back  to  the 
St.  Joseph's  River,  where  the  larger  part 
of  his  last  force  were  awaiting  his  com- 
mands. In  the  meantime,  Tonty  and  his 
companions,  after  severe  experiences  in 
the  war  between  the  Illinois  and  the  Iro- 
quois, had  turned  north,  and  at  last 
reached  Green  Bay. 

1680.  Charleston,  S.  C.  Old 
Charlestown  in  Carolina  was  abandoned, 
and  the  present  city  of  Charleston  was 
founded,  and  soon  became  the  capital  of 
the  southern  province. 


234 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


1680.  Indian  Slaves.  An  Indian 
war  broke  out  in  Carolina,  but  was  vigor- 
ously suppressed.  A  bounty  was  offered 
for  every  Indian,  and  many  were  sold  to 
the  West  Indies  for  slaves.  This  con- 
tinued till  the  proprietors  learned  of  it, 
and  stopped  it. 

1680.  Bight  of  Taxation.  The  New 
Jersey  assembly  this  year  declared  that 
duties  laid  on  goods  without  its  consent, 
were  "illegal  and  unconstitutional."  Re- 
sistance to  the  collection  of  them  was 
offered  in  one  case. 

1680.  A  Sunday  school  was  opened 
in  Plymouth  colony. 

1^80.  The  Rogerenes,  a  kind  of 
Seventh  Day  Baptists,  were  established 
in  Connecticut. 

1680.  The   Savoy    Confession  was 
adopted  by  a  synod  of  New  England 
churches. 

1681.  March  4.     William  Penn  re- 
ceived   from     Charles    II.    a    grant    of 
Pennsylvania  in  full   for  a  claim  of  six- 
teen thousand  pounds  against  the  Eng- 
lish government,  transmitted  to  him  by 
his  father,  Admiral  Sir  William  Penn,  of 
the  navy.      He  addressed  a  letter  to  the 
inhabitants   of   the  province,   which   he 
sent  by  Capt.  William  Markham,  whom 
he  directed  to  take  charge  of  the  province, 
and  act  as  governor. 

1681.  Roman  Catholics  were  dis- 
franchised in  Maryland,  and  public  offices 
were  to  be  given  only  to  Protestants. 

1681.  The  "  Old  Ship  "  in  Hingham, 
Mass.,  was  built,  and  is  still  used  by  the 
Unitarian  Society  of  that  town  as  a 
place  of  worship.  It  is  probably  the 
oldest  church  in  New  England. 

1681.  A  printing  press  was  set  up 
in  Virginia,  and  a  volume  of  colonial 
laws  was  being  printed,  when  orders 
came  from  England  to  "allow  no  person 


to  use  a  press  on  any  occasion  whatever." 
This  shut  off  all  printing  in  the  province 
till  1729. 

1681.  «  Plant-cutters  "  in  Virginia. 
The  difficulties  from  over  production 
of  tobacco  became  so  great  that  some 
impatient  leaders,  with  a  band  of  men, 
went  frorn  plantation  to  plantation  cut- 
ting up  the  young  tobacco  plants.  But 
this  method  did  the  situation  no  good. 
Lord  Culpepper  hanged  some  of  the 
men  who  started  this  movement,  and  un- 
dertook to  remedy  the  difficulty  by  inflat- 
ing the  currency.  His  efforts  were 
attended  with  very  poor  results. 

1681.  LaSalle  having  spent  the  win- 
ter at  Port  Miami,  on  Lake  Michigan, 
formed  an  alliance  among  the  remnants 
of  Indian  tribes  which  dwelt  in  the  re- 
gion, with  a  view  to  the  aid  which  this 
alliance  would  bring  to  his  plan  for  the 
exploration  of  the  Mississippi.  He  then 
set  out  for  Canada  in  order  to  get  further 
help  and  supplies.  At  Michillimackinac 
he  found  his  old  friend  Tonty,  the  Italian. 
/Having  reached  Montreal  he  made  his 
plans  to  start  once  more,  in  hope  of  a 
complete  success.  Late  in  the  autumn 
he  arrived  with  his  followers  at  Fort 
Miami,  at  the  southern  end  of  Lake 
Michigan. 

1681.  Dec.  21.     The  first  portion  of 
LaSalle's  company  set  out  into  the  wil- 
derness by   way  of  the    river    Chicago, 
and  were  soon  followed  by  all  the  rest. 
In  spite  of  snow  and   ice   they    pushed 
their  way    onward    past   the   scenes    of 
LaSalle's  former  experiences. 

1682.  East  Jersey  was  sold   to   pay 
the   debts   of  Sir    George    Carteret,  the 
proprietor,     who      had     died    in     1679. 
Twelve  persons  bought  it,  one  of  whom 
was    William    Penn,   who  thus  became 
associated   with    the   entire   province   of 


1662-1692.] 


THE   WIDENING  FIELD. 


235 


New  Jersey.  Both  East  and  West  Jer- 
sey were  now  owned  by  Quakers. 

1682.  Feb.  2.  LaSalle  and  his  com- 
pany reached  the  Mississippi  and  found  it 
so  full  of  floating  ice  that  they  were 
obliged  to  wait  a  week.  They  soon  set 
out  upon  the  bosom  of  the  stream  whose 
course  had  been  such  a  mystery.  They 
swept  on  past  the  mouth  of  the  great 
Missouri,  down  through  the  freshly 
springing  verdure  of  warmer  latitudes. 

1682.  April  9.  Louisiana  Named. 
They  reached  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and 
took  formal  possession  in  the  name  of 
the  French  crown,  conferring  the  name 
of  Louisiana  upon  the  whole  region.  A 
column  was  erected,  with  the  arms  of 
France  upon  it.  A  cross  was  placed  be- 
side it,  and  a  leaden  plate  bearing  the 
French  arms,  was  buried  in  the  soil 
beneath. 

1682.  May.  Philadelphia.  The  site 
of  the  great  town  which  was  to  be  the 
capital  of  Pennsylvania,  was  determined 
upon,  and  streets  were  laid  out  by  survey. 
The  name  Philadelphia  is  found  in  a 
deed  dated  the  loth  of  5th  mo.  1682. 
The  ground  upon  which  it  was  built  was 
bought  of  the  Swedes. 

1682.  Ten  Scotch  families  settled  at 
Port  Royal,  S.  C.,  under  Henry  Erskine, 
second  Lord  Cardross,  who  came  to  this 
country  to  escape  the  tyranny  of  Lauder- 
dale,  High  Commissioner  of  Scotland. 
Lord  Cardross  soon  returned  to  Great 
Britain. 

1682.  August.  Delaware.  The  Duke 
of  York  gave  the  counties  of  Delaware 
by  deed  to  William  Penn,  at  the  latter's 
solicitation,  in  order  that  the  province  of 
Pennsylvania  might  have  better  access  to 
the  Atlantic  Ocean.  Delaware  was  thus 
separated  from  New  York.  It  was  un- 
der the  authority  of  Pennsylvania  until 


the  Revolution,  although  for  a  long  time 
it  held  a  separate  assembly. 

1682.  August.  Peter  Stuyvesant» 
the  last  governor  of  New  Netherland, 
died  on  his  farm  near  East  River,  in 
what  is  now  the  city  of  New  York.  He 
was  born  in  Friesland  in  1602,  and  as  his 
parents  intended  him  for  the  ministry,  his 
early  education  was  quite  extended.  His 
own  choice,  however,  led  him  later  to 
enter  the  army.  He  served  in  the  West 
Indies,  where  he  lost  a  leg,  which  disabled 
him  for  future  service.  In  1647  he  ar- 
rived in  New  Amsterdam  as  the  governor 
appointed  by  the  Dutch  government. 
His  first  measure  was  to  conciliate  the 
Indians  who  had  been  growing  unfriendly. 
He  then  adjusted  the  dispute  between  his 
province  and  the  English,  concerning 
boundary  lines.  When  the  fleet  sent  by 
James,  Duke  of  York,  to  take  possession 
of  the  grant  given  him  by  his  brother 
Charles  II.  appeared  in  the  Harbor,  the 
stern  old  governor  refused  to  surrender. 
For  twenty  years  he  had  ruled  with  an 
iron  hand,  believing  his  authority  to  be 
absolute,  and  not  until  he  saw  that  the 
people  would  not  resist,  did  he  give  up  the 
city.  After  this  he  lived  quietly  on  his 
farm  till  his  death.  He  and  his  wife  were 
buried  in  St.  Mark's  church  on  Tenth  St., 
New  York. 

1682.  Oct.  27.  William  Penn  ar- 
rived in  America  and  landed  at  New 
Castle  on  the  Delaware,  receiving  pos- 
session of  that  territory  from  the  magis- 
trates. He  at  once  visited  Upland  which 
he  named  Chester,  also  Philadelphia, 
where  there  were  already  many  settlers. 

1682.  The  English  prisoners  who 
had  been  sent  from  Campeachy  to  Ha- 
vana by  the  Spaniards,  went  to  Jamaica. 

1682.  November.  A  great  treaty 
was  arranged  between  William  Penn 


236 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


and  the  Indians  of  Pennsylvania  under 
the  old  "  treaty  tree  "  at  Shakaniaxon. 
It  is  now  asserted  that  no  evidence  exists 
of  the  conclusion  of  such  a  treaty,  but 
some  relations  of  good  will  were  without 
doubt  formed  about  this  time.  A  monu- 
ment stands  upon  the  spot  to  commemo- 
rate the  «  Treaty  Ground." 


the  great  accession  of  territory  to  the 
French  crown.  But  having  heard  that 
the  Iroquois  were  about  to  wage  another 
war  on  the  western  Indians,  isoo-iesz. 
he  deferred  his  departure,  Claude  Lor  aim. 
and  with  a  company  of  men  went  into 
the  territory  of  the  Illinois  and  fortified 
a  camp  upon  the  summit  of  a  high  rock 


PETER  STUYVESANT. 


1682.  Dec.  4.  The  first  general 
assembly  ever  held  in  Pennsylvania  was 
called  at  Chester  by  William  Penn.  A 
body  of  laws  was  passed  for  the  province. 
Roman  Catholics  were  tolerated. 

1682.  Fort  St.  Louis.  LaSalle  and 
his  companions  having  worked  their  way 
up  the  Mississippi  reached  Michillimack- 
inac  whence  the  former  was  about  sailing 
for  France  to  report  in  person  concerning 


which  rises  above  the  river.  Here  they 
prepared  to  spend  the  winter.  Around 
their  camp  the  Indians  gathered  in  large 
numbers  to  gain  protection.  This  place 
was  called  Fort  St.  Louis  by  LaSalle. 
Col.  Dongan,  Governor  of  New  York, 
was  behind  the  movements  of  the  Iro- 
quois and  tried  to  instigate  them  to  at- 
tacks upon  the  western  Indians  in  order 
to  get  control  of  the  fur  trade  in  that 


1662-1692.] 


THE  WIDENING  FIELD. 


237 


region.  The  poor  Indians  in  many  in- 
stances were  made  the  instruments  of  the 
•white  man's  policy.  The  jealousy  of 
government  or  trade  has  been  sufficient 
in  its  power  to  rouse  whole  tribes  to  wars 
of  extermination. 

IflCQAS. 

1682.  Uncas,  the  first  chief  of  the 
Mohegan  Indians,  died.  He  had  formerly 
been  a  minor  chief  of  the  Pequod  tribe. 
A  short  time  before  the  Pequod  war  he 
became  dissatisfied  with  Sassacus,  the 
head  sachem,  and  revolted,  drawing  away 
with  him  the  people  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  Pequod  territory  known  as  Moheag. 
He  was  called  by  the  whites  the  King  of 
the  Mohegans.  He  is  said  to  have  been 
a  strong,  courageous  man,  but  crafty, 
subtle  and  treacherous.  For  a  long  time 
he  was  in  the  greatest  favor  with  the 
whites.  In  the  Pequod  war  he  fought 
with  his  Mohegans  on  the  side  of  the 
English  against  his  own  countrymen  and 
relatives.  The  long  enmity  which  existed 
between  Uncas  and  Miantonomoh,  sa- 
chem of  the  Narragansetts,  is  well  known. 
The  death  of  the  latter  caused  his  rela- 
tives and  followers  to  pursue  the  war 
further,  with  the  hope  of  avenging  their 
leader.  Through  aid  given  by  the  Eng- 
lish the  Mohegans  escaped  annihilation. 
In  August,  1675,  when  the  English  were 
just  entering  upon  their  war  with  King 
Philip,  Uncas  was  compelled  in  order  to 
insure  his  neutrality,  to  deliver  up  all  the 
arms  of  the  tribe,  and  to  leave  two  of  his 
sons,  then  about  thirty  years  of  age,  at 
Boston  as  hostages  for  his  good  behavior. 
He  lived  to  be  quite  old,  as  dissolute, 
wicked  and  vicious  in  his  old  age  as  he 
had  been  in  his  younger  days.  His  life 
nowhere  presents  at  any  point  evidence 
that  he  possessed  a  single  noble  trait  of 


character  to  relieve  the  gloom  of  his 
history.  His  grave  is  in  a  beautiful  and 
romantic  spot  in  the  town  of  Norwich, 
Conn.,  close  by  the  falls  of  the  Yantic 
River. 

ROGER   WILLIAMS. 

1683.  April.  Roger  Williams  died 
at  Providence,  R.  I.,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  It  is  difficult  to  give  an  esti- 
mate of  this  wonderful  and  yet  singular 
man.  He  was  a  type  of  a  class  of  men 
scattered  around  the  world,  and  through 
all  time,  who  have  some  remarkable  gifts 
which  put  them  in  a  sense  in  advance  of 
their  times,  who  are,  however,  deficient 
in  those  other  qualities  as  eminent  as  the 
first  when  possessed,  which  would  enable 
them  to  be  at  peace  with  their  own  times 
without  the  compromise  of  principle; 
which  would  in  fact  enable  the  possessor 
to  serve  as  a  true  leader  of  the  times  to 
better  things.  The  life  of  Roger  Wil- 
liams was  a  stormy  one,  not  because  of 
his  principle,  but  because  of  the  abuse  of 
his  principle,  which  so  set  him  in  antago- 
nism to  communities  in  which  he  lived, 
that  there  could  be  no  harmony  till  he 
should  go.  Doubtless  mistaken  judg- 
ments were  pronounced  upon  him,  and 
evil  words  were  spoken  of  him,  for 
which  there  is  no  excuse.  He  and  his 
opponents  were  alike  liable  to  err.  He 
had  the  faculty  of  magnifying  differences, 
which  is  so  disastrous  to  any  cause  we  try 
to  help.  Most  of  his  long  life  was  spent 
in  America.  He  was  born  in  Wales, 
England,  in  1599,  studied  at  Cambridge, 
and  sailed  to  America  in  1630.  He  laid 
the  foundations  of  Rhode  Island,  and  is 
justly  honored  for  the  things  he  held  ac- 
cording to  the  truth.  It  was  after  his 
removal  to  Rhode  Island  that  he  be- 
came a  Baptist. 


238 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


1683.  The  first  Jesuit  mission  in 
Old  or  Lower  California  was  founded  by 
Father  Eusebius  Kino,  and  was  speedily 
followed  by  fifteen  other  missions  which 
were  operated  until  the  Jesuits  were  ex- 
pelled from  Spain  and  its  provinces  in 

I759- 

1683.  The  first  school  in  Pennsyl- 
vania was  a  tuition  school  taught  by 
Enoch  Flower,  who  taught  "  reading, 
writing,  and  casting  accounts,"  for  eight 
shillings  a  year. 

1683.  July.  The  first  "  yearly  meet- 
ing" of  the  Friends  was  held  in  Phil- 
adelphia. 

1683.  The  first  representative  as- 
sembly was  called  in  New  York  by  the 
governor,  and  a  "  Charter  of  Liberties " 
was  adopted.  It  provided  for  trial  by 
jury  and  the  right  of  suf- 

1683.  Penny  post     J       J 

established  in  frage,  together  with  other 
privileges.  This  charter 
was  never  really  approved  by  the  Duke 
of  York,  and  was  subsequently  declared 
void  by  the  throne. 

1683.     A  notice  of  Chicago  appears  • 
on  a  map  dated   at   "  Quebec,    Canada, 
1683."     The  spot  is  laid  down  as  "  Fort 
Cheqagou." 

1683.  LaSalle  alter  having  remained 
at  Fort  St.  Louis  most  of  the  year  in  a 
vain  attempt  to  get  supplies  from  Canada, 
where-his  property  had  been  seized  and  his 
enemies  increased  in  power,  at  las{  went 
to  Quebec  and  sailed  for  France,  in  order 
•  to  establish  the  usefulness  of  his  ex- 
plorations. 

1683.  .  A  buccaneer  expedition  was 
organized  against  Vera  Cruz  by  Van 
Horn,  of  Ostend.  A  force  of  twelve 
hundred  .men  sailed  in  six  vessels  and 
seized  the  city  by  surprise  in  the  night. 
The  city  was  ravaged  for  booty,  and  an 
offer  of  $2,000,000,  which  the  inhabitants 


agreed  to  pay  as  a  ransom,  was  accepted. 
A  Spanish  fleet  having  appeared,  the 
buccaneers  sailed  away  with  $1,000,000, 
which  had  been  paid,  and  fifteen  hundred 
prisoners. 

1684.  Piracy  in  Spanish  waters  was 
encouraged  by  the  governors  of  Carolina. 
There  was  at  this  time  a  rapid  change  in 
the  governors  of  the  province. 

1684.  The  grant  of  Virginia  made 
to  the  Earl  of  Arlington  and  Lord  Cul- 
pepper,  was  revoked  by  the  king.  Vir- 
ginia became  once  more  a 
royal  province.  Culpepper's 
government  had  been  an  entire  failure. 
Lord  Howard  succeeded  him  as  royal 
governor  and  increased  all  the  old  diffi- 
culties by  his  selfishness  and  greed.  Pop- 
ular liberty  was  undergoing  discipline  for 
a  time  to  come. 

1684.  The  Charter  of  Massachusetts 
was  revoked  by  the  king.  The  great 
blow  had  at  last  fallen,  and  the  colony 
was  to  suffer  a  period  of  greater  disci- 
pline than  had  yet  come  upon  it.  But 
relief  would  come  at  last. 

1684.  A  woman  charged  with  witch- 
craft in  Pennsylvania  was  acquitted. 

1684.  June  12.  William  Penn  sailed 
for  England,  to  care  for  the  interests  of 
his  province. 

1684.  Expedition  to  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
LaSalle  having  arrived  in  France  peti- 
tioned the  crown  for  the  further  support 
of  his  enterprises,  and  obtained  the  royal 
favor.  A  messenger  was  sent  to  Canada 
with  orders  for  the  restoration  of  all  La 
Salle's  property.  Four  vessels  were  as- 
signed for  the  expedition  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  for  the  purpose  of  founding  a 
colony  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi. 
LaSalle  strongly  urged  this  as  a  means 
of  securing  command  of  the  whole  region 
of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  forming  the 


1662-1692.] 


THE  WIDENING  FIELD. 


239 


best  guard  against  the  enlargement  of 
the  English  colonies. 

1684.  Aug.  1.  LaSalle  sailed  with 
about  two  hundred  and  eighty  persons 
for  the  foundation  of  the  proposed  colony 
in  Louisiana.  But  the  passage  was  ren- 
dered disagreeable  by  grave  differences 
between  himself  and  the  other  officers  of 
the  fleet.  At  last  one  vessel  was  taken 
by  the  Spaniards,  and  LaSalle  became 
seriously  ill. 

1684.  Dec.  28.  They  sighted  land 
on  the  northern  shore  of  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  and  coasted  to  the  west  toward 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi. 

1684.  The   buccaneers,  under    Van 
Horn,  made  an  attack  upon  some  of  the 
settlements    of    Peru.      Four     thousand 
men  joined  in  the  raid,  and   left  destruc- 
tion behind  them  along  the  coast.     Great 
plunder  was  taken,  and  when  a  ransom 
was  exacted,  it  was  forced  to  be  of  gold, 
pearls,   or  jewels.     Many   people   were 
murdered. 

1685.  A   Novel  Currency.     Intend  - 
1618-1685.  ant   Meules  of  Quebec,  is- 

Muriiio.    sueci    a   currency    made    of 

1685.       Edict   of  J 

Nantes  revoked  common  playing-cards  cut 
by  Louis  xiv.  of  into  four  pieces,  stamped 

France.       Prol-  c 

estants  persecu-  with  the  French  royal 
ted-  stamp,  and  signed  by  the 

16S5-1689.  5' 

James  II.  King       officials.         It     Was     SOOn     1S- 

°f  England.  sued  by  others,  and  was  de- 
clared convertible  into  bills  of  exchange  at 
certain  times  only.  It  grew  in  amount 
until  it  killed  trade.  In  1714  it  amounted 
to  two  million  livres. 

1685.  The  Faithful  Soldier.  Gram- 
mont,  a  buccaneer,  seized  Campeachy 
and  raided  upon  the  country  around  for 
several  weeks.  At  the  first  assault  the 
town  was  captured,  and  the  force  set  for 
its  defense  totally  overcome.  An  attack 
was  made  upon  the  citadel,  and  in  a  short 


time  it  was  abandoned  by  all  save  one, 
who  affirmed  that  he  would  remain  at 
his  post  though  all  the  others  fled.  He 
did  so,  and  when  the  buccaneers  entered 
the  stronghold  their  commander  was  so 
struck  with  this  singular  fidelity  to  duty, 
that  he  forbade  the  man  or  his  posses- 
sions to  be  injured,  and  gave  him  a  re- 
ward besides.  Because  the  governor  of 
the  province  would  not  ransom  the  city, 
Grammont  blew  up  the  citadel,  burned 
the  place,  and  then  withdrew  with  his 
force  and  plunder  to  San  Domingo. 

1685.  February.  The  expedition  of 
LaSalle  having  passed  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi  without  knowing  it,  at  last 
was  disembarked  at  what  is  now  Mata- 
gorda  Bay,  Texas.  Troubles  arose  con- 
stantly among  the  members  of  the  com- 
pany, and  the  vessels  were  injured  by 
being  carelessly  run  aground.  Every- 
thing seemed  to  be  adverse  to  the  desires 
of  LaSalle.  The  Indians  disturbed 
them,  and  sickness  prostrated  many. 

1685.  Nov.  1.     LaSalle  set  out  from 
the  temporary  colony  in  order  to  explore 
the  region  to  the  east,  and  find  the   Mis- 
sissippi.    He  took  with  him  about  thirty 
men. 

1686.  The    English   trading   posts 
upon  Hudson's  Bay,  except  one  at  Port 
Nelson,  were  all  seized  by  the  French. 

1686.  The  Scotch  settlement*  at  Port 
Royal,  S.  C.,  was  entirely  broken  up  by 
Spaniards  from  St.  Augustine,  in  revenge 
for  the  piracy  which  had  been  committed 
upon  their  commerce  in  West  India 
waters  by  English  ships.  The  same 
force  also  penetrated  the  North  Edisto 
River  and  destroyed  several  plantations. 
A  number  of  persons  were  killed  during 
the  raid. 

1686.  Huguenot  settlers  arrived  in 
New  England. 


240 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


1686.  Feb.  13.  Tonty  having  heard 
that  LaSalle  had  sailed  from  France  for 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  set  out  from  Fort 
St.  Louis,  on  the  Illinois  River,  and  de- 
scended the  Mississippi  to  meet  him.  He 
went  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  and  failed 
to  find  any  trace  of  his  beloved  leader. 
He  wrote  a  letter  and  committed  it  to  an 
Indian  chief  by  whom  it  was  given  four- 
teen years  later  to  d'Iberville,  who  was 
then  successfully  colonizing  Louisiana. 
Tonty  then  left  a  few  men  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Arkansas,  and  returned  to 
the  Illinois. 

1686.  March.  LaSalle  and  a  portion 
of  his  companions  returned  to  the  tempo- 
rary settlement  at  Matagorda  Bay,  after 
having  wandered  about  with  many  mis- 
fortunes. LaSalle  now  determined  to 
make  his  way  through  the  wilderness  to 
Canada. 

1686.  April  22.  The  company  se- 
lected for  the  march  set  out  upon  their 
undertaking. 

1686.  Oct.  17.  LaSalle  and  a  rem- 
nant of  those  who  had  set  out  with  him, 
came  back  again  to  the  old  place.  He 
had  been  severely  ill,  and  some  of  his 
men  had  deserted,  so  that  it  was  useless 
to  proceed.  Difficulties  thickened  about 
this  persistent  explorer,  and  almost  any 
other  man  would  have  given  up  in  despair. 

1686.  All  the  charters  of  the  New 
England  colonies  were  annulled  by  King 
James,  and  Sir  Edmund  Andros  was 
appointed  governor  of  the  whole  territory. 

1686.  Dec.  19.  Andros  reached 
Boston  to  serve  as  governor  of  New 
England.  He  laid  taxes,  and  excited 
trouble  at  once.  He  ordered  that  no 
marriage  be  solemnized  save  by  a 'Church 
of  England  minister,  and  that  no  print- 
ing press  be  operated.  He  also  declared 
that  Episcopacy  should  be  established, 


and   that   the   popular   power  should  be 
humbled. 

1686.  Printing  in  Pennsylvania.  The 
first  printing  press  outside  of  Massachu- 
setts, was  set  up  at  Shakamaxon,  Penn., 
by  William  Bradford,  who  had  come  to 
America  through  the  influence  of  Wil- 
liam Penn.     Mr.    Bradford's   first   issue 
was  an  "  Almanac   for  the  Year  of  the 
Christian's  Account." 

1687.  Jan.  7.    LaSalle   set   out   once 
more  upon  an   attempt  to  push  through 
the  forests  of  Canada.     The    entire  col- 
ony was  now  much  reduced  by  deaths, 
and  the  situation  had  become  extremely 
sad.      Their  only  hope  lay    in   reaching 
friends  in  the  way  proposed.     Their  ves- 
sels were  totally  destroyed,  and  no  other 
resoui'ce  was  afforded  them  save   a   trip 
through  the  woods  to  the  St.  Lawrence. 

DEATH  OF  LdSdLLE. 

1687.  March  19.  LaSalle  was  shot 
by  some  of  those  who  accompanied  him, 
and  who  were  reckless,  dangerous  spirits. 
Thus  ended  a  life  of  great  purpose,  at  the 
early  age  of  forty-three  years.  It  was  a 
life  of  constant  struggle  with  difficulty. 
The  mind  of  LaSalle  was  bent  upon 
opening  the  Mississippi  to  the  stream  of 
colonization.  But  he  was  cut  off  before 
his  great  project  was  realized,  and  left 
the  name  of  one  of  the  greatest  Ameri- 
can explorers. 

1687.  October.  A  number  of  the 
men  who  had  set  out  with  LaSalle  ar- 
rived at  the  Illinois  River.  Other  mur- 
ders were  committed  after  the  death  of 
LaSalle.  All  knowledge  of  1687.  Telegraph 
the  great  leader's  end  was  invented. 
carefully  kept  by  deceit  from  the  Indians 
upon  the  way,  and  from  the  men  at  Fort 
St.  Louis,  including  Tonty.  The  wander- 


1662-1692.] 

ers  finally  went  to  France,  where  they 
told  their  story. 

1687.  The  Hidden  Charter.  Sir 
Edmund  Andros  went  from  Boston  to 
Hartford,  Conn.,  to  secure  the  Connecti- 
cut charter,  but  was  defeated  by  the  ab- 
straction of  it  from  its  box,  after  the  de- 
mand had  been  laid  before  the  assembly. 
The  lights  were  suddenly  blown  out,  the 
charter  hurried  off  and  hidden  in  Char- 
ter Oak,  Hartford,  where  it  remained  till 
the  deposition  of  Andros  occurred.  An- 
dros, however,  took  the  government  of 
Connecticut  into  his  hands. 

1687.  A  treasure  of  £300,000  was 
raised  from  a  sunken  vessel  on  the  coast 
of  Hayti  by  William  Phips  of  New 
England.  He  had  already  made  one  un- 
successful attempt.  The  Duke  of  Albe- 
marle  aided  him  in  fitting  up  his  present 
expedition.  He  received  £16,000  as  his 
share  of  this  recovered  treasure,  and  a 
gold  cup  worth  £1,000  was  presented  to 
his  wife.  He  was  afterward  knighted 
by  the  king. 

1687.  An  earthquake  destroyed  Cal- 
lao,  S.  A. 

1688.  Sir  Edmund  Andros  was  ap- 
pointed   governor    of    New    York   and 
New  Jersey,  as  well  as  of  New  England. 
1628-16S8.  The    whole    territory    was 

John  Bunyan.  ma(je  the  Dominion  of  New 
England,  much  to  the  dissatisfaction  of  the 
citizens  of  New  York.  The  boundary 
line  between  New  York  and  Connecticut 
was  now  fixed  in  its  present  location. 
This  ended  a  great  dispute. 

1688.     A  popular  insurrection  took 
less.  Revolution    place   in    Virginia  because 
of   the   difficulties    of    the 
government  and  the  finan- 
cial depression,  but  was  soon  quelled. 

1688.  A  popular  insurrection  in 
North  Carolina  deposed  Seth  Sothell 

16 


THE   WIDENING  FIELD. 


241 


in  England. 
James  II.  abdi- 
cated. 


from  the  governorship  of  that  province, 
because  of  his  greed  for  gain  and  power. 

1688.  New  France  had  a  population 
of  about  eleven  thousand,  and  the  Eng- 
lish American  colonies  about  two  hun- 
dred thousand. 

1688.  Slavery  in  Canada.  A  request 
was  made  to  the  French  crown  that 
negro  slaves  be  allowed  to  be  imported 
into  Canada.  The  request  was  granted, 
but  the  system  never  flourished  in  that 
dominion. 

1688.  Feb.  18.  First  Remonstrance 
against  Slavery.  The  German  Friends 
were  the  first  to  publicly  remonstrate 
against  slavery,  which  they  did  this  year 
by  adopting  in  their  meeting  at  Ger- 
mantown,  Penn.,  a  paper  setting  forth 
the  unlawfulness  of  "traffic  in  men- 
body,"  and  claiming  that  there  was 
no  more  liberty  to  do  it  in  the  case  of 
negroes  than  in  the  case  of  white 
people. 

1688.  Witchcraft.  An  Irishwoman 
was  executed  in  Boston  for  witchcraft 
after  a  solemn  examination,  in  which  the 
accused  stated  nothing  clearly.  The 
affair  .made  a  great  impression,  and  an 
account  was  issued  consisting  of  a  dis- 
course by  Cotton  Mather  who  was  de- 
ceived by  the  case.  The  account  was 
afterward  issued  in  England  by  Richard 
Baxter,  who  declared  that  the  evidence 
would  convince  all  except  a  «  very  obdu- 
rate Sadducee." 

1688.  December.  Tonty  having  heard 
of  LaSalle's  death  and  of  the  wretched 
colony  in  Texas,  set  out  from  Fort  St. 
Louis  to  see  if  he  could  succor  it.  He 
traveled  southward  and  pushed  his  way 
onward  through  swamps  and  forests,  but 
finally,  by  the  desertion  of  his  men  and 
the  failure  to  obtain  Indian  guides,  was 
obliged  to  turn  back. 


242 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


1689.  The  colony  established  tempo- 
rarily at  Matagorda  Bay,  Texas,  by  La 
Salle's  expedition,  was  almost  completely 
destroyed  by  the  Indians.  The  survivors 
lived  a  wretched  life  among  the  tribes, 
and  some  of  them  in  course  of  time  got 
free,  but  only  after  very  severe  experiences. 

1689.  King  William's  War  began 
between  England  and  France,  and  ar- 
rayed New  France  and  the  English  col- 
onies against  each  other.  New  agita- 
tions and  horrors  now  began,  and  Indian 
depredations  broke  out. 

1689.  April  18.  Sir  Edmund  Andros 
was  arrested  in  Boston  by  the  excited  cit- 
izens, before  the  news  of  William's  acces- 
sion to  the  English  throne 

1689-1702.     Wil-  ° 

Ham  and  Mary,    reached   them.        The   an- 
Entrikk  mon-        nouncement  of  James'  over- 

WS9-172S.  Peter  throw  came  shortly,  and 
the  Great,  Czar  caused  great  joy.  The  peo- 
ple of  Boston  had  been 
greatly  tried  by  the  authority  of  Andros. 
He  was  sent  to  England  as  a  prisoner  in 
the  following  July,  and  accusations  were 
presented  against  him,  but  he  was  never 
formally  tried. 

1689.  June.  Leisler  Revolution  in 
New  York.  Capt.  Jacob  Leisler,  a  mili- 
tia captain  in  New  York,  seeing  the 
weakness  of  the  officials,  seized  the  gov- 
ernment of  that  city,  proclaimed  the  new 
king,  and  received  the  subjection  of  a 
large  number  of  the  troops.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  former  council  soon  fled,  and 
Leisler  was  in  power  for  one  and  a  half 
years.  The  population  of  New  York 
at  this  time  was  not  quite  three  thousand. 

1689.  An  Indian  war  began  in  East- 
ern Maine,  and  many  of  the  smaller  set- 
tlements were  abandoned. 

1689.  Major  Waldron  was  killed  at 
one  of  the  garrison  houses  in  Dover,  N.  H., 
by  the  Indians  for  his  deceit  in  seizing 


some  of  them  as  prisoners  in  1676. 
They  gained  access  to  him  by  friendly 
pretensions,  and  then  hewed  him  to  pieces 
in  a  most  terrible  manner. 

1689.  Aug.  25.  Montreal  was  taken 
by  the  Iroquois. 

1689.  A  public  school  was  estab- 
lished by  the  Quakers  in  Philadelphia. 

1689.  A  colony  of  Huguenots  settled 
at  New  Rochelle,  N.  Y. 

1689.  A  "news  placard"  was  issued 
in  Boston  for  the  first  time,  and  was  the 
forerunner  of  the  newspaper. 

1689.  King's  Chapel  was  established 
in  Boston,  and  the  first  edifice  was  erected. 

1689.  Buccaneers  on  the  New  Eng- 
land   Coast.      Thomas    Hawkins     and 
Thomas   Pound,  buccaneers,  did  consid- 
erable damage  along  the  coast.     Massa- 
chusetts   Bay    sent    out    Capt.    Samuel 
Pease  in  the  sloop  Mary  to  capture  their 
vessel.      Capt.  Pease   found   the   pirates 
near  Wood's  Holl,  and  took  them  after  a 
fierce  conflict  in  which  he  was  so  severely 
wounded    that   he  afterward   died  of  it. 
Piracy  was  common  along  the  coast  and 
on  the  Newfoundland  banks. 

1690.  Feb.  8.     Schenectady,  N.  Y., 
was  burned,  and  the  inhabitants  massa- 
cred during  a  violent  snow-    isso.    White 
storm  by  a  force  of  French    P«P^  f^t^u 

in  England. 

and  Indians  from  Canada.  1690.  stereotyp- 
The  French  Jesuits  were  iZr,f*™'2 by , 

J  Jo/m  Muller  at 

now  instrumental    in   insti-    Leyden. 
gating  the  Indians  to  a  series  of  horrible 
deeds,  because   of    the   accession  of    the 
Protestant  William  to  the  English  throne. 

1690.  March  27.  Salmon  Falls,  N. 
H.,  was  burned  by  the  Indians. 

1690.  May.  The  settlement  at 
Casco  Bay  was  destroyed  by  the  Indians. 
The  object  was  to  kindle  a  blaze  along 
the  entire  New  York  and  New  England 
frontier. 


1662-1692.] 


THE  WIDENING  FIELD. 


248 


1690.     May.    An  American  congress, 

the  first  ever  summoned,  was  called  by 
Gov.  Leisler,  and  met  at  New  York  to 
consider  the  question  of  a  united  defence 
of  the  colonies.  It  was  decided  to  at- 
tempt the  conquest  of  Acadia  and  Can- 
ada. A  force  was  to  go  by  land  to 
threaten  Montreal,  and  a  second  force  by 
sea  against  Quebec. 


1690.  Sir  William  Phips  was  sent 
in  the  meantime  with  a  fleet  and  a  force 
of  eight  hundred  men  against  Acadia. 
Port  Royal  and  other  towns  were  taken, 
and  plundered. 

1690.  August.  Failure  of  the  Two 
Expeditions.  Sir  William  Phips  sailed 
from  Boston  with  thirty-two  vessels  and 
twenty-two  hundred  men.  He  reached 


INDIAN   ATTACK. 


1690.  Hiacoomes,  the  first  Indian 
convert  to  Christianity  in  New  England, 
and  a  faithful  minister,  died  at  about 
eighty  years  of  age.  He  is  said  to  have 
been  the  best  Indian  preacher  of  whom 
we  have  any  account.  He  began  preach- 
ing in  Martha's  Vineyard,  and  finally 
became  pastor  of  an  Indian  church  there. 
"He  was  a  faithful  and  successful  min- 
ister, slow  of  speech,  grave  in  manners, 
of  blameless  life,  and  sound  in  doc- 
trine." 


Quebec,  but  was  obliged  to  return 
after  a  series  of  misfortunes,  with 
nothing  accomplished.  His  fleet 
was  greatly  damaged  by  a  storm, 
and  a  large  number  of  men  were 
lost.  The  land  force  against  Mon- 
treal had  no  better  success. 

1690.  A  colony  of  French  refugees 
settled  in  Carolina. 

1690.  Francis  Nicholson  was  ap- 
pointed governor  of  Virginia,  and  effected 
a  great  change  in  the  condition  of  the 
province.  He  was  active  in  improving 
production  and  trade,  and  took  measures 
to  promote  the  morals  of  the  community. 
The  people  were  much  pleased  with  his 
administration. 

1690.     The  first  Presbyterian  church 


244 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


in  America  was  founded  at  Snow  Hill, 
Maryland,   by    Francis   Mackemie,   the 
•  father  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the 
New  World. 

FIRST  NEWSPAPER. 
1690.  A  newspaper,  the  first  in 
America,  was  issued  in  Boston,  Mass., 
under  the  editorship  of  Benjamin  Harris. 
It  was  called  "  Public  Occurrences  both 
Foreign  and  Domestic."  The  publisher 
promised  that  the  country  "  should  be 
furnished  once  a  month  (or  if  a  glut  of 
occurrences  happen,  oftener)  with  an  ac- 
count of  such  considerable  things  as  have 
occurred  under  our  notice,"  and  "  to  en- 
lighten the  public  as  to  the  occurrents  of 
Divine  Providence."  On  account  of  cer- 
tain political  utterances  it  was  suppressed 
after  the  first  issue. 

FIRST  PAPER  MILL. 
1690.  The  first  paper  mill  in  the  New 
World  was  set  up  at  Roxborough,  near 
Philadelphia,  by  William  Rittenhouse, 
William  Bradford  the  printer,  and 
Thomas  Tresse.  Paper  was  made  for 
writing,  printing,  and  wrapping  purposes. 
The  mill  was  afterward  carried  off  by  a 
freshet,  and  others  were  established  at  the 
beginning  of  the  next  century. 


1690.  Whale-fishing  was  for  the  first 
time  begun  on  a  large  scale  in  America, 
by  the  Nantucket  sailors. 

1690.  December.  First  Paper  Money. 
B.lls  of  Credit  were  issued  by  Massa- 
chusetts to  pay  for  the  expedition  against 
Quebec,    to    the    amount    of    .£40,000. 
This  was  the  first  paper  money  issued  in 
the  English  colonies,  and  probably  upon 
the  continent. 

1691.  March  19.     Trouble  in   New 
York.     Col.  Henry  Sloughter  who  had 
been  appointed  governor  of  New  York, 


arrived  in  that  city.  Trouble  arose  over 
the  delivery  of  the  authority  to  him  by 
Leisler,  who  was  arrested  and  tried. 

1691.  May  16.  Execution  of  Leis- 
ler. Leisler,  and  his  son-in-law  Mil- 
borne,  were  executed  in  New  York  on  a 
charge  of  rebellion  and  treason.  They 
sympathized  with  popular  power,  and 
were  not  very  wise  men.  It  is  said  that 
Gov.  Sloughter  signed  their  death  war- 
rants while  he  was  intoxicated.  Gov. 
Sloughter  died  very  suddenly  in  the 
July  following.  The  Leisler  and  the 
anti-Leisler  factions  vexed  the  political 
life  of  the  province  for  years. 

1691.  Major  Schuyler  of  Albany, 
with  an  English  force  and  three  hundred 
Mohawk  Indians,  went  down  Lake 
Champlain  and  defeated  a  French  force 
of  eight  hundred  men. 

1691.  Nov.  26.  Port  Royal,  in  Aca- 
dia,  was  retaken  by  a  French  ship. 

1691.  Maryland  was  taken  from 
Lord  Baltimore,  and  became  a  royal 
province.  The  Catholics  were  disfran- 
chised, and  the  Church  of  England  was 
made  the  church  of  the  province. 

1691.  The  yellow  fever  visited  Bar- 
badoes,  W.  I.,  with  great  severity. 

1691.  The    volcano    Imbabura,    in 
South  America,  poured  forth  vast  quan- 
tities   of   mud,   and    thousands   of   little 
fishes. 

1692.  June  7.     An  earthquake  des- 
olated   the    island    of    Jamaica.      Port 
Royal,  which  stood  upon  a  point  jutting 
into  the  sea,  was  sunk  in  three  minutes. 
Two   thousand    houses  were  destroyed. 
The    ruin     extended     over    the    whole 
island. 

1692.  Episcopalians,  Baptists,  and 
Quakers  in  Massachusetts,  were  released 
from  the  obligation  to  help  support  Con- 
gregational churches. 


1662-1692.] 


THE  WIDENING  FIELD, 


245 


1692.  William  Penn  was  deprived  of 
his  rights  as  governor  of  Pennsylvania? 
on  account  of  charges  of  treason  made 
against  him. 

1692.  "  Mast  Trees."  The  new  char- 
ter of  New  England  provided  that 
through  the  immense  pine  forests  all 
trees  which  were  more  than  two  feet  in 
diameter  at  a  foot  above  the  ground, should 
be  the  property  of  the  king  for  the  royal 
navy.  A  "surveyor-general  of  the  king's 
woods "  was  appointed,  whose  duty  it 
was  to  see  that  such  trees  were  marked 
by  stamping  the  "  broad  arrow "  upon 
them.  The  fine  for  cutting  one  of  these 
marked  trees  was  £100.  Innumerable 
1692.  First  Of  era  conflicts  arose.  Lumber- 
in  London.  men  in  the  woods  and  at 

the  mills  became  mad  very  frequently 
because  they  found  their  best  trees 
stamped  with  the  arrow,  especially  since 
they  had  been  gaining  a  trade  in  spars 
with  the  French  and  Spanish  islands.  A 
vessel  loaded  with  spars  for  these  islands 
was  likely  to  have  the  arrow  of  confis- 
cation placed  upon  her  by  the  royal 
officer.  Wrangles  of  all  sorts  occurred. 
Many  of  the  stamped  trees  rotted  in  the 
forests,  which  made  the  trouble  all  the 
worse.  These  forest  laws  excited  a 
great  deal  of  thought  over  the  king's 
prerogative.  It  was  a  cruel  policy  to  en- 
force them,  because  the  fishermen  and 
lumbermen  were  dependent  on  the  lum- 
ber trade. 

WITCHCRAFT  DELUSION. 

1692.  September.  The  flame  of  this 
fearful  excitement  in  Massachusetts 
burned  at  its  height  during  this  month. 
It  had  slowly  risen  from  the  first  kind- 
lings until  it  threatened  to  sweep  every- 
thing before  it.  At  the  present  day  we 
do  not  see  how  it  could  have  attained 


such  a  heat.  But  at  that  time  nearly  the 
whole  world  believed  in  witchcraft,  sor- 
cery, and  kindred  things.  A  few  isolated  " 
cases,  attributed  to  such  influences,  had 
occurred  in  the  history  of  the  different 
colonies  during  the  previous  fifty  years. 
But  it  was  reserved  for  Salem,  the  home 
of  peace, 'to  witness  the  grim  tragedy  in 
all  its  horror.  The  origin  of  the  delusion 
seems  to  lie  with  widely  contrasted  par- 
ties, two  Indian  slaves  from  South 
America,  who  lived  in  the  family  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Parris,  pastor  at  Salem  village, 
and  a  band  of  children  about  ten  years  of 
age,  who  met  during  the  winter  of 
1691-2  for  the  purpose  of  practicing 
tricks  and  magic  of  different  sorts.  It 
was  not  long  before  their  antics  began  to 
attract  the  attention  of  older  persons. 
John  Indian  and  his  wife  Tituba  helped 
on  the  children.  What  was  at  first  a 
matter  of  play  and  curiosity  became  at 
last  a  part  to  carry  out  before  people,  and 
a  deception  to  maintain.  Older  persons 
gradually  became  involved  in  the  delu- 
sion. At  first  the  fallings  and  queer  mo- 
tions and  interruptions  in  church,  prac- 
ticed by  the  "  afflicted  children  "  were 
not  laid  to  any  one  except  the  evil  spirits. 
But  at  last  in  some  way  it  became  sug- 
gested that  certain  persons  in  the  vicin- 
ity were  causing  the  trouble  by  a  mali- 
cious power.  Then  the  evil  began  to 
have  more  dread  consequences.  The 
accusations  at  first  fell  upon  three  per- 
sons. Sarah  Good,  a  destitute,  sickly 
woman,  Sarah  Osburn,  "  a  melancholy, 
distracted  old  woman,"  and  Tituba,  the 
Indian  woman,  were  arrested  Feb.  29 
of  this  year.  A  crowd  attended  the 
examination.  The  "  children "  went 
through  various  exercises,  alleged  to 
have  been  caused  by  looking  at  the  ac- 
cused. Martha  Corey  and  Rebecca 


246  . 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


Nourse  were  soon  assailed,  and  commit- 
ted. The  recklessness  of  the  accusers 
was  rapidly  fixing  its  terrible  peril  to 
some  of  the  best  persons  in  Salem  vil- 
lage. The  movement  of  the  circum- 
stances was  constantly  becoming  more 
and  more  intense.  The  whole  region 
was  aroused  and  distracted.  Ministers 
preached  upon  the  trouble  in  awful  tones. 
Worthy  Christian  lives  did  not  now  pre- 
vent accusation  and  commitment.  Dur- 
ing April  several  were  imprisoned.  The 
month  of  May  saw  the  visitation  spread- 
ing into  other  towns,  including  Andover. 
The  life  and  the  business  of  the  country 
around  were  filled  with  dread.  During 
June  executions  began  upon  the  gallows 
on  Witch  Hill,  Salem.  Rebecca  Nourse, 
a  saintly  woman,  was  one  of  five  hanged 
July  19.  Rev.  Geo.  Burroughs  was  one 
of  five  executed  Aug.  19.  Several  of 
these  condemnations  were  only  carried 
through  by  the  constant  exhibition  of 
afflictions  on  the  part  of  the  accusers. 
Noble  spirits  suffered  thus,  but  would  not 
secure  their  acquittal  by  confessing  witch- 
craft, which  they  knew  to  be  false.  In 
September  others  were  executed,  a-nd  old 
Giles  Corey  was  pressed  to  death.  His 
fate  deserves  more  than  a  passing  me-n- 
tion.  His  wife  had  suffered  before  him, 
partially  through  his  own  testimony.  He 
had  at  the  first  believed  in  witchcraft, 
and  had  thought  that  his  holy  wife 
might  be  possessed  of  some  such  power 
as  was  charged  upon  her.  But  now  that 
his  own  misfortune  had  come,  his  mind 
was  cleared,  and  he  saw  the  atrocious 
imposition  practiced.  At  last  he  made 
his  determination.  He  would  plead 
neither  "  guilty  "  nor  "  not  guilty."  If 
he  should  plead  "  not  guilty,"  and  be 


convicted,  as  would  certainly  be  the  rer 
suit,  his  property  would  be  confiscated, 
and  his  children  left  without  any.  He 
therefore  made  his  will  in  prison,  giving 
his  estate  to  two  sons  who  had  believed 
in  the  innocence  of  their  mother  in  her 
day  of  trial.  When  called  before  the 
court  he  would  not  open  his  mouth.  The 
end  came.  He  suffered  the  English 
penalty  for  refusing  to  plead.  The  old 
man,  eighty-one  years  of  age,  was  laid 
upon  his  back,  and  weights  of  stone 
placed  upon  his  chest  until  he  expired. 
He  suffered  heroically.  We  hope  that 
his  terrible  death  had  a  part  at  least  in 
causing  the  revulsion  of  public  sentiment 
which  soon  followed.  The  excitement 
declined.  An  accusation  against  the 
wife  of  Rev.  Mr.  Hale  of  Beverly,  was 
so  eminently  false  that  it  pierced  the 
bubble.  Within  a  short  time  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  were  let  loose  from  prison. 
Twenty  had  been  executed,  and  two  lost 
their  lives  in  prison. 

The  delusion  had  wrought  terrible  ill. 
The  year  had  been  spoiled  for  all  busi- 
ness, and  piercing  regrets  entered  the 
hearts  of  many.  The  region  was  sad- 
dened. Homes  were  desolated.  The 
effect  was  awful  to  contemplate.  As 
much  as  could  be  done  in  after  years  to 
remove  the  infamy,  was  done  by  churches,, 
jurors,  and  leading  accusers.  Judge 
Sewall  was  humiliated  for  life  by  the 
part  he  had  taken  in  the  affair.  His  con- 
fession of  error  was  read  to  the  congre- 
gation in  the  Old  South  Church,  Boston, 
while  he  stood  in  his  pew  with  bowed 
head.  Witchcraft  in  any  such  form  as- 
that  of  1692,  was  forever  gone  in  Amer- 
ica. It  could  not  rise  again  to  work  ruin 
and  misery. 


[NOTE.  At  this  very  time  witches  were  being-  executed  in  England.  30,000  in  all  were  executed  there.  In  Europe, 
executions  continued  long  after  they  had  ceased  in  America.  Between  1580  and  1680,  100,000  witches  were  executed  in 
Germany.  In  15115,  in  three  months,  500  were  burned  in  Geneva.  Fifty  years  after  this,  Blackstone  argued  the 
existence  of  witchcraft.  Coke,  Bacon,  and  other  eminent  and  learned  men  believed  in  it.  America  was  free  from, 
belief  in  this  delusion  sooner  than  any  other  country.] 


SECTION  XI. 
MATURING  FOftCJZS.    1693-174.3. 


>ARTY  warfare  began  at  the  first 
of  the  present  period  to  be  rrfore 
distinctly  outlined  in  New  England. 
The  new  charter  was  the  occasion 
of  this.  Those  who  advocated  the  old 
charter  which  had  been  annulled,  were 
called  "  Liberty  men,"  and  those  who 
supported  the  new  charter  were  called 
« Prerogative  men."  Under  the  new 
charter  more  scope  was  given  to  the 
royal  power  which  was  striving  to  gain 
the  supremacy  through  all  the  colonies. 
The  parties  of  the  Revolution  had  their 
rise  in  these  days.  The  enmity  of  Eng- 
land to  American  manufactures  became 
more  manifest.  A  development  had 
begun,  however,  which  could  not  be  re- 
pressed. In  spite  of  the  "  Hat  Act," 
"  Sugar  Act,"  etc.,  the  colonies  grew  in 
intelligence  and  skill.  Religious  move- 
ments helped  train  the  people  in  a  strong 
faith  and  patience  which  would  be  tested 
in  coming  days.  Good  elements  were 
emigrating  from  the  Old  World  to  try 
the  life  and  freedom  of  the  New  World. 
The  men  were  now  being  born  who 
were  to  lead  in  the  stormy  times  a  little 
later.  Benjamin  Franklin  was  already 
showing  his  remarkable  gifts.  In  the 
comparative  quiet  of  this  time  many 


forces  were  maturing  for  the  great  strug- 
gle ahead. 

1693.      Episcopacy    in    New    York. 

Through  the  influence  of  Gov.  Fletcher, 
of  New  York,  Church  of  England  min- 
isters were  settled  in  a  portion  of  the 
parishes  of  that  State.  The  act  which 
was  passed  decreed  that  in  the  counties 
of  Westchester,  Queens,  and  Richmond, 
a  certain  number  of  vestrymen  and 
wardens  should  be  annually  chosen  by 
the  people.  The  ministers  were  to  be 
elected  by  these  vestrymen.  Although 
the  act  did  not  expressly  state  that  only 
Episcopal  ministers  should  be  chosen,  yet 
the  affair  was  so  managed  that  such  was 
the  result.  In  many  towns,  therefore, 
some  people  were  obliged  to  help  sup- 
port two  ministers,  their  own  and  an 
Episcopal  one. 

1693.  The  first  printing  house  in 
the  province  of  New  York  was  set  up 
by  William  Bradford,  of  Philadelphia. 
He  was  induced  to  undertake  this  by  a 
grant  of  .£40  a  year,  and  had  the  privi- 
lege of  printing  on  his  own  account. 
His  first  issue  was  a  proclamation. 

1693.  Connecticut  Pluck.  Gov. 
Fletcher  of  New  York,  having  been 


247 


248 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


ordered  by  the  king  to  take  command  of 
the  Connecticut  militia,  proceeded  to 
Hartford,  but  was  prevented  from  mak- 
ing his  commission  heard  while  being 
read,  by  Capt.  William  Wadsworth,  who 
caused  the  drums  to  beat.  Gov.  Fletcher 
at  first  ordered  silence,  but  afterward 
gave  up  the  attempt,  when  Capt.  Wads- 
worth  had  said  to  him,  "  If  I  am  inter- 
rupted again,  I  will  make  the  sun  shine 
through  you  in  a  moment." 

1693.  William  and  Mary  College 
was  founded  at  Williamsburg,  Va.,  ac- 
cording to  a  charter  of  the  previous  year. 
The  first  building  was  erected  upon  a 
plan  made  by  Sir  Christopher  Wren,  the 
great  English  architect. 

1693.  Kingston,       Jamaica,       was 
founded   because    of    the   destruction   of 
Port  Royal  the  previous  year. 

1694.  First  Rice  Planted.     A   little 
package    of   rice  from  Madagascar  was 
given  by  a  sea  captain  who  was  forced 
to  put  into  Charleston  Harbor,  to  Gov. 
Smith  of  Carolina,  who  planted  it,  and 
thus  originated  the  culture  of  that  which 
has  since  been  one  of  the  great  staple 
productions  of  the  region. 

1694.  Maryland  Schools  and  Libra- 
ries. Annapolis  was  made  the  capital 
of  Maryland,  in  place  of  St.  Mary's.  It 
was  arranged  for  each  county  to  have  a 
school.  "King  William's  School"  was 
opened  at  Annapolis  this  year.  Each 
parish  of  the  colony  was  also  to  have  a 
library  of  fifty  volumes.  Annapolis 
library  had  a  library  of  eleven  hundred 
volumes. 

1694.  William  Penn  having  proved 
the  falsity  of  the  charges  against  himself, 
was  reinstated  in  the  proprietary  govern- 
ment of  his  province. 

1694.  A  revolt  of  negroes  occurred 
in  Pernambuco,  and  was  traced  in  its 


origin  to  the  influence  of  the  "  Palmarese 
Nation." 

1695.  February.  A  colony  of  per- 
sons from  Dorchester,  Mass.,  composing 
a  church  with  Joseph  Lord  for  pastor, 
emigrated  to  South  Carolina  and  founded 
a  town  on  the  Ashley  River,  twenty  miles 
above  Charleston.  The  influence  of  this 
colony  grew  to  be  very  great,  and  has  been 
felt  in  the  history  of  the  whole  region. 

1695.  Feb.  18.  Death  of  Gov.  Phips. 
Gov.  Phips  of  Massachusetts,  who  had 
gone  to  England  to  answer  certain  charges 
made  against  him,  died  in  London  at  the 
age  of  forty-five  years.  He  was  born  at 
Woolwich  on  the  Kennebec  River, 
Maine,  in  1650.  He  tended  sheep  till  he 
was  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  subse- 
quently displayed  great  energy  in  several 
directions.  He  became  commander  of  a 
vessel  which  he  had  built,  and  undertook 
to  search  for  sunken  treasure  in  West 
India  waters.  His  success  in  this  en- 
riched him,  and  brought  him  a  reputation 
as  a  successful  man,  besides  gaining  for 
him  the  honors  of  knighthood.  His  ex- 
pedition against  Quebec  was  a  failure,  but 
his  government  of  Massachusetts  was  in 
the  main  wise  and  beneficent. 

1695.  John  Archdale,  a  Quaker,  was 
appointed  governor  of  Carolina,  and  me- 
diated successfully  between  the  different 
political   and   religious   elements   in   the 
colony. 

1696.  A  "  Board  of  Trade  "  was  es- 
tablished in  England,    to    have    general 
oversight  of  colonial  affairs.     This  board 
of  seven  was  a  constant  source  of  annoy- 
ance to  the  colonists,  and  helped  produce 
the  Revolution.     They   were    appointed 
to  enforce  the  Laws  of   Trade    and    the 
Navigation  Acts. 

1696.  Pemaquid  was  taken  by  a 
French  force  under  Col.  Iberville,  who 


1693-1743.] 


THE  MATURING  FORCES. 


249 


thus  extended  French  power  into  the 
very  center  of  Maine,  and  opened  New 
England  to  Indian  raids.  He  also  took 
English  posts  upon  Newfoundland. 

1696.  John  Archdale,  Governor  of 
Carolina,  resigned  his  government  amid 
the  blessings  of  the  people.  He  was 


moral  well-being  of  such  as  were  owned 
as  slaves.  This  action  was  due  to  the 
discussion  of  the  matter  in  several 
"  Quarterly  Meetings." 

1696.  Piracy.  Owing  to  the  trouble 
between  England  and  France,  many 
privateers  were  cruising  the  ocean,  and 


MRS.    DUSTIN  AND  THE  IN'DIANS. 


succeeded  by  Joseph  Blake,  who  con- 
tinued the  work  of  firmly  establishing 
the  colony. 

1696.  A  fort  was  established  at  Pen- 
sacola,  Florida,  by  the  Spaniards. 

1696.  Slavery  Among  Quakers.  The 
Society  of  Friends  at  its  Yearly  Meeting 
passed  a  resolve  to  discourage  the  buying 
of  more  negroes,  and  to  provide  for  the 


capturing  merchant  vessels.  Measures 
were  taken  in  England  to  provide  for  the 
suppression  of  these,  and  Capt.  William 
Kidd  was  put  in  command  of  the  Ad- 
venture, which  had  been  fitted  up  by  the 
Earl  of  Bellomont  and  others.  He 
sailed  from  New  York  with  a  commis- 
sion forbidding  him  to  leave  the  Atlantic 
waters.  Failing  to  find  the  objects  of  his 


250 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


search,  however,  he  sailed  to  Madagas- 
car, which  was  at  the  time  a  noted  resort 
of  pirates. 

1696.  The  Palmarese  Nation  of  free 
blacks    in   Brazil  was    exterminated   by 
the  Portuguese,  as  it  was   thought    that 
they  had   instigated   trouble   among    the 
colonists    at   large.     Lancaster,  with  six 
thousand  men,  overthrew  the   first  negro 
kingdom  planted  in  America. 

MRS.  DUSTIN'S  ESCAPE. 

1697.  March.     Haverhill,  Mass.,  was 
attacked  and   partially  destroyed    by  the 
Indians.       Mrs.    Hannah     Dustin,    her 
nurse,    named    Mary  Neff,    and    a   boy 
named  Samuel  Leonardson,  were  carried 
away  captive.     During    a    night  on    the 
march   through    New    Hampshire,    the 
three  persons  rose  silently  while  their  In- 
dian  captors   had    sunk  away  to  sleep, 
and  by  the  light  of  the  fire  in  the  center, 
tomahawked  ten  of  the  red  men.    The  boy 
had  found  out  the  day  before  from  one  of 
the  Indians  how  to  strike  a  man  so  as  to 
cause  instant  death.     The  question  was 
answered  because  it  was  thought  to  have 
been   asked   from    mere    idle    curiosity. 
Only  a  squaw  and  a  child  were  left  alive, 
and  they  fled  for   their  lives.     The   cap- 
tives then  made  the   best  of  their   way 
back  to  the  settlements,  taking  the  scalps 
along  with  them  to  prove  the  truth  of 
their  story,  which  would  hardly  be  cred- 
ited   without    some    tangible    evidence. 
The  general  court  of  Massachusetts  paid 
the  escaped  captives    ,£50.     A   beautiful 
monument   was   erected   in     1874   upon 
Dustin's  Island  in   the   Merrimac  River, 
above    Concord,  N.  H.      It    bears   the 
names  of  the  three,  and  devices  to  sym- 
bolize their  heroism. 


1697.      The   Huguenots  were   again 
enfranchised  in   Carolina,  and  more  suc- 


cessfully than  in    1691.     Roman  Catho- 
lics were  disfranchised. 

1697.  Sept.  20.  The  treaty  of  Rys- 
wick  ended  King  William's  war.  The 
French  received  the  west  portion  of  San 
Domingo. 

1697.  Buccaneers.    Cartagena,  S.  A., 
was  taken  by  a  large  force  of  buccaneers 
under  Pointis.     There  were  twelve  hun- 
dred   men    in    seven    ships.     No    such 
stronghold     as    Cartagena    had    before 
been  taken  by  the  buccaneers.     Out  of 
$8,000,000    booty    Pointis    kept  a   large 
part  for  himself,  and  his  men,  disappointed, 
plundered  the  city  again.     The  fleet  was, 
however,     very     nearly     destroyed     by 
Dutch,     English,     and     Spanish    ships. 
After  this  time  the  power  and  organiza- 
tion of  the  buccaneers  besran  to  decline. 

O 

Many    former  pirates  passed  into  other 
pursuits. 

1698.  The    Scotch    Darien    Colony. 
A  colony  of  twelve  hundred  men  under 
William    Paterson,  was  founded   by   the 
Scotch  on  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.     Sev- 
eral hundred  thousand  pounds  were  raised 
for  the  expedition.     The  colony  was  es- 
tablished about  thirty  miles  northwest  of 
the  Gulf  of  Darien.     The  settlers  named 
the   region  New  Caledonia.     They  had 
expected  to  obtain  supplies  from  the  Eng- 
lish colonies  but  this  was  prevented,  and 
the  members  began  to  die  from  the  effects 
of  unusual  diet  and  circumstances.      In  a 
few  months   the  colony  was  abandoned, 
almost  no  one  being  left  to  hold  it. 

1699.  Jan.     25.      Sieur      Lemoyne 
d'Iberville  having  been  sent  by  the  King 
of  France  with  an  expedition  to  attempt 
the  colonization  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,, 
arrived"  on  the  coast  of  the  Gulf  of  Mex- 
ico, near  Pensacola. 

1699.  March  2.  Biloxi.  He  en- 
tered the  Mississippi  River  and  explored 


1693-1743.] 

the  vicinity.  He  afterward  established 
a  settlement  on  the  Island  of  Biloxi  in 
Mobile  Bay,  and  then  returned  to  France. 

1699.  July  6.  Capt.  William  Kidd 
was  arrested  in  Boston,  whither  he  had 
been  induced  to  come  by  a  letter  from 
Gov.  Bellomont  promising  him  security. 
Kidd  had  at  this  time  been  known  to 
have  seized  a  merchant  vessel,  and  to 
have  been  otherwise  piratical  in  the  later 
part  of  his  cruise,  although  he  stoutly 
claimed  to  have  been  fulfilling  his  com- 
mission. After  his  arrest  he  was  sent  to 
England  for  trial. 

1699.  Too  Late.  Col.  Campbell, 
with  thirteen  hundred  men,  arrived  at  the 
Scotch  colony  of  Darien  after  its  aban- 
donment. The  Spaniards  attacked  and 
1639-1699.  captured  the  reenforcement, 

Radne.  an(j  very  few  of  the  colo- 
nists found  their  way  home  again.  This 
was  the  end  of  the  great  Scotch  project 
for  colonizing  the  Isthmus. 

1699.  Gold  mines  were  discovered  in 
Brazil. 

1699.  An  "emigration  pamphlet," 
the  first  in  America,  was  issued  at  Boston 
to  induce  Yankees  to  settle  in  Panama. 

1699.  The  yellow  fever  was  seen 
for  the  first  time  in  Philadelphia. 

1699.  William  Penn    again    arrived 
in     America,  after    having    had    much 
trouble  in  England  through  the  misrep- 
resentation of  his  conduct  and   motives. 
He  found  Pennsylvania  greatly  increased 
in  all  respects. 

1700.  The  first  distillation  of  liquor 
in  America  was  at  Boston  in  the  making 
of  New  England  rum  from  West  India 
molasses. 

170O.  D'lberville  came  again  from 
France  and  established  a  settlement  on 
the  Mississippi  River  nearly  forty  miles 
below  New  Orleans,  at  Poverty  Point. 


THE  MATURING  FORCES. 


251 

1700.  Natchez.  The  site  of  Natchez 
was  selected  for  a  settlement  and  named 
Rosalie  by  De  Tonty,  who  had  come 
down  the  river  from  Canada  with  a 
party.  The  place  was  soon  abandoned,, 
and  not  occupied  till  1716. 

1700.  The  lead  mines  at  Dubuque^ 
Iowa,  were  discovered  by  a  Frenchman 
named  Le  Sueur.  They  were  not  worked,, 
however,  till  1788,  by  Julien  Dubuque> 
from  whom  the  place  was  named. 

1700.  Origin  of  Yale  CoUege.     Ten 
Connecticut  clergymen,  feeling  the  need 
of  higher  education  in  the 

1700.      National 

province,  came  together,  debt  of  England 
each  bringing  several  books,  be#un- 
and  saying  upon  depositing  them  on  the 
table,  "  I  give  these  books  for  the  found- 
ing, of  a  college  in  Connecticut."  This 
gave  a  real  start  to  the  enterprise,  which 
resulted  in  the  establishment  of  Yale 
College. 

EXECUTION  OF  CAPT.  KIDD. 

1701.  May  24.     Capt.  Kidd  was  ex- 
ecuted in  London  whither  he  had  been 
sent  after  his  arrest  in   Boston.      He  had 
had  a  trial  only  in  name,  being  refused 
counsel  and  the  privilege  of  sending  for 
papers  or  witnesses.     With  such  injustice 
as   that   was    he    tried    and    condemned. 
One    charge  which    was    made    against 
him  was  the  murder  of  William  Moorer 
a  sailor  whom  he  was  alleged  to  have 
killed  in  a  wrangle  by  striking  him  over 
the  head  with  a  bucket.     For  this,  and 
for  piracy,  he  and  nine  companions  were 
executed.     Capt.   Kidd  asserted  that  he 
struck  Moore  for  mutinous  conduct,  and 
that  he  was  forced  by  his  men  to  take  the 
Quidah  Merchant.     This  man  who  has 
had    such    a   singular    reputation    was  a 
native  of  Scotland,  and  was  the  son  of 
John  Kidd,   a    non-conformist   minister. 


252 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


He  early  went  to  sea,  and  soon  exhibited 
the  qualities  of  an  excellent  navigator. 
He  came  to  America  and  sailed  hence 
upon  numerous  voyages,  gaining  a  name 
for  energy  and  skill.  He  became  engaged 
in  the  attempts  to  suppress  piracy,  and  in 
1691  the  colony  of  New  York  paid  him 
.£150  for  his  aid  in  protecting  it  against 
freebooters.  The  command  of  a  vessel 
which  was  sent  out  by  a  company  to  cap- 
ture piratical  vessels  was  given  to  him. 
In  1695  anc*  1696  he  was  granted  two 
commissions  giving  him  authority  to  en- 
gage in  that  service.  He  made  one  or 
two  captures  of  French  vessels,  bringing 
them  into  New  York,  and  then  sailed  to 
Madagascar,  which  had  become  a  famous 
resort  for  pirates.  This  was  in  1696  and 
1697.  It  was  asserted  within  a  year  that 
Capt.  Kidd  had  himself  become  a  pirate. 
Orders  for  his  arrest  were  sent  out  to  all 
English  colonies.  He  came  to  the  West 
Indies  in  the  Quidah  Merchant,  for  the 
capture  of  which  vessel  he  was  afterward 
condemned,  and  leaving  it  at  a  little 
island  near  Hayti,  came  north  to  the 
New  England  coast  in  a  sloop.  He  here 
entered  into  correspondence  with  the 
Earl  of  Bellomont,  at  that  time  governor 
of  the  New  England  colonies,  with  the 
apparent  desire  of  reinstating  himself  in 
the  favor  of  government.  Some  treas- 
ure was  buried  by  him  on  Gardiner's 
Island.  He  was  then  enticed  to  Boston 
where  he  was  arrested  in  a  few  days,  and 
from  which  place  he  was  sent  to  Eng- 
land with  the  result  above  detailed.  The 
Earl  of  Bellomont  afterward  secured  the 
spoil  which  had  been  hidden  on  Gar- 
diner's Island,  to  the  amount  of  .£14,000. 
Many  persons  have  in  later  years  dug  for 
other  treasure  reputed  to  have  been  hid- 
den by  Capt.  Kidd,  the  traditions  of 
which  were  wholly  without  foundation. 


The  ill  which  the  man  did,  for  he  un- 
doubtedly during  those  last  two  years 
engaged  in  piracy,  has  grown  until  it 
completely  overshadows  the  years  of  ser- 
vice which  he  rendered  to  commerce. 
When  measured  in  the  scales  of  exact 
and  impartial  justice,  the  character  of 
Kidd  does  not  seem  to  equal  in  ill-desert 
the  characters  of  Drake  and  Hawkins 
and  others  who  spent  years  in  raiding 
upon  the  South  American  coast  cities, 
and  carrying  off  their  ill-gotten  booty. 
There  is  nothing  to  show  that  Kidd  was 
as  cruel, heartless, bloodthirsty,  and  greedy 
of  gain  as  either  of  the  men  above  men- 
tioned, whose  cases  appear  different  be- 
cause they  sailed  under  the  authority  of 
the  English  government  in  conducting 
their  infamous  enterprises. 


1701.  Boston  instructed  its  represen- 
tatives to  "  put  a  period  to  negroes  being 
slaves." 

17O1.  Yale  CoUege  Charter.  The 
ten  clergymen  who  had  agreed  to  found 
a  college  in  Connecticut,  obtained  from 
the  assembly  a  charter  for  their  institu- 
tion, with  a  grant  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  pounds  a  year.  The  institution 
was  located  at  Saybrook. 

1701.  A  new  constitution,  called  a 
"  Charter  of  Liberties,"  was  adopted  for 
Pennsylvania.  It  made  the  noi-ime.  Philip 
qualification  of  a  voter  to  ^'King°/n 

Spam  and  Port- 

be  fifty  acres  of  land    free    ugai. 
from  mcumbrance,  or  personal  property 
worth  £50.     A  new  charter  was   given 
the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

1701.  "  Jesuits  and  popish  priests  " 
were  declared  by  acts  passed  in  New 
York  and  Massachusetts  to  "  be  incen- 
diaries," and  were  threatened  with  "  per- 
petual imprisonment." 

1701.     July  24.     Detroit  was  founded 


1693-1743.] 

by  a  company  of  settlers  and  soldiers 
under  De  la  Motte  Cadillac,  who  named 
the  place  Fort  Pontchartrain,  and  be- 
came commander  of  the  post.  The  set- 
tlement suffered  great  opposition,  both 
from  Indians  and  Canadians. 

1702.  May.  Queen  Anne's  War  be- 
gan by  a  declaration  of  war  by  England 
against  France.  The  American  colonists 
soon  began  to  feel  its  influence. 

1702.  Lord  Cornbury  became  gov- 
ernor of  New  York,  and  until  his  recall 
in  1708,  conducted  the  affairs  of  the 
province  solely  for  his  own  advantage. 
He  was  a  profligate  man,  and  sometimes 
appeared  upon  certain  occasions  in  the 
dress  of  a  woman. 

1702.  A  pestilent  fever  which  was 
brought  to  New  York  from  St.  Thomas, 
carried  off  six  hundred  persons,  which  at 
the  time  constituted  one-tenth  of  the 
whole  population.  It  was  probably  the 
yellow  fever. 

1702.  A  grammar  free  school  was 
established  in  New  York  by  an  act 
passed  this  year. 

1702.  A  Spanish  expedition  across 
the  country  from  Florida  to  attack 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  was  met  and  routed  by 
some  English  traders  and  friendly  Creek 
Indians. 

1702.  St.  Augustine  was  blockaded 
with  an  expedition  from  South  Carolina 
under  Gov.  Moore.  There  was  no  re- 

1702-1714.   Anne     Sult'       The    province    issued 

Queen  of  Eng-  its  paper  money  to  the  ex- 
tent of  $26,000  to  pay  for 
the  undertaking.  The  Spaniards  now 
began  to  arouse  the  Indians  more  com- 
pletely. 

1702.  The  French  fort  at  Biloxi  was 
transferred  to  Mobile  River,  and  became 
the  first  settlement  in  what  is  now  Ala- 
bama. 


THE  MATURING  FORCES. 


253 


1702.  Vincennes,  Indiana,  was  set- 
tled by  French  soldiers  from  Canada, 
who  soon  became  accustomed  to  Indian 
life,  and  were  in  the  end  greatly  assimi- 
lated to  those  around  them. 

1702.  St.   Christopher,   one    of    the 
Leeward  Islands,  became  a  scene  of  con- 
fusion this  year,  in  the  expulsion  of  the 
French   settlers   by    the    English.      The 
island  had  formerly  been  neutral  ground, 
though  there    had   been    more     or     less 
trouble   for  fifty   years.      Many    of   the 
English  settlements  in  the  West  Indies 
originated  in  St.  Christopher,  or  St.  Kitts, 
as  it  is  sometimes  called. 

1703.  January.      A   great    fire   de- 
stroyed Port  Royal,  Jamaica. 

1703.  June  20.  An  Indian  confer- 
ence was  held  by  Gov.  Dudley,  of  Massa- 
chusetts at  Casco  Bay,  in  the  province 
of  Maine,  with  apparently  good  results. 
But  in  a  few  weeks  the  eastern  Indians 
were  again  burning  the  settlements,  and 
murdering  the  inhabitants. 

1703.  An  expedition  against  the  In- 
dians friendly  to  Spain  was  made  by  the 
governor  of  South  Carolina.  Many 
villages  were  burned,  and  eight  hundred 
captives  taken. 

1703.  Indications  of  Independence. 
Quarry,   in    a   memorial    to    the    British 
government     on     colonial     affairs,    says, 
"  Commonwealth     notions    1703-   First 
improve  daily,  and  if  it   be    Russian  newsfa- 

,.,.,.  -          per.      Saint  Pe- 

not  checked  m  time,  the  (et.sburs.  found. 
rights  and  privileges  of  ed- 
British  subjects  will  be  thought  too  nar- 
row." He  advised  interference  with 
towns.  This  little  thing  speaks  loudly 
of  a  coming  struggle. 

1704.  March  1.     Massacre  at  Deer- 
field,  Mass.     A   party    of    French    and 
Indians  fell  upon  the  town  of  Deerfield, 
Mass.,  murdering  forty-seven  of  the  in- 

15 


254 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


habitants,  and  carrying  one  hundred  and 
twelve  away  captive  into  Canada, 
through  the  deep  snow  and  severe  cold. 
The  expedition  was  undertaken  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  the  bell  which 
hung  in  Deerfield  meeting  house.  The 
tell  had  been  sent  from  France  for  a 
village  church  in  Canada,  but  had  been 
taken  by  a  privateer  and  carried  with 
other  goods  to  Boston,  where  it  was 
bought  by  the  people  of  Deerfield.  It 
was  taken  away  at  the  time  of  the  mas- 
sacre, and  now  hangs  in  the  place  which 
it  was  originally  intended  for. 

FIRST  PERMANENT  NEWSPAPER. 

1704.  April  24.  "  The  Boston  News- 
Letter,"  the  first  permanent  newspaper 
in  the  New  World,  was  published  at 
Boston,  Mass.,  by  Bartholomew  Green, 
for  John  Campbell,  postmaster  and  book- 
seller. The  first  number  consisted  of 
three  very  small  pages,  and  contained 
only  one  advertisement,  that  of  Mr. 
Campbell.  The  "  News-Letter "  ex- 
isted forty  years  before  it  had  three  hun- 
dred subscribers. 


1704.  Printing  was  introduced  into 
Louisiana  by  the  French. 

1704.  A  great  agitation  was  caused 
1632-1704.  m  Carolina  by  the  attempt 

John  Locke.  to  bring  the  province  under 
the  authority  of  the  Church  of  England. 

17O4.  A  raid  was  made  by  Col.  Ben- 
jamin Church  with  five  hundred  men 
upon  the  Indian  settlements  of  Eastern 
Maine.  Villages  were  burned,  and 
many  prisoners  taken.  The  Indians  had 
been  harassing  the  colonists  very  se- 
verely. 

17O4.  July  20.  Capt.  Peregrine 
White,  who  was  born  on  board  the  May- 
flower in  Cape  Cod  Harbor,  Nov.  20, 


1620,  died  at  Marshfield,  Mass.,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-three  years,  eight  months. 
He  was  a  strong,  fine  looking  man,  and 
had  lived  a  useful  life. 

1704.  September.      Alexander  Sel- 
kirk, a  Scotchman,  was  left  on  the  island 
of  Juan    Fernandez,   four  hundred   and 
twenty   miles  west  from    the     coast   of 
Chili,  and  remained  alone   there  for  four 
years    and  four  months.     Selkirk    sailed 
from  England  in  charge  of  the  Cinque 
Ports,    a    privateer,    as    pilot.        Having 
quarreled  with  the  captain,   he  asked  to 
be  put  ashore  as  above  stated.     Supplies 
were  furnished   him,  which  were  added 
to  by  the  resources  of  the  island.     Capt. 
Woodes  Rogers,  of  the  privateer  named 
The  Duke,  took  Selkirk  from   the  island. 

1705.  Gov.    Nicholson  was  recalled 
from   Virginia,  and  there   was  no  royal 
governor  in  the  province  for  five   years. 
The  assembly    governed,    and    prepared 
the  way  for  better  times.      This  afforded 
a  chance  for  a  slight  home  training  in  the 
free  management  of  affairs,  which  was 
very  wholesome. 

1705.  The  first  Presbytery  in  Amer- 
ica   was    organized    at    Philadelphia    by 
seven     members     of    the    Presbyterian 
church,  four  of  them  being  from  Ireland. 

1706.  "  Petticoat  Insurrection."    The 
women    of   Mobile  became    very  angry 
and     threatened     rebellion 

against  the  colony,  because 

~  ,  ,. 

they  were  forced  to  live  on 

Indian  corn.     The  supplies  of  the  colony 

were  very"  low,  and  considerable  trouble 

resulted.     The  above  danger  has  become 

known  in  history  as  the    "  petticoat  in- 

surrection." 

17O6.     The   law  in   Carolina  disfran- 
chising dissenters,  was  repealed. 

1706.      Nevis,    one  of    the    Leeward 
Islands,  was  ravaged  by  the  French. 


1706-n46.   John 


Portugal. 


1693-1743.] 


THE  MATURING  FORCES. 


255 


17O7.  June.  An  expedition  against 
Acadia  was  sent  out  by  the  inhabitants  of 
New  England,  who  were  exasperated  by 
a  long  series  of  Indian  warfares  chiefly 
produced  by  French  influence.  The  ex- 
pedition was  entirely  unsuccessful.  Dur- 
ing this  time  bounties  were  offered  for 
Indian  scalps,  as  they  were  at  other  times 
in  the  history  of  the  country. 

1707.  Nevis,  which  had  been  ravaged 
no7.  England  by  the  French,  was  this 
and  Scotland  year  almost  completely  de- 

uniled  under  it-  -.          . 

tie  of  Great  stroyed  by  one  of  the 
Britain.  « most  violent  hurricanes 

ever  recorded."  It  had  been  prosperous 
before  this  time,  but  was  now  brought 
very  low. 

1707.  Germs  of   Liberty.     The    as- 
sembly   of    New     Jersey     prepared    a 
remonstrance  to  Lord  Cornbury,  setting 
forth  grievances  under   which  the  prov- 
ince was  laboring,  and    asking  that  they 
be  redressed.     The  paper  contained  one 
significant  sentence :  "  Liberty  is  too  val- 
uable a  thing  to  be  easily  parted  with." 
Lord  Cornbury  answered  the  communi- 
cation  with   considerable   insolence,  and 
helped    by  it   to  pave    the   way   for   his 
recall  the  next  year. 

1708.  Aug.  29.      HaverhiU,   Mass., 
was  destroyed  by  French  and  Indians. 

1708.  Saybrook     Platform.       The 
churches  of  Connecticut  held  a  conven- 
tion  at  which  a  platform  of  belief  and 
organization  was  adopted,  and  has  since 
been  known  as  the  Saybrook   Platform, 
because  the  meeting  took  place  at   Say- 
brook.      The    Westminster    and    Savoy 
Confessions,  and  the  Thirty-nine  Articles, 
were  in  general  the  basis  of  belief. 

1709.  The    first  printing  press   in 
Connecticut  was  set  up  at  New  London 
by  Thomas  Short. 

1709.     The  oldest  mining  charter  in 


the  English  colonies  was  granted  a  com- 
pany to  work  the  Granby  copper  mines 
in  Connecticut.  They  have 

J  1709.     Prussic 

sometimes   been  known  as    add  discovered 
theSimsbury  mines.    Cop-    by  Diesbach- 
per  was  found  about  this  time  at  a  few 
other  places.     These    mines  were  after- 
ward bought  by  the  State  and  worked  by 
convicts. 

1710.  German  Immigration.  Sev- 
eral thousand  Germans  left  their  homes 
in  the  Palatinate,  Germany,  because  of 
poverty,  and  settled  in  New  York,  Penn- 
sylvania, Virginia,  and  Carolina.  The 
transfer  from  their  own  country  was 
carried  out  under  the  patronage  of  Queen 
Anne  of  England. 

1710.  The  first  government  post- 
offices  were  established  in  America  in 
accordance  with  an  act  of  Parliament 
providing  for  a  general  postoffice  for  all 
English  dominions.  One  central  office 
was  to  be  at  New  York,  and  other  offices 
were  to  be  at  convenient  places  in  each 
colony. 

1710.  Oct.  13.  Acadia  Captured. 
A  combined  English  and  colonial  force 
having  sailed  for  Acadia,  captured  Port 
Royal,  and  changed  its  name  to  Annapo- 
lis in  honor  of  the  queen.  Acadia  came 
under  British  control  as  Nova  Scotia. 
This  was  the  second  time  it  had  been 
taken  by  the  English.  The  colonial 
officers  deemed  it  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance to  drive  the  French  out  of  America. 

1710.  Dec.  11.  Wreck  of  the  Not- 
tingham. The  Nottingham,  a  galley 
from  London,  went  ashore  in  a  northeast 
gale  on  Boon  Island,  one  of  the  Isles  of 
Shoals.  For  several  days  they  had  not 
been  able  to  get  an  observation.  The 
crew  saved  themselves  upon  the  rocks  as 
best  they  could  during  the  short  time  in 
which  the  ship  went  to  pieces.  Not  a 


256 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


mouthful  of  food  was  saved  except  two 
or  three  "small  cheeses,"  which  they 
picked  out  of  the  seaweed.  Now  began 
a  struggle  for  life.  The  weakest  ones 
began  to  die  from  starvation.  A  boat 
which  the  survivors  roughly  put  together, 
was  broken  up  by  the  sea.  A  raft  was 
then  built,  and  two  men  started  upon  it 
for  the  New  Hampshire  shore.  Neither 
of  them  reached  it  alive.  One  was 
washed  up  on  the  sand  and  led  some  of 
the  settlers  to  search  the  vicinity,  when 
the  others  were  found  in  a  very  low  con- 
dition. They  had  subsisted  for  a  few 
days  upon '  the  body  of  the  carpenter. 
For  twenty-four  days  they  had  faced 
death  on  this  little  island.  The  captain's 
name  was  John  Deane.  He  afterward 
prepared  an  account  of  the  calamity,  and 
it  was  published  the  next  year  at  the  end 
of  a  sermon  by  Cotton  Mather. 

1710.  Diamonds  were  discovered  in 
Brazil,  and  have  since  been  mined  there 
in  great  quantities. 

1711.  Aug.  10.    Invasion  of  Canada. 
A  great  English   expedition   under   Sir 
Hovenden    Walker   sailed    from   Boston 
for  the  capture  of  Quebec,  but  was  pre- 
vented from  entering  the   St.  Lawrence 
by   storms   and  fogs.     It  returned  with 
the  loss  of  eight  ships  and  one  thousand 
men.     The   same   day   a   force  of   four 
thousand  men  left  Albany  to  attack  Mon- 
treal, but  turned  back  when  the  disaster 
to  the  fleet  was  learned.     The  province 
of  New  York  issued  its  first  paper  money 
or   bills  of  credit   in   aid   of    this   expe- 
dition. 

1711.  October.  The  Tuscarora  In- 
dians of  North  Carolina  formed  a  plan 
to  exterminate  the  whites,  and  massacred 
one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  in  one 
night.  The  horrible  work  continued  for 
three  days.  The  natives  were  afterward 


successfully  resisted,  and  driven  from  the 
country. 

1711.  A  slave  market  was  opened 
in  New  York  City. 

1711.  A  severe  fire  occurred  in 
Boston,  consuming  one  hundred  buildings. 

1711.  Mobile,  Alabama.     The   little 
French  settlement  on  the  Mobile  River 
came  near  being  entirely  destroyed  by  a 
flood  and  hurricane,  and  was  removed  to 
the  present  site  of  Mobile,  as    being   a 
safer  place. 

1712.  Abolitionism.  William  Southe- 
by,   of   Maryland,    a     Roman    Catholic, 
petitioned  the  assembly  of  Pennsylvania 
to   abolish  slavery  within  that  province. 
The  reply  was  that  it  was  "  neither  just 
nor  convenient  to  set  them   at  liberty." 
Mr.  Southeby  had  written  upon  the  subject 
of  slavery  fifteen  or  twenty  years  before. 

1713.  March  20.     The  Six  Nations. 
A   large    Indian    fort   was    captured    in 
North  Carolina,  and  the  troubles  in  this 
colony  apparently  ended.     Eight  hundred 
captives  were  taken,  and  given  to  friendly 
tribes.     A  few    Tuscaroras  fled  to  New 
York,  and  were  admitted  as  a  sixth  na- 
tion to  the    Iroquois   confederacy.     The 
term      "Five    Nations "     at     this     date 
changes  to  "  Six  Nations." 

1713.  April  11.  The  Treaty  of 
Utrecht  closed  Queen  Anne's  War. 
Acadia  was  ceded  to  England,  and  one 
year  was  given  the  settlers  in  which  to 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  or  leave  the 
country.  New  Brunswick,  which  had 
previously  been  in  dispute,  was  included 
in  the  cession. 

1713.  Forts  at  Crown  Point  and  Ni- 
agara were  erected  by  the  ^14-1727. 

te  George  I.  King 

French.  of  England. 

1713.  The  entire  province  of  Maine 
came  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Massa- 
chusetts. 


1693-1743.] 


THE  MATURING  FORCES, 


257 


1715.     April  13.     An  uprising  of  the 

Yemassee  Indians  took  place  in  the  Car- 
olinas.  A  great  league  was  formed,  and 
a  massacre  occurred.  Over  four  hundred 
persons  were  slain.  But  the  trouble  was 
speedily  put  down  by  the  energy  of 
Charles  Craven,  governor  of  the  south- 
ern province.  A  great  blow  was  warded 
off  partially. 

1715.  A  law  was  passed  in  Mary- 
land making  a  child  follow  the  condition 
of  its  mother.  The  original  law  of  1663 
making  the  child  follow  its  father's  condi- 
tion, had  been  repealed  in  1683. 

1715.  The  logwood  tree  was  propa- 
gated in  Jamaica,  from  seed  brought 
1715-1774.  Louis  from  Central  America.  It 
xiv.  King  of  grew  rapidly,  and  soon  cov- 
ered the  island,  which  has 
since  then  furnished  considerable  of  this 
wood  to  the  trade  of  the  world.  '  It  is 
only  to  be  found  there  and  in  Spanish 
America. 

FIRST  COFFEE  CULTURE.. 

1715.  A  single  coffee-plant  was  in- 
troduced into.  Martinique,  W.  I.,  by  Capt. 
Descleux,  a  French  officer,  who  attempted 
to  bring  several  plants  from  Marly,  but 
succeeded  in  getting  only  one  to  Marti- 
nique alive.  Capt.  Descleux  himself  en- 
dured thirst  upon  the  voyage  rather  than 
have  this  plant  perish  for  lack  of  water, 
which  was  getting  low  on  shipboard. 
This  plant  is  said  to  have  been  the  parent 
stock  of  all  the  coffee  culture  in  the  West 
Indies  and  Brazil.  It  was  speedily  in- 
troduced into  other  islands,  and  raised 
with  success. 


1716.  Two  thousand  slaves  were 
owned  in  Massachusetts  this  year. 

1716.  Natchez  was  settled  by  the 
French  under  Lemoine  de  Bienville. 

17 


1716.  Oct.   21.     A  «  dark  day  "  oc- 
curred  in    New   England.    1716^   First 

People  Were  obliged   to  USe      standing     army 
,•£•    •    i     i-     i   ,      .        ,,         i  in  England. 

artificial   lights  in   the  day- 
time with  which   to   do   their   ordinary 
work. 

1717.  February.     "  The  Great  Snow 
Storm"  occurred  in   Boston  and  the  re- 
gion, blocking  up  all  travel. 

1717.  June  24.  Port  of  Boston. 
For  three  years  ending  with  this  date, 
twelve  hundred  and  forty -seven  vessels 
had  cleared  at  Boston. 

1717.  August.  The  Mississippi 
Scheme.  An  edict  was  issued  in  France 
giving  the  celebrated  John  Law  permis- 
sion to  form  the  "Western  Company  " 
for  trade  and  colonization  in  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley.  This  was  the  beginning 
of  the  great  "Mississippi  Scheme." 

1717.  A  paper  mill  is  said  to  have 
been  erected  in  Massachusetts. 

1717.  Yale  College  was  removed 
from  Saybrook  to  New  Haven,  because 
the  most  money  could  be  obtained  upon 
condition  that  it  should  be  at  the  latter 
place.  It  received  its  name  from  Elihu 
Yale,  one  of  its  early  benefactors.  He 
gave  about  .£500  in  all. 

1717.  The  first  hospital  in  the  Eng- 
lish colonies  was  opened  at  Boston  for 
persons  sick  with  contagious  diseases. 

1717.  A  merchants'  exchange  was 
for  the  first  time  permitted  at  Montreal 
and  Quebec. 

1717.  The  "Margravate  of  Azilia." 
A  colony  on  the  'Savannah  River  was 
planned  by  Sir  Richard  Montgomery, 
who  purchased  the  site  for  the  new  town. 
The  whole  region  was  to  be  symmetri- 
cally divided  as  fast  as  the  population  in- 
creased. It  was  to  be  a  model  for  regu- 
larity and  beauty,  and  was  to  be  called 
the  "  Margravate  of  Azilia."  The 


258 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


scheme  was  a  fine  one  upon  paper,  but 
was  a  complete  failure  practically,  be- 
cause no  emigrants  appeared.  The  grant 
was  from  the  proprietors  of  the  Car- 
olinas,  and  lay  between  the  Savannah 
and  Altamaha  rivers. 

1717.  Montevideo,    Uruguay,    was 
founded   by   families   from    the    Canary 
Islands. 

1718.  New  Orleans.      The  site  of  a 
city   was   selected    at   the   mouth  of  the 
Mississippi   by   the    French,  and  named 
New  Orleans.     This  was  a  part   of   the 
great  scheme  of  John  Law. 

1718.  Silk  and  indigo  were  intro- 
duced into  Louisiana  by  the  great 
"  Western  Company  "  under  John  Law. 

1718.  The  first  copper-plate  engrav- 
ing in  America  was  a  portrait  of  Increase 
Mather. 

1718.  The  first  Presbyterian  church 
in  New  England  was  founded  at  Derry, 
N.  H.,  by  colonists  from  the  North  of 
Ireland.  The  manufacture  of  linen  by 
the  foot  spinning  wheel  was  also  first 
introduced  into  this  country  by  these 
settlers. 

1718.  Convicts  'were  transported  by 
England  at  this  time  at  the  rate  of  two 
thousand  a  year,  and  were  sold  to  settlers 
for  a  term  of  years.  Many  at  the  end  of 
their  service  became  proprietors  for  them- 
selves. In  this  way  the  English  Ameri- 
can colonies  received  quite  a  large  num- 
ber of  settlers. 

1718.  Black  Beard.  Pirates  had 
grown  so  powerful  upon  the  coast  of 
Carolina  that  a  determined  effort  was 
made  to  put  them  down.  Two  expedi- 
tions were  made  against  them,  the  last 
one  of  which  succeeded  in  capturing  the 
notorious  leader  of  them  all,  known  as 
Black  Beard,  though  he  and  most  of  his 
men  were  slain  in  the  attempt. 


WILLIAM  PENN. 

1718.  July  3O.  William  Penn,  the 
founder  of  Pennsylvania,  died  at  Rus- 
combe,  England,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
four  years.  Few  men  concerned  in  the 
colonization  of  America  have  left  in  his- 
tory a  distincter  name  than  he.  He  lived 
an  eventful  life,  almost  from  his  childhood. 
He  was  expelled  from  Christ  College, 
Oxford  University,  for  having  embraced 
Quakerism,  to  which  he  was  converted 
by  Thomas  Loe.  He  could  not  be  con- 
tent to  hold  his  new  views  quietly,  for 
they  had  taken  a  strong  hold  upon  his 
mind,  and  he  considered  himself  under 
obligation  to  work  for  the  truth.  Rup- 
tures occurred  at  different  times  between 
him  and  his  father,  Admiral  Sir  William 
Penn,  who  was  greatly  opposed  to  Quak- 
erism, but  peace  was  always  reached 
again  after  each  of  these,  and  the  estates 
of  the  admiral  were  left  to  William  at 
the  former's  death.  After  the  abrupt 
close  of  his  studies,  the  son  was  sent  upon 
a  trip  to  the  continent,  and  afterward  put 
in  charge  of  the  family  property  in  Ire- 
land. Having  been  discovered  in  attend- 
ing a  Quaker  meeting,  he  was  thrown 
into  prison,  but  was  soon  set  free,  although 
he  was  obliged  to  leave  Ireland.  Now 
began  greater  and  sterner  troubles  - 
through  his  devotion  to  the  sect  whose 
views  he  had  adopted  so  heartily.  He 
began  to  preach  and  to  publish  some 
writings  in  behalf  of  the  Quaker  doc- 
trines. Before  a  great  while  he  was 
thrown  into  the  Tower,  where  he  wrote 
during  his  imprisonment.  He  was  once 
more  set  free  through  the  influence  of 
the  Duke  of  York.  But  his  difficulties 
were  not  at  an  end.  In  1671  he  was 
thrown  into  prison  and  lay  in  Newgate 
six  months  because  he  would  not  take  an 
oath  at  his  trial.  "  The  Great  Cause  of 


1693-1743.] 

Liberty  of  Conscience  "  was  written  by 
him  during  this  confinement.  His  pen 
was  almost  always  busy,  even  when  he 
could  not  speak  for  his  principles.  His 
mind  was  rapidly  maturing  those  views 
upon  peace  and  toleration  which  were  so 
signally  manifest  in  what  he  did  in  col- 
onizing America.  He  again  visited  the 
continent,  and  was  married  when  he  went 
oack  to  England.  The  government  had 
owed  his  father  an  unpaid  claim  of 
«£  1 6,000,  and  now  conferred  upon  the 
son  a  large  tract  of  land  in  America,  in 
payment  of  this  sum.  He  was  to  be  left 
entirely  free  in  the  establishment  of  laws 
for  the  management  of  the  colonies 
which  might  be  induced  by  him  to  settle 
upon  his  territory.  This  was  the  origin 
of  his  labors  in  Pennsylvania,  which  he 
at  first  named  Sylvania,  but  to  this  his 
name  was  added  in  spite  of  his  objections, 
making  it  Pennsylvania  or  Penn's  Woods. 
The  first  settlement  and  growth  of  the 
province  were  somewhat  remarkable. 
He  still  labored  at  the  cost  of  difficulties, 
and  was  once  or  twice  severely  accused 
of  treasonable  designs  in  reference  to  the 
English  government.  He  spent  a  series 
of  years  in  America,  and  in  general 
gained  the  confidence  of  the  settlers  upon 
his  territory.  His  friendly  contact  with 
the  Indians  has  been  a  famous  part  of  his 
life  in  the  New  World.  He  went  to 
England  in  1701  to  look  after  his  estates 
which  had  been  very  poorly  cared  for  by 
his  agent.  He  never  returned  to  Amer- 
ica. He  failed  in  health,  and  was  injured 
mentally  by  an  apoplectic  attack  in  1712. 
He  was  the  subject  of  numerous  unjust 
imputations  all  through  his  life,  but  we 
may  safely  say  that  they  were  incorrect, 
and  that  William  Penn  was  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  his  times  in  everything 
•which  goes  to  make  up  genuine  charac- 


THE  MATURING  FORCES. 


259 


ter.  His  sense  of  justice  was  certainly 
highly  developed.  The  influence  of  his 
life  may  be  set  down  as  having  entered 
into  American  colonization,  and  as  hav- 
ing perpetuated  itself  along  the  lines  of 
toleration  and  humanity. 


1719.  The  melodies  of  Mother 
Goose  began  to  be  used  in  the  nurseries 
of  Boston.  Thomas  Fleet,  who  married 
Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Vergoose, 
is  said  to  have  written  them  down  as  he 
heard  them  sung  to  his  little  children  by 
his  mother-in-law. 

1719.  "  The  Reasons  for  a  Market 
in  Boston  "  was  the  subject  of  a  sermon 
preached  by  Dr.  Coleman.  Such  themes 
were  taken  into  the  pulpit,  because  the 
press  was  under  a  censorship,  and  be- 
cause no  pamphlet  even  could  be  issued 
without  a  license.  The  pulpit  was  free. 
At  a  little  later  period  than  this,  matter 
for  newspapers  must  be  examined  by  the 
colonial  secretary.  Almanacs  were  sub- 
ject to  examination.  This  hindered  the 
growth  of  letters  in  America,  and  yet  at 
the  same  time  it  promoted  the  cause  of 
freedom. 

1719.  Large  numbers  of  slaves  be- 
gan to  be  brought  into  the  Mississippi 
Valley  by  the  French. 

1719.  A  sect  called  "New  Born " 
was  founded  at  Oley,  Berks  County, 
Penn.,  by  Matthias  Bourman,  of  Ger- 
many. Perfectionism  without  depend- 
ence on  the  sacraments  or  on  the  Word 
of  God,  was  their  chief  tenet. 

1719.  Bunkers  or  Dunkards.  The 
German  Baptists,  more  generally  known 
as,  Dunkards,  were  first  established  in 
this  country  at  Germantown  and  other 
places  in  Pennsylvania.  They  are  some- 
times called  Tumblers  because  they  bap- 
tize themselves  by  kneeling  down  and 


260 

pushing  the  head  and  body  under  the 
water.  "  Brethren  "  is  the  term  they 
apply  to  themselves.  They  were  founded 
in  Germany  in  1 708,  but  within  ten  years 
from  this  date  they  all  came  to  Amer- 
ica. They  have  about  50,000  communi- 
cants. They  practice  the  brotherly 
washing  of  feet,  the  kiss  of  charity, 
threefold  immersion,  and  the  anointing 
of  the  sick  with  oil. 

1719.  Daniel  Defoe,  an  English 
author,  issued  "  The  Life  and  strange 
surprising  adventures  of  Robinson  Cru- 
soe of  York,  Manner,  who  lived  eight 
and  twenty  years  all  alone  in  an  unin- 
habited island  on  the  coast  of  America, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  great  river  Ori- 
noco." 

1719.  Dec.  17.  The  Aurora  Bore- 
alis  was  first  noticed  by  the  inhabitants 
of  New  England,  who  regarded  the  ap- 
pearance with  some  degree  of  terror. 

1719.  Dec.  21.  The  Boston  Ga- 
zette, the  second  newspaper  in  the 
English  colonies,  was  established  and 
issued  by  James  Franklin,  an  older 
brother  of  Benjamin. 

1719.  Dec.  22.  The  first  newspaper 
in  Pennsylvania  called  the  «  American 
Weekly  Mercury,"  was  issued  at  Phila- 
delphia by  Andrew  Bradford  and  John 
Copson. 

1719.  Tobacco  Pipes.  The  first  ad- 
vertisement of  home  made  tobacco  pipes 
in  the  colonies  appeared  in  the  Mercury, 
published  in  Philadelphia.  It  offered 
"  good  long  Taylern  Tobacco-pipes,  sold 
at  45.  per  gross  by  the  single  gross,  and 
35.  for  a  larger  quantity,  by  Richard 
Warden,  tobacco  pipe  maker,  living  un- 
der the  same  roof  with  Philip  Syng, 
goldsmith,  near  the  market  place ;  where 
also  any  that  have  occasion  may  have 
their  pipes  burned  at  8  d.  per  gross." 


LIFE. 

1719.  Whaling  in  Davis'  Strait  was 
begun  by  the  Dutch,  who  found  it  safe 
and  profitable. 

1719.  St.   Vincent,  one  of  the  West 
Indies,    was    settled    by    the    citizens    of 
Martinique,  many  of  whom  took  up  their 
residence  in  the  former  island.     It    had 
been   left    by    general     consent   to    the 
Caribs,  until  the  present  time.     At  a  time 
unknown,  some   Africans  had  taken  ref- 
uge in  the  island,  and   mixing  with  the 
natives,  had  originated  the  race  known  as 
"  Black  Caribs." 

1720.  Tea  began  to  be  used  in  Boston. 
1720.     Witchcraft.     An  attempt  was- 

made  to  revive  the  witchcraft  delusion  at 
Littleton,  Mass.  The  fraud  was  followed 
up  closely  by  some  persons  who  sus- 
pected it,  and  one  of  the  principal  agents 
afterward  confessed  the  falsity  of  the 
claim. 

1720.  Salt  springs  in  Southern  Illi- 
nois were  known  and  used  at  this  date 
by  the  French  and  Indians. 

1720.  Lead  mines  were  discovered 
and  worked  in  Missouri  by  two  French- 
men named  Renault  and  LaMotte. 

172O.  Failure  of  John  Law.  John 
Law's  great  scheme  for  the  colonization 
of  Louisiana  was  entirely  annihilated  by 
the  loss  of  public  confidence  in  the  paper 
shares,  stocks  and  bonds,  which  he  had 
issued  in  the  name  of  the  "  Company." 
During  the  excitement  which  attended 
this  issue,  thousands  of  persons  had 
rushed  to  Paris  for  speculation,  men  had 
made  fortunes  in  an  hour,  money  had 
been  loaned  at.  a  quarter  per  cent,  for 
fifteen  minutes,  and  everything  was  be- 
witched. When  the  end  came  it  was  a 
terrible  blow  to  the  thousands  who  were 
ruined.  John  Law  himself  was  left 
almost  penniless,  and  wandered  hence- 
forth from  place  to  place  as  a  gambler, 


THE  MATURING  FORCES. 
Louisiana  became 


1693-1743.] 

till  his  death  in  1729. 
a  royal  province. 

1721.  First  Inoculation  for  Small 
Pox.  The  small  pox  raged  in  Boston 
very  extensively,  and  more  than  five 
thousand  persons  were  attacked.  The 
general  court  adjourned  to  Cambridge. 
Cotton  Mather  induced  Dr.  Zabdiel 
Boylston  to  try  inoculation  upon  his 
own  children,  servants,  and  a  few  others 

1721.  Inoculation  who     Would    Consent     to    it. 
produced     into  Thj       createcj    great    excite- 
England   by  La- 
dy Montague.  ment   among    the  citizens, 

and  much  abuse  was  heaped  upon  those 
who  favored  the  practice.  Two  hundred 
and  eighty-six  were  inoculated,  and  only 
six  of  them  died.  Of  the  five  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  fifty-nine  persons  at- 
tacked by  the  disease,  eight  hundred  and 
forty -four  died,  or  a  very  much  greater 
proportion  than  in  the  case  of  those  who 
were  inoculated.  Half  the  population  of 
Boston  was  taken  down  by  the  scourge. 
The  efficacy  of  the  new  step  was  proved 
beyond  a  doubt. 

1721.  August.  "  The  New  England 
Courant"  was  established  by  James 
Franklin  in  Boston,  the  printing  of  the 
Gazette  having  been  taken  away  from 
him  by  the  owner.  He  undertook  to 
make  the  new  enterprise  a  vehicle  for 
free  criticism,  but  was  imprisoned.  The 
Courant  lived  about  six  years.  Benjamin 
Franklin  set  type  for  it,  and  wrote  some 
articles  for  it.  Disagreement  between 
the  brothers  finally  led  Benjamin  to  run 
away  to  Philadelphia. 

1721.  First  Attempt  at  Marine  In- 
surance. John  Copson  of  Philadelphia, 
undertook  to  start  an  office  for  marine 
insurance,  and  advertised  to  that  effect, 
but  was  entirely  unsuccessful,  because  the 
ship  merchants  felt  that  they  could  get 
safer  insurance  in  other  countries.  This 


261 


was  the  earliest  attempt  at  insurance  of 
any  kind  on  this  continent. 

1721.  The  "  Apostle  of  Greenland." 
Hans  Egede,  a  Danish  clergyman  from 
Vaagen,  Norway,  sailed  from  Denmark 
in  the  barque  Hope,  with  two  hundred 
and  forty  settlers,  besides  his  wife-  and 
four  children.  His  object  was  to  find  the 
lost  Norse  colony  in  Greenland,  of  which 
he  had  read  in  the  old  chronicles,  and  to 
convert  the  natives.  He  founded  a  set- 
tlement called  Godthaab  or  Good  Hope 
upon  Baal's  River,  and  soon  began  to 
teach.  For  a  time  the  settlement  suf- 
fered privations,  and  at  one  time  it  was 
ordered  by  the  government  to  be  given 
up.  But  the  perseverance  of  the  devoted 
leader  at  last  secured  the  victory.  This 
colony  was  the  beginning  of  modern 
Greenland.  Egede  found  some  slight 
remains  of  former  settlers,  but  no  settle- 
ment. All  had  perished. 

1721.  First   Masonic   Lodge.      The 
Albion    Lodge,  formerly  No.   17,  E.  R., 
of  the  city  of  Quebec,  is  the  oldest  lodge 
of  Free  Masons  upon  the  American  con- 
tinent,   having    been    instituted    twelve 
years  before  the  first  United  States  lodge. 

1722.  Brunswick,  Maine,  was  burned 
by  the  Abenaki   Indians.     These  hostili- 
ties were  for  the    sake   of    resisting    the 
English  occupation  of  the  province,  and 
were  incited   to  a  very   great    extent  by 
the  French.     This  was  the   outbreak  of 
the  third  Indian  war  in  New  England. 

1722.  The  first  paper  money  in 
Pennsylvania  was  issued  by  vote  of  the 
assembly  to  the  amount  of  £45,000.  It 
was  guarded  with  special  care  to  prevent 
its  depreciation. 

1722.  The  Timber  Controversy.  The 
strife  which  had  raged  in  New  England 
for  thirty  years  over  the  confiscation  of 
the  best  timber  from  the  forests  for  gov- 


262 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


ernment  use,  did  not  cease.  The  survey- 
ors still  went  through  the  forests  and  put 
the  king's  "  broad  arrow  "  upon  any  tree 
which  pleased  the  eye.  The  colonists 
could  never  submit  to  have  their  best 
timber  culled  without  compensation. 
Difficulties  continued  to  arise,  and  royal 
power  was  even  then  threatened  by  the 
indignant  freemen  of  New  England. 
The  colonists  were  also  forbidden  to  sell 
timber  to  Spain  and  Portugal. 

1722.  Aug.  28.  Port  Royal,  Jamaica, 
was  overwhelmed  by  the  sea.  This  was 
the  result  of  a  tremendous  hurricane 
which  swept  over  and  desolated  the 
whole  island. 

1722.  The    University   of    Havana 
was  established  by  a  bull  of  Pope  Inno- 
cent XIIL,  and  was  afterward  approved 
by  the  Spanish  government. 

1723.  Indian    wars   broke    out    in 
Chili    and  lasted   for  fifty  years,  to   the 
great  distress  of  the  province. 

1724.  May  3.     A   pirate  vessel  was 
brought  into    Boston   which    had    been 
taken  by  John  Fillmore,  Edward  Cheese- 
man,  and  an  Indian.     The   pirate    Capt. 
Phillips   had    taken    the    fishing    sloop 
Dolphin,  of  Cape    Ann,   on   the    banks. 
Fillmore  and  the  other  sailors  were  im- 
pressed on  board  the  captor,  but  finally 
the  above  three  laid  their  plans  and  suc- 
cessfully took  control  of  the  vessel,  killing 
three,  including  Phillips.     Fillmore   was 
the  great   grandfather  of   Millard  Fill- 
more. 

1724.  First  Mutual  Benefit  Society. 
The  Carpenter's  Society  was  organized 
in  Philadelphia,  and  led  the  way  in  the 
long  list  of  union  societies  for  all  trades 
and  lines  of  work.  At  the  first  of  the 
present  century  a  great  many  were  or- 
ganized. 

1724.     Aug.  22.     Father  Rale  Killed. 


Norridgewock,  Maine,  an  Indian  village, 
was  attacked  by  English  settlers  because 
of  Indian  outrages.  Father  Sebastian 
Rale,  the  Jesuit  who  had  established 
himself  among  the  Indians  and  become 
very  influential  among  them,  was  slain 
in  the  attack.  His  death  ended  French 
power  over  the  eastern  Indians,  who  now 
grew  more  peaceful. 

1724.  Uruguay  was  conquered  from 
the  Portuguese  by  the  Spanish,  and  an- 
nexed    to    the     viceroyalty    of     Buenos 
Ayres. 

1725.  May  8.     A  severe   fight  took 
place  in  what  is  now   Fryeburg,    Maine, 
between    a    company    of    whites     under 
Capt.  John  Lovewell,  and  the  Pequawkett 
or   Pigwacket   Indians    under     Paugus, 
their  sachem.     Both  leaders  were  killed, 
and  the  Indian  tribe  went  farther  north 
to  live.     The  whites  lost  a  score  or  more 
of  men. 

1725.  A  repeating  fire-arm  is  said  to 
have  been  exhibited  in  Boston  by  a  Mr. 
Pirn,  who  had  constructed  it.  Penhal- 
low,in  his  account  of  the  Indian  wars,, 
states  that  it  would  fire  eleven  times 
without  reloading. 

1725.  The  first  newspaper  in  New 
York,  named  "The  New  York  Gazette," 
was  established  by  William  Bradford. 

1726.  Three  pirates  named  William 
Fly,  Samuel  Cole,  and  Henry  Greenville* 
were   executed   in   Boston.      Before   the 
execution  a  sermon  was  preached  to  the 
doomed  men  in  Old  Brattle  St.  church 
by  Dr.  Coleman.     Capt.  Fly  would  not 
go  into  the  church,  and  was  smiling  and 
careless   to   the   very   last.     The   bodies 
were    buried   on    an    island   which   was 
afterward  worn  away  by  the  sea. 

1727.  The  vast  importation  of  slaves 
was   bitterly    complained   of   by    South 
Carolina. 


1693-1743.] 

1727.  Steel.  A  Connecticut  black- 
1642-1727.  sir  smith  discovered  the  way 
Isaac  Newton.  of  changing  common  iron 

1727-1760. 

George  //.  King      mtO  good  Steel. 

of  England.  1727.     The    first    levee 

along  the  Mississippi  at  New  Orleans,  a 
mile  in  length,  was  erected  by  Perier  to 
guard  against  the  annual  overflows  of 
trie  river,  which  had  been  quite  trouble- 
some. 

1727.  Oct.    29.      A    severe   earth- 
quake was  experienced  in  the  English 
colonies.      It   was   alarming   enough   to 
cause  many  persons  to  suspend  their  oc- 
cupations in  great  terror. 

1728.  The  first  newspaper  in  Mary- 
land was   established    at   Annapolis   by 
William  Parks. 

1728.  James  Ogelthorpe  besought 
Parliament  to  interfere  for  imprisoned 
English  debtors.  He  secured  the  release 
of  many,  and  sent  them  to  America. 

1728.  Sir  William  Keith  suggested 
extending  by  act  of  Parliament  the  duties 
upon  parchments  to  America.  The 
effort  was  prevented  by  Sir  Robert 
Walpole. 

1728.  The  Log  College  was  founded 
at  Neshaminy,  Penn.,  by  William  Ten- 
nent  from  Ireland,  the  father  of  William 
and  Gilbert  Tennent,  for  the  education 
of  the  Presbyterian  ministry. 

1728.  Vitus  Behring  was  sent  out 
by  the  Russian  government  into  the  seas 
which  border  upon  the  northeast  coast  of 
Siberia.  In  this  trip  he  discovered  the 
strait  which  bears  his  name,  though  it  is 
not  known  that  he  sailed  through  it. 
This  was  his  second  voyage  of  explora- 
tion, his  first  not  being  in  those  waters. 

1728.  The  great  Dismal  Swamp  was 
for  the  first  time  accurately  surveyed  by 
Col.  William  Byrd.  It  lies  partly  in 
Virginia,  and  partly  in  North  Carolina. 


THE  MATURING  FORCES. 


263 


A  great  deal  of  lumber  is  taken  from  the 
swamp.  A  canal  and  roads  run  through 
it  in  several  directions. 

1728.  Duel  on  Boston  Common.  A 
duel  was  fought  under  the  "  old  elm  "  on 
Boston  Common  by  two  young  men 
named  Woodbridge  and  Phillips.  They 
met  alone  in  the  night,  and  used  swords 
in  their  deadly  encounter.  Woodbridge 
was  killed,  and  Phillips  immediately  fled 
to  France.  The  affair  caused  a  great 
excitement,  and  led  to  a  new  law  against 
duelling. 

1728.  The  most   active  known  vol- 
cano in  the  world  is  Sangay,  lying  south- 
east  of    Quito.     It   is   about    seventeen 
thousand  feet  high,  and  has  been  in  al- 
most  constant   eruption   since  this  date. 
Its  roar  has  been  heard  three  hundred  and 
forty-eight   geographical  miles.       Every 
fifteen  minutes  it  sends  out  a  vast  amount 
of  fiery  scoriae. 

1729.  Jan.  23.     Berkeley  in  Amer- 
ica.   George  Berkeley,  Dean  of  Derry  in 
Ireland,  afterward  Bishop  of  Cloyne,  ar- 
rived from  England  at  Newport,  R.  I., 
in  pursuance  of  his  plans  for  promoting 
education  and  Christian  labor.     He  had 
the    idea    of    founding    a    university   in 
America   for   the    general  good    of  the 
Anglican  church,  and  for  the  conversion 
of  the  natives  by  training  teachers  to  go 
among  them.     He  obtained  a  promise  of 
£20,000  from  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  prime 
minister  of  George  I.     This  money  was 
diverted  to  other  objects  by  the  influence 
of  other  people.     Berkeley  labored  as  a 
pastor  among  the  people  at  Newport,  but 
kept  the  idea  of  his  college  steadily  in 
view.     Waiting  against  hope,  he  at  last 
received  advice  from  Walpole  through  a 
friend,    which    convinced    him    that   he 
could  no  longer  rely  upon  the  old  expec- 
tations.    He  therefore  returned  to   Eng- 


264 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


land.  He  built  a  house  which  is  still 
standing  near  Newport,  and  the  rocks  in 
whose  retreat  he  is  said  to  have  composed 
"  The  Minute  Philosopher,"  are  now 
known  as  Berkeley's  Rocks.  He  left  his 
farm  and  a  library  of  eight  hundred  and 
eighty  volumes  to  Yale  College. 

1729.  The  proprietors  of  Carolina 
sold  their  right  in  the  province  to  the 
English  government  for  £8,000.  North 
and  South  Carolina  were  now  separated, 
and  continued  to  be  royal  provinces  till 
the  Revolution. 

1729.  Independence  Hall,  in  Phila- 
delphia, which  served  till  the  Revolution 
as  a  State  House,  was  also  begun  this 
year. 

1729.      The    Old    South    Church   in 

Boston  was  built.     It  was  preceded  'by  a 

cedar  wood  church,  which 

1729.      Balloons 

invented  by  Gus-  was  built  in  1670.  Thus  it 
proved  that  two  of  the  most 
important  buildings  in  the  Revolution 
were  built  the  same  year. 

1729.  The  Natchez  Indians  rose  and 
massacred  the  French  at  Rosalie,  on  the 
present  site  of  Natchez.  This  created 
the  hostility  which  resulted  in  the  final 
extinction  of  the  Natchez  tribe. 

1729.  Six  thousand  Irish  emigrants 
arrived  this  year,  and  dispersed  through 
the  colonies,  principally  Maryland  and 
Virginia.  During  the  next  ten  years  a 
large  number  of  Irish,  Scotch  and  Quaker 
families  entered  the  Shenandoah  and 
Monongahela  valleys. 

1729.  The  yellow  fever  made  its  first 
appearance  in  New  Granada,   S.  A.,  at 
Cartagena. 

1730.  The    Natchez    Indians    were 
destroyed   by   the  French   in    retaliation 
for  the  massacre  of  the  colony  at  Rosalie 
a  few  months  before. 

1730.     A  great   earthquake  in  Chili 


destroyed  all    the  cities  and   villages  be- 
tween Concepcion  and  Coquimbo. 

1730.  April.    Rum  Among  Indians. 
«  The  Chieffs   of  ye   Delaware  at  Alle- 
gaening  on  the  main  road  "  sent  a  com- 
munication to  Gov.  Thomas  at  Philadel- 
phia, stating  that  two  or  three  recent  bar- 
barities upon  white  men  had  been  caused 
by  rum  which  had  been  brought  to  the 
Indians,  and  praying    that   the    business 
might  be  suppressed. 

1731.  A  rebellion  took  place  in  Par- 
aguay under  Antiquera,  but  it  was  soon 
crushed  by  the  government.     It  ended  in 
the    flight,    capture    and  death  of  Anti- 
quera.     Another   unsuccessful     attempt 
was  made  in  1734. 

1731.  "  Dr.  Bray's  Associates  "  were 
organized  in  England  to  promote  the  in- 
struction of  negro  children  in  the  South- 
ern colonies  of  North  America. 

1731.  The  Reflecting  Quadrant,  in- 
vented by  Thomas  Godfrey  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, began  to  be  used  this  year.  It 
was  issued  in  England  under  Hadley,  by 
whose  name  it  is  wrongly  known. 

1731.  First  Subscription  Library. 
A  public  library  scheme  was  set  on  foot 
by  Benjamin  Franklin  at  Philadelphia. 
He  obtained  fifty  subscribers  at  forty 
shillings  each,  to  the  original  stock.  They 
also  agreed  to  pay  ten  shillings  annually 
for  fifty  years. 

1731.  Fear  of  American  Manufac- 
turers. The  House  of  Commons  directed 
the  Board  of  Trade  to  make  report  with 
respect  to  the  trade  and  manufactures 
carried  on  in  the  colonies  "  detrimental 
to  the  trade,  navigations  and  manufac- 
tures of-  Great  Britain."  In  the  report 
subsequently  given,  express  mention  was 
made  of  the  paper  mill  in  Massachusetts, 
which  it  was  "  feared  would  interfere 
with  the  profit  made  by  the  British  mer- 


1693-1743.] 

chants  on  foreign  paper  sent  thither." 
The  very  general  manufacture  of  shoes 
also  frightened  the  English.  A  great 
number  of  itinerant  shoemakers  went 
from  house  to  house  and  made  such  boots 
and  shoes  as  were  needed  by  a  family  for 
a  long  time.  This  was  a  custom  which 
in  some  sections  has  continued  nearly 
down  to  the  present  day.  By  such 
things  did  English  merchants  fear  that 
their  handsome  pi'ofits  would  be  cut  off. 

1731.  The  first  newspaper  in  any  of 
the   present    English  American  colonies, 
was   issued    at    Barbadoes     by    Samuel 
Keimer,  and  was  named  "  The  Barba- 
does Gazette." 

1732.  The  first  newspaper  in  Caro- 
lina, named  "The   South   Carolina   Ga- 
zette," was  issued  at  Charleston. 

1732.  The  first  newspaper  in  Rhode 
Island,  named  "  The  Rhode  Island  Ga- 
zette," was  issued  at  Newport  by  James 
Franklin.  His  was  the  first  printing 
press  in  Newport. 

1732.  "  Poor  Richard's  Almanac  " 
was  issued  for  the  first  time  by  Benjamin 
Franklin  under  the  name  of  Richard 
Saunders.  It  obtained  a  wide  circulation 
through  its  well  known  wise  sayings  and 
good  advice.  Its  maxims  were  copied 
and  translated  in  other  languages. 

1732.  June  9.  Georgia.  James  Ed- 
ward Ogelthorpe  and  twenty  other 
trustees  received  a  charter  for  the  terri- 
tory between  the  Savannah  and  Alta- 
maha  Rivers,  to  be  called  Georgia.  The 
charter  was  to  run  twenty-one  years.  The 
object  of  the  colony  was  to  provide  a 
place  for  poor  debtors  in  English  prisons, 
many  of  whom  were  very  worthy  men, 
and  willing  to  work.  The  plan  met 
with  considerable  favor.  The  trustees 
were  forbidden  by  their  patent  to  take 
any  land  or  compensation  for  themselves, 


THE  MATURING  FORCES. 


265 


whatever.  The  enterprise  was  to  be 
sustained  at  first  by  charity  in  providing 
passage  for  those  who  were  willing  to 
go.  It  was  also  intended  to  make 
Georgia  chiefly  a  silk  and  vine  growing 
colony. 

1732.  The  yellow  fever  visited  some 
portion  of  the  West  Indies  almost  every 
year  after  this. 

1732.  Hat  Act.  Parliament  decreed 
that  no  hat  should  be  exported  from  the 
English  American  colonies,  which  had 
already  begun  to  send  these  goods  in 
large  quantities  to  foreign  countries.  The 
same  act  forbade  them  to  be  carried  from 
one  province  to  another.  This  and  sim- 
ilar laws  were  steps  in  the  process  of 
alienation. 

1732.  Early   Modern    Missionaries. 
Two  men  named  Dober  and  Nitschman, 
set  out  from  Denmark  for   St.   Thomas, 
in  the  West  Indies,  having  been  told  by  a 
negro  that  a  sister  of  his  and  others  upon 
that  island  were  longing  to  have  religious 
instruction.     The    two  missionaries    had 
but  six  dollars  each  in  their  pockets  when 
they  started.     They  reached  St.  Thomas, 
began  labor,  and  their  mission   was  en- 
tirely successful. 

1733.  Feb.  12.     First  Colony  Ever 
Founded    by    Philanthropists.      Ogel- 
thorpe   and  thirty-five   families   founded 
Savannah,    Ga.     This  colony  had  been 
selected    with   great    care    from  debtors 
who    were    honest    and    moral.     They 
had  arrived  in  Carolina   in  Januai'y,  and 
had  received    much    attention   from    the 
people    of   that    province.      Ogelthorpe 
in     the    meantime    went  into  the    new 
region,  and    selected    a    proper    site    for' 
the  colony.     The    men    of    South    Car- 
olina helped  in  erecting  the  first  buildings. 
Mulberry  trees  were  planted  at  once. 

1733.     Negro    Slavery    in    Georgia. 


266 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


The  trustees  passed  an  act  excluding 
slavery  from  Georgia,  because  it  would 
endanger  a  border  province.  Another 
reason  was  found  in  the  fact  that  the  in- 
habitants being  poor  must  start  upon  a 
small  scale,  and  therefore  could  not  sup- 
port slaves.  These  reasons  were  annulled 
in  the  after  history  of  the  colony.  The 
presence  of  a  slave-holding  province  on 
the  north  made  it  impossible  to  exclude 
slavery  perpetually. 

1733.  Bum  in  Georgia.  The  trus- 
tees also  excluded  ardent  spirits.  They 
however  established  ale-houses  and  pro- 
vided for  wines  and  for  brewing  beer, 
because  these  drinks  would  be  more 
wholesome  and  refreshing  to  the  people. 
It  was  intended  to  make  a  temperance 
colony  of  Georgia.  But  violations  of 
this  occurred  even  among  the  officers  of 
the  colony.  There  were  constant  eva- 
sions of  the  law  till  its  repeal  took  place 
in  1742. 

1733.  First  Jewish  Synagogue. 
Forty  Jews  soon  arrived  in  Georgia  and 
erected  a  synagogue,  the  first  on  this 
continent.  These  Jews  were  sent  out  by 
three  commissioners  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed to  collect  money.  This  action 
caused  great  excitement  among  the  trus- 
tees, who  wrote  to  Ogelthorpe  to  have 
the  Jews  removed  from  the  colony  at 
once.  Benefactions  in  England  had 
ceased,  and  prejudice  had  been  aroused 
against  the  colony  by  the  presence  of  the 
Jews  in  Savannah.  But  Ogelthorpe 
wrote  back  excellent  accounts  of  their 
behavior,  and  saw  at  once  that  they  were 
a  great  addition  to  the  working  force  of 
the  province.  They  were  therefore  not 
molested. 

1733.  A  complaint  of  Massachusetts 
against  encroachments  upon  popular 
power,  was  "  rebuked  as  a  high  insult 


tending  to  shake   off  the  dependence  of 
the  colony  upon  the  kingdom." 

1733.  A  treaty  was  held  at  Phila- 
delphia with  the  "  Six  Nations,"  to  induce 
them  to  resist  the  operations  of  the 
French  on  the  upper  Ohio  and  Alle- 
gheny. 

1733.  May  21.  A  treaty  with  the 
Creek  Indians  was  concluded  by  Ogel- 
thorpe, by  the  terms  of  which  mutual 
trade  was  to  be  carried  on.  The  rela- 
tions of  Ogelthorpe  to  the  Indians  were 
commendable,  and  rank  with  those  sus- 
tained to  the  natives  by  William  Penn 
and  Roger  Williams.  The  treaty  was 
held  under  four  pine  trees  on  the  banks  of 
the  Yamacraw. 

1733.  July  30.  First  Masonic  Grand 
Lodge.  The  first  grand  lodge  in  the 
United  States  was  constituted  at  Boston 
for  New  England,  and  was  named  St. 
John's  Grand  Lodge.  Henry  Price  of 
Boston  had  been  commissioned  to  do  this 
by  Anthony,  Lord  Viscount  Montague* 
grand  master  of  England. 

1733.  A  play-house  was  in  existence 
in  New  York,  though  it  is  not  known 
that  performances  were  given  in  it. 

1733.  The  first  paper  money  in 
Maryland  was  issued,  and  proved  a  great 
injury  to  the  province. 

1733.  St.  Croix,  one  of  the  Leeward 
Islands,  was  sold  to   the  Danes  by   the 
French.     It  has  been  twice  taken  by  the 
English,  and    twice  returned.     With  St. 
Thomas  and  St.  John   it  constitutes  the 
only  Danish  possessions  in  America. 

1734.  March.      Salzburgers.       An 
"  evangelical    community  "  of   Lutheran 
Salzburgers  settled  the  village  of  Eben- 
ezer,  Ga.     They  had  fled  from  the  long 
persecution  which  they  had  experienced 
in  their  own  country,  and  were   true  re- 
ligious pilgrims.     The  first  step  toward 


1693-1743.] 

their  coming  had  been  taken  by  the 
"  London  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
Christian  Knowledge"  in  finding  out 
whether  they  would  be  willing  to  emi- 
grate to  America.  Ogelthorpe  received 
them  gladly,  and  aided  them  in  preparing 
their  settlement.  Other  Salzburgers 
came  at  a  later  date. 

1734.  Eight  pounds  of  silk  cocoons 
raised  in  Georgia  were  taken  to  England 
by  Gov.  Ogelthorpe.  A  trunk  full  was 
afterward  carried.  The  silk  was  woven 
and  shown  to  Queen  Caroline,  who  was 
so  much  pleased  with  it  that  she  selected 
a  pattern  from  which  a  court  dress  was 
made.  She  appeared  in  this  dress  at  a 
levee  upon  her  next  birthday.  Silk  cul- 
ture, however,  was  not  a  complete  success 
in  the  colony. 

1734.  A  colony  of  Schwenckfelders 
came  to  Pennsylvania.  They  denied  the 
efficacy  of  the  Bible. 

1734.  The  old  State  House,  after- 
ward Independence  Hall  in  Philadelphia, 
begun  in  1729,  was  completed. 

1734.  Sugar  Act.  Parliament  passed 
an  act  for  thirty  years  "  for  the  better  se- 
curing the  trade  of  His  Majesty's  sugar 
colonies  in  America."  Duties  were  laid 
so  high  as  to  practically  exclude  sugar 
and  molasses  from  entering  English 
American  ports. 

1734.  Nov.  17.  Free  Press  in  New 
York.  John  Peter  Zenger,  printer  of 
the  New  York  Weekly  Journal,  which 
defended  popular  rights  against  the 
demands  of  the  crown,  was  acquitted 
after  imprisonment  and  trial,  amid  the 
rejoicing  of  the  colonies.  The  case 
grew  out  of  the  demand  made  by  the 
new  governor  of  the  province  for  salary 
before  he  arrived  in  America.  Zenger 
resisted  the  demand  with  the  above  result. 
The  spirit  of  liberty  was  moving  through 


THE  MATURING  FORCES. 


267 


all  the  colonies  in  opposition  to  the  at- 
tempted restrictions  of  Parliament.  The 
trial  was  long  and  able.  Andrew  Ham- 
ilton, an  eminent  lawyer  from  Philadel- 
phia, was  counsel  for  Zenger. 

1735.  First  Moravian  Colony.     Tea 
Moravian  families  settled  upon  the  Ogee- 
chee,  in  Georgia.     This  colony,  the  first 
in  America,  grew  out   of  the  efforts    of 
Count  Zinzendorf  to  promote  their  in- 
terests.    They  hoped  to   find  a  place  in 
which  they  could    freely  carry   out  their 
ideas.      Moravian     missions     were    also- 
founded  in  Greenland  this  year. 

1736.  January.     A  colony  of  Scotch 
Highlanders  settled    at   New    Inverness, 
Ga.     These  people  were  among  the  best 
and  hardiest  of  the   section   from    which 
they  came. 

1736.  The  first  newspaper  in  Vir- 
ginia, named  "The  Virginia  Gazette,'* 
was  issued  at  Williamsburg,  where  the 
first  printing  press  in  the  colony  had  been 
set  up  by  William  Parks 

1736.  February.  John  Wesley  and 
his  brother  Charles  came  to  Georgia  in  a 
company  of  colonists.  The  former  be- 
came the  parish  minister  of  Savannaru 
Charles  was  secretary  of  Indian  affairs,, 
and  chaplain  to  the  governor.  An  alien- 
ation soon  occurred  between  the  two,  but 
they  were  afterward  reconciled.  Charles- 
went  to  England  soon,  and  never  came 
back,  on  account  of  poor  health.  More 
Moravians  and  Salzburgers  came  upon 
this  voyage.  It  is  related  that  a  fearful 
storm  came  upon  the  vessel  and  nearly 
carried  it  to  the  bottom.  All  were  in 
great  terror,  except  the  Moravians.  The 
storm  broke  upon  them  on  Sunday,  just  at 
the  time  of  service.  A  sudden  burst  of  the 
tempest  made  the  rest  cry  out  in  anguish. 
But  the  Moravians  continued  to  sing  the 
hymn  which  they  had  begun,  and  con- 


268 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


ducted  their  worship  to  the  end  very 
calmly.  After  the  storm  was  over,  John 
Wesley  said  to  one  of  the  Moravians: 
"  Were  you  not  afraid  ?  "  "I  thank 
God,  no,"  was  the  reply.  « But  were 
not  your  women  and  children  afraid  ?" 
«'  Our  women  and  children  are  not  afraid 
to  die,"  was  the  sublime  response. 

1736.  John  Wesley's  Sunday  School. 
John  Wesley  established  a  school  of 
about  forty  children  in  the  parish  of 
Christ  Church,  Savannah.  He  put  it  in 
charge  of  a  Mr.  Delamotte,  but  met  the 
school  himself  every  Sunday  evening, 
heard  the  catechism,  questioned  them 
upon  the  sermon,  and  taught  them  the 
Bible.  This  preceded  all  modern  Sun- 
day schools,  by  more  than  half  a  century. 

1736.  The  first  steam  engine  built  in 
America  was  made  this  year  after  the 
Newcomen  type,  for  the  copper  mines  of 
Mr.  Schuyler,  in  New  Jersey. 

1736.  The    first    bell    foundry    in 
America  was  established  at  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  by  Abel  Parmalee,  who  petitioned 
the  colony  in  vain  for  the  monopoly  of 
the  business  for  twenty  years. 

1737.  Paper   hangings   were  for  the 
first  time  advertised  and  sold  in  America. 

1737.  Sept.  19.  Great  Indian  Walk. 
By  a  treaty  arranged  with  the  Delaware 
Indians,  the  proprietary  government  of 
Pennsylvania  was  to  have  as  much  land 
from  them  in  the  settlement  of  a  dispute 
as  should  be  determined  by  a  walk  of  a 
day  and  a  half.  Edward  Marshall, 
James  Yeates  and  Solomon  Jennings, 
were  selected  for  the.  walk.  Jennings 
gave  out  upon  the  way,  and  was  in  poor 
health  till  his  death  in  a  few  years. 
Yeates  fell  the  second  morning  in  a  faint- 
ing spell,  and  died  in  three  days.  Mar- 
shall kept  on,  and  at  noon  of  the  second 
day  had  walked  about  eighty-six  miles. 


A  line  was  run  obliquely  to  the  Delaware 
and  gave  great  offence  to  the  Indians, 
who  contended  that  it  should  be  run  in 
the  most  direct  way  from  the  end  of  the 
walk.  The  affair  gave  rise  to  much 
trouble,  and  in  after  years,  to  bloodshed. 
The  Indians  always  claimed  that  they 
had  been  cheated  by  the  way  in  which 
the  walk  had  been  conducted.  Marshall 
lived  to  be  ninety  years  of  age. 

1738.  May  7.  George  Whitefield 
arrived  at  Savannah  in  order  to  under- 
take religious  labor  in  the  new  settle- 
ments. He  had  already  caused  great 
wonder  in  England  by  his  oratorical 
gifts. 

1738.  An  insurrection  took  place 
among  the  slaves  near  Charleston,  S.  C. 
Arms  were  procured,  and  a  number  of 
whites  were  killed.  They  were  finally 
overcome  by  the  citizens.  This  trouble 
was  instigated  by  the  Spanish  of  St. 
Augustine,  who  had  been  planning  to 
destroy  the  Southern  colonies.  The 
slaves  marched  toward  Charleston,  de- 
stroying property  and  killing  those  who 
opposed  them.  At  last  they  stopped  to 
drink,  and  sing  and  dance,  and  while  at 
their  revelry  were  surrounded  by  the 
aroused  planters,  and  subdued. 

1738.  Benjamin  Franklin  advertised 
the  following  clothes  as  having  been 
stolen  from  him,  viz:  "Broadcloth 
breeches  lined  with  leather,  sagathee  coat 
lined  with  silk,  and  fine  homespun  linen 
shirts." 

1738.  Removal  of  Moravians.  A 
part  of  the  Moravians  of  Georgia  on  ac- 
count of  the  troubles  with  the  Spanish, 
which  put  them  under  the  necessity  of 
bearing  arms,  a  thing  excluded  by  the 
conditions  of  their  settlement  in  Georgia, 
left,  and  went  to  Pennsylvania.  The  rest 
followed  in  a  year  or  two. 


1693-1743.] 

1740.      The    first    type    foundry    in 

America  was  established  at  Germantown, 
Penn.,  by  Christopher  Sower,  who  cast 
the  type  of  the  German  Bible  which  he 
issued  a  few  years  later. 

1740.  A  great  fire  raged  i«  the  city 
of  Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  £20,000  were 
appropriated  by  Parliament  for  its  relief. 

1740.  The  yellow  fever  made  its 
first  recorded  appearance  in  Ecuador  at 
Guayaquil. 

1740.  A  law  defining  slavery  was 
passed  for  the  first  time  in  South  Caro- 
lina, though  negroes  were  brought  into 
the  province  by  Sir  John  Yeamans  in 
1670. 

1740.  George  Whitefield  labored 
through  Georgia,  Pennsylvania,  Virginia, 
and  New  England. 

1740.  Whitefield's  Bethesda  Orphan- 
age. A  house  for  orphans  was  opened 
by  George  Whitefield  in  Georgia.  At 
1740.  The  Gen-  first  he  hired  a  building,  but 
afterward  moved  into  a 
house  built  for  his  purpose. 
s^rted  tnEng-  'p^jg  jan  was  something 

land  by  Ed-ward 

Cave.  upon  which  Whitefield  set 

his  heart  very  strongly.  He  had  raised 
some  money  for  it  in  England,  and  pro- 
vided for  a  certain  revenue  in  America. 
In  about  a  year  he  had  sixty-eight  orphans 
under  the  care  of  his  institution.  The 
work  went  on  for  a  while,  but  did  not 
become  a  permanent  establishment. 

1740.  "Great  Awakening."  The 
labors  of  Whitefield  in  New  England  be- 
gan the  "great  awakening"  which  swept 
through  large  sections  with  great  power. 
His  preaching  was  attended  by  crowds 
over  which  he  had  a  most  wonderful 
influence. 

1740.  A  Sunday  school  was  estab- 
lished among  the  Seventh  Day  Dunkers 
at  Ephrata,  Penh.,  by  Ludwig  Hoecker. 


tlematfs  Maga- 
zine, the  oldest 
in  the  -world, 


THE  MATURING  FORCES.  269 

The  school  was  in  existence  about  thirty 
years. 

1740.  St.  Augustine  was   blockaded 
by   a   force    under    Gov.    Ogelthorpe    of 
Georgia.     He  had  a  land  force  of  two 
thousand  men,  but  was  obliged  to  retire 
at  last   because  his  ships  could  not  get 
near  enough  to  join  in  the  siege. 

1741.  The     Braganza,    a    diamond 
weighing  1680  carats,  was  found  in  Brazil 
and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  royal 
house  of  Portugal. 

1741.  A  brilliant  Aurora  was  visible 
in  the  New  England  colonies.  The 
earth  was  completely  illuminated  by  the 
apparent  flame  in  the  heavens.  Rain 
fell  in  the  night  and  looked  while  falling 
like  drops  of  blood.  This  phenomenon 
caused  great  fear  while  it  lasted. 

1741.  The  first  schism  in  the  Pres- 
byterian church  in  America  took  place 
in  the  form  of  a  "  Protestation"  in  regard 
to  the  licensure  of  candidates  imperfectly 
educated.  It  occurred  in  the  synod  of 
Philadelphia. 

1741.  Universalism  was  preached 
in  America  for  the  first  time  by  Dr. 
George  de  Benneville. 

1741.  The  first  literary  magazine 
in  the  country  was  published  by  Ben- 
jamin Franklin,  and  named  the  "  General 
Magazine  and  Historical  Chronicle."  It 
died  in  six  months. 

1741.  Bethlehem,  Penn.,  was  settled 
by  Moravians. 

1741.  Copper  money  was  for  the 
first  time  coined  in  Cuba. 

1741.  Vitus  Behring  made  his  third 
and  last  voyage  to  explore  the  waters  be- 
tween America  and  Kamschatka,  and 
determine  the  separation  between  them. 
The  expedition  had  been  ten  years  in 
preparation,  with  great  labor  to  the 
Siberians.  Behring  was  sick  most  of  the 


270 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


time  during  the  trip,  and  was  too  much 
broken  down  to  enter  upon  it.  It  was 
therefore  a  failure  for  the  most  part,  al- 
though the  American  coast  was  reached, 
and  a  few  landed.  No  investigations 
were  made.  Behring  finally  died  on  one 
of  the  Aleutian  Islands,  on  which  they 
were  obliged  to  stop  for  the  winter.  He 
-was  a  Dane  of  certain  very  excellent 
•qualities.  His  last  voyage  established  the 
nearness  of  the  two  continents.  He 
named  Mt.  St.  Elias  which  rose  before 
the  sight  crowned  with  snow. 

THE  XEGRO  PLOT. 

1741.  New  York  City  was  convulsed 
this  year  by  an  excitement  which  in  its 
results  was  as  fearful  as  the  witchcraft 
excitement  of  Massachusetts.  A  num- 
ber of  circumstances  caused  a  few  per- 
sons to  suspect  that  a  plot  nad  been  laid 
by  some  negroes  to  rise  and  kill  the 
whites.  The  matter  -originated  in  the 
robbery  of  a  shop  by  negroes.  The 
governor's  house  and  barracks  were 
burned.  A  week  afterward  another  fire 
was  discovered,  and  on  the  following 
week  another  one.  Several  fires  broke 
out  within  two  days  of  the  next  week. 
Suddenly  suspicion  fell  upon  some  Span- 
ish negroes  lately  brought  to  the  colony. 
The  fear  of  an  insurrection  at  once  spread 
like  wild  fire.  Many  negroes  were  ar- 
rested and  brought  forward  for  trial. 
The  excitement  grew  by  the  testimony 
of  several  witnesses,  among  them  a  girl 
named  Mary  Burton,  fifteen  years  of 
age.  The  accused  were  allowed  no 
counsel,  and  their  bearing  beneath  the 
increasing  weight  of  false  evidence,  added 
to  the  popular  tumult.  One  hundred 
and  fifty  negroes  were  imprisoned;  one 
hundred  were  convicted  of  being  conspir- 
ators; twelve  were  burned;  eighteen 


were  hanged.  Four  white  persons 
were  hanged.  Twelve  negroes  were 
transported  to  be  sold  as  slaves.  The 
commotion  at  one  time  was  awful.  At 
last  a  reaction  set  in,  and  in  a  few  months 
the  revulsion  was  complete.  It  has  been 
judged  since,  that  if  several  negroes  did  at 
the  time  commit  some  misdeeds,  no  evi- 
dence of  a  conspiracy  was  really  found 
to  exist. 

1742.  Faneuil  Hall,  Boston,  the 
"  Cradle  of  American  Liberty,"  was 
built  and  given  to  the  town  by  Peter 
Faneuil,  a  Huguenot  merchant.  It  was 
built  as  a  market,  but  contained  the  hall, 
which,  after  rebuilding  as  a  consequence 
of  the  fire  in  1760,  became  so  famous. 
This,  and  the  Old  South  Church,  were 
the  two  sacred  spots  of  Revolutionary 
days  in  Boston. 

1742.  Franklin  Stoves.  An  open 
iron  fireplace  was  invented  by  Benjamin 
Franklin,  and  has  since  been  known  by 
his  name.  Its  use  has  been  very  exten- 
sive down  to  the  present  time.  At  th? 
first  a  great  argument  for  its  use  wai 
the  saving  of  fuel  and  the  better  warm- 
ing of  the  room,  than  by  the  old  brick 
fireplace.  Franklin  issued  a  little  pamph- 
let explaining  the  principles  of  the 
stove.  A  friend  of  his  began  making" 
the  castings,  and  the  trade  in  them  grew 
daily.  Franklin  refused  an  offered  pat- 
ent upon  it,  affirming  that  as  we  are  bene- 
fited by  the  inventions  of  others,  we 
ought  to  dedicate  ours  to  the  general 
good.  A  man  patented  it  in  England, 
and  made  considerable  money  upon  it. 

1742.  First  Cotton  Gin.  A  cotton 
gin  was  invented  by  M.  Debreuil,  a 
French  planter  of  Louisiana,  and  entered 
into  use.  Cotton  was  previously  separated 
from  the  seed  by  hand,  which  was  a  very 


1693-1743.] 

slow   process.      The    new    gin   did   not 
prove  very  efficient. 

1742.  July.    The  Bloody  Marsh.    A 
Spanish   force  of  thirty -six   vessels   and 
three  thousand  men  arrived  at  St.  Simons, 
Ga.,   for   the   invasion   of    the    country. 
They  were  vigorously  resisted,  but  suc- 
ceeded in  forcing   their  way  upon  shore 
at  last,  and  set  out  into  the  interior.     A 
severe  battle  occurred  at  what  has  since 
been    known  as  the    "  Bloody    Marsh," 
but  the  Spaniards  were  almost  immedi- 
ately deceived  by  a  stratagem  in  regard 
to  the  number  of  troops    around   them, 
and  becoming  frightened,  took  to  their 
ships  and  sailed  away. 

1743.  Gov.  Ogelthorpe,  of  Georgia, 
retired  from  his  office  this  year,  and  re- 
turned to    England,    after   a   wise     and 
effective    administration    in    establishing 
that  province.    Great  honor  is  due  him  for 
having  founded  a  philanthropic    colony, 
and  for  having  sustained  it  as  well  as  he 
did.     Between    the    entanglements  with 
South    Carolina   on   the    one   hand,  and 
with  the   Spaniards  of   Florida    on   the 
other,  he  needed  all  skill  in  civil  and  mil- 
itary affairs.     He  died  after  the  Revolu- 
tion, at  the   age  of    ninety    years.     No 


THE  MATURING  FORCES. 


271 


colonial  governor  excelled  him  in  rare 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart. 

1743.  Codrington  College,  in  Barba- 
does,  W.  I.,  was  established. 

1743.  The  first  Bible  printed  in 
America  for  any  European  population, 
was  a  copy  of  Luther's  German  Bible 
which  was  printed  at  Germantown,Penn., 
by  Christopher  Sower,  who  had  estab- 
lished the  type  foundry  located  at  that 
place. 

1743.  David  Brainerd,  the  mission- 
ary, began  labor  among  the  Indians  at  a 
village  between  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  and 
Albany,  N.  Y.  He  worked  afterward 
among  the  Delawares,  and  among  the 
Indians  of  New  Jersey.  His  labors 
were  very  effective,  and  he  has  been  cel- 
ebrated for  his  untiring  devotion  to  his 
object.  He  died  in  1747. 

1743.  The  American  Philosophical 
Society  was  founded  largely  through  the 
efforts  of  Dr.  Franklin,  who  was  greatly 
troubled  because  the  means  for  diffusing 
knowledge  were  no  more  highly  devel- 
oped in  Philadelphia.  He  was  constantly 
devising  ways  for  benefiting  the  commu- 
nity, and  of  stirring  the  people  up  to  a 
sense  of  their  own  needs. 


SECTION  XII. 


TJETJE7 


*\A  IFFERENCES  between  the  two 
I  V  Sreat  jealous  nations  busy  col- 
I  f  onizing  North  America,  now  began 
^/y  to  multiply.  The  strength  of  each 
in  the  new  settlements  was  increasing 
steadily.  Rival  projects  for  securing  the 
territory  along  the  Ohio  and  its  tributa- 
ries, were  put  into  operation.  The  strife 
for  the  supremacy  in  North  America  was 
at  hand.  It  was  speedily  decided,  and 
England  remained  the  sole  power  to 
sway  the  destinies  of  these  great  unde- 
veloped regions.  She  little  knew  that 
the  effort  of  acquiring  the  sovereignty 
brought  into  play  new  forces  which  were 
to  take  the  rule  from  her  hands  into  their 
own.  But  so  it 'was.  The  training  in 
warfare  with  the  Indians,  the  constant 
burdens  of  raising  troops  and  money, 
toughened  the  muscle  of  the  colonies  to 
an  endurance  which  was  exhibited  in  the 
long  and  trying  Revolution.  The  pres- 
ent difficulties  also  presented  the  occasion 
for.  the  agitation  of  the  principles  which 
had  been  insisted  upon  in  minor  ways, 
since  the  settlement  of  the  country.  They 
gave  the  training,  and  brought  the  crisis. 


1744.     King  George's  war  began  be- 
tween   England    and    France,'  and  once 

272 


more  set  the  American  colonies  into  com- 
motion. 

1744.  A    convention    was    held    at 
Lancaster,  Penn.,  between   the   English 
and  the  Iroquois,  in  order  to  strengthen 
the   existing   alliance,   and    prevent   the 
French  from  gaining  influence  with  the 
latter.     Two  hundred  and  fifty  Iroquois 
chiefs  and  warriors  were  present.     The 
result  was  apparently  good. 

CAPTURE  OF  LOV1SBVRQ. 

1745.  June    17.       Louisburg,    the 
"  Gibraltar  of  America  "    in  its  time,  fell 
before  the  combined  English  and  colo- 
nial  forces,   after  a  siege   of   about  two 
months.     The  fortifications  of  this  place 
were  twenty-five  years   in   construction, 
and  cost  30,000,000  livres.     It   was   the 
strongest  place  on   the   continent.     The 
colonial  troops  were  raised   entirely   by 
New  England.     Massachusetts  furnished 
3,200   men,   Rhode    Island    300,    New 
Hampshire   350,   and    Connecticut    500. 
New  Jersey    and  Pennsylvania    reluct- 
antly sent  some  supplies,  and  the  assem- 
bly of   New  York   voted    .£3,000   after 
considerable    hesitation.       When     Gov. 
Clinton  of  New  York,  who  wished  his 
province  to  furnish  men  also,  found  that 


1744-1760.] 

it  would  not  be  done,  he  sent  off  some 
cannon  at  his  own  expense  to  aid  in  the 
siege.  The  plan  for  the  capture  of  this 
stronghold  originated  with  Gov.  Shirley 
of  Massachusetts,  who  naturally  did  all 
he  could  to  make  it  a  complete  success. 
The  New  England  colonies  responded 
freely,  because  they  felt  that  such  a  forti- 
fication near  their  eastern  border  would 
be  a  constant  menace.  Col.  William 
Pepperell  of  Kittery,  N.  H.,  was  appoint- 
ed to  command  the  colonial  forces.  It 
was  arranged  for  the  land  troops  to  be 
aided  by  the  English  fleet  under  Com- 
modore Warren,  from  the  West  Indies. 
The  best  possible  preparation  was  made, 
and  the  forces  were  sent  during  March 
and  the  first  of  April  to  Canso,  as  a  ren- 
dezvous. April  29  the  whole  fleet  sailed 
for  Cape  Breton.  The  object  of  the  ex- 
pedition had  been  kept  entirely  secret 
from  the  French,  and  their  first  knowl- 
edge of  hostile  intent  against  Louisburg, 
was  upon  seeing  the  English  fleet  in  the 
offing  on  the  morning  of  the  last  day  of 
April.  Everything  thus  far  had  served 
to  encourage  the  expedition,  though  the 
possibility  of  beating  down  the  strong 
walls  seemed  to  some,  very  small.  A 
landing  was  almost  immediately  accom- 
plished by  a  part  of  the  troops,  and  store- 
houses were  fired  near  the  shore.  The 
French  abandoned  the  water  battery  in 
terror,  and  possession  was  taken  of  it  the 
next  morning  by  Col.  Vaughan,  with  a 
small  force.  The  rest  of  the  troops  were 
now  landed,  and  within  seventeen  days 
three  batteries  were  erected  within  seven 
hundred  yards  of  the  city,  and  one  within 
two  hundred  and  fifty.  The  courage  of 
the  volunteers  of  the  fleet  was  strength- 
ened by  the  capture  of  the  Vigilant,  with 
six  hundred  prisoners,  sixty-four  guns, 
and  numerous  military  stores.  An  attack 

18 


THE  PREPARATORY  DISCIPLINE. 


was  now  made  upon  the  island  battery, 
which  it  was  very  desirable  to  take.  The 
English  were  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  172 
men  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners. 
Nearly  half  of  Pepperell's  men  were 
now  taken  sick,  and  the  ammunition  was 
getting  low.  Every  measure  was  taken 
to  make  the  supplies  do  their  best  serrice. 
The  New  York  assembly,  when  it  saw 
that  the  movement  was  likely  to  be  suc- 
cessful, voted  an  additional  £5,000.  Gov. 
Shirley  did  all  he  could  to  enlarge  the 
effective  supplies  of  the  expedition.  The 
fleet  at  last  got  possession  of  the  harbor, 
and  the  besieged  were  becoming  worn 
out.  Communications  were  completely 
cut  off,  and  the  English  forces  greatly 
outnumbered  the  garrison.  Gov.  Du- 
chambou,  foreseeing  the  inevitable  result, 
asked  for  a  capitulation,  which  was 
granted.  The  surrender  was  finally 
made  upon  the  day  afterward  rendered 
famous  by  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 
Over  four  thousand  regular  troops,  mili- 
tiamen and  inhabitants,  returned  to 
France.  A  large  amount  of  munitions 
of  war  and  provisions,  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  English.  The  English  had  lost 
130  men;  the  French  300.  The  result 
"filled  Europe  with  amazement,  and 
America  with  joy."  Gov.  Shirley  was 
transported  with  delight  at  the  success  of 
his  scheme.  Col.  Pepperell  was  after- 
ward knighted  for  his  achievement  in 
this  enterprise,  and  was  presented  with  a 
silver  table  from  London.  Men  fought 
at  Louisburg  who  thirty  years  afterward 
served  in  the  American  army  around 
Boston,  at  the  opening  of  the  Revolution. 


1745.  A  negro  conspiracy  was  dis- 
covered in  Jamaica,  W.  I.,  and  the  lead- 
ers were  severely  punished. 

1746.  The  Moravians  were  expelled 


274 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


from  New  York  and  made  their  way  to 
1746-1759.  Nazareth   and    Bethlehem^ 


oj  Spain  ana 

Portugal.  began  his  labor  among  the 

Indians,  and  continued  it  for  sixty  -two 
years  with  great  devotion.  He  prepared 
an  Onandaga  Grammar  and  Dictionary. 
1746.  The  College  of  New  Jersey 
was  founded  at  Elizabethtown  by  the 
"new  side"  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
It  was  afterward  removed  to  Newark, 
thence  to  Princeton,  and  is  now  known 
as  Princeton  College. 

1746.  An  earthquake  destroyed  the 
city  of  Lima  and  its  harbor  Callao,  in 
Peru.     The  shocks  were  very  violent  and 
frequent. 

1747.  Silk    in    Connecticut.      The 
first  coat  and  stockings  made  from  silk 
raised  in  New  England,  were  worn  by 
Gov.  Law  of  Connecticut.     The  culture 
of  silk  in   New    England  increased  for 
many  years. 

1747.  The  first  cook-book  issued  in 
America  was  published  at  Boston,  and 
was  entitled,  "  Directions  how  to  dress 
any  Common  Dish." 

1747.  November.  The  Boston  Mob. 
Commodore  Knowles  of  the  English 
squadron  in  Boston  Harbor,  impressed 
several  men  from  the  town,  and  caused 
great  excitement  among  the  people.  A 
mob  of  several  thousand  persons  gathered 
and  demanded  redress  from  the  governor 
and  general  court.  The  tide  of  feeling 
rose  so  high  through  two  or  three  days, 
that  the  men  were  finally  released,  for 
fear  of  the  consequences  if  it  were  not 
done.  The  agitation  was  at  once  quieted, 
and  the  town  seemed  as  usual.  The 
cause  of  the  people  had  triumphed  in  a 
little,  and  yet  a  significant  affair. 

1747.  Agricultural  questions  were 
written  upon  by  Jared  Eliot,  a  Connecti- 


cut minister.  His  essays  were  very  valu- 
able, and  were  the  .first  contributions 
made  to  this  department  in  America. 
But  no  spread  of  interest  took  place  in 
agricultural  pursuits  till  after  the  Revo- 
lution. 

1748.  October.  A  conflict  which 
had  been  impending  for  some  time  be- 
tween Gov.  Clinton  of  New  York  and 
the  assembly  of  that  province  in  regard 
to  the  royal  revenues,  was  precipitated 
by  English  influence  in  order  to  enforce 
the  royal  supremacy.  It  was  intended 
to  make  this  a  test  case.  The  struggle 
was  continued  for  a  time,  and  never  came 
to  any  clear  result. 

1748.  The  treaty  of  Aix  la  Chapelle 
ended  King  George's  war,  and  stipulated 
for  the  return  to  either  party,  of  prisoners 
and  property  taken  from  the  other.  By 
this  arrangement  Cape  Breton  and  Louis- 
burg  came  into  French  hands  again. 

FIRST  TELEGRAPHIC  ATTEMPT. 

1748.  Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin  trans- 
mitted shocks  across  the  Schuylkill  River, 
Penn.,  by  means  of  electrical  currents 
forced  through  wire.  The  fact  that  earth 
and  water  would  complete  an  electrical 
circuit,  had  then  only  been  observed  for  a 
year  or  two.  This  is  a  great  point  there- 
fore, in  the  struggle  to  obtain  the  modern 
telegraph. 

1748.  Seven  bags  of  cotton,  the  first 
exported  from  America,  were  shipped 
from  Charleston,  S.  C. 

1748.  The  first  muskets  made  m 
America  were  manufactured  by  Hugh 
Orr,  the  celebrated  machinist,  at  Bridge- 
water,  Mass.,  for  the  Massachusetts  Bay 
colony.  When  the  British  evacuated 
Boston  in  the  Revolution,  they  carried  off 
these  muskets  from  Castle  William,  Mr. 


1744-1760.] 

Orr  also  made  cannon  at  the  foundry  in 
Bridgewater. 

1748.  Peter  Kalm,  an  eminent  Swed- 
ish botanist,  arrived   at    Philadelphia  to 
make  a   tour   of  North   America  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Swedish  government. 
He  remained  three  years  and  made  large 
collections  of  plants.     After  his  return  he 
published  an  account  of  his  trip. 

1749.  The  Ohio  Land  Company  was 
organized    and   received  a  grant   of  five 
hundred  thousand  acres  of  land  beyond 
the  Alleghenies  between  the  Kanawha 
and   Monongahela  Rivers,  south   of  the 
Ohio.     One  hundred  families  were  to  be 
settled  and  a  fort  maintained,  as  the  con- 
ditions of  the  grant.     The  company  was 
originated  by  Thomas  Lee,  a   Virginia 
councillor,  and   was   formed   of  himself, 
Mr.  Hanbury,  a  London  merchant,  and 
twelve  persons  in  Maryland  and  Virginia. 
Lawrence    and   Augustine   Washington 
were      concerned     in     the     movement. 
Before    the    company    could  take    any 
active  steps  a  French  officer  visited  the 
region  and  buried  plates  of  lead  on  the 
banks  of  the   Ohio  River,  claiming  all 
the  land  from  the  water-shed  of  the  Alle- 
ghenies to  the  west  indefinitely,  on  the 
ground   of   the   explorations   of    Cham- 
plain,  Marquette,  LaSalle  and  others. 

1749.  June.  Halifax  Founded.  The 
first  permanent  English  colony  east  of 
the  Penobscot  was  formed  at  Chebucto 
Harbor,  Nova  Scotia,  and  was  named 
Halifax.  This  settlement  was  designed 
for  the  purpose  of  breaking  up  French 
influence,  and  holding  the  region  for 
England.  It  was  part  of  the  plan  for 
filling  up  Acadia  with  English  families. 
Twenty-five  hundred  persons  came  in 
under  the  special  inducements  held  out 
by  the  <;Lords  of  Trade  and  Plantations." 

1749.     "  A  stamp  duty  on  all   instru- 


THE  PREPARATORT  DISCIPLINE. 


275 


ments  used  in  legal  affairs,"  was  sug- 
gested by  William  Douglas  of  Boston, 
as  a  source  of  revenue  to  the  English 
crown. 

1749.  First  Girl's  School.  The  Mo- 
ravians opened  a  school  for  girls  at  Beth- 
lehem, Penn.  This  was  the  first  such 
school  of  higher  character  on  the  conti- 
nent. 

1749.  The  University  of  Philadel- 
phia was  founded  as  an  academy  for  the 
instruction  of  youth,  through  the  solicita- 
tion of  Dr.  Franklin. 

1749.  The  Queen  of  the  Creeks.    An 
attempt  was  made  by  a  half-breed  Indian 
woman,  whose  original  name  was  Mary 
Musgrove,  and  who    had    obtained  the 
acknowledgement  by  the  Creek  Indians 
of  her  pretended  rights  as  their  queen,  to 
secure  for  herself  the  province  of  Geor- 
gia.    She  was   at  the  time  the   wife  of 
Thomas  Bosomworth,  who  had  come  to 
this  country  as  a  minister  of  the   Church 
of  England,  but  had  turned  his  attention 
to    trading  among  the   Indians.      Mary 
Musgrove  had  previously  been  married 
to  a  man  named    Matthews.     She  and 
her     husband,    by    their     machinations, 
caused  great  fear  in  the   province.     At 
one    time   they    advanced   with   a  large 
number  of    Indian  followers,    with   the 
secret   intention  of    accomplishing   their 
design  by  force.     But   the   suspicions  of 
the  whites  put  them  upon  the  alert,  and 
the  vigorous  steps  of  a  few  determined 
people  warded  off  the   danger.      Great 
excitement  existed   for  a   while.     Mary 
Musgrove    was     arrested,    and     finally 
measures   were   taken    to   convince   the 
Creeks  that  their  pretended  queen  was  a 
fraud.     The  tribe  finally  lost  their  favor 
for  her. 

1750.  January.  A  Free  Pulpit.  John- 
athan     Mayhew    of    Boston,    preached 


276 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


against  the  doctrine  of  the  "divine  right 
of  kings,  and  non-resistance." 

1750.  April.  The  peninsula  of 
Nova  Scotia  was  occupied  by  the  French 
in  opposition  to  an  English  force. 

1750.  August.  An  engagement  oc- 
curred in  which  the  English  gained  pos- 
session of  Chiegnecto,  Nova  Scotia.  The 
first  blood  drawn  since  the  treaty  of  Aix 
la  Chapelle,  was  shed  in  this  engagement. 

1750.  Steam  navigation  was  un- 
successfully attempted  by  a  farmer  in 
Reading,  Penn. 


SCOLD  GAGGED. 


1750.  A  theatrical  company  under 
Thomas  Kean  and  a  Mr.  Murray,  ex- 
hibited stage  plays  in  New  York. 

1750.  The  first  theatrical  perform- 
ance in  Boston  took  place,  the  piece 
exhibited  being  Otway's  "  Orphan." 

1750.  The  first  anatomical  dissection 
in  America  was  made  in  New  York  by 
Drs.  John  Bard  and  Peter  Middleton. 

1750.  "  The  Public  Whipper  being 
dead,  £20  a  year  is  offered  to  a  successor 
at  the  mayor's  office."  This  appeared  as 
an  advertisement  in  the  New  York  Ga- 
zette. This  illustrates  the  public  nature  of 


some  of  the  punishments  of  that  day.  In 
some  cases  through  New  England  and 
elsewhere,  certain  things  were  made  the 
subject  of  discipline,  which  do  not  now 
come  within  the  range  of  legal  action. 
The  gagging  of  a  scold  in  the  cut  gives 
a  specimen  of  this. 

1750.  Opposition  to  American  Man- 
ufactures.    On  account  of  the  rapid  in- 
crease  of  iron  industries  in  America,  a 
bill  was  introduced  into  Parliament  for- 
bidding the  erection  of  any  rolling  mill, 
plating   forge,   or    furnace    for   making 
steel.     After   considerable    remonstrance 
the  bill  failed  by  a  slight  majority,  but  it 
was  at  last  decided  that  the  number  already 
in  use  must  never  be  increased,  under  a 
penalty  of  a  thousand   dollars  for  each 
offence.     Each  mill  of  the  kind  was  de- 
clared a  "  common  nuisance." 

1751.  The   Pennsylvania   Hospital, 
the  first  general   hospital  in  the  English 
colonies,  was  chartered.     No   other   was 
established   until   twenty   years  later,  in 
New  York. 

1751.  April.   First    Sugar    Cane  in 
North  America.     The  Jesuit  fathers  of 
Port  au   Prince,  W.   I.,  sent  some  slips 
of  sugar  cane  to  their  brethren    at  New 
Orleans.    They  were  started  in  large  gar- 
dens above  the  town  near  Canal  Street, 
but  the  culture  was  not  very  successful, 
owing  to  lack  of  knowledge  concerning  it. 
Since  then  this  has  slowly  risen  to  be  the 
great  sugar  region  of  North  America. 

1752.  Georgia  became  a  royal  prov- 
ince through  the  surrender  of  their  charge 
to  the  crown  by  the  trustees.     The  re- 
strictions   upon    rum    and    slaves    now 
ceased  entirely. 

1752.  The  first  English  Bible  printed 
in  America  was  issued  in  Boston  by 
Kneeland  and  Green. 

1752.     The     first    city    directory    in 


1744-1760.] 


THE  PREPARATORT  DISCIPLINE. 


277 


America  was  issued  in  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land. 

1752.  During  a  thunder  storm  this 
year,  Dr.  Franklin  successfully  established 
the  identity  of  electricity  and  lightning. 
He  made  his  experiment  with  a  kite.  It 
is  claimed  that  the  same  discovery  was 
made  at  the  same  time  on  the  continent 
of  Europe. 

1752.  King's  Chapel,  Boston,  was 
1752.  "New  erected,  and  was  the  first 
style,"  or  Greg-  building  known  to  have 

orian  Calendar  A 

introduced  into  been  built  of  American 
England.  stone.  Granite  from  Brain- 

tree  near  Boston,  was  used  in  its  con- 
struction. 

1752.  Sept.  5.  A  theatrical  com- 
pany, the  first  real  company  in  America, 
under  the  leadership  of  one  Hallam, 
began  to  exhibit  stage  plays  at  Williams- 
burg,  Va.  The  company  continued  to 
give  exhibitions  in  the  larger  cities  till 
the  Revolution. 

1752.  Hopedale,  in  Labrador,  was 
settled  by  Moravian  missionaries,  who 
afterward  obtained  a  grant  of  a  tract  of 
land.  Other  points  were  afterward  oc- 
cupied, and  the  missions,  though  carried 
on  under  great  difficulties,  have  continued 
till  the  present  time. 

1752.  First  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany. A  company  was  organized 
in  Philadelphia  with  Dr.  Franklin  as 
president,  for  the  insurance  of  buildings 
in  case  of  loss  by  fire.  It  took  the  rather 
lengthy  name  of  "  The  Philadelphia 
Contributionship  for  the  Insurance  of 
Houses  from  Loss  by  Fire."  It  is  known 
as  the  old  "  Contributionship,"  or,  Hand- 
in-Hand  Society.  Its  symbol  was  a  pair 
of  clasped  hands.  It  still  does  business 
in  Philadelphia.  No  other  fire-insurance 
company  was  organized  till  thirty-two 
years  afterward,  in  1784. 


1752.  "Liberty  Bell"  was  imported 
from  England  and  became  known  by  the 
above   name    after    it     had   rung     forth 
the    joyful  news    of  the   declaration    of 
independence  in    1776.     It  was  cracked 
soon  after    it  reached   this   country,  and 
was  recast  at  Philadelphia.     It  was  at 
this  time  undoubtedly  that  the  prophetic 
inscription  was  placed   upon  it:     "Pro- 
claim   liberty   throughout   all   the   land, 
unto  all  the  inhabitants  thereof."     LEV. 
xxv.  10.     The  crack  which  exists  in  it 
at  present  was  produced  by  violent  ring- 
ing in  honor  of  a  visit  of   Henry  Clay 
to  Philadelphia. 

1753.  The  "  Society  for  Promoting 
Industry  among  the  Poor  "  at  its  anni- 
versary in  Boston  set  three  hundred  young 
women  at  work  publicly  on  Boston  Com- 
mon, each  at  a  spinning  wheel.     Other 
industries  were    represented   during   the 
day  in  a  public  procession,  and  domestic 
manufactures  were  much  stimulated. 

1753.  A  lottery  was  established  in 
Baltimore  for  raising  money  with  which 
to  build  a  public  wharf. 

1753.  The  Post- Office  in  America. 
Benjamin  Franklin  ha*d  been  an  assistant 
of  Col.  Spotswood,  the  postmaster  gen- 
eral of  America,  since  1737.  At  the 
death  of  the  latter  Franklin  1753  British 
and  Mr.  William  Hunter  Museum  founded. 
were  appointed  to  succeed  him.  Their 
joint  salary  was  to  be  £600  a  year,  pro-, 
vided  they  could  get  it  from  the  business 
of  the  office.  In  1757  Franklin  records 
the  fact  that  the  office  was  .£900  in  debt 
to  them.  They  afterward  succeeded  in 
making  it  pay  them  a  profit  for  their 
services. 

1753.  French  Aggression.  The 
French  seized  English  surveyors  and 
traders,  with  one  or  two  storehouses,  in 
the  Ohio  Valley.  They  erected  a  chain 


278 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


of  forts  between  Lake  Erie  and  the 
forks  of  the  Ohio,  where  Pittshurg  now 
stands. 

1753.  Oct.  31.    George  Washington, 
twenty-one   years   old,    under  the  com- 
mand of  Lieut.-Gov.  Dinwiddie  of  Vir- 
ginia, set  out  on  a  trip  to  the   French 
posts    west    of    the    Alleghenies.      He 
crossed  the  mountains  with  his  escort  in 
a  journey  of  forty-one  days,  and  found  St. 
Pierre,  the  French  commander.     He  re- 
ceived a  sealed  letter  for  Gov.  Dinwiddie 
and  started  upon  his  return,  after  having 
carefully  scrutinized  everything.     A  part 
of  the  journey  home  was  accomplished 
on  foot  through  the  snow  with  Christopher 
Gist,  the  veteran  explorer.     Once  while 
crossing    the    Allegheny    upon    a    raft, 
Washington  was  jerked  into  the  stream 
by  the  ice  which  he  was   attempting  to 
push   away  with  his  pole.     With  diffi- 
culty he  swam  to  a  small  island,  and  es- 
caped the  next  morning  by  the  freezing 
over  of  the  river.     Washington  and  his 
companion  were  also  shot  at  by  Indians, 
but  escaped  uninjured,  and  finally  reached 
Williamsburg  in  safety.     The  result  of 
the  mission  was  entirely  unsatisfactory  so 
far  as  the  French  commander  was  con- 
cerned. 

1754.  Jan.    16.     The      report     of 
Washington     concerning     his     western 
journey  was   made  to  the    assembly  of 
Virginia,  and  £  10,000  were  voted  for  an 
expedition  into  that  part  of  the  country. 
The   present   site   of    Pittsburg,    Penn., 
was  chosen  as  the  place  for  the  first  Eng- 
lish fort  west  of  the  Alleghenies,  and  a 
small  force  was  sent   forward    to   secure 
the   spot.      Works  of  fortification  were 
begun.      Col.  Joshua    Frye    and  Lieut. 
George  Washington  were  sent  on  with 
reinforcements. 

1754.     March.     Midway,    Ga.      The 


colony  of  New  England  people  who  had 
founded  Dorchester,  S.  C.,  removed  once 
more  and  settled  Midway,  Ga.  They 
then  entered  into  a  mutual  compact.  The 
civil  and  religious  government  of  the 
colony  was  pure  and  simple,  and  was 
preserved  by  safeguards  of  various  kinds. 
The  influence  of  the  old  Midway  church 
has  been  worth  a  great  deal  to  Georgia. 

1754.  April  17.  Fort  Du  Quesne. 
Before  Frye  and  Washington  could 
reach  their  destination  the  French  ap- 
peared, took  the  fort,  finished  it  for 
themselves,  and  c'alled  it  Fort  Du  Quesne. 
This  has  been  named  the  "  date  of  the 
beginning  of  the  hostility  which  was 
finally  to  decide  supremacy  in  America.'* 

1754.  May  28.  Washington  attacked 
a  French  party  under  M.  de  Jumonville, 
and  fired  the  first  gun  himself.  The 
French  were  defeated,  and  their  com- 
mander was  slain.  Washington,  having 
pushed  on,  built  a  stockade  at  Great 
Meadows,  and  called  it  Fort  Necessity. 

1754.  June  19.  An  American  Con- 
gress. A  convention  of  delegates  from 
the  colonial  assemblies  met  at  Albany,, 
N.  Y.,  to  strengthen  the  ties  with  the 
Iroquois,  and  take  steps  for  a  closer  alli- 
ance of  the  colonies.  Benjamin  Franklin 
was  a  member  of  the  convention,  and 
was  appointed  upon  a  committee  to  draw 
up  a  plan  for  colonial  confederation.  A 
plan  drawn  by  Franklin  on  his  way  to 
the  meeting,  was  recommended  by  the 
committee,  and  adopted  by  the  convention. 
Subsequently  the  English  Lords  of  Trade 
refused  to  approve  it  because  it  seemed 
to  promote  colonial  liberty,  and  the  pro- 
vincial assemblies  rejected  it  because  it 
seemed  to  promote  royal  power. 

1754.  July  4.  Washington  was  at- 
tacked in  Fort  Necessity  by  a  large  force 
of  French  and  Indians,  and  forced  to 


1744-1760.] 

surrender   after    nine 
fighting. 

1754.  Columbia  College,  in  New 
York  city,  was  founded  under  the  name 
of  King's  College.  Funds  amounting  to 
$17,000  had  been  raised  for  it  by  lottery. 

1754.  Philadelphia  and  Boston  Mail. 
Benjamin  Franklin  gave  notice  that  the 
mail  for  New  England  which  used  to 
start  from  Philadelphia  "once  a  fort- 
night in  winter,  would  start  once  a  week 
all  the  year,  whereby  answers  might  be 
obtained  to  letters  between  Philadelphia 
and  Boston  in  three  weeks,  which  used 
to  require  six." 

1754.  September.      Edward  Brad- 
dock  was  commissioned    "  commander- 
in-chief  of  all  English  forces  in  America." 

1755.  April  14.  The  Campaign.  Gen. 
Braddock,  who  had  arrived   from  Eng- 
land with  two  regiments,  conferred  with 
the  royal  governors   at  Alexandria,  Va. 
Four    expeditions    were  planned;     one 
against    Fort     Du    Quesne;     a    second 
against  Fort  Niagara  and  Fort  Fronte- 
nac;  a  third  against  Crown  Point,  and  a 
fourth  against  Nova  Scotia. 

1755.  June.  Nova  Scotia  was  taken 
possession  of  by  the  English  American 
force. 

1755.  June  7.  The  expedition 
against  Fort  Du  Quesne  started  from  Fort 
Cumberland  on  Will's  Creek.  It  con- 
sisted of  one  thousand  regulars  under 
Gen.  Braddock,  and  twelve  hundred 
provincials  under  the  subordinate  com- 
mand of  Washington.  Thirty  sailors 
were  in  the  force.  A  supply  of  artillery 
was  taken. 

1755.  July  9.  Braddock's  Defeat. 
The  army  under  Gen.  Braddock  fell  into 
a  fearful  ambush  while  nearing  Fort  Du 
Quesne,  and  the  British  regulars,  unac- 
customed to  the  horrors  of  an  Indian 


THE  PREPARATORY  DISCIPLINE. 
hours    of    severe 


279 


warfare,  fled  at  last  for  their  lives.  The 
provincials  under  Washington  did  most 
of  the  fighting,  and  guarded  the  retreat. 
Gen.  Braddock  was  killed,  together  with 
half  his  force.  Washington  received 
several  balls  through  his  clothing.  This 
terrible  disaster  happened  because  Gen. 
Braddock  persistently  and  haughtily  re- 
fused to  take  advice  concerning  the  march 
of  his  troops  into  the  wilderness,  being 
vain  in  the  assurance  that  a  British  regu- 
lar could  anywhere  disperse  a  crowd  of 
Indians.  Hence  he  pushed  on  without 
due  precautions,  and  entered  the  fatal  trap 
without  heed.  The  Indians  gained  great 
confidence  by  their  success,  and  the  pro- 
vincial troops  learned  that  regulars  were 
not  invincible.  Washington,  Gates,  Gage, 
Morgan  and  Mercer  were  all  there,  and 
treasured  up  the  experience. 

1755.  Aug.  21.  The  expedition 
against  Forts  Niagara  and  Frontenac 
arrived  at  Oswego,  on  Lake  Ontario. 
Gen.  Shirley,  who  was  in  command 
here,  built  a  fort  and  a  number  of  boats, 
but  did  not  undertake  to  accomplish 
anything  further.  He  heard  of  Baron 
Dieskau's  intended  movement  against 
Oswego  from  the  north,  and  having  left 
seven  hundred  men  in  the  fort,  returned  to 
Albany. 

1755.  Sept.  3.  The  Exiled  Aca- 
dians.  The  Acadians  were  assembled 
by  proclamation  of  the  English  authori- 
ties for  a  purpose  kept  secret  till  they 
were  gathered  together.  They  were 
then  forced  to  remove  from  Nova  Scotia 
in  vessels  to  other  English  colonies. 
Their  property  was  confiscated,  their 
houses  were  burned,  and  in  the  removal 
families  were  broken  up,  and  scattered 
abroad.  Longfellow's  Evangeline  pre- 
serves the  pathos  of  this  sad  event  which 
took  place,  according  to  Edmund  .Burke 


280 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


"  upon  pretences  that  in  the  eye  of  an 
honest  man  are  not  worth  a  farthing." 
It  is  claimed  now  that  the  transaction 
was  perfectly  justifiable,  but  it  may  be 
doubted  whether  a  true  defence  can  be 
made. 

1755.  Sept.  8.  Dieskau's  Defeat. 
A  French  force  under  Baron  Dieskau, 
who  had  come  down  from  Canada,  was, 
defeated  near  Lake  George  by,  an  Eng- 
lish force  under  Gen.  William  Johnson. 
Dieskau  was  killed.  The  English  lost 
two  or  three  hundred  men;  the  French 
about  five  hundred.  This  victory  very 
essentially  changed  the  position  of  affairs 
and  prevented  the  defeat  of  Braddock 
from  having  such  an  adverse  influence  as 
it  would  otherwise  have  had.  The  cam- 
paign of  1755,  however,  closed  without 
any  advantage  to  English  arms.  Gen. 
Shirley  now  stood  at  the  head  of  the 
forces  in  America,  and  planned  expe- 
ditions for  the  next  year  against  Forts 
Du  Quesne,  Niagara,  Frontenac,  and 
Crown  Point. 

HENDRICK. 

1755.  Hendrick  was  one  of  the  most 
celebrated  of  the  Mohawk  chiefs.  His 
father  had  been  a  Mohegan  chief,  but 
his  mother  belonged  to  the  Mohawks. 
Hendrick  was  an  intimate  acquaintance 
of  Gen.  William  Johnson,  the  superin- 
tendent of  Indian  affairs,  whose  residence 
was  near  the  Mohawk  tribe.  He  hap- 
pened to  be  at  Johnson's  house  when  the 
latter  received  some  suits  of  very  fine 
clothing  from  England.  The  Indian's 
love  of  display  was  aroused,  and  he  went 
back  to  his  wigwam  very  greatly  desir- 
ing one  of  the  suits.  In  a  few  days  he 
returned  and  told  Johnson  that  he  had 
dreamed  that  a  fine  suit  had  been  given 
him  as  a  present.  Gen.  Johnson  knew 


it  would  not  do  to  violate  Indian  super- 
stition in  regard  to  dreams,  and  accord- 
ingly handed  over  the1  clothing.  Soon 
after  he  told  Hendrick  that  he  also  had 
had  a  dream  to  the  effect  that  the  Indian 
chief  had  given  him  a  tract  of  land  com- 
prising over  five  hundred  acres  in  the 
best  part  of  the  Mohawk  Valley.  Hen- 
drick gave  the  land,  but  did  not  wish  to 
dream  any  more  with  the  Englishman. 
When  the  French  and  Indian  war  broke 
out  Hendrick  and  his  warriors,  under  the 
influence  of  Johnson,  aided  the  English. 
He  fell  in  the  battle  of  Lake  George, 

O      ' 

together  with  about  forty  of  his  followers. 
Hendrick's  death  caused  great  sorrow 
among  the  Mohawks,  and  it  was  with 
difficulty  that  they  could  be  prevented 
from  taking  their  revenge  upon  the 
French  prisoners.  This  chief  was  nearly 
seventy  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  The  English  had  regarded  him 
with  respect,  and  had  often  sought  his 
advice. 

1755.   Nov.  18.    A  severe  earthquake 

was  felt  in  New  England,  which  twisted 
and  threw  down  chimneys,  and  some 
brick  buildings.  No  severer  shock  has 
ever  been  felt  in  New  England. 

1755.  Nov.  24.  Twelve  Moravian 
missionaries  were  slain  at  Mahoney, 
Penn.,  in  an  attack  of  the  Indians  upon 
that  place. 

1755.  A  German  printing  press  was 
set  up  at  Philadelphia  by  the  London 
Society  of  Religious  Knowledge. 

1755.  The  first  permanent  settlement 
in  Eastern  Maine  was  made  on  Penob- 
.scot  Bay  by  Gov.  Pownall,  of  Massa- 
chusetts. 

1756.  May  17.     War   was   formally 
declared  by  England  against  France. 

1756.    June  9.   War  was  formally  de- 


1744-1760.] 


THE  PREPARATORT  DISCIPLINE. 


281 


clared  by  France  against  England.  The 
French  now  sent  Louis  Joseph,  Marquis 
de  Montcalm,  to  command  all  their 
forces  in  Canada.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  "  experience  and  ability." 

1756.  June  25.  Gen.  Abercrombie 
arrived  in  America  to  command  the 
English  forces  till  the  Earl  of  Loudoun, 
who  was  to  serve  as  commander-in-chief, 
could  come. 

1756.  July  3.  An  engagement  oc- 
curred between  an  English  force  under 
Col.  Bradstreet  and  a  force  of  French 
and  Indians,  near  Oswego.  The  advan- 
tage remained  with  the  former. 

1756.  July  29.  The  Earl  of  Loudoun 
arrived  in  New  York  as  commander-in- 
chief.  He  was  described  by  a  wit  on 
account  of  his  slowness,  as  being  "  like 
St.  George  on  the  signs,  who  is  always 
on  horseback,  and  yet  never  rides  on." 

1756.  Aug.  14.  Fort  Oswego  was 
taken  by  a  French  force  under  Mont- 
calm. Sixteen  hundred  men,  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  cannon,  six  vessels,  and 
three  hundred  boats,  besides  large  stores, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  French.  Eng- 
land had  thus  carelessly  lost  its  farthest  out- 
post, besides  valuable  supplies.  The  forces 
under  Gen.  Webb,  which  had  started  for 
Oswego,  turned  back  when  they  heard 
of  the  capture.  Montcalm  destroyed  the 
post.  The  campaign  of  1756  closed, 
with  little  attempted,  and  less  accom- 
plished. Actual  loss  had  befallen  the 
English  arms.  The  English  expeditions 
against  Fort  Du  Quesne  and  Ticonder- 
oga  were  abandoned. 

1756.  Oct.  7.  The  Indian  village  of 
Kittanning  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  was 
destroyed  by  three  hundred  whites  in  re- 
venge for  the  injuries  inflicted  upon  the 
border  settlements  by  the  Delawares. 

1756.    The  population  of  New  York 


city  numbered  at  this  time  about  twelve 
thousand. 

1757.  February.  Pennsylvania's  Dis- 
content. Owing  to  the  constant  effort 
of  England  to  reduce  popular  power  in 
America,  Benjamin  Franklin  was  chosen 
agent  by  Pennsylvania,  in  which  prov- 
ince the  discontent  had  been  severe, 
"  to  represent  in  England  the  unhappy 
state  of  that  province,  that  all  occasion  of 
dispute  hereafter  might  be  removed  by 
an  act  of  the  British  legislature." 

1757.  The  House  of  Commons 
adopted  the  resolve  "  that  the  claim  of 
right  in  a  colonial  assembly  to  raise  and 
apply  public  money  by  its  own  act  alone, 
is  derogatory  to  the  crown,  and  to  the 
rights  of  the  people  of  Great  Britain." 
This  was  circulated  at  once  throughout 
America. 

1757.  June  20.  The  Earl  of  Loudoun 
sailed  from  New  York  for  the  capture  of 
Louisburg,  but  went  no  further  than 
Halifax.  Here  he  delayed  with  a  splen- 
did army  of  ten  thousand  men,  till  he 
heard  that  the  French  fleet  at  Louisburg 
exceeded  his  own  fleet  by  one  or  two 
vessels,  upon  which  he  sailed  back  to 
New  York. 

1757.  Aug.  9.  Fort  William  Henry 
was  captured  by  the  French  under  Mont- 
calm. At  the  surrender  a  guard  was 
guaranteed  to  the  survivors  as  far  as  Fort 
Edward,  but  the  Indian  allies  of  the 
French  fell  upon  and  slew  large  num- 
bers of  the  departing  garrison.  The 
French  officers  tried  very  hard  to  stop 
the  massacre,  but  the  savages  would  not 
stay  till  they  had  had  their  fill  of  blood. 
Montcalm  especially  was  almost  frantic, 
and  besought  the  Indians  to  kill  him 
rather  than  his  prisoners.  A  terrible  scene 
was  enacted.  The  fort  was  destroyed 
and  abandoned.  Gen.  Webb  was  at  Fort 


282 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


Edward,  fifteen  miles  distant,  and  did  not 
offer  to  reinforce  the  doomed  post.  The 
campaign  of  1757  was  a  spectacle  of  inef- 
ficiency on  the  part  of  the  English,  who 
were  now  driven  from  the  entire  St. 
Lawrence  and  Mississippi  valleys,  and 
hemmed  in  to  a  narrow  range  of  Atlan- 
tic settlements.  The  colonies  began  to 
notice  the  defects  in  the  management, 
and  to  claim  certain  rights,  if  they  were 
to  vote  taxes  and  raise  men.  But  Wil- 
liam Pitt  now  became  Prime  Minister 
of  England,  and  by  his  wonderful 
power  reconstructed  affairs  in  America. 

1758.  February.  Destitution  of  Can- 
ada. The  French  in  Canada  suffered 
extremely  for  lack  of  supplies.  The 
province  had  been  in  arms  so  constantly 
that  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  had  been 
neglected.  One  half  pound  of  bread 
was  given  daily  to  each  soldier,  and  two 
ounces  of  bread  daily  to  each  citizen  of 
Quebec.  The  people  were  much  weak- 
ened by  hunger.  Yet  Montcalm  had  a 
wonderful  influence  in  keeping  the  spirits 
of  all  cheerful. 

1758.  The  English  Army.  Gen. 
Abercrombie,  temporarily  in  command, 
had  x  an  army  of  fifty  thousand  men, 
composed  of  twenty -two  thousand  Brit- 
ish and  twenty-eight  thousand  provincial 
troops.  The  whole  male  population  of 
New  France  was  less  than  fifty  thousand. 

1758.  March.  Two  hundred  Amer- 
icans were  destroyed  near  Fort  Ticon- 
deroga  by  a  force  of  Iroquois  Indians. 

JONATHAN  EDWARDS 

1758.  March  22.  Jonathan  Edwards, 
the  greatest  American  metaphysician, 
died  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-four  years.  He  had  been  installed 
President  of  Princeton  College  February 
1 8,  only  thirty-four  days  before  his  death. 


He  was  inoculated  because  of  the  exist- 
ence of  small-pox  in  the  vicinity  of 
Princeton,  and  died  through  the  severe 
form  which  it  took  in  his  system.  He 
was  one  of  eleven  children,  himself  the 
only  boy  among  them.  He  exhibited 
signs  of  mental  ability  at  a  very  early 
age.  He  entered  Yale  College  in  his 
fourteenth  year,  and  so.on  fell  in  with 
philosophical  works,  particularly  with 
Locke's  "  Essay  on  the  Human  Under- 
standing," which  revealed  in  his  enthu- 
siasm over  it,  the  metaphysical  tendency 
of  his  thought.  When  not  more  than 
fifteen  he  began  to  think  very  steadily 
upon  philosophical  themes.  Before  he 
graduated  from  college  he  formed  a 
theory  of  the  will,  and  of  virtue,  in  con- 
nection with  which  subjects  he  has  es- 
pecially been  known.  At  the  close  of 
his  collegiate  course  he  began  his  studies 
for  the  ministry,  and  after  serving  as  tutor 
in  Yale  for  a  time,  he  was  settled  as  col- 
league of  his  grandfather,  Solomon  Stod- 
dard  in  Northampton,  Mass.,  1727.  By 
Mr.  Stoddard's  death  two  years  later  he 
became  sole  minister  of  the  church.  In 
1 734  he  began  a  line  of  preaching  which 
was  followed  by  a  great  revival,  which 
spread  before  a  long  time  to  other  places,, 
and  deeply  influenced  the  whole  country. 
His  chief  topic  was  justification  by  faith 
alone.  Traditions  concerning  the  preach- 
ing of  some  of  his  sermons  still  linger  in 
the  region  where  he  was  settled.  He 
used  very  little  gesture  in  preaching,  but 
gave  many  signs  of  his  entire  surrender 
to  the  thought  in  mind.  He  afterward 
had  a  conflict  with  the  church  over  the 
"  Half  Way  Covenant,"  in  which  many 
held  that  upright  persons  should  be  ad- 
mitted to  the  communion,  because  they 
were  thereby  more  likely  to  be  converted. 
Edwards  held  that  conversion  should 


1744-1760.] 


THE  PREPARATORY  DISCIPLINE. 


283 


precede  communion.  The  former  view 
prevailed,  and  Edwards  was  forced  to 
resign  in  1 750.  In  a  short  time  he  began 
labor  among  the  Housatonnuck  Indians 
at  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  where  his  wife 
and  daughter  helped  increase  a  small 
salary  by  their  own  skill  in  work.  From 
this  time  he  studied  more  intensely,  and 
thought  more  profoundly.  He  wrote  a 
"  History  of  Redemption,"  and  several 
essays,  one  of  which  upon  the  Will,  has 
influenced  the  thought  of  the  world  quite 
widely.  At  the  present  his  conceptions 
have  very  largely  passed  by.  No  Amer- 
ican theologian  has  ever  taken  hold  of 
his  own  time  and  the  next  few  genera, 
tions  more  powerfully.  No  greater 
mind  has  appeared  in  this  country.  Such 
a  mind  marks  an  epoch.  The  wonder- 
ful power  of  human  thought  seems  well 
nigh  amazing  in  the  development  of 
such  a  spirit.  We  may  well  say  this, 
while  we  also  say  that  his  thought  was 
one-sided,  and  therefore  injurious.  But 
he  helped  preserve  the  reverence  of  New 
England  for  God. 


1758.  The  money  raised  by  Massa- 
chusetts for  the  war  was  kept  under  the 
control  of  its  own  commissioners,  much 
to  the  annoyance  of  the  royalists. 

1758.  July  6.  Lord  Howe,  a  young 
English  officer  serving  under  Abercrom- 
bie,  was  killed  in  a  skirmish  with  the 
French  during  the  advance  on  Fort  Ticon- 
deroga.  Massachusetts  erected  a  monu- 
ment to  him  in  Westminster  Abbey. 

1758.  July  8.  Fort  Ticonderoga 
was  unsuccessfully  attacked  by  Gen. 
Abercrombie  with  a  force  of  sixteen 
thousand  men,  of  whom  he  lost  two 
thousand.  Gen.  Amherst  was  appointed 
in  Abercrombie's  place. 

1758.      July     27.      Louisburg     was 


taken  from  the  French  by  the  English 
under  Gen0  Amherst  and  Admiral  Bos- 
cawen.  The  entire  region  of  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence  passed  into  English 
control.  James  Wolfe  and  Richard 
Montgomery  served  in  the  army  against 
Louisburg.  The  inhabitants  of  Cape 
Breton  were  sent  to  France,  but  the  sol- 
diers and  sailors,  to  the  number  of  nearly 
six  thousand  men,  were  sent  to  England. 
Two  hundred  and  twenty-one  cannon, 
eighteen  mortars,  and  a  large  supply  of 
ammunition  were  taken  in  this  victory. 
This  stronghold  which  had  now  changed 
hands  for  the  last  time,  was  abandoned^ 
and  the  English  centered  at  Halifax. 

1758.  Aug.  27.  Fort  Frontenac 
was  taken  by  a  small  force  under  Brad- 
street.  This  gave  the  control  of  Lake 
Ontario  to  the  English.  Military  stores> 
thirty  cannon,  sixteen  mortars,  and  nine 
vessels  were  taken.  The  fort,  seven  ves- 
sels and  such  stores  as  could  not  be  car- 
ried off,  were  destroyed. 

1758.  Israel  Putnam  was  captured 
by  an  Indian  force,  but  his  life  was  saved 
by  a  French  officer. 

1758.  Sept.  14.  A  battle  was  fought 
near  Fort  Du  Quesne,  between  a  British 
detachment  under  Major  Grant  and  a 
force  of  French  troops,  in  which  the 
former  was  wholly  defeated,  most  of  the 
number  being  taken  prisoners,  or  slain. 

1758.  Nov.  25.  Fort  Du  Quesne 
was  entered  by  Washington  with  a  de- 
tachment of  British  troops  from  the  army 
of  Gen.  Forbes.  The  French  evacuated 
and  destroyed  the  fort  during  the  previous 
night.  A  new  fort  was  erected,  and 
named  Fort  Pitt,  in  honor  of  William 
Pitt.  The  city  which  grew  up  around  it 
has  become  known  as  Pittsburg,  one  of 
the  most  important  centers  of  iron  man- 
ufacture on  the  continent. 


284 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


1758.  Peace  was  concluded  at  a 
council  held  at  Easton,  Penn.,  with  the 
Iroquois,  Delawares  and  other  Indians 
living  between  the  Ohio  and  the  great 
lakes.  The  campaign  of  *75^  ^ad 
changed  the  condition  of  affairs  in  Amer- 
ica very  decidedly. 

1758.  Taxes  on  real  estate  during 
this  war  were  at  times  two-thirds  of  per- 
sonal incomes. 

1758.  Seventy  thousand  hogsheads 
of  tobacco  were  exported  from  Virginia 
this  year. 

1758.  The  first  sugar  mill  within  the 
limits  of  the  present   United  States,  was 
set  up  near  New  Orleans  by  M.  Debreu- 
ieul,  who   began   to   work   on    a  larger 
scale  than  the  Jesuits  had  done    a  few 
years  before.     But  sugar  was  not  made 
successfully  till  1764,  and  not  even  then 
did  the  culture  become  thoroughly  estab- 
lished. 

1759.  May.    Guadeloupe,  W.  I.,  was 
taken  from  the  French   by   an  English 
fleet,  which  thus  gained  possession  of  one 
of  the  best  harbors  in  the  world.     The 
capture  was  only  accomplished   after  a 
siege  of  three  months. 

1759.  July  25.  Fort  Niagara  was 
taken  from  the  French  by  an  English 
force  under  Gen.  Prideaux,  who  was 
killed  in  the  action. 

1759.  July  29.  Fort  Ticonderoga 
was  evacuated  by  the  French  while  Gen. 
Amherst  -was  advancing  upon  it  with 
eleven  thousand  men. 

1759.  July  81.  Crown  Point  was 
evacuated  by  the  French,  who  retired  to 
Isle  aux  Noir.  Gen.  Amherst  did  not 
pursue  them  beyond  Crown  Point,  at 
which  place'he  went  into  winter  quarters, 
and  occupied  himself  with  building  up 
extensive  fortifications. 

1759.     July    31.      An  unsuccessful 


attack  was  made  by  an  English  army 
which  had  been  lying  before  Quebec, 
upon  the  French  outside  of  the  city. 
This  siege  of  Quebec  was  the  greatest 
attempt  the  English  had  yet  made  in 
French  America. 

1759.     Sept.    3.     The     Jesuits   were 
expelled  from  Portugal, and    1684-1759. 
all    Portuguese   dominions,  Handel. 

by  a  royal  edict.  This  was  on  account 
of  the  great  power  with  which  the  Jes- 
uits were  building  up  their  missions  in- 
Paraguay  and  elsewhere. 

CAPTURE  OF  QUEBEC. 

1759.  Sept.  13.  A  great  battle  was 
fought  on  the  Plains  of  Abraham  out- 
side of  Quebec,  between  the  English 
forces  under  Gen.  James  Wolfe,  and  the 
French  forces  under  Gen.  Montcalm. 
The  English  troops  had  lain  before  the 
city  for  two  months,  and  at  last  Wolfe 
and  a  part  of  his  army  climbed  the  cliffs 
of  the  St.  Lawrence  which  had  been 
deemed  inaccessible,  and  at  daybreak 
gave  battle  to  the  astonished  foe.  The 
ascent  was  accomplished  in  the  night, 
and  had  been  planned  for  with  consider- 
able care.  It  was  found  impossible  to 
take  the  city,  except  by  a  surprise.  Gen. 
Wolfe  rose  from  a  sick  bed  to  lead  the 
effort.  As  he  neared  the  place  of  land- 
ing he  repeated  to  those  in  the  boat  with 
him  a  verse  from  Gray's  "  Elegy :  " 

"The  boast  of  heraldry,  the  pomp  of  power, 
And  all  that  beauty,  all  that  wealth  e'er  gave, 

Await  alike  the  inevitable  hour; 
The  paths  of  glory  lead  but  to  the  grave." 

He  also  remarked :  "  I  would  rather 
be  the  author  of  that  poem  than  to  have 
the  glory  of  beating  the  French  to-mor- 
row." The  cliffs  were  climbed,  the 
amazed  French  strove  to  drive  back  the 
now  desperate  foe.  Wolfe  fell,  and  shortly 


1744-1760.] 


died,  living  just  long  enough  to  learn 
that  the  French  were  giving  way. 
Montcalm  was  also  mortally  wounded. 
To-day  a  monument  stands  in  the  "  Gov- 
ernor's Garden,"  which  slopes  toward  the 
river  in  Quebec,  and  equally  commemo- 
rates the  bravery  of  these  two  represen- 
tative soldiers. 

1759.  Sept.  28.  Jorullo,  a  volcano 
on  the  Pacific  slope  of  Mexico,  was  sud- 
denly created  in  the  night  during  an 
earthquake  agitation  in  that  region, 
which  had  been  entirely  free  from  such 
disturbances  previously.  Sugar  and  in- 
digo fields  abounded  in  the  vicinity. 
Rumblings  were  heard  and  felt  for  sev- 
eral months  before  this  great  outbreak. 
A  half  dozen  eminences  were  raised  at 
the  time  from  the  plateau.  Jorullo  at- 
tained a  height  of  sixteen  hundred  feet 
above  the  plain,  or  four  thousand  two 
hundred  and  sixty-five  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea.  Flames  burst  forth, 
and  lava  flowed  for  months.  Vegetation 
was  entirely  destroyed,  and  the  face  of 
the  country  changed.  Within  the  past 
fifty  years  cultivation  has  been  begun  in 
the  vicinity.  No  agitation  of  the  volcano 
is  now  apparent. 

1759.  Trouble  with,  the  Cherokees, 
who  had  never  been  involved  in  feuds 
with  the  whites,  was  brought  on  by  Gov. 
Littleton,  of  South  Carolina. 

1759.  The  first  marine  insurance  office 
in  America  was  opened  in  New  York. 
The  business  was  carried  on  by  obtain- 
ing individual  underwriters  among  rich 
men  who  would  become  responsible  for  a 
certain  amount  of  the  ship  or  cargo. 
Another  competing  office  was  opened 
during  this  year. 

1759.  The  first  horn  combs  made  in 
America  were  produced  in  West  New- 


THE  PREPARATORT  DISCIPLINE. 

bury,    Mass.      Horn-smiths 


285 


were  soon 
doing  a  fine  business. 

1759.  Dominica,  one  of  the  Leeward 
Islands,  was  assumed  by  Great  Britain, 
having  previously  been  neutral   ground. 
It  was  confirmed  to  England  at  the  treatv 
of  1763. 

1760.  Cherokee  War.     A  large  force 
sent  out  by  Gen.  Amherst,  invaded  the 
country  of  the   Cherokees,  burning  their 
villages,  and   killing   the  natives.      The 
troops  were  driven  back  from  the  Ten- 
nessee  valley   by  the   enraged    Indians. 
Fort  Loudoun,  on  the  Tennessee  River, 
was  taken  by  the  Indians,  a  portion  of 
the  garrison    being   killed,  and  the  rest 
kept  as  captives. 

1760.  March  20.  A  great  fire  oc- 
curred in  Boston,  consuming  three  hun- 
dred and  forty-nine  buildings,  and  $500,- 
ooo  worth  of  property. 

176O.  April  28.  The  French,  with 
a  force  of  seven  thousand  men  under  De 
Levi,  fought  a  great  battle  with  the 
English  force  under  Murray  at  Sillery, 
near  Quebec.  The  contest  was  desper- 
ate, because  the  French  felt  that  power 
in  America  was  passing  out  of  .their 
hands.  The  English  lost  a  thousand 
men,  but  the  French  were  finally  re- 
pulsed. The  chief  agency  in  defeating 
the  French  was  the  sight  of  an  English 
fleet,  which  arrived  unexpectedly,  having 
defeated  a  French  fleet  in  the  Bay  of 
Chaleur. 

1760.  May  17.  The  siege  of  Quebec 
was  raised  by  the  French,  who  aban- 
doned their  camp  with  forty  cannon. 

1760.     May.      Fresh    royal     orders 
were  issued  by  the  English   government 
for   the    enforcing  of    the    neo-mo. 
oppressive  navigation   acts,    G™r£e  IIf- 

'     King    of    Eng- 

in  order  to  gain  a  revenue    land. 

for  the  payment  of  the  expenses   of  the 


286 


COLONIAL  LIFE. 


war  in  America.  It  was  declared  that 
crown  officers  would  be  empowered  to 
search  anywhere  for  smuggled  goods 
under  cover  of  writs  of  assistance  issued 
by  the  court.  Benjamin  Franklin  now 
appeared  before  the  Board  of  Trade  to 
defend  American  liberty,  and  to  show 
that  the  prosperity  of  the  colonies  was 
greatly  interfered  with. 

1760.  The  appointment  of  Thomas 
Hutchinson  to  the  supreme  bench  as 
chief  justice  of  Massachusetts,  occasioned 
a.  great  outburst  of  patriotic  indignation, 
because  of  his  loyalist  sympathies. 

1760.  Sept.  8.  Downfall  of  Canada. 
Montreal  surrendered  to  the  combined 
English  forces,  and  all  Canada  passed 
under  English  dominion. 

1760.  Nov.  29.  A  party  of  rangers 
penetrated  into  Pontiac's  country  and 
took  possession  of  Detroit.  It  was  at 
this  time  that  Pontiac  began  to  lay  his 


plans  for  the  extermination  of  the 
whites. 

1760.  A  whale  fishery  which  the 
French  had  never  known,  was  discovered 
at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence  River. 

1760.  Castine,  Maine,  was  settled  by 
the  English. 

1760.  The  first  printing  in  Texas 
was  done  by  the  Spaniards. 

1760.  The  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia mail  was  arranged  to  be  sent  each 
way  every  week  by  a  line  of  coaches. 

1760.  The  United  Brethren  in  Christ 
were  established  among  the  Germans  in 
Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.,  by  Philip  William 
Otterbein,  who  had  come  to  this  country 
as  a  missionary  of  the  German  Reformed 
church,  but  came  to  believe  that  he 
had  experienced  a  new  change  in  his 
spiritual  life.  The  church  is  evangelical 
in  its  characteristics,  and  has  steadily  in- 
creased in  numbers  and  strength. 


287 


PART   IV. 


1761-1824. 


"Point  to  the  summits  TV  here  the  brave  have  bled, 
Where  every  village  claims  its  glorious  dead; 
Say,  when  their  bosoms  met  the  bayonefs  shock, 
Their  only  corselet  was  the  rustic  frock; 
Say,  when  they  mustered  to  the  gathering  horn, 
The  titled  chieftain  curled  his  lip  in  scorn, 
Yet,  when  their  leader  bade  his  lines  advance? 
No  musket  wavered  in  the  lion's  glance; 
Say,  when  they  fainted  in  the  forced  retreat, 
They  tracked  the  snow-drifts  with  their  bleeding  feet, 
Yet  still  their  banners,  tossing  in  the  blast, 
Bore  EVER  RE.  AW,  faithful  to  the  last? 

—HOLMES. 


SECTION  XIII. 


OI7 


E  it  remembered,"  said  Daniel 
Webster,  "it  was  a  thinking 
community  that  achieved  our 
Revolution  before  a  battle  .had 
been  fought."  When  the  French  and 
Indian  war  closed,  the  need  of  enforcing 
the  navigation  and  other  acts  was  freshly 
considered  in  England.  This  caused  an 
immediate  agitation  in  America.  The 
minds  of  the  people  had  been  trained  for 
a  long  time  in  thinking  about  taxation 
and  similar  questions.  The  executive 
influence  had  been  weakened  by  the  war, 
and  transferred  from  the  colonial  gov- 
ernors to  the  colonial  assemblies,  which 
had  been  places  of  debate  over  many  a 
problem.  Caucus,  club,  and  town  meet- 
ings began  to  multiply  for  political  dis- 
cussions. The  "tea  meetings"  in  the 
different  cities  were  indications  that  the 
people  intended  ever  after  to  freely  con- 
sider enactments  relating  to  themselves, 
and  to  freely  condemn  those  they  thought 
unjust.  In  this  way  parties  began  to 
be  more  distinctly  outlined.  Opinion  as 
to  the  rights  of  freemen  or  the  power  of 
Parliament,  was  sharper  cut  and  more 
positive.  The  names  "  whig  "  and  "  tory  " 
were  first  used  simply  as  in  England  to 
denote  those  who  opposed  the  adminis- 


tration, and  those  who  favored  it.  They 
came  only  later  to  designate  those  who 
favored  separation  from  the  mother  coun- 
try, and  those  who  opposed  it. 

BIRTH  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 

1761.  February.  A  burning  speech 
was  made  before  the  supreme  bench  of 
Massachusetts  against  the  enforcement  of 
the  Acts  of  Trade  and  Writs  of  Assist- 
ance, by  James  Otis,  who  had  resigned 
his  office  of  advocate-general,  in  order  to 
appear  in  behalf  of  the  people.  The 
special  question  at  issue  was  the  legality 
of  the  Writs  of  Assistance,  which  were 
warrants  issued  by  the  supreme  court, 
authorizing  deputy  collectors  to  search 
any  place  or  building  for  the  discovery  of 
smuggled  goods.  It  was  granted  that 
government  had  the  power  to  issue  a 
writ  for  the  searching  of  a  special  build- 
ing designated  in  the  writ,  but  it  was 
denied  that  writs  could  lawfully  be  issued 
to  enable  a  deputy  to  search  wherever  he 
pleased.  Mr.  Otis  used  all  his  eloquence, 
which  was  very  wonderful,  to  prevent 
the  granting  of  such  writs.  Upon  the 
large  crowd  gathered  to  witness  it,  the 
speech  of  Mr.  Otis  had  a  most  powerful 
effect.  "  To  my  dying  day,"  he  said,  "  I 

291 


292 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


will  oppose  with  all  the  powers  and  fac- 
ulties God  has  given  me,  all  such  instru- 
ments of  slavery  on  the  one  hand,  and 
villainy  on  the  other."  "  Then  and 
there,"  said  John  Adams,  "  was  the  first 
scene  of  the  first  act  of  opposition  to  the 
arbitrary  claims  of  Great  Britain.  Then 
and  there  the  child  Independence  was 
born."  Writs  of  assistance  were  after- 
ward issued  by  the  court,  but  never  used, 
except  slightly,  if  at  all. 


1761.     A  prohibitory  duty  upon  im- 
ported    slaves    was    voted 

1761.    Potatoes        f 

first  planted  in      by  the  Virginia  assembly, 
France.  largely    through     the     in- 

fluence of  Richard  Henry  Lee.     South 
Carolina  took  similar  steps. 

1761.  Dec.    9.      Judicial    Commis- 
sions.    The  colonial  governors  were  in- 
structed to  issue  no  judicial  commissions 
except  at  the  pleasure  of  the  king,  instead 
of   as   formerly   during    good   behavior. 
This  aroused  great  hostility,  as  serving 
to  make  judges  subservient  to  the  will  of 
the  king. 

1762.  The  island  of  Martinique  in 
the  West  Indies  was  captured  from  the 
French     by    an    English     force    under 
Monckton  and  Rodney. 

1762.  The  yellow  fever  raged  at 
Philadelphia  with  terrible  severity. 

1762.  Aug.  11.  Havana  was  cap- 
tured from  the  Spanish  by  an  English 
fleet  under  Lord  Albemarle.  This  put 
the  most  advantageous  port  in  the  West 
Indies  into  English  hands.  They  held 
it  till  the  peace  of  Paris  which  occurred 
in  1763. 

1762.  Anthony  Benezet  of  Philadel- 
phia, a  Quaker,  issued  a  book  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  slave  trade. 

1762.  A  fur  company  was  founded 
at  New  Orleans.  The  trade  of  this 


company  led  to  settlements  along  the 
Mississippi  and  Missouri  Rivers. 

1762.  A  negro  insurrection  took 
place  lasting  but  a  brief  time,  in  British 
Guiana,  S.  A. 

1762.  Oct.  19.  A  dark  day  oc- 
curred at  Detroit,  Mich.  Rain  fell,  which 
is  said  to  have  been  "  of  a  dirty  sulphu- 
rous smell." 

1762.  First  Canal  Route.  A  canal 
route  was  surveyed  between  the  Swatara 
and  Tulpehocken  Creeks  in  Pennsylvania,, 
by  Drs.  Rittenhouse  and  Smith. 

1762.  The  longest  drouth  ever 
known  in  America  occurred  in  the  sum- 
mer of  this  year,  when  no  rain  fell  for 
123  days  in  succession. 

1762.  Trade  was  allowed  for  the 
first  time  in  Cuba  by  the  Spanish  gov- 
ernment. The  country  had  previously 
lived  by  smuggling,  which  began  after 
the  English  took  Jamaica  in  1655. 

1762.  Yellow  fever  made  its  first  re- 
corded visitation  in  Cuba. . 

1763.  Feb.  10.     The  Peace  of  Paris. 
A  treaty  was   made   between   England 
and  Portugal  on   one  side,    and    France 
and  Spain  on   the  other.     England  re- 
ceived certain  West   India  islands,  Flor- 
ida, Louisiana  as   far  as  the   Mississippi 
River,  except  the  island  of  New  Orleans, 
Acadia  and  Canada.     The  English  were 
to  destroy  fortifications  which  they  had 
erected    in    Honduras  and    Campeachy, 
and  be  protected  by  Spain  in  the  cutting 
of  logwood.     France  retained  two  small 
islands  as  a  resort  for  fishermen  on   the 
banks   of   Newfoundland,   and    received 
Guadaloupe  and  Martinique  in  the  West 
Indies.       Spain   received   New   Orleans, 
all  of  Louisiana  west  of  the   Mississippi 
River,  and  Havana,  Cuba. 

1763.  Pontiac's  War.  A  plot  was 
formed  among  the  western  Indians  to 


1761-1774.]  THE  DAWN 

exterminate  the  English.  Pontiac  was 
the  leading  spirit.  The  plot  was  discov- 
ered in  March  by  Ensign  Holmes,  who 
commanded  at  Miami,  but  it  was  deemed 
of  no  great  importance. 

1763.  April  27.  Pontiac  held  a 
great  council  in  which  he  made  a  long 
speech  opposing  the  supremacy  of  the 
English.  A  unanimous  agreement  was 
reached  to  begin  the  war  by  an  attack 
on  Detroit. 

1763.  May  6.  Major  Gladwyn,  the 
commander  at  Detroit,  received  informa- 
tion either  from  an  Ojibwa  maiden  or 
Canadian  settlers,  that  an  Indian  attack 
•was  intended  on  the  morrow. 

1763.  May  7.  Pontiac,  with  three 
hundred  followers,  entered  the  fort  at 
Detroit,  but  saw  the  instant  he  passed 
the  gate,  that  his  plan  was  known  to  the 
garrison.  The  soldiers  and  hunters  were 
all  in  arms,  and  when  Pontiac,  in  spite 
of  this  sight,  seemed  about  to  give  the 
signal,  the  roll  of  a  drum  overawed  him, 
and  he  desisted. 

1763.  May  9.  Pontiac,  thwarted  in 
his  first  purpose  of  massacring  the  gar- 
rison, besieged  the  fort. 

1763.  May  16.  The  fort  at  San- 
dusky,  on  Lake  Erie,  under  Ensign 
Paull,  was  taken  by  the  Indians. 

1763.  May  25.  The  English  gar- 
rison at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph,  un- 
der Ensign  Schlosser,  was  destroyed. 

1763.  May  27.  Tort  Miami,  near 
Fort  Wayne,  under  Ensign  Holmes,  was 
taken. 

1763.  June  2.  Miehillimackinac  was 
taken  by  a  massacre  at  a  given  signal 
during  an  Indian  game  of  ball. 

1763.  June  22.  Presque  Isle,  now 
Erie,  Penn.,  under  Ensign  Christie,  was 
taken.  About  the  same  time  Fort  Le 
Boeuf  and  Fort  Venango  were  taken. 


OF  STRIFE. 


293 


1763.    July  31.    Bloody  Bridge.    An 

attempted  attack  on  Pontiac's  camp  near 
Detroit  was  betrayed,  and  the  party  was 
almost  entirely  destroyed  by  an  ambush. 

1763.  Aug.  5.  Bushy  Run.  An 
English  expedition  under  Bouquet  for 
the  relief  of  Fort  Pitt,  fought  a  severe 
battle  with  the  Indians.  The  action 
went  against  the  English  until  Bouquet 
feigned  a  retreat  and  drew  the  savages 
into  a  close  body,  when  a  renewed 
attack  was  made,  with  the  utter  defeat  of 
the  Indians.  This  victory  recovered  the 
Ohio  valley  from  Indian  power,  and  had 
a  great  influence  in  discouraging  all  the 
western  tribes,  who  now  began  to  learn 
that  they  could  expect  no  aid  from 
France.  The  French  in  Illinois  were 
active  in  trying  to  persuade  the  Indians 
to  lay  down  their  hostility.  Gen.  Am- 
herst  offered  a  reward  of  .£100  for 
killing  Pontiac.  Steps  were  soon  taken 
toward  peace. 

1763.  Oct.  12.  Most  of  the  Indians 
sued  for  peace,  and  expressed  their  sub- 
mission to  English  authority. 

1763.  Oct.  30.  The  Ottawas,  find- 
ing the  hopelessness  of  their  cause,  also 
sued  for  peace.  The  siege  of  Detroit, 
however,  was  still  continued  until  the 
summer  of  the  next  year. 

1763.  The  site  of  St.  Louis  was 
selected  by  the  two  brothers  August  and 
Pierre  Chouteau,  as  a  post  for  trade  with 
the  Indians.  The  present  name  was 
conferred  upon  it. 

1763.  The  first  newspaper  in  Ha- 
vana, Cuba,  was  established.  A  postoffice 
department  was  also  founded  on  the 
island. 

1763.  Paper  hangings  made  in  Amer- 
ica were  presented  to  the  Society  of  Arts, 
Manufactures  and  Commerce,  at  New 
York,  and  were  approved  .  by  that  body. 


294 


RE  VOL  UTIONART  S  TR  UGGLES. 


This  was  the  beginning  of  the  manufac- 
ture and  use  of  wall  paper  in  this 
country.  The  sheets  were  thirty  inches 
long,  and  were  stamped  by  means  of 
blocks  of  wood. 

1763.  The  capital  of  Brazil  was  re- 
moved from  Bahia  to  Rio  de  Janeiro. 

1763.  Dec.  14.  The  Conestoga  Mas- 
sacre.  A  remnant  of  Indians  living  at 
Conestoga,  Penn.,  were  murdered  by  a 
party  of  men  from  Paxton,  near  the 
Susquehanna,  on  account  of  frontier 
depredations"  laid  to  their  charge. 

1763.  Dec.  27.  Some  of  the  Indians 
who  had  not  been  at  the  village  at  the 
time  of  the  massacre,  and  who  had  been 
collected  and  lodged  in  the  jail  for  safety, 
were  murdered  by  the  Paxton  men,  who 
broke  open  the  building,  and  killed  them 
all. 

1763.  Postmaster    General's    Trip. 
Dr.  Franklin,  postmaster  general  of  the 
English     colonies     in      America,     rode 
through  the  country  in  a  chaise  to  ex- 
amine the  office,  and  perfect  all  the  ar-^ 
rangements    of    the    department.      His 
daughter  Sally  went  along  for  company, 
sometimes  riding  in  the  chaise  with  her 
father,  and  sometimes  riding  horseback 
upon  a  steed  taken  with  them  for   her 
convenience.     The  trip  which  they  made 
took  them  five  months,  and  can  now  be 
made  in  five  days. 

1764.  Feb.    4.      Paxton    Boys    at 
Philadelphia.     A  remnant  of  the  Mora- 
vian converts  of  Pennsylvania  had  been 
removed  to  Philadelphia  for  safety  about' 
the    time   of   the    Conestoga   massacre. 
The    Paxton   boys  undertook  an  expe- 
dition to  Philadelphia  in  order  to  seize 
the    Indians.      The   latter   were   at   one 
time  sent  off  for  New  York,  but  a  mes- 
sage was  received  upon  the  way  saying 
that  they  would  not  be  allowed  to  come 


into  that  province.  The  authorities 
ordered  them  out  of  New  Jersey,  and 
the  only  thing  to  be  done  was  to  return 
to  Philadelphia.  Finally  at  this  date  the 
"  Paxton  Boys  "  appeared  near  Philadel- 
phia. Preparations  were  made  to  receive 
them  severely,  and  they,  learning  the  ex- 
tent of  the  feeling  against  them,  were 
induced  to  return  home  without  attempt- 
ing violence. 

1764.  March.  The  Right  of  Taxation. 
The  right  of  Parliament  to  tax  America 
was  discussed  in  the  House  of  Commons 
with  considerable  heat.  The  Sugar  Act 
of  1734  was  expiring,  and  Grenville 
wished  to  repass  it  in  an  amended  form, 
providing  that  a  revenue  be  raised  in 
America  by  a  tax  virtually  direct.  This 
raised  the  storm.  The  decision  was  in 
favor  of  taxation,  though  with  great  op- 
position. It  was  made  legal  for  any 
vessel  of  the  English  navy  to  seize  and 
examine  a  merchant  ship  coming  to 
America.  England  was  far  from  wise 
in  all  these  attempts.  The  largest  part 
of  her  commerce  was  with  America. 
Property  in  England  had  increased  one- 
half  its  value  because  of  American  trade. 

1764.      The  first    medical  college  in 
the    English  colonies  was  organized  in 
Pennsylvania       University    1697-1764. 
through  the  labors  of  Drs.  Hogarth. 

Shippen  and  Morgan.  It  became  the 
« Medical  School  of  Philadelphia."  Only 
one  other  was  founded  before  the  Revo- 
lution, at  New  York,  in  1767. 

1764.  New  Hampshire  Grants.  The 
English  crown  decided  upon  appeal  that 
the  Connecticut  River  was  the  line  be- 
tween New  Hampshire  and  New  York. 
A  great  dispute  had  existed  over  the 
land  now  embraced  by  Vermont.  New 
Hampshire  had  made  land  grants  at 
Bennington  as  early  as  1 749.  New  York 


1761-1774.] 


THE  DAWN  OF  STRIFE. 


295 


had  undertaken  to  regrant  the  land. 
The  Green  Mountain  boys  had  combined 
to  resist  the  latter.  The  dispute  existed 
down  to  the  Revolution. 

1764.  The  Connecticut  Courant 
was  established  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  by 
Thomas  Green.  It  is  the  oldest  news- 
paper of  continuous  publication  in  the 
country. 

1764.  Brown  University  was  char- 
tered in  Rhode  Island  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Baptist  denomination.  It  was 
opened  at  Warren,  and  afterward  removed 
to  Providence. 

1764.  The  first  printing  press  in 
the  valley  of  the  St.  Lawrence  was 
set  up  at  Quebec.  No  printing  press  or 
village  school  had  been  allowed  in  Can- 
ada or  Louisiana  during  French  occu- 
pation. 

1764.  The      Sandemanians.     Rev. 
Robert    Sandeman    came    to    Danbury, 
Conn.,  and  established  a  colony  of  relig- 
ious   people   who   had   previously   been 
known    as    Glassites,  from    Rev.    John 
Glass   of  Dundee,  Scotland.     This   sect 
originated  by  a  separation  from  the  Scotch 
Presbyterian  church. 

1765.  March  22.    The  famous  Stamp 
Act  which    had  passed   Parliament  the 
previous    month,    was   signed     by     the 
king.     It  provided  that  legal  documents 
of  all  kinds  must  be  written   on  paper 
bearing  a  stamp  costing  from  three  cents 
to  six  pounds;  that  every  newspaper  and 
pamphlet  should  bear   a   stamp  costing 
from  one  half  penny  to  four  pence ;  and 
that   each   advertisement   should   pay   a 
duty  of  two   shillings.     The  paper   for 
legal  documents   was   to  be  bought  only 
of  tax  collectors. 

1765.  May  29.  The  famous  reso- 
lutions of  Patrick  Henry  were  offered 
to  the  Virginia  assembly.  They  op- 


posed taxation  by  anybody  save  a  gen- 
eral assembly  of  the  colony.     The   im- 
mediate cause  of  the  resolutions  was  the 
announcement   by   the  Speaker   of    the 
passage  of  the  Stamp  Act.     Many  patri- 
otic   souls    were    roused,    and    Patrick 
Henry,  twenty-nine  years  old,  and  full  of 
the  enthusiasm  of  liberty,  at  once  wrote 
his  five  resolutions  upon  a  blank  leaf  torn 
from  a  law   book   lying   at    hand.     He 
declared   in  them    that     the    American 
colonists  ought  to  possess  all  the  charac- . 
teristics  of  English  freedom,  prominent 
among  which  was  the  right  to  levy  taxes, 
a    right  possessed   by  no  body  save  one 
which  represented  the  people  who  were 
to  pay  the  taxes.     The   offering  of  these 
resolutions   produced    great    excitement. 
The  idea  of  violently   opposing  the  ob- 
noxious measure  was  repulsive  to  many. 
Others  were  not  ready  for  the  position 
which  they  afterward  took.     The  whole 
movement  was   sudden  and   surprising. 
Mr.    Henry    defended     his     resolutions 
against  all  odds,  and  displayed  his  most 
fiery  eloquence.      At   one    point   in    his 
powerful  harangue  he  exclaimed,  "Caesar 
had  his    Brutus,    Charles   the    First   his 
Cromwell,   and    George    the    Third — 
when  the  Speaker,  Mr.  Robinson,  sprang 
up  and  shouted,   "Treason!    Treason!" 
In  an  instant  many   members  were  on 
their  feet,  and  the  cry  of"  Treason!"  was 
heard  from  all  parts  of  the  house.       Mr. 
Henry  maintained  his   fearless   attitude, 
and  in  a  hush  of  the   disturbance,  con- 
tinued, "  may  profit  by   their   example. 
If  that  be  treason,  make  the  most  of  it." 
The  resolutions  were    adopted,  the  last, 
however,   by    a    majority    of    one   only. 
After  Mr.  Henry's  departure  on  business 
the  next  day,  the  last  one  was  reconsid- 
ered and  rejected.     But  they  were  pub- 
lished in   their  first    form,  and    in  other 


296 


RE  VOL  UT I  ON  ART  STR  UGGLES. 


equally  decisive  forms,  and  their  effect 
•was  tremendous  in  uniting  the  colonies 
for  the  coming1  struggle. 

1765.  A  colonial  congress  was  pro- 
posed by  Massachusetts  in  a  circular  sent 
out  this  month,  suggesting  that  such  a 
body  meet  at  New  York  in  October. 

1765.  Aug.  14.  Boston  Biots.  The 
effigy  of  Andrew  Oliver,  who  had  been 
appointed  stamp  distributor,  was  hung  on 
Liberty  Tree,  in  the  edge  of  Boston.  It 
was  taken  down  at  evening  by  the  Sons 
of  Liberty,  and  was  borne  in  procession. 
The  mob  increased  in  violence,  and  Oli- 
ver's house  and  office  were  assaulted  and 
injured  very  much. 

1765.  Aug.  26.  The  residence  of 
Chief  Justice  Hutchinson  of  Massachu- 
setts, was  torn  open  and  ravaged  by 
another  mob,  because  of  his  sympathy 
with  the  project  of  taxation.  The  records 
of  the  admiralty  court  were  also  burned. 
Mobs  took  place  in  other  colonies,  and 
the  stamp  distributors,  unable  to  bear  the 
public  scorn,  began  to  resign. 

1765.  Oct.  7.  An  American  con- 
gress of  twenty-seven  delegates  from 
nine  of  the  thirteen  colonies,  met  at  New 
York  and  drew  up  a  Declaration  of 
Rights,  a  Petition  to  the  King,  and  a 
Memorial  to  both  Houses  of  Parliament. 
Timothy  Ruggles  of  Massachusetts  was 
president,  and  John  Cotton,  secretary. 
The  president  and  Robert  Ogden,  of 
New  Jersey,  would  not  sign  the  papers. 
Ruggles  was  reprimanded  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts assembly,  and  Ogden  was  de- 
posed from  the  position  of  Speaker  of 
the  New  Jersey  assembly. 

1765.  Oct.  31.  Non-importation 
Agreements.  New  York  merchants  met 
and  agreed  that  certain  articles  should 
not  be  brought  into  the  country  from 
England  after  the  next  first  day  of  Jan- 


uary.    The  merchants   of   Philadelphia 
and  Boston  followed  with  similar  action. 

1765.  Nov.  1.     The  Stamp  Act  be- 
came   a   law.      Business   ceased,   and   a 
general  gloom  overspread  all  the  colo- 
nies.    The  day   was   a   day   of  intense 
feeling.     The  people  soon  undertook  to 
supply   their   own    needs    with    articles 
which  had  hitherto  been  imported.     Do- 
mestic manufactures  began  everywhere. 
The  "  Daughters  of  Liberty  "   were  or- 
ganized   in    Boston   for  the  purpose   of 
spinning,    knitting    and    weaving.     The 
manufacture  of  maple  sugar  and  molas- 
ses began  in  New  England.     A  number 
of  people  in  New  York  formed  a  society, 
agreeing  not  to  wear  foreign  cloths,  and  en- 
gaging to  encourage  home  manufactures. 

1766.  The  Stamp  Act  was  repealed, 
but  was    accompanied   by   the   claim  on 
the  part  of  Parliament  to  exercise  power 
over  the  colonies  in  any  way  whatsoever. 
For  nearly   three   months  the  discussion 
had  gone  on  in  Parliament.     The  resolu- 
tion to  repeal  was  introduced  by  Conway. 
Edmund  Burke  made  his  first  speech  in 
this  debate.     The  Mutiny  Act  had  been 
applied  to  America,  in  order  to  quarter 
troops  in  American  cities. 

1766.  Pontiac,  after  having  tried 
with  a  fearful  desperation  to  rouse  the 
western  tribes  and  save  his  cause,  at  last 
gave  in  his  formal  submission  to  Sir. 
William  Johnson,  and  ended  all  his  efforts 
to  thwart  the  power  of  the  English. 

1766.  The  New  York  Society  of 
Arts  offered  a  prize  of  ten  pounds  for  the 
first  three  iron  stocking  looms  set  up,  five 
pounds  for  the  second  three,  and  fifteen 
pounds  for  the  first  one  which  should  be 
made  in  the  province. 

1766.  The  first  Methodist  preacher 
in  America  was  Philip  Embury,  who 
had  labored  in  the  Irish  Methodist  con- 


1761-1774.] 

ference  before  coming  to  this  country. 
He  found  a  company  of  Irish  Methodists 
in  New  York  City,  and  gathered  them 
into  a  little  congregation  in  his  own 
house.  A  little  later  they  met  in  a  rig- 
ging loft.  In  this  work  he  was  aided  by 
a  Capt.  Webb,  who  had  been  ordained 
by  Wesley  as  a  local  preacher.  A  woman 
named  Barbara  Heck  was  also  prominent 
in  the  movement. 

1766.  Oct.    31.     A    terrific    earth- 
quake destroyed  Cumana  on  the  coast  of 
Venezuela  in  a  few  minutes,  and   con- 
tinued to  disturb  the  region  for  fourteen 
months. 

1767.  April  2.     The  Jesuits  of  Spain 
and  all  Spanish  colonies  were  arrested  at 
the  same  time  by  preconcerted  action,  and 
expelled  from  the  countries.     The  work 
was  not  done  with  entire  success  in  Cali- 
fornia,    Mexico,     or      Western      South 
America. 

1767.  June  29.  Townsend's  bill, 
placing  a  duty  on  glass,  paper,  painters' 
colors,  and  tea  imported  into  America, 
passed  both  houses  of  Parliament  and 
received  the  signature  of  the  king.  The 
news  of  this  aroused  the  feelings  of  the 
colonists,  which  had  been  quieted  by  the 
repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act. 

1767.  Swamp  Law.  Numerous 
quarrels  were  arising  between  the  loggers 
2767.  spinning-  of  New  Hampshire  and 

je^ny  invented  by      ^        kj        ,         officers>  Jn 

Barnes  Har- 

greaves.  many   cases   the  summary 

whipping  and  driving  away  of  the 
officers  had  resulted.  This  became  known 
as  Swamp  Law. 

1767.  First  White  Man  at  Saratoga 
Springs.  Sir  William  Johnson  was  car- 
ried on  a  litter  to  the  spring  known  by 
the  Indians  to  exist,  to  avail  himself  of  it 
for  a  remedy.  This  was  the  "  Round 
Rock,"  or  High  Rock  Spring. 


THE  DAWN  OF  STRIFE. 


297 


1767.  First     Visit     to     Kentucky. 
John  Finley  and  others  visited  the  pres- 
ent State  of  Kentucky,  their  trip  being 
the  earliest  recorded  exploration  of  that 
region. 

1768.  April.     A    terrible    eruption 
of    Cotopaxi,   S.   A.,   occurred.      Ashes 
were  carried  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles. 

1768.  June  8.  British  troops  were 
ordered  to  Boston.  Boston  patriots 
began  to  be  filled  with  a  deep  spirit  of 
antagonism.  This  was  a  wild  year  in 
Boston.  The  governor  had  dissolved  the 
legislature,  and  would  not  call  another. 

1768.     June    10.     The    ship-of-war, 
Romney,  came  to  Boston  and  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  the  commissioners     1768.   Royal 
of  customs  seized  the  sloop    A<?1[??  °f.Art* 

*•       established  in 

Liberty  for  an  alleged  vio-  England. 
lation  of  the  revenue  law.  The  Liberty 
was  owned  by  John  Hancock.  Great 
excitement  followed  for  several  days. 
The  patriots  claimed  that  a  legal  process 
ought  first  to  have  been  filed.  The 
commissioners  at  last  went  on  board  the 
Romney  for  fear  of  personal  violence. 
A  great  mass  meeting  was  held  at 
Faneuil  Hall  and  then  at  the  Old  South 
church,  where  James  Otis  and  others 
spoke  eloquently  for  liberty.  The  im- 
pressment of  men  for  sailors,  an  offence 
which  the  officers  of  the  Romney  had 
committed,  and  the  rumored  bringing  of 
soldiers  to  Boston,  were  added  to  the 
seizure  of  the  Liberty  as  causes  of  agita- 
tion. A  committee  was  sent  to  Gov. 
Bernard  who  afterward  promised  to  re- 
dress their  grievances  in  respect  to  im- 
pressments, but  said  that  he  could  not 
control  the  Board  of  Customs. 

1768.  June.  The  New  York  as- 
sembly refused  to  vote  supplies  for  troops 
which  were  on  their  way  to  that  city, 
though  requested  to  do  so  by  the  governor. 


298 


RE  VOL  UTIONA R T  S  TR  UGGLES . 


1768.  September.  A  mass  meeting 
was  held  in  Faneuil  Hall  to  discuss  pub- 
lic affairs.  James  Otis  was  chosen  mod- 
erator. It  was  resolved  that  "  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  town  of  Boston  will  at  the 
utmost  peril  of  their  lives  and  fortunes 
maintain  and  defend  their  rights,  liberties, 
privileges,  and  immunities." 

1768.  Sept.  22.  A  Massachusetts 
convention  met  and  remained  in  session 
for  six  days.  Ninety-six  towns  were 
represented.  By  this  and  the  Boston 
town  meeting  the  provincial  rights  were 
drawn  out  more  clearly.  Local  self- 
government  was  now  the  great  basic 
principle  of  the  patriot  cause.  The  right 
of  Parliament  to  make  any  laws  what- 
ever for  the  colonies,  began  to  be  denied 
by  some.  The  equality  of  the  provincial 
assembly  with  Parliament  itself  was  an 
idea  fast  gaining  ground.  The  sentiment 
of  union  was  also  growing  up.  These 
things  only  exasperated  the  English  gov- 
ernment. Lord  North  said,  "  Whatever 
prudence  or  policy  might  hereafter  in- 
duce us  to  repeal  the  late  paper  and  glass 
act,  I  hope  we  shall  never  think  of  it  till 
we  see  America  prostrate  at  our  feet." 

1768.  Oct.  1.  Seven  hundred  British 
soldiers  under  Lieut.-Col.  Dalrymple, 
were  brought  up  from  Castle  William, 
Boston  harbor,  and  marched  to  the 
common,  where  they  encamped.  Within 
a  month  or  two,  parts  of  other  regiments 
were  also  lodged  in  the  city.  These 
troops  staid  till  after  the  Boston  massa- 
cre. A  long  contest  ensued  in  obtaining 
quarters  for  the  troops.  The  town  per- 
sistently refused  to  furnish  them,  and  the 
officers  were  obliged  to  fit  them  up  at  the 
expense  of  the  government.  The  bad 
character  of  the  soldiery  and  the  sight  of 
military  drills  had  a  demoralizing  influ- 
ence upon  the  life  of  Boston.  The  effort 


to  obtain  the  removal  of  these  troops  is 
the  key  to  the  politics  of  Boston  until  the 
blood  of  her  citizens  was  shed,  nearly  two 
years  later. 

1768.  Jonathan  Carver  returned  to 
Boston  from  an  exploration  of  several 
years  in  the  interior  of  the  North  Amer- 
ican continent.  He  reached  the  Minne- 
sota River  in  his  travels,  and  made 
numerous  charts  and  journals,  some  of 
which  were  subsequently  published. 
Great  doubt  has  been  thrown  upon  his 
publications  by  some,  and  it  is  affirmed 
that  Mr.  Carver  never  made  the  trip,  but 
compiled  his  account  from  the  reports  of 
others.  He  received  something  from  the 
English  government,  which  he  soon 
spent.  He  afterward  spent  a  long  time 
in  trying  to  secure  further  remuneration, 
but  was  denied  it. 

1768.  The  New  York  Chamber  of 
Commerce  was  founded,  and  received  a 
charter  two  years  later. 

1768.     The  manufacture  of  carriages 

o 

was  begun  in  New  York  by  two  Irish- 
men named  Elkanahand  William  Deaner 
who  came  from  Dublin,  bringing  their 
workmen  with  them  at  great  expense. 
"  They  were  prepared  to  make  coaches^ 
chariots,  landaus,  phaetons,  post-chaises, 
curricle-chairs,  sedans,  and  sleighs,  five 
per  cent,  below  the  importation  prices." 
Very  few  carriages  of  any  kind  had  been 
made  or  used  in  the  English  colonies  be- 
fore this  time. 

1768.  Anthracite  coal  began  to  be 
used  by  two  blacksmiths  named  Gore,  in 
Pennsylvania.  They  made  it  burn  in 
their  forges,  but  it  did  not  come  into  use 
in  other  ways,  because  of  the  difficulty  of 
kindling  it. 

1768.  The  Aleutian  Archipelago,  and 
a  portion  of  the  coast  of  Russian  Amer- 
ica were  explored  and  surveyed  by  a 


1761-1774.] 


THE  DAWN  OF  STRIFE. 


299 


Russian  expedition  under  Captain   Kre- 
nitzin. 

1768.  The    celebrated     "Farmers' 
Letters  to  the  inhabitants  of  the   British 
colonies "  were  issued,  and   had  a  wide 
circulation    in    America.       They    dealt 
clearly  with  the  infringement  of  colonial 
rights  by  royal  power,  and   set  forth  in 
strong  terms  the  need  of  redress.      They 
were  published  in  London,  with  a  pref- 
ace by  Benjamin  Franklin.     These  let- 
ters were  written  by  John  Dickinson  of 
Maryland,  whose  pen  afterward  prepared 
some  of  the  most  important  papers  of  the 
first  Continental  Congress.  He  was,  how- 
ever, subjected  to  great  criticism  because 
he  opposed  the  adoption  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  which  he  honestly 
thought  to  be  premature.  He  was  clearly 
a  true  patriot,  and  fought  at  one  time  as 
a  private  soldier  in  the  American  army. 

1769.  Earliest  Church  Discipline  for 
Slave-holding.       The      Congregational 
church  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  had   members 
involved  in  slave-trade  and  slave-holding. 
Dr.  Samuel  Hopkins,  who  this  year  be- 
came their  pastor,  at  once  fearlessly  took 
stand  against  it,  and  as  a  result  the  church 
soon   voted,  "  Resolved,   that   the   slave 
trade  and  the  slavery  of  the  Africans  as 
it  has  existed  among  us  is  a  gross  viola- 
tion of  the  righteousness  and  benevolence 
which  are  so  much  inculcated  in  the  gos- 
pel, and  therefore  we  will  not  tolerate  it 
in  this  church."     This    action,   and   the 
issue  of  a  pamphlet  by  Dr.  Hopkins,  had 
a  speedy  influence  in  New  England. 

1769.  First  House  in  Kentucky. 
Daniel  Boone  and  five  companions  visited 
Kentucky.  They  explored  that  beautiful 
"Middle  Ground"  and  hunted  along  its 
valleys,  till  at  last  Boone  was  left  in 
autumn  with  one  brother,  the  rest  having 
returned  to  the  settlements,  save  one  who 


was  slain  by  the  Indians.  The  two 
brothers  remained  for  the  winter,  and 
built  a  temporary  hut,  the  first  house  in 
the  present  State  of  Kentucky. 

1769.  Dartmouth  College,  Hanover, 
N.  H.,  was  chartered  and  began  instruc- 
tion the  next  year  under  Eleazar  Whee- 
lock,  D.  D.  It  grew  out  of  a  school 
which  had  been  established  by  Dr. 
Wheelock  at  Lebanon,  Conn.,  for  the 
education  of  Indian  children. 

1769.  The  first  life  insurance  com- 
pany in  America  was  chartered  in  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  to  insure  the  lives 
of  Episcopal  clergymen.  It  was  known 
as  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Association 
for  the  Benefit  of  Widows  and  Children 
of  Clergymen  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Pennsylvania.  Dr.  Richard  Price  and 
Dr.  Franklin  were  highly  interested  in  it, 
and  prepared  rates  and  rules  for  it. 

1769.  Samuel  Hearne,  an  English 
explorer  under  the  order  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  company,  left  the  Prince  of  Wales' 
fort  in  the  company's  territory  on  a  trip 
of  exploration  to  discover  copper  mines 
and  a  Northwest  passage.  He  spent 
nearly  four  years  in  the  work,  and  during 
the  time  passed  down  the  Coppermine 
River  to  the  Arctic  Ocean,  at  the  north 
o'f  the  British  possessions.  The  journals 
of  Mr.  Hearne  lay  for  years  unappre- 
ciated. They  were  finally  brought  to 
light,  and  published. 

PONTMC. 

1769.  This  chief  was  a  member  of 
the  Ottawa  tribe  of  Indians  which  had 
formed  a  confederacy  with  the  Ojibways 
and  Pottawattamies.  The  authority  of 
Pontiac  in  the  confederacy  was  very 
great.  Major  Rogers,  who  led  a  party 
through  the  territory  of  this  chief  in  1760, 
was  much  struck  with  Pontiac's  kingly 


300 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


air,  and  with  the  respect  shown  him  by 
his  followers,  and  could  not  refrain  from 
admiring  the  strength  of  mind,  good 
judgment,  together  with  the  desire  for 
knowledge  displayed  by  him.  Pontiac 
had  for  a  long  time  been  the  firm  friend 
of  the  French.  On  the  accession  of  the 
English  to  power  he  found  himself  nearly 
unnoticed,  and  his  people  oftentimes 
treated  with  contempt.  He  saw  his  peo- 
ple diminishing,  and  their  hunting  grounds 
growing  small.  He  therefore  began  to 
meditate  the  overthrow  of  the  English. 
His  speeches  to  the  Indian  councils,  and 
his  great  efforts  to  achieve  success,  all 
showed  him  to  be  a  man  of  remarkable 
native  gifts  and  strength  of  character. 
No  other  Indian  history  has  so  much  of 
lengthened  unflagging  efforts.  Many 
tribes  had  at  last  become  tired  of  the 
long  war,  and  in  spite  of  all  he  could  do, 
Pontiac  saw  many  of  his  followers  leav- 
ing him.  In  September,  1765,  he  held 
a  grand  council  with  George  Croghan  at 
Detroit,  at  which  a  treaty  of  lasting 
peace  was  made.  He  afterward  lived 
peaceably  on  the  banks  of  the  Maumee, 
and  although  there  was  some  discontent 
manifested  by  some  of  the  tribes  in  the 
region,  it  is  not  known  that  Pontiac  had 
anything  to  do  with  it.  In  April,  1769, 
he  paid  a  visit  to  St.  Louis.  He  was 
dressed  in  a  full  French  uniform  which 
had  been  presented  to  him  by  the  Mar- 
quis de  Montcalm.  He  crossed  the  river 
one  day  to  a  place  where  some  Illinois 
Indians  were  holding  a  council.  Here 
he  was  killed  unawares  by  an  Indian 
who  had  been  bribed  with  a  barrel  of 
whiskey  to  commit  the  deed.  His  body 
was  buried  with  the  honors  of  war  by 
St.  Ange,  the  commander  of  St.  Louis. 
Immediately  upon  the  announcement  of 
his  death  a  war  sprung  up  which  resulted 


in    almost    the    total    extinction   of   the 
tribe  among  which  he  had  been  killed. 


177O.  Jan.  17.  Liberty  Pole  Ex- 
citement. A  great  gathering  of  citizens 
took  place  in  New  York  around  the 
liberty  pole  which  had  been  cut  down 
the  night  before  by  British  soldiers. 
Speeches  were  made  and  resolutions 
passed,  affirming  the  rights  of  the  people. 
Quarrels  took  place  on  the  streets  for 
several  days.  Another  liberty  pole  was 
soon  erected  in  another  place. 

1770.  Feb.  22.  A  young  man 
named  Snider  was  murdered  in  a  quarrel 
between  soldiers  and  citizens  in  Boston. 

1770.  March  2.  A  fight  occurred 
at  Gray's  rope-walk  in  Boston,  between 
a  soldier  and  a  workman.  The  former, 
together  with  several  other  soldiers  who 
interfered  for  him,  were  beaten  off. 

1770.  March  5.  Boston  Massacre. 
A  quarrel  arose  gradually  in  the  evening 
on  the  streets  of  Boston  near  the  old 
State  House,  between  the  soldiers  and 
the  citizens.  A  portion  of  the  main 
guard  were  called  out  to  quiet  the  dis- 
turbance, and  a  fray  took  place.  The 
soldiers  fired,  killing  three  and  wounding 
eight,  two  of  them  mortally.  Crispus 
Attucks,  a  mulatto,  was  the  first  to  fall. 
Capt.  Preston  and  several  soldiers  were 
committed  to  jail,  and  afterward  tried, 
but  all  were  acquitted  save  two  soldiers 
who  were  convicted  of  manslaughter. 

177O.  March  6.  Removal  of  the 
Troops.  A  mass  meeting  was  held  in 
the  morning  in  Faneuil  Hall,  and  later  in 
the  day  in  the  Old  South  church,  and  a 
committee  was  sent  to  Gov.  Hutchinson 
to  demand  the  removal  of  the  troops 
from  Boston  to  Castle  William,  in  the 
harbor.  Gov.  Hutchinson  at  first  refused 
to  order  it,  but,  convinced  finally  of  the 


1761-1774.] 

stern  disposition  of  the  citizens,  consented 
to  do  so.  The  day  was  one  of  great  ex- 
citement throughout  the  city. 

1770.  March  8.  The  funeral  of  the 
three  persons  who  were  killed  in  the 
Boston  massacre,  and  the  one  who  had 
died  of  his  wounds,  was  observed  with 
great  parade.  Business  was  closed,  and 
bells  were  tolled. 

1770.  March  10.  The  troops  were 
removed  from  Boston  to  Castle  William, 
and  not  again  brought  to  the  city  till  1774. 

1770.  April  12.  The  Tea  Tax. 
The  tax  on  imports  to  the  colonies  under 
the  "  paper  and  glass  acts  "  was  repealed 
by  Parliament,  except  a  three  per  cent, 
tax  on  tea. 

1770.  July  6.  Boston  harbor  was  made 
a  rendezvous  for  all  British  war  vessels  on 
the  American  coast.  Castle  William 
was  ordered  to  be  strengthened.  These 
measures  freshly  excited  the  people. 

1770.  August.  A  leaden  statue  of 
George  III.  ordered  four  years  previously 
by  New  York  at  the  request  of  the  cit- 
izens because  of  their  joy  over  the  repeal 
of  the  Stamp  Act,  was  set  up  in  Bowling 
Green.  A  marble  statue  of  William 
Pitt  was  also  set  up  in  another  part  of 
the  city. 

1770.  The  right  to  hold  slaves  in  the 
State  of  Massachusetts  was  denied  by 
the  superior  court  in  the  case  of  James 
vs.  Lechmere,  which  was  brought  by  a 
negro  to  recover  his  freedom.  Slaves 
were,  however,  held  afterward,  and  the 
most  decisive  conclusion  in  the  matter 
was  reached  in  the  constitution  of  1780. 

177O.  A  law  defining  slavery  was 
for  the  first  time  passed  in  Georgia. 

1770.  Homespun  clothes  were 
worn  by  the  graduating  class  at  Harvard 
College,  in  taking  their  degrees. 

1770.       Rutger's    jCollege,    formerly 


THE  DAWN  OF  STRIFE. 


303 


called  Queen's  College,  was  founded  at 
New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  by  the  Reformed 
Dutch  church. 

WHITEFIELD. 

1770.  Sept.  30.  George  Whitefield, 
the  famous  preacher,  died  at  Exeter,  N. 
H.,  upon  a  tour  through  that  State.  He 
had  preached  steadily  at  Boston  and 
Portsmouth  for  nearly  the  entire  month, 
and  was  upon  his  return  from  the  latter 
place.  He  spoke  at  length  on  Saturday 
the  29th,  at  Exeter,  but  complained  after- 
ward of  a  compression  of  the  lungs.  He 
was  stopping  with  a  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons, 
and  when  he  was  ready  to  retire  he  spoke 
at  length  from  the  top  of  the  stairs  to 
people  who  had  gathered  in  the  lower 
hall.  The  candle  in  his  hand  burned 
out,  and  the  great  preacher^  retired  to  his 
room.  He  died  the  next  morning  in  a  fit 
of  asthma.  His  remains  lie  in  Newbury- 
port,  Mass.,  beneath  the  pulpit  of  White - 
field  church.  Mr.  Whitefield  was  born 
at  Gloucester,  England,  Dec.  16,  1714, 
and  was  therefore  not  quite  fifty-six  years 
of  age.  He  had  crossed  the  waters  sev- 
eral times,  and  had  labored  with  "great 
results  in  many  of  the  American  colonies. 
His  preaching  was  of  that  kind  which  is 
peculiarly  persuasive  and  effective  when 
it  falls  from  human  lips.  One  loses  its 
force  when  transferred  to  print.  He  was 
eminently  an  orator  in  his  power  over  a 
vast  crowd  of  human  beings.  He  caused 
men  to  weep  who  had  hardly  ever  wept 
before.  He  played  upon  the  emotions  of 
his  hearers  at  his  will.  In  both  England 
and  America  his  preaching  was  attended 
by  crowds.  His  strong,  clear  voice  en- 
abled him  to  speak  in  the  open  air  with 
great  power.  He  was  instrumental 
in  changing  the  character  of  many  pul- 
pits in  both  lands  where  his  labors  were 


304 


RE  VOL  UTLONAR T  STR UG GL ES. 


known.  His  work  was  one  of  the 
phenomena  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
and  tradition  of  his  wonderful  dramatic 
gifts  will  long  remain.  Many  a  crowd 
has  been  thrilled  by  a  single  tone  of  his 
voice.  His  work  will  always  remain. 


1771.  North  Carolina  Regulators. 
In  some  of  the  poorer  countries  of  North 
Carolina,  a  rebellion  had  been  in  exist- 
ence for  one  or  two  years  against  the 
extortions  and  severity  of  the  provincial 
tax  collectors.  The  people  had  resisted 
all  authority,  and  assumed  the  name  of 
Regulators. 

1771.  May  16.  A  battle  was  fought 
on  Alamance  Creek,  between  the  "Reg- 
ulators" and  a  force  of  militia  under 
Gov.  Tryon.  Several  were  killed  upon 
both  sides,  and  many  of  the  "  Regula- 
tors "  were  taken  prisoners,  six  of  whom 
were  soon  hung  by  Tryon.  A  feeling 
of  hatred  still  existed,  although  the  open 
rebellion  had  ceased.  Many  of  the 
"  Regulators  "  afterward  became  patriot 
soldiers,  although  some  of  them  also  be- 
came royalists. 

.  1771.  Boys  of  Plymouth.  Elkanah 
Watson  in  his  "  Men  and  Times  of  the 
Revolution,"  describes  a  school  of  which 
he  was  a  member  till  he  was  fourteen 
years  of  age.  "  This  school  was  kept  by 
Alexander  Scammel  and  Peleg  Wads- 
worth;  both  afterward  distinguished  offi- 
cers of  the  army.  In  common  with  the 
other  patriotic  spirits  of  the  age,  they 
evidently  saw  the  approach  of  the  com- 
ing tempest.  I  remember  them  intently 
studying  military  tactics;  and  I  have 
often  seen  them  engaged  in  a  garden  ad- 
joining my  father's,  drilling  each  other. 
They  formed  the  boys  into  a  military 
company,  and  our  school  soon  had  the 
air  of  a  miniature  arsenal,  with  our 


wooden  guns  and  tin  bayonets  suspended 
round  the  walls.  At  twelve  o'clock  the 
word  was  given  'To  arms!'  and  each 
boy  seized  his  gun ;  then,  led  by  either 
Scammel  or  Wads  worth,  we  were  taught 
military  evolutions,  and  marched  over 
hills,  through  swamps,  often  in  the  rain, 
in  the  performance  of  these  embryo  mil- 
itary duties.  A  sad  and  impressive  com- 
mentary upon  the  effect  of  these  early 
influences  is  afforded  by  the  fact  that  half 
this  company  perished  in  the  conflict  of 
the  Revolution." 

1772.  June  1O.  Burning  of  the 
Gaspee.  The  Gaspee,  a  British  schooner 
of  eight  guns  under  Lieut.  William  Ducl- 
ingston,  which  had  been  sent  into  Nar- 
ragansett  Bay  to  prevent  smuggling,  and 
had  caused  much  angry  feeling  by  its  de- 
mands on  the  shipping  of  Rhode  Island, 
was  boarded  at  night  by  sixty-four  men 
from  Providence,  and  destroyed  by  fire 
after  the  crew  had  been  removed.  One 
shot  was  fired,  which  wounded  Lieut. 
Dudingston.  Mr.  John  Brown,  a  Prov- 
idence merchant,  seems  to  have  inspired 
the  plan.  A  reward  of  JCi,ooo  was 
offered  by  the  British  government  for  the 
leader,  but,  though  the  actors  were 
known  to  the  citizens  of  Providence,  no 
evidence  could  be  obtained  against  them. 
In  1775  Sir  James  Wallace,  then  block- 
ading Narragansett  Bay,  wrote  to  Abra- 
ham Whipple,  who,  it  was  now  known, 
was  the  leader  of  the  company  which 
burned  the  Gaspee,  as  follows: 

"  You,  Abraham  Whipple,  on  the  loth 
of  June,  1772,  burned  his  majesty's  ves- 
sel, the  Gaspee,  and  I  will  hang  you  at 
the  yard-arm.  JAMES  WALLACE." 

The  following  reply  was  received  • 

"  Sir:  Always  catch  a  man  before  you 
hang  him.  ABRAHAM  WHIPPLE." 

1772.     Nov.  2.     First  Committee  of 


1761-1774.] 

Correspondence.  A  town  meeting  in 
Boston  at  Faneuil  Hall  appointed  what 
seems  to  have  been  the  first  committee  of 
correspondence  in  the  colonies.  Samuel 
1772.  somerset  Adams  was  the  originator 
decision  deciar-  of  the  movement.  It  con- 

ing    slavery    «*..»>.  i 

England  uncon-  sisted  of  twenty  members, 
stitutionai.  one  of  whom  was  Dr.  Jo- 

1689-1772.  i-ixT-  T^U 

E,nan«ei  s™-  seph  Warren.  The  com- 
denborg.  mittec  met  at  once,  and 

issued  a  letter  to  all  the  towns  of  the 
State.  Other  towns  soon  appointed  sim- 
ilar committees,  and  thus  the  first  real 
organization  of  whig  patriotism  began 
to  take  place.  This  method  of  commu- 
nication was  subsequently  in  use  between 
the  States. 

1772.  "The  Flying  Machine,"  a 
stage  for  passengers,  was  advertised  to 
run  from  New  York  to  Philadelphia, 
making  each  trip  "in  the  remarkably 
short  time  of  two  days." 

1772.  Effectual  Penalty  for  Intoxi- 
cation.    An    intoxicated    negro  who  re- 
ceived the  punishment  in  vogue  in   New 
York  for  drunkenness,  viz :  "Three  quarts 
of   warm   water,  and    salt     enough     to 
operate  as  an  emetic,  with  a  portion   of 
lamp  oil  to  act  as  a  purge,"  died  from  the 
infliction  of  it. 

1773.  March.     The  Virginia  assem- 
bly elected  the  first  inter-state  committee 
of  correspondence  to  represent  the  prov- 
ince   in   communication  with   the  other 
provinces. 

1773.  A  Shrewd  Attempt.  The 
British  government  decreed  that  the  East 
India  Company  which  had  seventeen 
million  pounds  of  tea  shut  up  in  ware- 
houses because  the  Americans  would  not 
buy  it,  could  send  tea  to  the  colonies  with- 
out paying  an  export  duty,  and  thus  be 
able  to  sell  it  at  a  lower  price  than  any 
other  nation.  It  was  hoped  that  this 


THE  DAWN  OF  STRIFE. 


305 


would  entice  the  Americans  to  pay  the 
import  duty,  and  thus  surrender  the  prin- 
ciple they  had  been  pleading  for.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  cargoes  of  tea  were 
laded  for  America. 

1773.  Oct.  15.  A  tea  meeting  was 
held  in  New  York  to  consider  the  ques- 
tion of  receiving  tea  from  England. 
Patriotic  resolutions  were  adopted. 

1773.  Oct.  16.  A  tea  meeting  was 
held  in  Philadelphia.  Resolutions  were 
passed  declaring  the  sending  of  the  tea 
to  be  "  an  attack  on  the  liberties  of 
America." 

1773.  Nov.  3.  A  tea  meeting  was 
held  under  the  "Liberty  Tree"  in  Bos- 
ton. A  committee  waited  upon  the  con- 
signees of  the  tea  and  requested  them 
not  to  sell  the  cargo  when  it  should  arrive. 
The  request  was  denied.  Other  meet- 
ings were  held  repeatedly.  There  was 
constant  solicitation,  private  and  other- 
wise, brought  to  bear  upon  the  authorities 
to  secure  the  rejection  of  the  tea. 

1773.  Dec.  16.  Boston  Tea  Party. 
A  mass  meeting  was  held  in  the  Old 
South  church,  at  which  it  was  voted  to 
allow  none  of  the  tea  to  be  landed  from 
the  ships  which  had  now  arrived  at  the 
harbor.  The  ships  were  ordered  back  to 
England,  but  the  authorities  refused  to 
allow  them  to  depart.  Before  the  ad- 
journment of  the  meeting,  about  fifty  men 
disguised  as  Indians  proceeded  to  the 
three  ships  and  threw  the  tea,  three  hun- 
dred and  forty-two  chests  in  all,  into  the 
water.  It  was  done  in  perfect  order,  and 
at  the  close  the  whole  gathering  dispersed. 
The  persons  who  committed  the  deed 
have  never  been  certainly  known.  They 
seem  to  have  been  bound  by  an  oath  of 
concealment  which  was  apparently  never 
broken.  During  the  breaking  up  of  the 
chests  a  Capt.  O'Connor  filled  his  pockets 


306 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR 1   STR  UGGLES. 


with  tea,  and  attempted  to  jump  into  a 
boat  to  go  ashore,  but  a  person  who  had 
noticed  his  operation  grabbed  him  by  the 
skirts  of  the  coat,  which  were  torn  off 
in  the  struggle.  The  next  day  the  skirts 
were  nailed  to  the  whipping-post  of 
Charlestown,  and  attracted  a  great  deal 
of  attention. 

1773.  Dec.  26.  A  mass  meeting 
was  held  in  Philadelphia,  at  which  it  was 
voted  that  the  tea  ship  now  in  the  river 
should  depart  as  soon  as  possible.  The 
command  was  obeyed.  A  meeting  was 
held  in  New  York  with  similar  results. 
The  tea  which  had  been  landed  in 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  perished  in  the  cellars 
where  it  had  been  stored. 

1773.  The  Mendon  Convention.  A 
convention  which  must  have  been  the 
first,  or  nearly  the  first  of  its  kind,  was 
held  in  the  town  of  Mendon,  Worcester 
County,  Mass.,  for  the  discussion  of  the 
situation.  It  is  of  interest,  as  having  pro- 
duced a  paper  which  prophesies  the  Dec- 
laration of  Independence.  It  is  quite 
lengthy,  but  among  the  resolutions  it  con- 
tains, are  statements  "  that  all  men  have 
an  equal  right  to  life,  liberty,  and  prop- 
erty;  that  all  just  and  lawful  government 
must  originate  in  the  free  consent  of  the 
people;  that  a  right  to  liberty  and  prop- 
erty, which  are  natural  means  of  self- 
preservation,  is  absolutely  inalienable,  and 
can  never  lawfully  be  given  up  by  our- 
selves, or  taken  from  us  by  others." 

1773.  The  first  asylum  for  the  insane 
in  this  country  was  opened  at  Williams- 
burg,  Va. 

1773.  The  first  hut  erected  on  the 
site  of  Saratoga  Springs  was  built  this 
year  by  Derick  Scowton. 

1773.  Earthquake.  Guatemala,  the 
capital  of  the  province  bearing  the  same 
name  in  Central  America,  was  destroyed 


completely  by  an  earthquake.  It  was 
not  rebuilt  at  all  till  1799. 

1774.  Jan.  29.  Benjamin  Franklin 
appeared  before  the  Privy  Council  of 
England  in  support  of  a  petition  of  Mas- 
sachusetts sent  the  year  before  for  the 
removal  of  Gov.  Hutchinson  and  Lieut.- 
Gov.  Oliver  from  that  province.  This 
petition, was  caused  by  the  publication 
of  certain  letters  written  by  them  to  the 
English  government,  advising  the  with- 
drawal of  colonial  liberties  from  the 
province.  These  letters  had  been  ob- 
tained by  a  Dr.  Williamson,  who  gave 
them  to  Franklin.  By  him  they  were 
sent  to  Boston,where  they  were  published. 
The  petition  was  dismissed  by  the  king 
"  as  groundless,  vexatious,  and  scan- 
dalous." During  the  hearing  Solicitor 
Wedderburn  in  a  long  speech  on  the  col- 
onies, abused  Franklin  with  the  coarsest 
invective,  to  which  the  philosopher  lis- 
tened calmly.  It  is  said  that  when  he 
undressed  in  his  lodgings  he  vowed  he 
would  not  wear  that  suit  of  clothes  again 
till  he  signed  the  papers  for  the  separa- 
tion of  the  two  countries,  and  that  he 
wore  the  suit  for  the  first  time  afterward 
in  1783,  when  he  served  as  commissioner 
for  the  United  States  in  signing  a  treaty 
of  peace  with  Great  Britain. 

1774.  Jan.  30.  Franklin  received  a 
notice  deposing  him  from  the  position  of 
deputy  postmaster  general,  which  he  had 
held  with  benefit  to  the  colonies  by  the 
appointment  of  the  English  government 

in   1753- 

1774.     March  31.     The  Boston  Port 

Bill,  having  passed  Parliament,  was 
signed  by  the  king.  By  this  act  all 
commerce  was  to  be  shut  out  from  Bos- 
ton, and  the  government  offices  were 
ordered  to  be  removed  immediately  to 
Salem. 


1761-1774.] 

1774.     May  12.     A  meeting  of  dele- 
gates from    nine  towns    around    Boston 

1774.    Drawing    was  held   at  Faneuil  Hall, 
frame  for  cotton    to   consider   the   oppressive 

/;/ ^ 'ented b v  Rob-  c     ,,  -r-,        •,•   •, 

ert  ArJmrifki     measures   of    the    English 
1728-1774.  Oliver    government,   and    to  urge 

Goldsmith . 


THE  DAWN  OF  STRIFE. 


307 


stricter  adherence  to  the  non-importation 
agreement.  Meetings  were  subsequently 
held  in  other  towns.  A  circular  letter 
was  drawn  up  to  be  transmitted  to  other 
colonies. 

1774.  May  13.  An  appeal  for  aid 
was  added  to  this  letter,  in  view  of  the 
severity  of  the  effect  which  must  be  felt 
by  Boston  through  the  operation  of  the 
Port  Bill  and  other  measures.  The  cir- 
cular letter  prepared  during  these  two 
days  was  carried  to  the  other  colonies  by 
Paul  Revere. 

1774.  May  17.  Gen.  Gage,  who  had 
been  appointed  governor  of  Massachu- 
setts in  place  of  Hutchinson,  landed  at 
Long  Wharf,  Boston.  Troops  were  to 
follow  him  to  the  city.  He  was  instruct- 
ed to  arrest  the  leaders  of  the  patriots, 
and  send  them  abroad. 

1774.  May  20.  The  Massachusetts 
Government  Bill.  A  bill  for  the  better 
regulating  the  government  of  the  prov- 
ince of  Massachusetts  Bay,  having  been 
passed  by  Parliament,  was  signed  by  the 
king.  It  provided  for  the  appointment 
of  the  governor's  council  and  supreme 
court  by  the  crown,  forbade  the  holding 
of  town  meetings  without  the  consent  of 
the  governor,  and  provided  for  the  sum- 
moning of  juries  by  the  sheriff,  who, 
with  other  minor  officers,  were  appointees 
of  the  governor.  These  changes  were  all 
in  violation  of  the  charter. 

1774.  May  20.  "  The  Murder  Act." 
Another  bill  was  signed  by  the  king  this 
day,  which  became  known  as  "  the  mur- 


der act,"  because  it  provided  for  the  re- 
moval from  the  province  for  trial  of  all 
such  persons  as  were  charged  with  mur- 
der in  upholding  the  authority  of  the 
crown.  It  was  entitled  "An  Act  for  the 
more  impartial  administration  of  justice 
in  said  province."  These  two  bills,  to- 
gether with  the  Mutiny  Act,  which  had 
already  been  extended  to  America,  and 
provided  for  the  quartering  of  troops 
upon  rebellious  provinces,  and  the  Quebec 
Act  which  sanctioned  the  free  exercise  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  religion  in  Canada, 
in  order  to  secure  its  loyalty,  were  all  ap- 
proved, and  became  laws  in  spite  of  the 
protests  of  Edmund  Burke  and  others. 

1774.  May  25.  The  Virginia  Pro- 
vincial Assembly.  Gov.  Dunmore,  be- 
cause of  his  loyalist  sympathies,  dissolved 
the  House  of  Burgesses  on  account  of 
their  patriotic  action.  The  members 
went  to  the  Raleigh  tavern  in  Williams- 
burg,  and  originated  the  Virginia  Pro- 
vincial Assembly.  They  voted  to  recom- 
mend a  general  congress  according  to  the 
suggestion  of  New  York. 

1774.  June  1.  The  Boston  Port 
Bill  went  into  effect,  and  the  day  was 
very  generally  observed  as  a  day  of  fast- 
ing and  great  solemnity.  This  bill  was 
thoroughly  executed  by  Gen.  Gage,  and 
almost  all  business  was  immediately 
suspended. 

1774.  June  7.  The  last  colonial  as- 
sembly of  Massachusetts  met  at  Salem. 
Patriotic  resolutions  were  introduced. 
The  time  and  place  for  a  continental 
congress  were  decided;  delegates  were 
elected  thereto,  and  resolutions  passed, 
concerning  non-importation.  Gov.  Gage, 
hearing  of  their  action,  sent  his  secretary 
to  dissolve  them,  but  members  of  the  as- 
sembly locked  the  doors,  preventing  the 
entrance  of  the  official  until  they  had 


308 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


done  their  business  and  adjourned  in  reg- 
ular order. 

1774.  June  14.  Troops  were  brought 
from  Castle  William  into  the  city  of 
Boston  in  view  of  the  enforcement  of  the 
Port  Bill.  At  later  times  other  compa- 
nies were  added  to  the  force. 

1774.  -June.  Aid  for  Boston.  South 
Carolina  sent  two  hundred  barrels  of  rice 
to  Boston;  Windham,  Conn.,  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  sheep;  Schoharie,  N.  Y., 
five  hundred  and  fifty  bushels  of  wheat; 
Georgia  seven  hundred  and  twenty  dol- 
lars in  specie,  and  sixty-three  barrels  of 
rice.  These  were  specimens  of  the  gifts 
which  came  pouring  in.  A  "  Donation 
Committee  "  had  the  distribution  of  these 
materials  in  charge. 

1774.  July  6.  The  great  "  Meeting 
in  the  Fields,"  as  it  was  called,  was 
held  by  the  citizens  of  New  York  to 
consider  the  situation  of  affairs.  Among 
others  Alexander  Hamilton,  then  a  young 
man  at  Columbia  College,  addressed  the 
people.  It  was  his  first  speech  in  public, 
and  was  made  after  great  persuasion,  but 
by  its  thrilling  eloquence  in  pleading  for 
the  great  principles  at  stake,  it  proved  that 
an  eminent  career  was  before  its  author. 

1774.  July  11.  Sir  William  John- 
son, who  had  had  a  powerful  influence 
over  the  Six  Nations,  and  had  been 
prominent  in  previous  wars  as  Indian 
agent,  died.  He  is  known  for  the  natural 
alliance  with  Mary,  the  sister  of  the  great 
Mohawk  sachem,  Joseph  Brandt.  His 
nephew,  Guy  Johnson,  and  his  son  Sir 
John  Johnson,  succeeded  to  his  power, 
and  were  both  of  them  hot  tories. 

1774.  Aug.  6.  Shakers.  "  Mother 
Ann  "  and  nine  other  prominent  Shakers 
arrived  in  New  York  from  England,  and 
the  most  of  them  settled  at  what  is  now 
Watervliet,  near  Albany.  These  emi- 


grants had  originally  been  members  of 
the  Quakers,  but  separated  through  a 
divergence  of  opinion.  The  full  idea  of 
the  Shaker  family  was  not  entertained 
by  Mother  Ann  Lee  till  a  few  years 
after  coming  to  America.  Finally,  con- 
verts to  her  doctrines  increased  in  num- 
bers, and  in  a  score  of  years  about  a 
dozen  Shaker  societies  had  been  or- 
ganized. 

1774.  Sept.  1.  « Powder  Alarm." 
Gen.  Gage  seized  some  provincial  stores 
including  two  field  pieces,  at  Cambridge, 
and  two  hundred  and  fifty  half  barrels- 
of  powder  at  Charlestown  powder  house. 
He  then  began  to  fortify  Boston  Neck. 
'  This  caused  an  excitement  in  Boston,  and 
in  some  way  the  report  spread  through 
New  England  that  war  had  begun- 
Boston  was  full  of  great  agitation.  The 
selectmen  remonstrated  with  Gen.  Gage 
against  the  fortifications,  and  a  long  con- 
test of  words  ensued.  The  city  was  for 
a  time  full  of  club,  caucus  and  committee 
meetings.  From  some  hasty  message 
the  word  went  forth  that  bloodshed  had 
already  occurred.  Immediately  the 
patriots  of  New  England  began  to  pour 
toward  Boston,  and  before  the  report 
could  be  contradicted  thirty  thousand  men 
were  on  their  way  to  take  a  part  in  the 
great  contest  which  was  thought  to  have 
been  begun.  This  uprising  of  the  New 
England  yeomanry  showed  the  growth 
of  the  feeling  of  resistance.  Meantime 
the  people  were  attaining  a  skill  in  de- 
liberation, which  the  more  speedy  out- 
break of  hostilities  would  have  prevented. 
Town  meetings  multiplied,  and  people 
everywhere  were  thinking  deeply. 

1774.  Sept.  5.  First  Continental 
Congress.  Delegates  from  twelve  col- 
onies met  at  Carpenter's  Hall,  Philadel- 
phia, and  organized  themselves  into  a  con- 


17(51-1774.] 


THE  DAWN  OF  STRIFE. 


309 


tinental  congress  by  the  choice  of  Peyton 
Randolph,  of  Virginia,  as  president,  and 
Charles  Thomson,  of  Philadelphia,  as 
secretary.  The  latter  was  not  a  member 
of  the  body,  but  because  of  his  fitness  for 
the  position,  continued  to  be  secretary  of 
the  continental  congress  till  its  final  disso- 
lution fifteen  years  afterward.  Patrick 
Henry  made  the  first  speech  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  session,  when  there  was  a 
slight  hesitation  in  proposing  business, 
and  gave  by  his  eloquence  a  patriotic 
inspiration  to  the  whole  subsequent  delib- 
1774-1793.  erations.  Mr.  •  Randolph 

Louis  xvi.    presided  again  at  the  open- 

King  of  France.      jng.  gession  Qf  May  j  O,  1 775. 

1774.  Sept.  22.  The  merchants  of 
the  colonies  were  requested  by  a  vote  of 
congress  "  not  to  send  any  order  to  Great 
Britain,  and  to  delay  the  execution  of  any 
•order  already  sent." 

1774.  Sept.  26.  All  the  carpenters 
•who  were  at  work  on  soldiers'  barracks 
quit,  and  refused  to  have  anything  more 
to  do  with  them.  Gov.  Gage  could  find 
none  in  Boston,  and  not  for  a  long  time, 
in  New  York.  Merchants  would  not 
sell  goods  to  the  soldiers. 

1774.  Oct.  5.  First  Massachusetts 
Provincial  Congress.  The  general  court 
of  Massachusetts  had  been  called  by  Gen. 
Gage  the  first  of  September,  but  when 
he  learned  what  they  would  try  to  do,  he 
issued  a  proclamation  revoking  the  call. 
They  met  and  waited  a  day  for  the  gov- 
ernor, and  then  organized  as  a  provincial 
assembly. 

1774.  Oct.  8.  Commendation  of 
Massachusetts.  It  was  voted  at  Phila- 
delphia that  congress  approves  "  the 
opposition  of  the  inhabitants  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  to  the  execution  of  the  late 
acts  of  Parliament,  and  if  the  same  shall 
be  attempted  to  be  carried  into  execution 


by  force,  in  such  a  case  all  Americans 
ought  to  support  them  in  their  oppo- 
sition." 

1774.  Oct.  10.  A  great  battle  was 
fought  on  the  Ohio  River  between  eleven 
hundred  Virginians  under  Col.  Andrew 
Lewis  and  nearly  one  thousand  Indians. 
Bancroft  says  it  was  the  most  bloody 
and  best  contested  in  the  annals  of  forest 
warfare. 

1774.  Oct.  14.  A  declaration  of 
colonial  rights  was  drawn  up  and  passed 
by  congress. 

1774.  Oct.  15.  Burning  of  Tea. 
An  attempt  was  made  to  import  some 
tea  in  a  cargo  of  goods  which  came  to 
Annapolis,  Md.,  in  the  ship  Peggy 
Stewart  from  London.  But  the  anger  of 
the  people,  who  resolved  that  no  tea 
should  be  landed,  induced  the  owner  to 
burn  the  ship  and  its  contents. 

1774.  Oct.  20.  The  American  As- 
sociation.  A  series  of  articles  drawn  up 
under  the  above  heading  was  adopted  by 
congress  for  the  sake  of  maintaining  the 
rights  of  the  colonies.  The  second  arti- 
cle was  "  that  we  will  neither  import  nor 
purchase  any  slave  imported  after  the 
first  day  of  December  next,  after  which 
time  we  will  wholly  discontinue  the  slave 
trade,  and  will  neither  be  concerned  in  it 
ourselves,  nor  will  we  hire  our  vessels 
nor  sell  our  commodities  or  manufactures 
to  those  who  are  engaged  in  it."  Arti- 
cles like  this  had  been  adopted  at  meet- 
ings for  the  election  of  delegates  in  Vir- 
ginia, North  Carolina,  and  other  colonies. 
Jefferson  said  in  the  exposition  of  British 
rights  which  he  laid  before  the  Virginia 

o 

convention :  "  The  abolition  of  domestic 
slavery  is  the  greatest  object  of  desire  in 
these  colonies,  where  it  was  unhappily 
fixed  in  their  infant  state."  This  senti- 
ment was  generally  diffused  through  the 


310 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


colonies.  The  above  articles  of  associa- 
tion were  adopted  everywhere,  in  the 
southern  colonies  as  well  as  in  the  north- 
ern. The  union  agreed  upon,  virtually 
rested  on  the  introductory  compact  to 
carry  out  the  above  and  several  other 
things.  Subsequently  most  of  the  States 
took  measures  to  abolish  the  slave  traffic, 
which  was  not  renewed  till  1803,  by 
South  Carolina.  Some  of  the  colonies 
had  at  this  time  laws  for  the  gradual 
abolition  of  slaveholding  itself.  Most 
persons,  however,  condemned  the  slave 
trade  before  there  was  any  strong  oppo- 
sition to  slaveholding. 

1774.  Oct.  22.  Henry  Middleton 
of  South  Carolina,  was  temporarily 
elected  president  of  the  continental  con- 
gress to  succeed  Peyton  Randolph,  of 
Virginia,  who  was  unable  to  serve  longer 
on  account  of  ill-health. 

1774.  Oct.  26.  The  first  "  commit, 
tee  of  safety  "  was  created  by  the  Mas- 
sachusetts provincial  assembly  to  take 
charge  of  the  province,  to  organize  the 
militia,  to  provide  stores,  and  direct  all 
subordinate  matters.  This  committee 
was  really  the  leading  power  in  the 
colony. 

1774.  Oct.  26.  The  first  congress 
adjourned  to  meet  May  10,  1775.  They 
adopted  a  few  days  before  an  "  Address 
to  the  people  of  Great  Britain,"  and  a 
"Petition  to  the  King,"  besides  several 
less  important  papers.  They  also  had 
voted  to  discountenance  gaming,  cock- 
fighting,  exhibitions  of  plays,  shows,  and 
other  expensive  diversions  and  enter- 
tainments. 

1774.  November.  "  Minute  Men." 
The  Massachusetts  provincial  assembly 
ordered  the  enlistment  and  drilling  of 
twelve  thousand  "  minute  men."  It  also 
took  steps  to  provide  for  military  stores 


and  the  manufacture  of  ammunition.  It 
also  elected  general  officers  for  governing 
the  province. 

1774.  Nov.  1O.  A  proclamation 
denouncing  these  acts,  was  issued  by  Gen. 
Gage. 

1 774.  November.  The  war  with  the 
western  Indians  which  had  been  raging 
through  the  summer,  was  closed  by  a 
treaty  of  peace. 

1774.  December.  Seizure  of  Can. 
non.  News  came  that  the  king  had 
forbidden  military  stores  to  be  exported 
from  the  '  kingdom  to  America.  The 
citizens  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  at  once 
seized  forty  cannon  from  a  fort  near 
Newport. 

1774.  Dec.  14.  Seizure  of  Powder. 
The  citizens  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,, 
seized  one  hundred  barrels  of  powder  at 
a  fort  in  the  harbor. 

1774.  Dec.  15.  Another  party  dis- 
mantled the  fort,  and  carried  off  small 
arms  and  a  few  cannon. 

1774.  Dr.  Adams,  a  tory,  of  Arling- 
ton, N.  Y.,  was  tied  up  and  exposed  upon 
"  Landlord  Fay's  sign  post  where  was 
fixed  a  dead  catamount,"  for  some  offence 
given  to  the  patriotic  sentiment  of  the 
place. 

1774.  Removal  of  Plymouth  Rock. 
An  attempt  was  made  to  remove  Ply- 
mouth Rock  from  its  bed  to  a  place  in 
town  where  it  would  command  general 
attention.  But  while  it  was  being  raised 
to  the  carriage,  it  broke  apart  and  fell. 
One  portion  only  was  removed.  The 
other  was  again  embedded  in  its  original 
home,  and  over  it  a  beautiful  granite 
canopy  has  been  erected  in  recent  years.. 
The  piece  removed  has  been  in  1880  re- 
turned to  its  position  with  the  other. 

1774.  Slavery  Among  Quakers.  The 
society  of  Friends  in  Philadelphia,  at  its- 


1761-1774.] 


THE  DAWN  OF  STRIFE. 


311 


yearly  meeting  took  action  withdrawing 
fellowship  from  all  members  who  con- 
tinued to  buy  negroes.  The  matter  was 
brought  up  in  other  yearly  meetings  a 
-little  later.  William  Burling,  of  Long 
Island,  Ralph  Sandiford  of  Philadelphia, 
Benjamin  Lay,  John  Woolman  and  An- 
thony Benezet,  were  largely  instrumental 
in  securing  the  cessation  of  slavery  ambng 
Quakers.  Their  testimony  was  con- 
stantly borne  against  the  inhumanities  of 
the  custom.  Benjamin  Lay  was  especially 
earnest  in  his  testimony  everywhere. 
"  Calling  on  a  friend  in  the  city,  he  was 
asked  to  sit  down  to  breakfast.  He  first 
inquired,  '  Dost  thou  keep  slaves  in  thy 
house?'  On  being  answered  in  the 
affirmative,  he  said,  'Then  I  will  not  par- 
take with  thee  of  the  fruits  of  thy  unright- 
eousness.' After  an  ineffectual  attempt 
to  convince  a  farmer  and  his  wife  in 
Chester  county  of  the  iniquity  of  keeping 
slaves,  he  seized  their  only  child,  a  little 


girl  of  three  years  of  age,  under  pretense 
of  carrying  her  away,  and  when  the 
cries  of  the  child  and  his  singular  expe- 
dient alarmed  them,  he  said,  *  You  see 
and  feel  now  a  little  of  the  distress  which 
you  occasion  by  the  inhuman  practice  of 
slave-keeping.'  On  one  occasion  he 
seated  himself  in  a  meeting  of  Friends 
among  slaveholders  with  a  bladder  of 
bullock's  blood  secreted  under  his  mantle, 
and  at  length  broke  the  quiet  stillness  of 
the  worship  by  deliberately  rising  in  full 
view  of  the  whole  audience,  piercing  the 
bladder,  spilling  the  blood  on  the  floor 
and  seats,  thus  sprinkling  some  of  it  on 
the  raiment  of  those  near  him,  and  ex- 
claiming with  all  the  solemn  authority  of 
an  ancient  prophet,  '  Thus  shall  the  Lord 
spill  the  blood  of  those  that  traffic  in  the 
blood  of  their  fellow  men.'  A  scene  of 
great  confusion  followed.  Some  fainted, 
some  shrieked,  and  the  meeting  broke 
up  in  disorder." 


SECTION  XIV. 


T  OF  TftlAZ.    /775-1783. 


MHE  first  great  conflict  of  arms  for 
self-government  in  America  now 
began.  The  darkness  of  the  strug- 
gle  was  made  deeper  through  the 
opinions  and  efforts  of  large  numbers  of 
royalists  or  tories  scattered  up  and  down 
the  colonies.  At  times  they  furnished 
many  recruits  to  the  British  army.  In 
company  with  Indians,  they  often  com- 
mitted some  of  the  worst  outrages.  The 
patriots  had  to  guard  against  those  of 
their  own  communities.  There  were 
times  also  when  it  seemed  as  if  the 
patriots  themselves  would  be  rent  asunder 
by  differences  of  opinion.  But  finally 
victory  brought  rejoicing.  Peace  was 
declared.  The  whole  continent  had  an 
undiscerned  interest  in  the  result.  Slowly 
were  the  effects  of  it  to  be  manifest 
through  the  entire  length  of  North  and 
South  America.  The  example  of  pa- 
triotism was  powerful  in  setting  a  spirit  of 
liberty  at  work  everywhere.  The  first 
developments  were  slight  and  feeble,  but 
the  final  achievements  will  be  glorious. 


1775.     Jan.  23.     Gen.  Gage's  Policy. 

Gen.  Gage  sent  one  hundred  men  under 

Capt.  Balfour,  known  as  the  "  Queen's 

Guards,"  to  Marshfield,  Mass.,  at  the  call 

312 


of  a  "  Loyal  Association,"  to  protect 
them  from  threatened  action  of  patriots. 
The  company  remained  there  till  April 
1 8.  While  at  Marshfield  Capt.  Balfour 
visited  Plymouth,  having  the  future  oc- 
cupation of  that  town  in  mind.  But  the 
patriotic  feeling "  was  so  great  he  saw 
that  it  would  be  useless  to  attempt  the 
movement.  It  was  upon  a  later  day  that 
a  British  officer  visited  Plymouth,  and  in 
some  way  aroused  the  indignation  of  the 
citizens.  He  was  chased,  and  disarmed 
in  the  shop  of  a  tory  into  which  he  had 
fled  for  safety.  His  sword  was  cut  into 
pieces,  which  were  given  away  to  the 
whigs.  Gen.  Gage  thought  that  the 
only  way  of  procedure  was  to  disarm 
the  colonies  by  taking  possession  of  their 
munitions  of  war  and  supplies. 

1775.  Feb.  26.  The  First  Blood. 
A  party  of  British  soldiers  under  Leslie 
went  from  Boston  to  Salem  and  Danvers, 
after  provincial  supplies.  At  Salem  they 
did  not  find  what  they  were  hunting  for. 
As  they  started  off  for  Danvers  they 
found  that  the  draw  of  the  North  Bridge, 
Salem,  had  been  raised.  The  citizens 
would  not  lower  it.  The  soldiers  then 
undertook  to  seize  two  large  gondolas 
which  lay  upon  the  Salem  side,  and  a 


1775-1783.] 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


313 


scuffle  took  place,  in  which  a  soldier 
pressed  one  of  the  boatmen  with  his 
bayonet,  drawing  the  first  -blood  of  the 
Revolution.  A  compromise  was  now 
proposed  by  Rev.  Thomas  Barnard,  and 
was  accepted.  By  its  terms  the  draw 
was  lowered,  the  British  soldiers  marched 
across  it  a  distance  of  thirty  rods  into 
Danvers,  and  turning  about,  started  for 
Boston.  The  spirit  of  the  people  was 
ominous. 

1775.  February.  A  remarkable 
charge  was  delivered  by  Judge  William 
Henry  Crawford,  of  South  Carolina,  to 
grand  jurors  in  that  province  enjoining 
the  strict  maintenance  of  the  constitu- 
tional rights,  at  the  hazard  of  life  and 
fortune. 

1775.  April  14.  "The  Pennsylva- 
nia Society  for  the  Abolition  of  Slavery  " 
was  organized  in  a  meeting  of  gentlemen 
at  the  Sun  Tavern  on  Second  Street,  Phil- 
adelphia. The  society  seems  to  have  held 
four  meetings  in  1775,  and  no  other  till 
1784,  because  of  the  war.  In  1787  the 
abolition  of  slavery  was  taken  up  as  an 
object  of  steadfast  labor.  Dr.  Franklin 
was  president,  and  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush 
secretary. 

LEXINGTON  AND  CONCORD. 

1775.  April  19.  A  force  of  eight 
hundred  British  troops  under  Lieut.-Col. 
Smith  was  sent  out  from  Boston  before 
light  to  destroy  the  provincial  stores  at 
Lexington  and  Concord.  Paul  Revere, 
who  was  warned  by  a  signal  light  hung 
in  the  steeple  of  the  North  church,  Bos- 
ton, mounted  his  horse  and  roused  the 
inhabitants  along  the  way.  Major  Pit- 
cairn  pushed  on  hastily  with  about  three 
hundred  infantry  troops,  and  arrived  at 
Lexington  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
He  was  there  met  on  the  green  by  about 


seventy  militia  men  under  Capt.  Isaac 
Parker.  Major  Pitcairn  rode  up  to  them 
and  cried  out,  "Disperse,  ye  rebels!  •' at 
the  same  time  discharging  his  pistol. 
In  some  way  or  other  firing  began  by  a 
volley  from  the  British  troops.  Eight 
Americans  lay  dead,  and  ten  wounded. 
The  Americans  scattered  in  confusion, 
and  the  British  hurried  on  their  way  to 
Concord,  where  they  began  to  destroy 
the  militia  stores  of  the  town.  The 
"  minute  men "  gathered  at  the  bridge, 
and  there  the  British  fired  upon  them, 
killing  Capt.  Isaac  Davis.  The  Ameri- 
cans fired  in  return,  killing  one  and 
wounding  several.  Then  the  British 
began  their  disastrous  retreat  to  Boston, 
a  distance  of  sixteen  miles.  Every 
minute  the  number  of  patriots  increased, 
and  from  the  fields,  the  stone  walls,  and 
buildings,  a  constant  fire  was  kept  up  on 
the  invaders.  At  Lexington  Lord  Percy 
met  the  exhausted  British  soldiers  with  a 
reinforcement  of  one  thousand  men,  and 
the  slaughter  ceased  for  a  time.  The 
British  finally  reached  Cambridge,  and 
succeeded  in  getting  back  to  their  quar- 
ters in  Boston.  They  had  lost  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  men;  the  Americans 
ninety-five.  This  day  is  reckoned  as  the 
real  opening  of  the  Revolution. 


1775.  April  20.  Siege  of  Boston. 
The  patriots  who  had  followed  the  re- 
treating foe  did  not  scatter  again  to  their 
families,  but  at  once  invested  the  city. 
On  this  day  the  lines  around  Boston  were 
really  formed  by  the  "  minute  men " 
who  came  pouring  in.  As  the  news 
swept  on  through  New  England  like 
wild  fire,  men  left  their  work  at  once  to 
shoulder  their  muskets  and  file  along  the 
roads  on  their  holy  errand.  Twenty 
thousand  men  were  soon  thronging  the 


314 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES . 


entrenchments  around  the  city.  Israel 
Putnam  of  Connecticut,  left  his  plow 
in  the  field  and  rode  one  hundred  miles 
in  eighteen  hours.  John  Stark  of  New 
Hampshire,  was  sawing  pine  logs,  and 
shutting  down  the  gate,  started  for  Bos- 
ton in  his  shirt-sleeves. 

1775.  April  2O.  Powder  Seizure. 
Gov.  Dunmore,  of  Virginia,  seized  the 
powder  at  Williamsburg.  The  people, 
led  by  Patrick  Henry,  appealed  to  him 
for  remuneration.  He  promised  to  pay 
for  it,  and  afterward  kept  his  word. 
Gov.  Dunmore  subsequently  wrote  letters 
reflecting  upon  the  colonists.  These  let- 
ters were  intercepted,  and  to  escape  the 
storm  of  indignation  he  was  obliged  to 
conceal  himself  on  board  a  royal  vessel. 

1775.  May  10.  Capture  of  Fort  Ti- 
conderoga.  A  party  of  eighty-three  men 
under  Ethan  Allen  and  Benedict  Arnold, 
entered  Fort  Ticonderoga  before  light  in 
the  morning,  and  rousing  the  commander 
demanded  its  surrender,  "  in  the  name 
of  the  Great  Jehovah  and  the  Continental 
Congress."  No  resistance  was  made. 
Over  one  hundred  cannon  were  thus 
secured,  some  of  which  were  afterward 
hauled  on  sleds  by  oxen  across  the 
mountains  to  Boston,  to  aid  in  the  siege 
of  that  place. 

1775.  May  10.  The  second  con- 
tinental congress  met  at  Philadelphia 
and  voted  to  raise  twenty  thousand  men. 
A  petition  to  the  king  was  ordered  to  be 
prepared.  The  formation  of  a  federal 
union  was  initiated,  and  steps  were  taken 
to  organize  an  army  and  navy. 

1775.  May  10.  Peyton  Randolph, 
of  Virginia,  was  elected  president  of  the 
continental  congress  upon  the  meeting  of 
its  second  session.  In  a  few  days  he 
went  to  Virginia  to  serve  in  the  House  of 
Burgesses. 


1775.  May  12.  Crown  Point  was- 
taken  by  a  small  force  of  men  under 
Seth  Warner.  Skenesborough,  now 
Whitehall,  was  taken  about  the  same 
time. 

1775.  May  18.  A  British  sloop-of- 
war  at  the  northern  end  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  was  captured  by  a  small  vessel 
fitted  up  by  Benedict  Arnold. 

1775.  May.  First  Victory  on  the 
Atlantic.  A  small  vessel  was  fitted  out 
at  New  Bedford  and  Dartmouth,  Mass., 
in  which  a  bold  company  sailed  and 
retook  a  vessel  which  had  been  taken  by 
the  British  sloop  Falcon,  on  the  coast. 
Fifteen  prisoners  were  taken. 

1775.  May  23.  Seventeen  settlers 
met  in  convention  at  Boonesborough, 
Ky.,  to  take  measures  for  their  own  pro- 
tection. They  organized  an  infant  state. 

1775.  May  24.  John  Hancock,  of 
Massachusetts,  was  elected  president  of 
the  continental  congress,  to  succeed  Pey- 
ton Randolph,  of  Virginia. 

1775.  May  27.  The  Island  Eaid, 
The  Americans  carried  off  sheep  and 
other  supplies  from  Hog  and  Noddle 
Islands  in  Boston  harbor.  A  fight  was. 
kept  up  all  day,  in  which  about  seventy 
British  soldiers  were  killed  and  wounded. 
The  Americans  had  only  four  slightly 
wounded.  Among  the  supplies  captured 
by  the  patriots  were  twelve  swivels,  and 
four  four-pound  cannon. 

1775.  May  31.  The  Mecklenburg 
Declaration.  The  inhabitants  of  Meck- 
lenburg county,  N.  C.,  chiefly  Presby- 
terians of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  met  in  a 
convention  at  Charlotte,  and  issued  their 
famous  "  declaration  of  independence," 
asserting  that  their  loyalty  to  the  king 
was  ended. 

1775.  June  6.  An  exchange  of 
prisoners,  the  first  one  in  the  Revolution, 


1775-1783.] 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


315 


took  place  at  Charlestown  Ferry,  near 
Boston.  Major  Moncrieff,  a  British 
officer,  brought  the  patriots  who  had 
been  captured  on  the  i9th  of  April.  He 
and  others  dined  with  Gen.  Putnam  in 
Cambridge  before  returning  to  their 
vessel  with  their  released  fellow-soldiers. 

1775.  June  11.  Capture  of  the 
Margaretta.  Some  young  loggers  and 
sawyers  of  Mechisses,  now  Machias, 
Maine,  led  by  Jeremiah  O'Brien,  captured 
the  "  Margaretta,"  an  English  armed 
schooner,  and  another  vessel  which  was 
loaded  with  lumber  at  that  point.  There 
was  a  total  loss  of  twenty,  killed  and 
wounded. 

1775.  June  12.  The  well-known 
proclamation  of  Gen.  Gage  was  issued, 
offering  in  insolent  terms  pardon  to  all 
rebels  who  would  lay  down  their  arms 
except  Samuel  Adams  and  John  Han- 
cock, "  whose  offences,"  he  said,  "  are  of 
too  flagitious  a  nature  to  admit  of  any 
other  consideration  than  that  of  condign 
punishment." 

1775.  June  15.  George  Washing- 
ton, of  Virginia,  was  elected  by  the  con- 
tinental congress  to  be  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  American  forces. 

BATTLE  OF  BVXKER  HILL. 

1775.  June  17.  One  of  the  best 
contested  struggles  of  the  whole  Revo- 
lution came  thus  early,  to  teach  each 
party  that  there  was  grave  determination 
on  the  other  side.  An  expedition  of  one 
thousand  men  was  committed  tc  the 
charge  of  Col.  William  Prescott,  of 
Pepperell,  for  the  work  of  throwing  up 
entrenchments  upon  one  of  the  Charles- 
town  heights  during  the  night  of  June 
1 6th.  After  prayer  had  been  offered  on 
Cambridge  common  at  the  head  of  the 
troops  by  Pres.  Langdon  of  Harvard 


College,  the  patriots  set  out  upon  their 
silent  and  dangerous  march.  They  fixed 
upon  Breed's  Hill  as  the  proper  point  for 
fortification,  because  it  commanded  the 
city  and  shipping  more  extensively.  By 
hard -work  a  strong  redoubt  eight  rods 
square  was  thrown  up  before  daylight,, 
together  with  an  earthwork  running  to  a 
swamp  at  the  north.  The  guns  of  the 
English  fleet  were  soon  raining  their  shot 
upon  it.  About  two  thousand  regulars 
were  landed  at  the  foot  of  Breed's  Hill 
at  one  o'clock.  Here  they  remained  for 
an  hour  and  a  half  for  refreshments,  and 
for  the  completion  of  the  arrangements- 
for  the  assault.  At  half  past  two  o'clock 
the  advance  was  made  simultaneously 
against  the  redoubt,  and  a  double  line 
of  rail  fence  filled  with  new-mown  hay, 
which  had  been  thrown  together  at  the 
left  of  the  American  position.  Thous- 
ands of  spectators  filled  every  available 
spot  in  Boston  for  witnessing  the  contest. 
There  was  the  utmost  silence  in  the 
redoubt  for  a  long  time,  although  the 
British  fired  during  their  advance.  But 
when  the  regulars  had  reached  a  distance 
of  about  eight  rods  from  the  redoubt,  a 
living  line  of  flame  shot  forth  and  almost 
the  whole  foremost  rank  of  officers  and 
men  fell  dead.  The  British  forces  were 
soon  rushing  precipitately  to  the  foot  of 
the  hill.  The  force  led  by  Gen.  Howe 
against  the  rail  fence,  met  with  the  same 
reception  and  defeat.  The  British  guns 
now  threw  shells  into  Charlestown  village 
and  soon  added  .the  terrors  of  a  confla- 
gration to  those  of  a  battle.  It  was 
hoped  that  the  volumes  of  smoke  would 
roll  across  the  redoubt  and  force  its  evac- 
uation. But  a  breeze  bore  it  in  another 
direction.  A  second  advance  was  now 
made,  and  no  shot  was  fired  till  the  enemy 
had  come  to  a  distance  of  six  rods  from. 


316 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


the  redoubt,  when  the  same  horrible  exe- 
cution took  place,  and  the  same  disas- 
trous retreat  followed.  The  officers 
almost  beat  their  men  forward.  The 
Americans  now  found  that  their  ammu- 
nition was  nearly  gone,  some  having 
only  one  round  left.  The  British  made 
their  third  assault,  and  the  front  rank  fell 
as  before.  But  the  fire  could  not  be  con- 
tinued for  lack  of  ammunition,  and  the 
British  pressed  on  into  the  redoubt,  with 
fixed  bayonets.  The  patriots  did  not 
retreat  till  almost  entirely  surrounded, 
and  then  fought  their  way  out  with 
clubbed  muskets,  and  even  with  stones. 
They  retreated  slowly  to  Bunker  Hill, 
where  Gen.  Putnam  attempted  to  stay 
them,  but  they  marched  to  Prospect  Hill 
instead,  and  encamped  for  the  night. 
The  British  did  not  pursue  very  far,  but 
rested  upon  their  very  doubtful  victory. 
The  result  amazed  every  one,  and  con- 
vinced the  world  that  the  work  of  sub- 
duing the  young  and  vigorous  nation 
was  no  easy  task.  Vergennes  said, 
"  Two  more  such  victories,  and  England 
will  have  no  army  left  in  America." 
The  British  lost  over  one  thousand  men, 
among  whom  were  eighty-three  commis- 
sioned officers,  killed  and  wounded.  The 
Americans  lost  less  than  five  hundred  in 
killed  and  wounded. 

DR.  JOSEPH  WARREN. 

1775.  June  17.  Dr.  Joseph  Warren 
was  shot  through  the  head  during  the 
retreat  from  the  redoubt  on  Breed's  Hill, 
and  when  only  a  few  steps  from  it.  He 
came  into  the  entrenchments,  but  refused 
to  take  command,  and  fought  through 
the  battle  as  a  private.  He  had  been 
elected  one  of  the  major-generals  of  the 
American  army  only  a  few  days  before. 
He  was  born  at  Roxbury,  Mass.,  June 


n,  1741,  and  became  known  as  a  pure, 
fearless,  and  generous  boy.  The  same 
traits,  were  visible  through  his  brief  but 
influential  life.  He  wrote  for  the  press 
at  times,  and  his  patriotic  utterances  gave 
strength  and  clearness  to  the  views  of 
his  inferiors.  His  letters  contain  some 
striking  announcements  of  political  prin- 
ciples. He  graduated  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege in  1759,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years, 
and  decided  to  enter  the  medical  profes- 
sion. He  established  himself  soon  after 
in  practice  in  Boston.  Politics,  however, 
took  a  strong  hold  upon  his  mind.  Sam- 
uel Adams  became  his  intimate  friend, 
and  together  they  meditated  upon  the 
situation,  and  endeavored  to  forecast  com- 
ing events.  The  political  struggle  in- 
creased in  violence,  and  the  faith  and 
zeal  of  these  men  increased  in  intensity. 
Orations  were  several  times  pronounced 
by  Dr.  Warren,  which  gave  the  keynote 
to  the  coming  struggle.  He  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Massachusetts  provincial  con- 
gress, and  was  chairman  of  the  "  com- 
mittee of  safety  "  in  1 7.74.  He  was  be- 
coming the  most  prominent  man  in  New 
England.  His  death  was  for  several 
days  uncertain,  but  his  body  was  after- 
ward identified.  The  blow  was  felt 
everywhere.  At  the  age  of  thirty-four 
one  of  the  country's  most  valuable  lives 
was  closed.  Everett  says,  "  The  friends 
of  liberty  from  all  countries  and  through- 
out all  time,  as  they  kneel  upon  the  spot 
that  was  moistened  by  the  blood  of  War- 
ren, will  find  their  better  feelings  strength- 
ened by  the  influence  of  the  place,  and 
will  gather  from  it  a  virtue  in  some 
degree  allied  to  his  own."  Daniel  Web- 
ster, in  his  great  oration  at  the  laving  of 
the  corner-stone  of  Bunker  Hill  monu- 
ment in  1825,  exclaimed,  with  great 
power,  "But,  ah!  Him!  the  first  g-^at 


1775-1783. J  THE  DAT 

martyr  in  this  great  cause.  Him!  the 
premature  victim  of  his  own  self-devoting 
heart.  Him !  the  head  of  our  civil  coun- 
cils, and  the  destined  leader  of  our  mili- 
tary bands,  whom  nothing  brought  hither 
but  the  unquenchable  fire  of  his  own 
spirit!  Him!  cut  off  by  Providence  in 
the  hour  of  overwhelming  anxiety  and 
thick  gloom;  falling  ere  he  saw  the  star 
of  his  country  rise;  pouring  out  his  gen- 


OF  TRIAL. 


317 


beats  to  the  transports  of  patriotism 
and  liberty,  its  aspirations  shall  be  to 
claim  kindred  with  thy  spirit!"  Mrs. 
Adams  said  in  a  letter,  "Not  all  the 
havoc  and  devastation  they  have  made, 
has  moved  me  like  the  death  of  Warren. 
We  want  him  in  the  senate;  we  want 
him  in  the  profession;  we  want  him  in 
the  field.  We  mourn  for  the  citizen,  the 
physician,  the  senator,  the  warrior." 


REMOVING  CANNON  FROM  THE  BATTERY. 


erous  blood  like  water,  before  he  knew 
whether  it  would  fertilize  a  land  of  free- 
dom, or  of  bondage!  How  shall  I  strug- 
gle with  the  emotions  that  stifle  the  utter- 
ance of  thy  name!  Our  poor  work 
may  perish,  but  thine  shall  endure! 
This  monument  may  moulder  away, 
the  solid  ground  it  rests  upon  may  sink 
down  to  a  level  with  the  sea;  but  thy 
memory  shall  not  fail.  Wheresoever 
among  men  a  heart  shall  be  found  that 


1775.  June  17.  The  first  army 
hospital  in  America  was  established  at 
Cambridge  after  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill,  under  the  charge  of  Dr.  John  War- 
ren, a  brother  of  Joseph  Warren. 

1775.  The  cannon  at  the  battery  in 
New  York,  being  desired  for  the  defence 
of  the  Hudson,  were  successfully  removed 
by  a  military  company  under  Capt. 
Lamb  and  a  crowd  of  individuals  led  on 
by  Isaac  Sears.  A  band  of  sailors  came 


318 


RE  VOL  UTIONART  S TR UGGLES . 


ashore  from  the  English  line-of-battle 
ship,  Asia,  which  was  lying  near  by, 
and  offered  some  resistance,  but  they 
were  quickly  disposed  of  by  the  deter- 
mined citizens.  The  battery  was  fired 
upon  by  the  Asia,  and  in  the  skirmish 
one  sailor  was  killed,  and  others  wounded. 

1775.  The  office  of  "  Rivington's 
New  York  Gazetteer,"  a  tory  paper  of 
New  York  city,  •  was  completely  de- 
stroyed by  a  band  of  patriots  under  Isaac 
Sears,  who  came  from  New  Haven  with 
.a  hundred  men  to  do  it. 

1775.  June  21.  Washington  left 
Philadelphia  for  Cambridge  to  take  com- 
mand of  the  army,  without  visiting  his 
home  at  Mount  Vernon. 

1775.  June  22.  First  Continental 
Currency.  Congress  voted  to  issue 
paper  money  not  to  exceed  two  millions 
of  dollars,  in  bills  of  credit.  Paul 
Revere,  of  Boston,  afterward  engraved 
the  first  continental  notes  on  copper. 

1775.  July  3.  Washington  assumed 
command  of  the  army  underneath  a 
large  elm  still  standing  on  Cambridge 
common  at  the  north  end,  and  known  as 
the  "  Washington  Elm."  The  entire 
American  force  at  this  time  numbered  a 
little  less  than  fourteen  thousand  men. 
There  was  a  great  lack  of  military  sup- 
plies, notably  of  powder.  Within  a 
month  from  this  time  less  than  ten  thou- 
sand pounds  were  in  camp.  Some  of  the 
powder  houses  were  filled  with  barrels  of 
sand  in  order  to  deceive  any.  spying  roy- 
alist who  might  come  around.  The 
condition  of  the  army  was  one  of  entire 
lack  of  discipline.  Elkanah  Watson, 
Esq.,  who  made  a  visit  to  the  camp,  nar- 
rates a  dialogue  which  he  overheard  be- 
tween a  soldier  and  his  captain:  "  Bill," 
said  the  captain,  "  go  and  bring  a  pail  of 
water  for  the  mess."  "  I  shan't,"  was 


Bill's  reply,  "  it  is  your  turn  now,  cap- 
tain. I  got  the  last."  Washington  at 
once  began  to  introduce  military  order. 

1775.  July  20.  A  public  fast  was 
held  throughout  New  England  in  refer- 
ence to  the  impending  struggle  with 
Great  Britain. 

1775.  July  26.  A  postoffice  de- 
partment was  established  by  the  conti- 
nental congress.  Benjamin  Franklin 
was  chosen  postmaster  general  at  a  salary 
of  one  thousand  dollars  per  year.  Two 
treasurers  were  also  appointed  over  the 
public  finances. 

1775.  Sept.  2.  The  first  naval 
commission  given  by  Washington  was 
in  the  form  of  a  captain's  commission  in 
"  the  army  of  the  united  colonies,"  to 
Nicholas  Broughton,  of  Marblehead, 
Mass.,  ordering  him  to  take  his  men  on 
board  the  schooner  Hannah  at  Beverly, 
and  cruise  upon  the  high  seas. 

1775.  Sept.  13.  March  to  Canada. 
Benedict  Arnold  was  detached  by  Wash- 
ington to  lead  an  expedition  across  the 
wilderness  of  Maine,  against  Canada. 
The  expedition  consisted  of  eleven  hun- 
dred men.  When  they  reached  the 
Maine  forests  they  began  to  experience 
great  toil,  privation  and  suffering.  They 
were  forced  to  struggle  through  deep 
snows,  tangled  woods,  and  flooded  rivers. 

1775.  Oct.  3.  Arnold's  force  left 
the  last  white  family  at  Norridgewock, 
and  plunged  into  the  uninhabited  wilder- 
ness. They  were  nearly  six  weeks  in 
reaching  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  were 
several  times  in  danger  of  starvation. 
The  fierce  persistency  of  Arnold  was 
the  great  power  in  the  expedition. 

1775.  Oct.  10.  Gen.  Gage  was  re- 
called to  England.  Gen.  Howe  was 
appointed  commander-in-chief  of  the 
British  army  in  the  colonies. 


1775-1783.] 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


319 


1775.  Oct.  13.  Origin  of  United 
States  Navy.  The  continental  congress 
voted  to  fit  out  two  vessels,  one  of  them 
to  carry  ten  guns,  and  the  other,  as  was 
afterward  voted,  fourteen  guns,  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  British  supply  vessels. 
Before  the  month  closed  it  authorized 
two  more  vessels,  and  appointed  a  "  ma- 
rine committee  "  to  take  charge  of  the  ex- 
ecution of  the  order. 

1775.  Oct.  16.  Falmouth,  Maine, 
now  Portland,  was  burned  by  an  English 
force  ynder  Capt.  Mowatt.  The  trouble 
began  in  the  importation  of  some  sails 
and  rigging  by  a  man  named  Thomas 
Coulson,  who  was  a  tory.  This  was 
contrary  to  a  law  of  the  "  merchants'  as- 
sociation "  of  Portland,  and  the  whigs 
accordingly  decreed  that  the  above  ma- 
terials must  be  sent  back.  Coulson  re- 
fused to  have  this  done,  and  for  a  few 
weeks  there  was  great  contention.  At 
last  Capt.  Mowatt  came  to  the  rescue  of 
Coulson,  and  burned  the  town. 

1775.  Oct.  27.  First  Traitor.  Dr. 
Benjamin  Church,  who  had  been  thought 
to  be  a  genuine  patriot,  having  been 
found  to  have  held  communications  with 
the  enemy,  was  tried  at  this  date  and  ex- 
pelled from  the  provincial  congress,  as 
well  as  sentenced  to  imprisonment.  He 
was  released  from  confinement  upon 
parole  in  the  following  May,  and  sailed 
for  the  West  Indies  in  a  vessel  which 
was  never  afterward  heard  from. 

1775.  October.  Ethan  Allen  and  a 
small  American  force  were  captured  near 
Montreal.  Allen  was  sent  to  England 
in  chains,  and  kept  in  close  confinement 
for  nearly  three  years.  He  was  finally 
exchanged. 

1775.  Nov.  2.  St.  Johns,  Canada, 
was  captured  by  a  force  of  one  thousand 
men  under  Gen.  Richard  Montgomery. 


This  place  lay  at  the  northern  end  of 
Lake  Champlain,  and  was  held  by  a 
force  under  Major  Preston.  Valuable 
stores,  weapons  and  ammunition,  besides 
five  hundred  regular  soldiers,  and  one 
hundred  Canadian  volunteers,  were  sur- 
rendered. 

1775.  Nov.  13.  Montreal  was  taken 
by  Gen.  Richard  Montgomery,  who  had 
captured  Col.  Robert  Prescott  and  the 
garrison  in  an  attempt  to  escape  from  the 
city  down  the  river  to  Quebec.  A  large 
amount  of  supplies  was  captured  at  this 
time. 

1775.  Nov.  13.  Benedict  Arnold 
and  his  followers  at  last,  after  great  desti- 
tution and  suffering,  reached  the  St.  Law- 
rence, crossed  the  river,  and  climbed  to 
the  Plains  of  Abraham.  In  vain,  how- 
ever, did  Arnold  summon  Quebec  to  sur- 
render. 

1775.  November.  An  Encouraging 
Capture.  One  of  the  vessels  commis- 
sioned by  Washington,  under  Capt.  Man- 
ley,  carrying  four  guns,  took  a  British 
vessel  loaded  with  supplies  of  all  kinds. 
All  the  horses  and  carts  near  the  coast 
were  set  at  work  drawing  the  supplies  to 
the  camp  around  Boston.  There  were 
"two  thousand  muskets,  one  hundred 
thousand  flints,  thirty  thousand  round 
shot,  over  thirty  tons  of  musket  shot, 
eleven  mortar  beds,  and  a  thirteen  inch 
brass  mortar  weighing  2,700  pounds," 
besides  other  stores. 

1775.  Dec.  3.  Montgomery  joined 
Arnold  near  Quebec,  with  the  few  men 
who  would  follow  him.  There  were 
now  less  than  a  thousand  men  in  all,  be- 
fore Quebec. 

1775.  Dec.  9.  A  fight  took  place  at 
Great  Bridge  near  Norfolk,  Va.,  be- 
tween a  tory  force  under  Gov.  Dunmore, 
and  a  body  of  patriots.  The  former  fled 


3*0 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


with   some   loss.     The    Americans    met 
with  no  loss. 

1775.  Dec.  22.  Esek  Hopkins  of 
Rhode  Island,was  appointed  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  continental  navy. 

1775.  Dec.  81.  Assault  upon  Que- 
bec. An  assault  having  been  decided 
upon,  Montgomery  and  Arnold  moved 
upon  Quebec  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, in  a  blinding  snow-storm.  The 
troops  were  divided  into  two  portions, 
which  were  to  approach  Prescott  Gate 
through  the  lower  town  from  opposite 
directions,  and  there  make  a  combined  at- 
tack upon  the  upper  town.  The  force 
under  Montgomery  was  pressing  for- 
ward over  blocks  of  ice  and  barricades  of 
timber,  when  they  were  fired  upon  from 
a  guard  house.  The  brave  leader  and 
twelve  others  instantly  fell  dead.  The 
rest  disheartened,  retreated,  and  did  not 
again  join  the  attack.  Arnold  was 
wounded  while  approaching  from  the 
other  direction,  and  Morgan  took  com- 
mand. After  fighting  bravely  for  several 
hours,  he  was  forced  to  surrender  with 
four  hundred  men.  The  active  siege  of 
Quebec  was  over,  and  the  conquest  of 
Canada  was  now  reversed.  The  rem- 
nant of  troops  lingered  near  for  some 
months,  but  with  no  result. 

RICHARD  MONTGOMERY. 

1775.  Dec.  31.  This  American  gen- 
eral who  bade  fair  to  be  very  useful  to 
his  adopted  country,  was  born  near 
Raphoe,  Ireland,  Dec.  2,  1736,  and  was 
but  a  few  days  more  than  thirty-nine 
years  of  age.  He  was  in  the  army  before 
Louisburg,  and  fought  at  Martinique  and 
Havana  in  the  West  Indies.  He  subse- 
quently married  a  daughter  of  Judge 
Robert  R.  Livingston,  of  New  York, 
and  settled  at  Rhinebeck.  He  received 


an  appointment  as  brigadier-general  from 
.congress,  and  took  charge  of  the  force 
which  went  into  Canada  by  way  of  Lake 
Champlain.  He  was  rapidly  successful 
in  capturing  the  points  that  lay  in  his 
path.  His  death  at  Quebec  was  the 
cause  of  the  disaster  that  followed.  His 
men  could  do  nothing  without  him.  His 
remains  rest  beneath  a  monument  in  front 
of  St.  Paul's  church  in  New  York,  which 
was  erected  by  order  of  congress.  Mont- 
gomery was  of  striking  personal  appear- 
ance, and  possessed  a  character  of  equal 
eminence.  He  was  a  brave,  pure,  gen- 
erous spirit. 


1775.  The  first  canto  of  Trumbull's 
"  McFingall  "  was  issued  in  the  English 
colonies,  and  was  widely  sold  all  over 
the  land.  It  greatly  helped  the  patriot 
cause.  The  whole  poem  was  issued 
seven  years  later. 

1775.  The  first  joint  stock  manu- 
facturing company  in  the  world  was 
organized  at  Philadelphia  for  the  pro- 
duction of  "  woolens,  linens,  and  cottons.'* 
A  building  was  hired,  and  the  work  was 
begun.  It  was  the  first  cotton  factory  in 
America. 

1775.  The  first  piano  forte  made  in 
America  was  produced  by  John  Belmont 
of  Philadelphia,  who  advertised  that  he 
"  had  just  finished  an  extraordinary  in- 
strument by  the  name  of  the  Piano 
Forte,  of  mahogany,  in  the  manner  of  a 
harpsichord,  with  hammers  and  several 
changes." 

1775.  The  "Phi  Beta  Kappa,"  the 
great  college  society  of  the  United  States 
for  the  recognition  of  scholarship,  was 
founded  at  William  and  Mary  College, 
Virginia. 

1775.  "  Yankee  Doodle  "  is  supposed 
to  have  been  introduced  into  America,  or 


1775-1783.] 

composed  in  America  about  this  time. 
Its  origin  is  very  obscure.  Some  say 
that  a  British  sergeant  in  Boston  com- 
posed the  words.  The  tune  is  an  old  one 
used  in  England  as  early  as  the  time  of 
Charles  I.,  and  was  often  played  by 
British  bands  in  the  colonies.  The 
verses  sung  to  it  in  the  Revolution  origi- 
nated probably  in  derision  of  the  Ameri- 
can troops. 

1776.  Jan.  1.  The  position  of  af- 
fairs at  the  opening  of  this  year  was 
much  the  same  as  it  had  been  for  some 
months.  The  entrenchments  and  bat- 
teries around  Boston  had  been  gradually 
strengthened,  and  furnished  with  forts, 
barracks,  and  breastworks.  Fuel  had 
been  extremely  scarce  at  times.  The 
camp  had  been  on  the  whole  well-pro- 
visioned. At  times  it  had  been  visited 
by  a  throng  of  people  from  the  surround- 
ing country.  The  colonies  were  waiting 
to  hear  of  an  attack  on  Boston.  The 
great  difficulty  which  Washington  had 
to  contend  with  was  in  respect  to  enlist- 
ments from  the  different  provinces. 
Terms  of  service  expired,  and  it  was  dif- 
ficult to  arrange  them  again  upon  a  satis- 
factory basis.  Still,  the  army  kept  the 
British  completely  shut  up  in  the  town 
which  they  had  chosen  to  subjugate.  'On 
the  seas  numerous  privateers  began  to 
make  captures. 

1776.  Jan.  1.  Norfolk,  the  richest 
town  in  Virginia,  was  burned  by  troops 
sent  ashore  for  the  purpose  by  Gov.  Dun- 
more,  who  soon  sailed  for  the  West 
Indies. 

1776.  Jan.  2.  First  Union  Flag. 
A  flag  was  hoisted  over  the  American 
camp  at  Boston,  composed  of  thirteen 
stripes  with  the  British  "  union "  in  the 
corner.  This  was  the  first  true  union 
flag.  The  new  continental  army  came 

21 


THE  DAT  OP  TRIAL. 


321 


into  existence  this  day  under  the  votes  of 
congress  and  the  arrangements  of  Gen. 
Washington. 

1776.  Jan.  8.  The  British  Theater 
in  Boston.  During  their  occupation  of 
Boston  the  British  officers  and  soldiers 
supported  a  theater.  The  piece  entitled 
"  The  Blockade  of  Boston  "  was  being 
performed  on  the  evening  of  this  date. 
The  point  was  just  reached  at  which  an 
actor  entered  in  the  character  of  Wash- 
ington, "  with  a  large  wig,  and  a  long 
rusty  sword,  attended  by  a  country  ser- 
vant with  a  rusty  gun."  An  interruption 
suddenly  occurred  by  the  entrance  of  a 
sergeant  who  cried  out,  "  The  Yankees 
are  attacking  our  works  on  Bunker  Hill." 
The  spectators  supposed  that  this  was 
included  in  the  scene,  until  Gen.  Howe 
ordered  the  officers  to  their  duty,  when 
the  people  began  to  shriek  and  faint. 
The  alarm  was  caused  by  the  burning  of 
some  houses  at  Charlestown  by  a  com- 
pany of  Americans. 

1776.  Jan.  9.  Thomas  Paine's 
pamphlet  entitled  "  Common  Sense," 
advocating  the  founding  of  a  republic  in 
America,  reached  congress,  and  made  a 
profound  impression,  greatly  strengthen- 
ing the  patriot  cause.  Pennsylvania 
gave  Paine  .£500  for  this  production. 

1776.  Feb.  27.  North  Carolina 
Royalists.  A  force  of  fifteen  hundred 
royalists  who  had  been  gathered  by  Don- 
ald McDonald,  a  Scotch  tory  under  com- 
mission from  Gov.  Martin,  of  North 
Carolina,  was  totally  routed  at  Moore's 
Creek  by  a  patriot  force  of  one  thousand 
men.  The  tory  loss  was  seventy,  killed 
and  wounded.  The  American  loss  was 
two  wounded.  This  broke  up  the  Eng- 
lish authority  in  the  province. 

1776.  March  4.  Dorchester  Heights, 
near  Boston,  were  taken  possession  of  by 


322 


RE  VOL  UTIONART  S TR  UGGLES. 


Washington.     The  occupation  was  made 
17H-1776.  at  the  dead  of  night.     Two 

David  Hume.  sman  forts  were  partially 
constructed  by  morning.  Gen.  Howe  at 
once  planned  to  attack  the  new  position 
and  embarked  his  troops,  but  a  severe 
storm  broke  up  the  attempt. 

1776.  March  17.  Evacuation  of 
Boston.  Gen.  Howe  evacuated  Boston 
with  the  whole  British  army,  and  sailed 
for  Halifax,  accompanied  by  eleven  hun- 
dred loyalists.  Much  property  was  de- 
stroyed by  the  British  before  their  depart- 
ure, but  supplies  were  left,worth  £30,000. 
Several  vessels  and  stores  were  captured 
by  ^  American  privateers.  The  "  Old 
South  "  church  had  been  used  by  the 
British  soldiers  as  a  riding  school.  Gen. 
Washington  entered  the  city  in  triumph 
on  the  day  of  the  evacuation.  A  vote  of 
thanks  and  a  gold  medal  were  given  him 
by  congress.  This  medal  was  the  first 
one  in  the  history  of  America.  Many 
of  the  troops  were  at  once  ordered  to 
New  York,  because  it  was  not  known  at 
what  point  the  British  would  now  make 
their  effort. 

1776.  April.  The  first  Hessian 
troops  sailed  from  England  to  Quebec. 
England  had  applied  for  aid  to  Holland, 
Russia  and  Prussia,  but  had  been  refused 
by  each.  The  small  provinces  of  Ger- 
many agreed  to  sell  some  troops  for 
American  service,  and  these  were  the 
ones  known  as  Hessians  through  the 
Revolution.  Seventeen  thousand  were 
obtained  at  $36  per  head.  The  Hessians 
became  greatly  feared  in  America,  be- 
cause of  their  cruelty. 

1776.  April  13.  Washington  arrived 
at  New  York.  The  British  had  already 
determined  to  make  it  the  base  of  their 
operations  for  the  summer  of  this  year. 

1776.     April    11.      A   Long    March. 


Col.  St.  Clair  having  marched  with  siy 
companies  from  Pennsylvania  to  Can- 
ada, joined  the  remnant  of  the  American 
force  which  still  lay  near  Quebec. 

1776.  May  1.  The  siege  of  Que- 
bec was  raised  because  of  the  approach 
of  a  British  fleet,  and  the  little  army  of 
Americans  departed.  Upon  their  way 
they  attempted  to  take  Three  Rivers,  but 
lost  two  hundred  men  as  prisoners,  and 
twenty-five  killed  and  wounded.  They 
then  made  a  very  hasty  retreat  with  a 
British  force  at  their  heels,  till  they  arrived 
at  Crown  Point,  which  took  place  in 
June. 

1776.  May  4.  Provincial  Declara- 
tion of  Independence.  The  assembly 
of  Rhode  Island  passed  an  act  declaring 
the  province  free  from  all  dependence  on 
the  crown  of  Great  Britain. 

1776.  May.  The  provincial  assem- 
bly of  Virginia  unanimously  voted  that 
their  delegates  to  the  continental  congress 
present  to  that  body  a  proposition  affirm- 
ing the  independence  of  the  colonies 
from  Great  Britain. 

1776.  May.  A  vessel  loaded  with 
gunpowder  was  captured  off  Boston 
harbor  by  Capt.  Samuel  Mugford,  of 
Marblehead.  This  was  a  great  boon  to 
the- colonial  forces. 

1776.  June.  Silas  Deane,  of  Con- 
necticut, who  had  been  sent  as  a  commis- 
sioner to  negotiate  for  aid  with  the  French 
government,  arrived  in  Paris.  His  mis- 
sion was  of  no  benefit,  and  he  afterward 
could  give  no  satisfactory  account  to 
congress  of  his  doings  while  abroad. 

LEE'S  FAMOUS  RESOLUTIONS. 

1776.  June  7.  Richard  Henry  Lee, 
of  Virginia,  proposed  his  famous  resolu- 
tions in  congress.  They  were  as  follows : 
"  That  these  united  colonies  are,  and  of 


1775-1783.] 

right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent 
states;  that  they  are  absolved  from  all 
allegiance  to  the  British  crown;  and  that 
all  political  connection  between  them  and 
the  State  of  Great  Britain  is,  and  ought 
to  be,  totally  dissolved..  That  it  is  expe- 
dient forthwith  to  take  the  most  effectual 
measures  for  forming  foreign  alliances. 
That  a  plan  of  confederation  be  prepared 
and  transmitted  to  the  respective  colonies 
for  their  consideration  and  approbation." 
John  Adams,  of  Massachusetts,  seconded 
these  resolutions,  and  they  were  the  sub- 
ject of  earnest  discussion. 

1776.  June  8.  A  committee  was 
appointed  by  congress,  consisting  of 
Thomas  Jefferson  of  Virginia,  John 
Adams  of  Massachusetts,  Benjamin 
Franklin  of  Pennsylvania,  Roger  Sher- 
man of  Connecticut,  and  Robert  R.  Liv- 
ingston of  New  York,  to  draw  up  a 
declaration  of  independence  which  should 
embody  'the  sense  of  Lee's  resolutions. 
In  close  connection  with  the  appointment 
of  this  committee  a  "  Board  of  War  " 
was  created  for  the  management  of  mil- 
itary affairs.  This  board  seems  to  have 
t>een  composed  wholly  of  congressmen. 
A  committee  was  appointed  upon  rela- 
tions with  foreign  powers. 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


323 


1776.  June  28.  Battle  in  Charles- 
ton Harbor.  Two  British  fleets  under 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  Admiral  Sir 
Peter  Parker,  attacked  the  fort  on  Sulli- 
van's Island  in  Charleston  harbor,  S.  C. 
Col.  Moultiie  defended  it  gallantly  with 
four  hundred  men,  and  shattered  the 
British  fleet  so  that  it  sailed  away  with 
the  loss  of  more  than  two  hundred  killed 
and  wounded.  The  American  loss  was 
ten  killed,  and  twenty-nine  wounded.  It 
was  during  the  hottest  part  of  the  action 
that  the  flagstaff  of  the  fort  was  broken 


by  a  ball,  and  the  flag  fell  over  the  ram- 
part. Sergeant  William  Jasper  leaped 
over  the  wall  in  the  midst  of  the  falling 
shot,  seized  the  flag,  and  fastening  it  to  a 
sponge  staff,  stuck  it  up  in  its  place  again. 
The  next  day  a  sword  and  lieutenant's 
commission  were  offered  Jasper,  but  he 
would  not  take  the  commission,  saying, 
"lam  not  fit  for  the  company  of  officers. 
I  am  content  to  be  a  sergeant."  This 
fort  has  since  been  known  as  Fort 
Moultrie. 

1776.  July  1.  Gen.  Howe  arrived 
from  Halifax  at  Sandy  Hook,  off  the 
harbor  of  New  York,  and  was  soon 
joined  by  Admiral  Howe  from  England. 
The  total  British  force  amounted  to  thirty- 
two  thousand  men,  in  over  four  hundred 
vessels  of  all  kinds. 

1776.  July  2.  The  resolutions  of- 
fered in  congress  by  Richard  Henry  Lee. 
June  7,  were  passed  by  the  vote  of  twelve 
colonies.  New  York  delegates  had  no 
instructions  from  their  province,  and 
therefore  refrained  from  voting.  The 
stand  was  now  taken,  and  nothing  re- 
mained but  to  issue  a  public  declaration. 

DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 

1776.  July  4.  The  Declaration  of 
Independence  which  had  been  presented 
by  the  committee  appointed  to  draft  it, 
was  adopted  by  congress.  It  was  written 
by  Thomas  Jefferson,  and  chiefly  de- 
fended at  its  presentation  by  John  Adams. 
The  old  bell-ringer  in  the  belfry  of  the 
State  House  waited  anxiously  to  hear  the 
announcement  of  the  passage  of  the  dec- 
laration. At  last  his  little  boy  standing 
below  shouted  up  to  him, "  Ring !  Ring !" 
Then  he  rang  with  all  his  might,  and 
soon  the  whole  city  was  alive  with  joy, 
which  continued  to  overflow  during  the 
whole  night  which  followed. 


324 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


A  Declaration  by  the  Representatives  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  in  Congress  assem- 
bled: 

When,  in  the  course  of  human  events,  it  be- 
comes necessary  for  one  people  to  dissolve  the 
political  bands  which  have  connected  them  with 
another,  and  to  assume  among  the  powers  of  the 
earth  the  separate  and  equal  station  to  which  the 
laws  of  nature  and  of  nature's  God  entitle  them, 
a  decent  respect  to  the  opinions  of  mankind  re- 
quires that  they  should  declare  the  causes  which 
impel  them  to  the  separation. 

We  hold  these  truths  to  be  self-evident :  That 
all  men  are  created  equal ;  that  they  are  endowed 
by  their  Creator  with  certain  unalienable  rights ; 
that  among  these  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pur- 
suit of  happiness ;  that,  to  secure  these  rights, 
governments  are  instituted  among  men,  deriving 
their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  gov- 
erned ;  that,  whenever  any  form  of  government 
becomes  destructive  of  these  ends,  it  is  the 
right  of  the  people  to  alter  or  abolish  it,  and  to 
institute  a  new  government,  laying  its  foundation 
on  such  principles,  and  organizing  its  powers  in 
such  form,  as  to  them  shall  seem  most  likely  to 
effect  their  safety  and  happiness.  Prudence,  in- 
deed, will  dictate  that  governments  long  estab- 
lished should  not  be  changed  for  light  and  tran- 
sient causes,  and,  accordingly,  all  experience 
hath  shown  that  mankind  arc  more  disposed  to 
suffer,  while  evils  are  sufferable,  than  to  right 
themselves  by  abolishing  the  forms  to  which 
they  are  accustomed.  But  when  a  long  train 
of  abuses  and  usurpations,  pursuing  inva- 
riably the  same  object,  evinces  a  design  to  re- 
duce them  under  absolute  despotism,  it  is  their 
right,  it  is  their  duty,  to  throw  off  such  govern- 
ment, and  to  provide  new  guards  for  their  future 
security.  Such  has  been  the  patient  sufferance  of 
the  colonies ;  and  such  is  now  the  necessity  which 
constrains  them  to  alter  their  former  systems  of 
government.  The  history  of  the  present  King 
of  Great  Britain  is  a  history  of  repeated 
injuries  and  usurpations,  all  having  in  direct 
object  the  establishment  of  an  absolute  tyranny 
over  these  States.  To  prove  this,  let  facts  be  sub- 
mitted to  a  candid  world : — 

He  has  refused  his  assent  to  laws  the  most 
wholesome  and  necessary  for  the  public  good. 

He  has  forbidden  his  governors  to  pass  laws  of 
immediate  and  pressing  importance,  unless  sus- 
pended in  their  operation  till  his  assent  should 
be  obtained ;  and,  when  so  suspended,  he  has 
utterly  neglected  to  attend  to  them. 

He  has  refused  to  pass  other  laws  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  large  districts  of  people,  unless 
those  people  would  relinquish  the  right  of  rep- 
resentation in  the  legislature;  a  right  inestima- 
ble to  them,  and  formidable  to  tyrants  only. 

He  has  called  together  legislative  bodies  at 
places  unusual,  uncomfortable,  and  distant  from 
the  repository  of  their  public  records,  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  fatiguing  them  into  compliance 
with  his  measures. 

He  has  dissolved  representative  houses  repeat- 
edly for  opposing,  with  manly  firmness,  his 
invasions  on  the  rights  of  the  people. 


He  has  refused,  for  a  long  time  after  such  dis- 
solutions, to  cause  others  to  be  elected,  whereby 
the  legislative  powers,  incapable  of  annihilation,, 
have  returned  to  the  people  at  large,  for  their 
exercise;  the  State  remaining,  in  the  meantime, 
exposed  to  all  the  danger  of  invasions  from  with- 
out, and  convulsions  within. 

He  has  endeavored  to  prevent  the  population 
of  these  States;  for  that  purpose,  obstructing 
the  laws  for  naturalization  of  foreigners ;  refus- 
ing to  pass  others  to  encourage  their  migration 
hither,  and  raising  the  conditions  of  new  appro- 
priations of  lands. 

He  has  obstructed  the  administration  of  jus- 
tice by  refusing  his  assent  to  laws  for  establish- 
ing judiciary  powers.. 

He  has  made  judges  dependent  on  his  will 
alone,  for  the  tenure  of  their  offices,  and  the 
amount  and  payment  of  their  salaries. 

He  has  erected  a  multitude  of  new  offices,  and 
sent  hither  swarms  of  officers,  to  harass  our  peo- 
ple, and  eat  out  their  substance. 

He  has  kept  among  us,  in  times  of  peace,, 
standing  armies,  without  the  consent  of  our 
legislature. 

He  has  affected  to  render  the  military  inde- 
pendent of,  and  superior  to,  the  civil  power. 

He  has  combined  with  others  to  subject  us  to- 
a  jurisdiction  foreign  to  our  constitution,  and  un- 
acknowledged by  our  laws;  giving  his  assent  to 
their  acts  of  pretended  legislation : — 

For  quartering  large  bodies  of  armed  troops 
among  us; 

For  protecting  them,  by  a  mock  trial,  from 
punishment  for  any  murders  which  they  should 
commit  on  the  inhabitants  of  these  States ; 

For  cutting  off  our  trade  with  all  parts  of  the 
world ; 

For  imposing  taxes  on  us  without  our  con- 
sent; 

For  depriving  us,  in  many  cases,  of  the  bene- 
fits of  trial  by  jury; 

For  transporting  us  beyond  seas  to  be  tried  for 
pretended  offences; 

For  abolishing  the  free  system  of  English 
laws  in  a  neighboring  province,  establishing 
therein  an  arbitrary  government,  and  enlarging 
its  boundaries,  so  as  to  render  it  at  once  an  ex- 
ample and  fit  instrument  for  introducing  the 
same  absolute  rule  into  the  colonies ; 

For  taking  away  our  charters,  abolishing  our 
most  valuable  laws,  and  altering,  fundamentally, 
the  powers  of  our  governments ; 

For  suspending  our  own  legislatures,  and  de- 
claring themselves  invested  with  power  to  legis- 
late for  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever; 

He  has  abdicated  government  here,  by  declar- 
ing us  out  of  his  protection,  and  waging  war 
against  us. 

He  has  plundered  our  seas,  ravaged  our 
coasts,  burned  our  towns,  and  destroyed  the 
lives  of  our  people. 

He  is  at  this  time  transporting  large  armies  of 
foreign  mercenaries  to  complete  the  works  of 
death,  desolation,  and  tyranny,  already  begun 
with  circumstances  of  cruelty  and  perfidy 
scarcely  paralleled  in  the  most  barbarous  ages,. 


1775-1783.] 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


325 


and  totally    unworthy   the   head   of  a  civilized 
nation. 

He  has  constrained  our  fellow-citizens  taken 
captive  on  the  high  seas,  to  bear  arms  against 
their  country,  to  become  the  executioners  of 
their  friends  and  brethren,  or  to  fall  themselves 
by  their  hands. 

"  He  has  excited  domestic  insurrections  amongst 
us,  and  has  endeavored  to  bring  on  the  inhab- 
itants of  our  frontiers,  the  merciless  Indian  sav- 
ages, whose  known  rule  of  warfare  is  an  undis- 
tinguished destruction  of  all  ages,  sexes,  and 
conditions. 

In  every  stage  of  these  oppressions,  we  have 
petitioned  for  redress  in  the  most  humble  terms; 
our  repeated  petitions  have  been  answered  only 
by  repeated  injury.  A  prince  whose  character 
is  thus  marked  by  every  act  which  may  define  a 
tvrant,  is  unfit  to  be  the  ruler  of  a  free  people. 

Nor  have  we  been  wanting  in  attention  to  our 
British  brethren.  We  have  warned  them,  from 
time  to  time,  of  attempts  made  by  their  legisla- 
ture to  extend  an  unwarrantable  jurisdiction 
over  us.  We  have  reminded  them  of  the  cir- 
cumstances of  our  emigration  and  settlement 
here.  We  have  appealed  to  their  native  justice 
and  magnanimity,  and  we  have  conjured  them, 
by  the  ties  of  our  common  kindred,  to  disavow 
these  usurpations,  which  would  ineyitablv  inter- 
rupt our  connections  and  correspondence.  They, 
too,  have  been  deaf  to  the  voice  of  justice  and 
consanguinity.  We  must,  therefore,  acquiesce 
in  the  necessity  which  denounces  our  separation, 
and  hold  them,  as  we  hold  the  rest  of  mankind, 
enemies  in  war;  in  peace,  friends. 

We,  therefore,  the  representatives  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  in  general  congress 
assembled,  appealing  to  the  Supreme  Judge  of 
the  world  for  the  rectitude  of  our  intentions,  do, 
in  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  the  good 
people  of  these  colonies,  solemnly  publish  and 
•declare:  That  these  United  Colonies  are,  and 
of  right  ought  to  be,  Free  and  Independent 
States;  that  they  are  absolved  from  all  allegi- 
ance to  the  British  crown,  and  that  all  political 
connection  between  them  and  the  State  of  Great 
Britain  is,  and  ought  to  be,  totally  dissolved; 
and  that,  as  Free  and  Independent  States,  they 
have  full  power  to  levy  war,  conclude  peace, 
contract  alliances,  establish  commerce,  and  to  do 
all  other  acts  and  things  which  Independent 
States  may  of  right  do.  And  for  the  support  of 
this  Declaration,  with  a  firm  reliance  on  the  pro- 
tection of  Divine  Providence,  we  mutually 
pledge  to  each  other  our  lives,  our  fortunes,  and 
our  sacred  honor.  JOHN  HANCOCK. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE. — Josiah  Bartlett,  William 
Whipple,  Matthew  Thornton. 

MASSACHUSETTS  BAY. — Samuel  Adams,  John 
Adams,  Robert  Treat  Paine,  Elbridge  Gerry. 

RHODE  ISLAND,  ETC. — Stephen  Hopkins,  Will- 
iam Ellery. 

CONNECTICUT. —  Roger  Sherman,  Samuel 
Huntington,  William  Williams,  Oliver  Wolcott. 

NEW  YORK. — William  Floyd,  Philip  Living- 
ston, Francis  Lewis,  Lewis  Morris. 

NEW  JERSEY. — Richard  Stockton,  John  With- 


erspoon,  Francis  Hopkinson,  John  Hart,  Abra- 
ham Clark. 

PENNSYLVANIA. — Robert  Morris,  Benjamin 
Rush,  Benjamin  Franklin,  John  Morton,  George 
Clymer,  James  Smith,  George  Taylor,  James 
Wilson,  George  Ross. 

DELAWARE. — Caesar  Rodney,  George  Read, 
Thomas  M'Kean. 

MARYLAND. — Samuel  Chase,  William  Paca, 
Thomas  Stone,  Charles  Carroll  of  Carrollton. 

VIRGINIA. — George  Wythe,  Richard  Henry 
Lee,  Thomas  Jefferson,  Benjamin  Harrison, 
Thomas  Nelson,  Jr.,  Francis  Lightfoot  Lee, 
Carter  Braxton. 

NORTH  CAROLINA. — William  Hooper,  Joseph 
Hewes,  John  Penn. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. — Edward  Rutledge,  Thom- 
as Hayward,  Jr.,  Thomas  Lynch,  Jr.,  Arthur 
Middleton. 

GEORGIA. — Button  Gwinnett,  Lyman  Hall, 
George  Walton. 


1776.  July  4.  The  United  States  Na- 
tional Seal  Projected.  Congress  adopted 
a  resolution  on  the  afternoon  of  indepen- 
dence day,  "  That  Dr.  Franklin,  Mr.  John 
Adams  and  Mr.  Jefferson  be  a  commit- 
tee to  prepare  a  device  for  a  seal  for  the 
United  States  of  America."  This  com- 
mittee made  a  report  in  August,  without 
any  device.  Nothing  was  done  for  sev- 
eral years,  on  account  of  the  heat  of 
the  struggle.  In  1779  and  1782  new 
committees  were  appointed,  but  their 
reports  gave  nothing  satisfactory.  The 
final  design  was  adopted  June  20,  1782. 

1776.  July  9.  The  statue  of  George 
III.,  set  up  in  New  York  in  1770  be- 
cause of  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act, 
was  pulled  down  by  the  excited  citizens. 
The  statue,  which  was  of  lead,  was  sent 
to  Litchfield,  Conn.,  to  the  family  of 
Gen.  Wolcott,  for  safe  keeping,  on  ac- 
count of  the  great  value  of  lead.  The 
lead  was  run  into  forty-two  thousand 
bullets,  by  the  daughters  and  friends  of 
Gen.  Wolcott.  It  is  said  that  there  were 
many  jokes  over  the  transmutation  of  a 
king  into  solid  appeals  for  liberty. 

1776.  July  14.  George  Washington, 
Esq.  Lord  Howe  sent  a  letter  up  New 


326 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR  T  STR  UGGLES. 


York  harbor  directed  to   Georgfe  Wash- 

O 

ington,  Esq.,  but  Joseph  Reed  and  Sam- 
uel B.  Webb,  who  went  out  to  meet  the 
messenger,  refused  to  receive  it.  Wash- 
ington could  not  of  course  enter  into 
correspondence  with  the  enemy  as  a  pri- 
vate person. 

1776.  Aug.  2.  The  Declaration  of 
Independence,  having  been  engrossed 
on  parchment,  was  signed  by  the  fifty- 
four  delegates  present.  President  John 
Hancock  affixed  his  name  first,  and  turn- 
ing, said  to  the  rest,  "  We  must  be  unani- 
mous; there  must  be  no  pulling  different 
ways;  we  must  all  hang  together."  At 
which  Franklin  jocosely  replied :  "  Yes, 
we  must  all  hang  together,  or  we  shall 
all  hang  separately." 

1776.  Aug.  26.  The  first  pension 
act  was  passed  by  the  continental  con- 
gress. Since  this  date  there  have  been 
several  hundred  acts  of  congress  relat- 
ing to  pensions  for  military  and  naval 
service. 

1776.  Aug.  27.  Battle  of  Long 
Island.  The  British  forces  having  landed 
on  Long  Island,  at  last  began  an  advance 
before  daylight  upon  the  American  posi- 
tion. Gen.  Clinton  was  in  command. 
The  fighting,  which  began  as  soon  as 
the  American  lines  were  reached,  was 
long  and  severe.  The  patriot  army  was 
driven  at  every  point.  They  lost  many 
men  by  the  merciless  Hessians  under  De 
Heister.  The  British  loss  was  about 
four  hundred,  and  the  American  two 
thousand,  half  of  whom  were  prisoners. 
Generals  Sullivan  and  Stirling  were  both 
among  the  last.  Many  of  the  captives 
were  confined  in  the  prison  ships. 

1776.  Aug.  29.  Evacuation  of  Long 
Island.  Gen.  Washington  having  de- 
cided with  the  advice  of  his  officers  to 
evacuate  Long  Island,  made  the  attempt 


a  little  before  midnight  in  a  heavy  fog. 
While  the  Americans  were  making  their 
passage  across  East  River,  a  negro  ser- 
vant was  sent  by  a  tory  woman  who 
learned  what  was  being  done,  to  inform 
the  British  of  it.  The  black  fellow  was 
taken  by  the  Hessians,  who  could  not 
understand  a  word  he  said,  and  the  in- 
tended warning  amounted  to  nothing. 

1776.  Sept.  11.  A  conference  ar- 
ranged by  Gen.  Sullivan,  who  had  been 
paroled  for  that  purpose,  was  held  on 
Staten  Island  at  the  Billop  House,  be- 
tween Lord  Howe  with  his  brother,  Gen. 
Howe,  'and  a  committee  appointed  by 
congress  consisting  of  Dr.  Franklin,  John 
Adams  and  Edward  Rutledge.  Lord 
Howe  received  them  courteously,  but  told 
them  that  he  could  not  recognize  them 
in  an  official  capacity.  He  would,  how- 
ever, confer  with  them  as  private  citizens. 
The  members  of  the  committee  said  that 
they  were  nothing  except  the  represen- 
tatives of  a  great  and  independent  people,, 
and  that  they  must  be  recognized  as  such 
before  any  arrangement  could  be  reached. 
It  was  further  learned  that  Lord  Howe's 
discretionary  powers  did  not  extend  so- 
far  as  to  enable  him  to  promise  any  re- 
dress for  unjust  laws.  This  ended  the 
conference. 

1776.  Sept.  15.  A  portion  of  the 
British  army  crossed  to  New  York  at 
Kip's  Bay,  and  the  Americans  evacuated 
the  city,  retiring  to  Harlem  Heights. 
When  the  enemy  were  landing,  Gen. 
Putnam  was  hurrying  out  of  New  York 
along  the  North  River,  and  succeeded  in 
escaping  with  all  his  force.  Gen.  Howe 
stopped  to  lunch  with  Mrs.  Murray,  on 
Murray  Hill,  and  so  delightfully  did  this 
lady  and  her  daughters  serve  their  guests 
that  the  British  force  was  not  pushed  on 
to  the  discovery  it  must  have  made  had 


1775-1783.] 


THE  DAY  OF  TRIAL. 


not  the  shrewd  methods  of  these  Ameri- 
can women  covered  the  retreat  of  their 
countrymen,  who  were  marching  hastily 
by  at  that  very  moment,  within  a  very 
short  distance.  When  the  officers  were 
allowed  to  depart,  the  city  was  empty  of 
American  soldiers. 

1776.  Sept.  16.  Battle  of  Harlem 
Plains.  A  battle  took  place  on  Harlem 
Plains  between  the  advance  guard  of  the 
British  under  Gen.  Leslie,  and  an  Amer- 
ican force  composed  of  a  company  of 
Virginians  under  Major  Leitch,  and  a 
company  of  Connecticut  rangers  under 
Col.  Knowlton.  The  Americans  being 
reinforced,  drove  the  British  back  after  a 
severe  contest.  The  American  loss  was 
about  sixty,  killed  and  wounded.  Knowl- 
ton and  Leitch  were  both  slain. 

1776.  Sept.  16.  Homestead  Act. 
Grants  of  land  were  promised  by  the 
United  States  congress  to  those  who  en- 
tered the  army  and  continued  in  it  till  the 
close  of  the  war. 

1776.  Sept.  21.  A  great  fire  occurred 
in  New  York  city,  burning  Trinity 
church  and  five  hundred  dwellings  on 
and  near  Broadway.  Some  lives  were 
lost  in  the  fire.  It  was  charged  by  the 
British  upon  patriot  sympathizers. 

1776.  Sept.  22.  Execution  of  Hale. 
Capt.  Nathan  Hale,  who  had  gone  into 
the  British  camp  in  the  disguise  of  a 
young  farmer,  to  obtain  information,  was 
discovered  and  executed  by  Gen.  Howe. 
He  was  successful  in  the  object  of  his 
mission,  and  was  about  leaving  the  camp 
when  a  tory  recognized  him  and  betrayed 
him.  The  circumstances  of  his  death 
caused  great  sorrow  among  those  who 
knew  of  it.  He  met  death  bravely,  ex- 
claiming, "  I  only  regret  that  I  have  but 
one  life  to  give  for  my  country." 

1776.     September.      An  Indian  bor- 


der warfare  raged  in  the  Carolinas  by 
the  instigation  of  British  agents,  who 
convinced  the  natives  that  it  was  a  good 
time  for  them  to  take  possession  of  their 
old  hunting  grounds.  But  within  a  short 
time  the  activity  of  the  patriots  was  so  • 
great  that  terror  was  spread  among  the 
tribes. 

1776.  Oct.  11.  A  severe  naval  battle 
took  place  on  Lake  Champlain  between 
Benedict  Arnold  and  Gen.  Carleton,  of  ' 
Canada.  Arnold  stationed  his  vessels  at 
first  where  they  could  be  easily  surround- 
ed by  the  British  fleet.  The  fight  was 
desperate  for  the  afternoon,  and  Arnold's 
force  was  greatly  injured.  In  the  night 
he  silently  ran  his  vessels  through  the  line 
of  the  enemy's  ships  and  sailed  up  the 
lake.  In  the  morning  the  pursuit  began, 
and  Arnold  was  finally  overtaken.  His 
vessels  were  destroyed,  and  some  of  his 
crews  captured.  Arnold  and  his  own 
crew  fought  as  long  as  they  could  fight, 
then  ran  their  vessel  ashore,  and  escaping 
to  land,  marched  off  in  triumph. 

1776.  Oct.  14.  Crown  Point  was 
occupied  by  Gen.  Carleton,  who  after- 
ward returned  to  Canada. 

1776.  Oct.  28.  Battle  of  White 
Plains.  The  British,  in  an  attempt  to 
surround  the  American  camp  near  New 
York  city,  fought  the  battle  of  White 
Plains  with  some  slight  advantage.  The 
American  loss  was  one  hundred,  killed 
and  wounded;  the  British  two  hundred 
and  twenty-nine. 

1776.  Nov.  16.  Capture  of  Fort 
Washington.  The  British  captured  Fort 
Washington,  on  Harlem  Heights,  after 
a  battle  of  several  hours,  and  a  loss  of 
one  thousand  men.  The  American  loss 
was  one  hundred,  killed  and  wounded 
and  twenty-five  hundred  prisoners,  who 
were  put,  many  of  them,  into  the  loath- 


328 


RE  VOL  UTIONART  STR  UGGLES. 


some  prison  ships.  The  British  were 
aided  in  taking  Fort  Washington  by  a 
letter  from  William  Demont  of  the 
American  army,  who  thus  proved  traitor 
to  the  patriot  cause.  It  was  during  this 
battle  that  Margaret  Corbin  was  aiding 
her  husband  serve  a  gun  against  the  Hes- 
sians, when  he  was  shot  dead  at  her  feet. 
She  instantly  took  his  place  without  a 
word,  and  redoubled  her  exertions.  She 
received  for  this  example  of  heroism, 
half-pay,  and  the  value  of  a  suit  of  clothes 
annually,  thereafter. 

1776.  Nov.  20.  Fort  Lee  was  hastily 
evacuated  by  Gen.  Greene,  because  the 
British  began  to  cross  to  the  west  shore 
of  the  Hudson.  The  garrison  were 
nearly  all  saved,  but  the  baggage  was 
abandoned.  Now  began  that  famous  re- 
treat through  New  Jersey,  during  which 
the  British  were  constantly  upon  the  heels 
of  the  Americans.  It  caused  the  general 
opinion  that  the  war  was  nearly  at  an 
end.  Washington,  however,  said  that 
"the  darkest  part  of  the  night  is  just  be- 
fore the  dawn  of  day." 

1776.  Nov.  30.  A  proclamation  of 
pardon  was  issued  by  Gen.  Howe  to  all 
who  would  lay  down  their  arms.  Many 
came  into  his  camp,  especially  from  New 
Jersey,  and  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
Great  Britain. 

1776.  Dec.  8.  Rhode  Island  was 
held  at  the  British  control  by  the  forces 
of  Gen.  Clinton  and  Sir  Peter  Parker, 
which  had  been  landed  at  Newport. 

1776.  Dec.  12.  Congress  adjourned 
to  Baltimore  in  view  of  the  approach  of 
the  two  armies  across  New  Jersey. 

1776.  Dec.  13.  Gen.  Charles  Lee 
was  captured  at  Baskingridge  by  a  small 
British  party.  Lee  had  followed  dilato- 
rily in  the  rear  of  Washington  in  spite  of 
the  latter's  repeated  commands  to  bring 


up  his  troops.  Lee's  motives  are  obscure. 
At  any  rate,  he  ceased  to  be  an  aid  to  the 
patriots. 

1776.  Dec.  26.  Battle  of  Trenton. 
Washington  crossed  the  Delaware,  re- 
moving as  he  did  so  all  the  boats  he 
could  find  along  the  river  to  the  other 
side.  He  now  determined  to  strike  a 
blow  which  should  be  felt.  He  therefore 
on  a  cold  stormy  night  recrossed  the  Del- 
aware in  boats  and  on  rafts,  and  fell  upon 
the  enemy's  camp.  The  surprise  was 
complete.  The  foe  had  surrendered  him- 
self to  rest  more  unguardedly  than  usual, 
and  some  were  spending  the  night  in 
revelry.  A  little  short,  sharp  fighting 
took  place,  and  a  thousand  Hessians  sur- 
rendered themselves  to  the  American 
army.  Twelve  hundred  small  arms,  six 
cannon,  and  all  the  standards,  were  cap- 
tured. Howe  had  returned  to  New 
York  before  this  attack,  leaving  Trenton 
to  be  held  by  his  German  mercenaries 
under  Donop  and  Rail.  The  Americans 
had  two  slightly  injured  in  this  great  at- 
tack, one  of  whom  was  James  Monroe, 
afterward  president  of  the  United  States. 

1776.  Dec.  27.  The  reorganization 
of  the  army  was  committed  by  congress 
to  Washington  with  great  discretionary 
power.  There  was  almost  no  money 
for  the  pay  of  the  soldiers  or  purchase  of 
supplies.  Robert  Morris,  of  Philadel- 
phia, sent  Washington  a  bag  of  specie 
containing  four  hundred  and  ten  Spanish 
dollars. 

1776.  A  lottery  was  authorized  by 
congress  for  the  raising  of  money  for  the 
•campaign  of  1777.  The  scheme  worked 
slowly,  and  was  finally  abandoned. 

1776.  A  tory  parson  of  old  York, 
Penn.,  was  ducked  in  the  river  by  his  in- 
dignant townspeople,  because  he  per- 
sisted in  praying  for  George  III.  He 


1775-1783.] 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


329 


•was  summarily  ejected  from  his  charge 
by  the  angry  patriots. 

1776.  Dr.  Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee 
were  sent  this  year  to  join  Silas  Deane 
in  negotiating  with  France  for  aid.  A 
treaty  was  drawn  up  by  congress  as  a 
proposal  to  France. 

1776.  The  first  decided  action 
against  slavery  by  the  Society  of  Friends 
"was  taken.  No  slaveholders  could  longer 


Argentine  Republic.     These  were  called 
the  provinces  of  the  La  Plata. 

1776.  Guatemala   la    nueva   or  the 
new  city  of  Guatemala,  was  founded  at  a 
distance   from    the    site   of  the    old    city 
which   had   been  destroyed  three    years 
before.      This   city    is    said    to   be    "the 
finest  in  Central  America." 

1777.  Jan.  1.     The  situation  of  af- 
fairs at  the  close  of  1776,  was,  on  the 


THE  STOLEN  MARCH. 


remain  members  of  the  body.  This  ac- 
tion was  only  reached  after  almost  a  cen- 
tury of  agitation. 

1776.  First  Stocking  Factory.  Mr. 
Coxenfinder,  of  Maryland,  received  an 
appropriation  of  .£300  from  the  "  com- 
mittee of  safety,"  for  the  establishment  of 
a  stocking  factory. 

1776.  The  viceroyalty  of  Buenos 
Ayres  was  erected  out  of  what  is  now 
Bolivia,  Paraguay,  Uruguay,  and  the 


whole,  dark  for  the  patriots.  The  money 
which  had  been  available  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  year  for  the  American  army 
was  now  exhausted,  and  it  was  difficult 
to  see  from  what  quarter  more  could  be 
obtained.  Robert  Morris,  without  whose 
aid  the  Revolution  could  not  have  been 
continued,  spent  this  New  Year's  morning 
in  going  from  neighbor  to  neighbor 
among  his  Quaker  friends  to  solicit  funds 
upon  his  own  credit.  He  raised  and 


330 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR  T  S  TR  UGGL  ES. 


forwarded  $50,000,  and  thus  gave  cheer 
to  Washington's  heart. 

1777.  Jan.  2.  Esek  Hopkins  was 
dismissed  from  the  command  of  the  navy 
of  the  United  States  on  account  of 
charges  of  inefficiency  made  by  his  ene- 
mies. He  was  an  elderly  and  not  very 
forcible  man.  No  other  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  navy  has  ever  been  ap- 
pointed. 

1777.  Jan.  3.  The  Stolen  March. 
Cornwallis  had  advanced  with  fresh 
troops  in  order  to  hem  in  and  destroy  the 
American  army  near  Trenton.  He  now 
felt  sure  of  punishing  Washington  for 
the  severe  stroke  he  had  inflicted  at  the 
battle  of  Trenton  a  few  days  before. 
Accordingly  the  British  general  drew  up 
his  fine  army  of  seven  thousand  men 
before  the  patriot  army,  with  the  Assan- 
pink  Creek  between.  Washington's 
force  was  now  in  a  most  critical  position, 
as  behind  it  was  the  Delaware,  and  in 
front  of  it  a  strong  army.  It  was  almost 
impossible  to  think  of  escaping  by  flight, 
for  the  ground  was  deep  with  mud. 
But  before  the  night  was  far  gone  a  wind 
sprang  up  which  dried  and  froze  it  to  a 
solid  pavement.  Washington,  therefore, 
leaving  his  pickets  at  work  building  fires 
and  raising  bi'eastworks  along  the  Assan- 
pink,  silently  mustered  his  army  and 
marched  along  the  deserted  Quaker  road 
toward  Princeton.  The  British  pickets 
did  not  suspect  that  the  little  army  they 
were  pretending  to  watch  were  not  in 
deep  repose.  Two  or  three  British  reg- 
iments which  had  been  delayed  in  the 
advance  were  just  leaving  Princeton  in 
their  march  toward  the  main  body,  when 
they  were  met  by  the  Americans,  who 
fell  upon  them  with  great  power.  The 
British  had  a  loss  of  more  than  three 
hundred  killed,  wounded,  and  captured. 


The  American  loss  was  quite  small, 
Cornwallis  gained  the  knowledge  of  the 

Q  C5 

escape  of  his  supposed  victim  by  the 
sound  of  cannon  at  Princeton.  At  first 
he  thought  it  thunder,  but  one  of  his 
officers  assured  him  that  he  had  been 
outgeneraled.  Cornwallis  therefore  hast- 
ened back  to  Piinceton,  but  Washington 
had  done  his  work  and  pushed  on  to 
Morristown  Heights.  The  exploits  of 
the  American  army  in  New  Jersey 
caused  the  fame  of  Washington  to  go 
far  and  near.  Frederick  the  Great  of 
Prussia,  declared  that  these  strategies  had 
never  been  excelled.  The  effect  on  the 
spirits  of  the  American  people  was  very 
great.  Patriots  began  to  multiply. 
Armed  bands  were  organized  for  the  pur- 
pose of  harassing  the  enemy.  The 
British  forces  were  now  constantly  as- 
sailed and  worn  by  these  little  companies, 
who  would  dash  upon  them,  seize  a  few 
prisoners,  and  be  ofK 

1777.  Jan.  6.  Winter  Quarters. 
Washington  went  into  winter  quarters  at 
Morristown,  N.  J.  Cornwallis  went 
into  quarters  at  Brunswick. 

1777.  Jan.  15.  Independence  of 
Vermont.  The  inhabitants  of  Vermont, 
who  had  steadily  refused  to  be  under  the 
authority  of  New  York,  met  in  conven- 
tion and  solemnly  declared  their  inde- 
pendence of  any  other  power  or  govern- 
ment. They  also  excluded  slavery  by 
the  bill  of  rights  they  adopted.  This 
was  the  very  first  State  declaration  abol- 
ishing slavery. 

1777.  Jan.  20.  A  foraging  party  of 
British  was  totally  routed  near  Somerset 
Court  House  by  a  body  of  militia  under 
Gen.  Dickinson,  of  Trenton. 

1777.  January.  French  Aid.  The 
French  government  refused  to  acknowl- 
edge the  independence  of  the  United 


1775-1783.] 

States,  but  assured  the  commissioners 
that  it  had  "ordered  two  millions  of  livres 
to  be  paid  to  America  in  quarterly  in- 
stallments, which  should  be  augmented 
as  the  state  of  the  finances  would  per- 
mit." Permission  to  buy  stores  and  mer- 
chandise was  also  given. 

1777.  January.  Spain  paid  Amer- 
ica one  million  livres  secretly. 

1777.  February.  Bounty  Jumpers. 
An  order  was  issued  by  Gen.  Washing- 
ton against  such  as  "  having  enlisted  in 
one  regiment  and  received  the  bounty 
allowed  by  congress,  had  deserted,  en- 
listed in  others,  and  received  new 
bounties."  They  were  warned  that 
"  whoever  are  convicted  thereof  and 
sentenced  to  die,  may  consider  their  exe- 
cution certain  and  inevitable." 

1777.  The  continental  congress  re- 
turned from  Baltimore  to  Philadelphia. 

1777.  April  25.  Tryon's  Connecti- 
cut Raid.  A  force  of  two  thousand 
British  and  tories  under  Ex-Gov.  Tryon 
of  New  York,  proceeded  to  Danbury, 
Conn.,  where  they  destroyed  a  large 
quantity  of  stores,  including  sixteen 
hundred  tents.  They  did  not  depart 
without  difficulty,  for  the  patriots  at- 
tacked them  at  many  points.  Sullivan, 
Arnold  and  Wooster  all  displayed  great 
daring.  Wooster  was  killed,  and  was  a 
great  loss.  Arnold  was  wounded.  The 
Americans  lost  in  all  about  one  hundred 
men,  and  the  British  three  hundred. 

1777.  April.  Exchange  of  Prisoners. 
An  interesting  correspondence  took  place 
between  Gen.  Howe,  who  had  released 
early  in  this  year  nearly  three  thousand 
prisoners  from  confinement  in  New  York 
and  sent  them  to  the  American  lines,  and 
Gen.  Washington,  who  now  refused  to 
deliver  up  according  to  the  terms  of  the 
exchange  an  equal  number  of  British 


THE  DAY  OF  TRIAL. 


331 


prisoners,  claiming  that  the  Americans 
were  so  injured  and  disabled  by  their 
treatment  in  the  prison  ships  and  crowded 
buildings  where  they  had  been  maltreated,, 
as  to  infringe  all  laws  of  exchange,  there- 
by making  the  return  of  an  equal  num- 
ber of  able-bodied  men  unjust.  The 
Americans  who  were  released,  in  many 
cases  died  of  their  troubles  upon  their 
way  home.  Washington  wrote  at  length 
upon  the  matter,  and  finally  refused  ta 
make  any  change  in  his  position.  The 
equity  of  the  question  has  been  consid- 
ered to  have  been  correctly  maintained 
by  him.  The  "Jersey,"  which  served 
as  a  prison-ship  in  New  York  harbor, 
became  an  object  of  horror  through  the 
slow  death  which  befell  those  who  en- 
tered it. 

1777.  May  23.  Sagg  Harbor  Raid. 
Col.  R.  J.  Meigs,  with  a  force  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy  men,  crossed  from 
Guilford,  Conn.,  to  Sagg  Harbor,  Long 
Island,  burned  the  shipping,  destroyed 
the  British  supplies,  and  captured  ninety 
persons,  mostly  tories,  without  the  loss  of 
a  man.  They  had  been  gone  twenty- 
five  hours,  and  traveled  about  ninety 
miles.  They  had  lugged  their  boats 
across  a  sandy  point  in  order  to  come 
upon  the  town  secretly. 

1777.  May  27.  Button  Gwinnett 
of  Georgia,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  was  killed  in  a  duel  by 
Gen.  Lackland  Mclntosh,  a  Revolution- 
ary officer.  The  duel  was  fought  with 
pistols  at  a  distance  of  twelve  feet,  and 
both  were  wounded,  Gwinnett  fatally. 
The  challenge  arose  in  personal  enmity 
and  rivalry  for  the  office  of  brigadier- 
general. 

1777.  June  1.  Capture  of  the  Han- 
cock. The  Hancock,  of  thirty-two  guns 
under  Capt.  Manley,  was  chased  and  cap- 


332 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STRUGGLES. 


tured  by  the  British  frigate  Rainbow,  of 
forty-four  guns.  The  Hancock  was  ac- 
companied before  the  action  by  the  Bos- 
ton, of  twenty-four  guns  under  Capt. 
Hector  McNeil,  but  while  the  action  was 
preparing,  McNeil  sailed  off.  Capt. 
Manley  then  tried  to  escape,  but  in  vain. 
He  was  imprisoned  at  Halifax,  afterward 
exchanged,  and  given  the  command  of 
the  Hague.  He  was  court-martialed 
for  the  loss  of  the  Hancock,  but  honora- 
bly acquitted,  while  McNeil  was  dis- 
missed from  the  service. 

1777.  June  14.  The  Stars  and  Stripes. 
Congress  resolved  « that  the  flag  of  the 
thirteen  United  States  be  thirteen  stripes, 
alternate  red  and  white;  that  the  union 
be  thirteen  stars,  white  on  a  blue  field, 
representing  a  new  constellation."  The 
design  was  taken  by  a  committee  to  Mrs. 
Ross,  who  lived  on  Arch  Street,  Phila- 
delphia, in  a  house  still  standing,  and 
followed  the  business  of  upholstering. 
The  committee  asked  her  to  make  a  flag 
with  thirteen  alternate  red  and  white 
stripes,  and  thirteen  six-pointed  stars.  She 
immediately  took  the  scissors  and  cut  out 
a  five-pointed  star,  suggesting  that  it  was 
more  pleasing  and  symmetrical.  The 
change  was  accepted.  She  began  the 
manufacture  of  flags,  and  her  descend- 
ants have  followed  it  since  her  day. 
Paul  Jones  first  unfurled  this  flag  upon 
the  Ranger.  The  stars  formed  a  circle, 
an  arrangement  which  has  had  to  be 
dropped  in  the  great  increase  of  states 
in  later  years. 

1777.  June  20.  Burgoyne's  Inva- 
sion. Gen.  Burgoyne,  who  had  been 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  north- 
ern British  army  in  place  of  Gen.  Carle- 
ton,  set  out  from  Canada  on  an  invasion 
of  New  York  by  way  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  intending  to  unite  with  Gen.  Howe 


along  the  Hudson  River.  Burgoyne  had 
a  splendid  army  of  eight  thousand  men, 
with  forty  pieces  of  artillery.  Upon  his 
way  up  the  lake  he  held  a  council  with 
the  Indians  to  stir  them  up  to  war. 

1777.  June  30.  Evacuation  of  New 
Jersey.  Gen.  Howe,  after  having  in 
vain  tried  to  entrap  Washington  by  strat- 
egy, evacuated  New  Jersey,  and  crossed 
to  Staten  Island. 

1777.  July  4.  The  first  anniversary 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was 
celebrated  at  Philadelphia,  with  great 
joy.  It  is  said  by  Bancroft,  that  during 
a  part  of  the  day  "  the  landgrave  of 
Hesse's  band,  captured  at  Trenton,  played 
excellent  music." 

1777.  July  6.  Fort  Ticonderoga, 
on  Lake  Champlain,  was  evacuated  by 
Gen.  St.  Clair. 

1777.  July  7.  Battle  of  Hubbardton. 
Gen.  Fraser,  with  a  detachment  of  Bur- 
goyne's army,  pushed  on  and  fought  the 
retreating  Americans  at  Hubbardton,  Vt. 
The  Americans  gave  way  with  a  loss 
of  three  hundred  killed,  wounded  and 
captured. 

1777.  July  12.  Gen.  St.  Clair,  with 
the  rest  of  his  force,  amounting  to  two 
thousand  men,  reached  Fort  Edward. 

1777.  July  20.  Gen.  Prescott,  in 
command  of  the  British  forces  in  Rhode 
Island,  was  taken  prisoner  one  night  at 
his  headquarters,  by  Lieut.-Col.  William 
Barton  of  Providence,  who  silently  en- 
tered the  house  with  a  few  men,  and 
carried  off  the  general  from  his  bedroom 
after  the  door  had  been  broken  through 
suddenly  by  the  head  of  a  strong  negro. 
Gen.  Prescott  was  sent  to  Washington 
and  exchanged  afterward  for  Gen. 
Charles  Lee.  Barton  received  a  sword 
and  a  colonel's  commission,  together  with 
a  errant  of  land  in  Vermont.  It  was 


1775-1783.] 

while  Gen.  Prescott  was  being  conveyed 
from  Rhode  Island  that  the  American 
dish  of  succotash,  a  compound  of  boiled 
green  corn  and  beans,  was  presented 
to  him  by  Mrs.  Alden  at  her  hus- 
band's tavern  at  Lebanon,  Conn.  Gen. 
Prescott  threw  it  upon  the  floor,  saying, 
"  What!  do  you  treat  me  to  the  food  of 
hogs?"  Capt.  Alden  afterward  came  in 
and  horsewhipped  Gen.  Prescott  for  his 
insolence  to  Mrs.  Alden. 

1777.  July  22.  Fort  Edward  was 
abandoned  by  Gen.  Schuyler  upon  the 
approach  of  Burgoyne. 

1777.  July  23.  Cornwallis  sailed 
from  New  York  for  the  south,  with 
eighteen  thousand  men.  His  point  of 
attack  was  unknown  to  the  Americans. 
It  afterward  proved  to  be  the  beginning 
of  the  approach  on  Philadelphia  by  way 
of  the  Delaware  River. 

1777.  July  27.  Jane  McCrea,  a 
beautiful  young  woman  who  was  being 
conducted  by  two  Indians  to  the  British 
camp  where  her  lover  was  an  officer,  was 
murdered  on  the  way.  Her  death  made 
a  great  excitement  at  the  time,  as  exhib- 
iting savage  treachery,  but  it  is  claimed  by 
some  that  she  was  shot  by  a  party  who 
fired  upon  the  Indians. 

1777.  July  31.  Lafayette,  a  young 
French  officer,  having  arrived  in  the  col- 
onies and  offered  his  services  to  the 
American  cause  without  pay,  was  com- 
missioned a  major-general  by  congress. 
He  had  found  great  difficulty  in  getting 
away  from  France,  but  finally  eluded  all 
efforts  to  detain  him,  and  reached  the 
shores  of  the  United  States  in  a  vessel  of 
his  own  purchase.  He  had  been  aroused 
on  the  subject  of  American  liberty  by 
hearing  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
read.  His  acquaintance  with  Washing- 
ton was  formed  immediately  upon  re- 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


333 


ceiving  his  commission,  and  became  very 
intimate  in  later  years.  Baron  John  de 
Kalb  and  other  officers  came  with  La- 
fayette and  entered  the  American  army. 

1777.  Aug.  3.  Fort  Stanwix,  or 
Fort  Schuyler  in  Central  New  York, 
was  besieged  by  a  force  of  British  and 
Indians. 

1777.  Aug.  6.  Battle  of  Oriskany. 
Gen.  Herkimer,  marching  to  the  relief  of 
Fort  Stanwix,  was  surprised  and  defeated 
by  a  part  of  St.  Leger's  army.  Gen. 
Herkimer  continued  to  direct  the  battle 
after  he  was  mortally  wounded.  The 
tories  and  Indians  fled  at  a  sortie  from 
the  fort. 

1777.  Aug.  13.  The  siege  of  Fort 
Stanwix  was  raised  by  St.  Leger,  because 
of  the  approach  of  Gen.  Benedict  Ar- 
nold with  a  force  of  eight  hundred  men. 
This  reverse  disappointed  Burgoyne. 

1777.  Aug.  16.  Battle  of  Benning- 
ton.  A  large  force  of  Germans  and 
British  regulars  under  Lieut.-Col.  Baume 
had  been  sent  into  Vermont  by  Burgoyne 
to  secure  tory  support,  and  capture  Amer- 
ican supplies.  But  Gen.  John  Stark  met 
and  conquered  them  at  Bennington, 
taking  seven  hundred  prisoners.  The 
Americans  lost  less  than  one  hundred. 
As  Gen.  Stark  caught  sight  of  the  British 
line  of  battle  he  exclaimed,  "  There  are 
the  red  coats.  We  beat  them  to-day,  or 
Molly  Stark  is  a  widow."  One  old  man 
had  five  sons  in  the  American  force.  He 
was  told  after  the  battle  that  one  of  them 
had  been  unfortunate.  "  Has  he  proved 
a  coward  or  a  traitor?"  eagerly  inquired 
the  man.  "  O,  no !  he  fought  bravely, 
but  he  has  fallen,"  was  the  answer.  "Ah, 
then  I  am  satisfied,"  was  the  father's 
response. 

1777.  Aug.  19.  Gen.  Horatio  Gates 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 


334 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


northern  army  of  the  Americans,  in  place 
of  Gen.  Schuyler. 

1777.  Sept.  11.  Battle  of  Brandy- 
wine.  Lord  Howe,  in  his  march  toward 
Philadelphia  along  the  Delaware  with  a 
large  force,  was  met  by  Gen.  Washing- 
ton, who  attempted  to  stay  the  progress 
of  the  British.  The  result  was  a  total 
defeat  of  the  Americans,  who  lost  nearly 
a  thousand  men.  The  British  lost  about 
five  hundred. 

1777.  Sept.  19.  Battle  of  Bemis' 
Heights,  sometimes  called  the  first  battle 
of  Saratoga.  Burgoyne  attacked  the 
American  army  at  Bemis'  Heights,  near 
Stillwater.  But  for  the  nervelessness 
of  Gates,  the  British  army  could  have 
been  destroyed.  The  day  was  only 
saved  by  a  few  brave  officers  like  Arnold 
and  Morgan.  The  American  loss  was 
about  three  hundred,  and  the  British  six 
hundred. 

1777.  Sept.  20.  Paoli  Massacre. 
Gen.  Wayne,  in  attempting  to  surprise 
Gen.  Howe,  was  himself  surprised  by  a 
British  force.  He  lost  three  hundred 
men,  killed,  wounded  and  captured.  The 
enemy  lost  only  seven.  The  disaster  was 
brought  upon  Wayne  by  information 
which  tories  conveyed  to  Gen.  Howe. 

1777.  Sept.  26.  Gen.  Howe  entered 
Philadelphia  at  the  head  of  his  troops. 
Many  of  the  citizens  left  the  city  in  great 
terror. 

1777.  Sept.  30.  Congress  met  at 
York,  Penn.,  after  the  entrance  of  Howe 
into  Philadelphia.  It  had  first  met  at 
Lancaster,  to  which  place  it  had  adjourned 
from  Philadelphia.  It  continued  to  meet 
at  York  while  Howe  held  the  city. 

1777.  Oct.  4.  Battle  of  German- 
town.  Washington  attacked  the  enemy's 
camp  at  Germantown,  the  result  of 
which,  though  not  a  complete  victory, 


served  to  strengthen  the  American  cause. 
The  loss  was  one  of  several  hundred  on 
each  side. 

1777.  Oct.  6.  Gen.  Clinton,  with  a 
British  force,  captured  Fort  Clinton  and 
Fort  Montgomery,  on  the  Hudson. 
Kingston,  Rhinebeck  and  other  places 
were  destroyed. 

1777.  Oct.  7.  Battle  of  Stillwater, 
sometimes  called  the  second  battle  of 
Saratoga.  The  situation  of  the  British 
was  now  critical.  They  fought  with 
desperation,  but  were  driven  at  all  points. 
Gen.  Arnold  fought  in  this  battle  in  diso- 
bedience to  Gen.  Gates,  who  sent  an 
officer  to  recall  him  as  he  entered  the 
field.  Gen.  Arnold  dashed  from  point  to 
point  so  rapidly  that  the  messenger  could 
not  reach  him  till  the  battle  was  over. 
Major  John  D.  Acland,  one  of  Burgoyne's 
officers,  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner. 
His  wife,  who  had  accompanied  him  to 
America,  sought  him  out  in  the  American 
camp  and  was  graciously  accorded  the 
privilege  of  caring  for  her  disabled  hus- 
band. In  a  short  time  Major  Acland  re- 
gained his  strength,  and  finally  returned 
with  his  wife  to  Great  Britain.  They 
had  both  gained  a  great  respect  for 
American  motives  and  character.  At  a 
dinner  in  England  a  Lieut.  Lloyd,  during 
a  discussion  of  the  character  of  the  Amer- 
ican cause  and  of  those  engaged  in  it, 
made  some  remarks  which  reflected  upon 
the  colonists.  Major  Acland  gave  him 
the  lie,  stoutly  defending  the  Americans. 
Lieut.  Lloyd  challenged  him,  and  in  the 
duel  which  followed,  Major  Acland  was 
shot  through  the  head.  His  wife  was 
insane  for  two  years. 

BURGOWE'S  SURRENDER. 

1777.  Oct.  17.  Finding  that  the 
hope  of  breaking  through  the  American 


1775-1783.]  » 

army  to  join  Howe,  and  of  safely  re- 
treating by  the  way  he  came,  had  now 
disappeared,  Burgoyne  at  last  surren- 
dered to  Gen.  Gates.  He  gave  up  five 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-one 
men,  besides  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  fifty-six  prisoners  of  war.  The 
Americans  also  obtained  forty -two  brass 
cannon,  and  forty-six  hundred  muskets, 
with  other  supplies.  At  the  surrender 
Burgoyne,  in  an  ele- 
gant uniform,  met 
Gates  in  a  "plain 
blue  frock  coat,"  and 
handed  his  sword  to 
the  latter,  who  re- 
turned it  at  once. 
The  British  troops 
were  to  be  allowed 
to  leave  the  country 
on  condition  of  not 
again  entering  the 
army  against  the 
Americans.  Bur- 
goyne now  realized 
what  Jonathan  Ma- 
son of  New  Hamp- 
shire said  to  him 
when  taken  prison- 
er, and  brought  be- 
fore the  general. 
"  Well,  my  fine  fel- 
low," said  Burgoyne,  "  what  do  you  think 
of  yourself  now?"  "Same  as  I  always 
did,"  was  the  reply.  "  But  what  do  you 
think  of  being  a  prisoner  of  war?" 
"Why,  that  it'll  be  your  turn  next." 
"Bah!"  was  Burgoyne's  exclamation, 
"  all  the  Yankees  in  America  can't  do 
it."  Gen.  Burgoyne  was  humorously 
known  during  the  Revolution  as  "  Elbow- 
room,"  a  designation  which  arose  from  a 
remark  he  made  when  entering  Boston 
harbor  in  1775,  with  Howe  and  Clinton. 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


335 


GEN.  BURGOYNE. 


The  saying  was  published  in  the  news- 
papers as  follows :  "  When  the  three 
generals  lately  arrived,  were  going  into 
Boston,  they  met  a  packet  coming  out, 
bound  to  this  place  (Newport),  when,  we 
hear,  Gen.  Burgoyne  asked  the  skipper  of 
the  packet,  '  What  news  there  was.'  And 
being  told  that  Boston  was  surrounded  by 
10,000  country  people,  asked,  '  How 
many  regulars  there  were  in  Boston?' 
and  being  answered 
about  5,000,  cried 
out,  with  astonish- 
ment, 'What,  ten 
thousand  peasants 
keep  five  thousand 
king's  troops  shut 
up !  Well,  let  us  get 
in,  and  we'll  soon 
find  elbow  room ! ' 
After  his  surrender 
the  general  was  con- 
veyed to  Boston, 
where  quite  a  crowd 
was  gathered  to  see 
him  as  he  stepped 
on  shore.  Just  as  he 
was  making  his  way 
off  the  Charlestown 
ferry-boat,  an  old 
lady  perched  on  a 
shed  above  the 
crowd,  cried  out  at  the  top  of  her  shrill 
voice, '  Make  way !  make  way !  the  gen- 
eral's coming!  Give  him  elbow  room!"1" 


1777.      October.      A   board    of  war 

was  created  by  congress  with  Gen.  Gates 
as  president  He  had  obtained  a  great 
popularity  \>y  Burgoyne's  surrender. 
Still  the  hopes  of  the  more  thoughtful 
clung  to  Washington,  who  wrote  to  Pat- 
rick Henry,  "  If  the  cause  be  advanced,  it 
is  indifferent  to  me  when  or  in  what 


336 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR  T  S  TR  UGGLES. 


quarter  it  happens."  Military  affairs  had 
formerly  been  under  the  charge  of  a  com- 
mittee of  congress. 

1777.  Oct.  22.  Attack  on  Fort 
Mercer.  Count  Donop,  with  twelve 
hundred  Hessians  and  artillery,  attacked 
Fort  Mercer  on  the  Delaware  River,  in 
which  Col.  Greene,  of  Rhode  Island, 
held  command  of  four  hundred  men. 
Col.  Greene  refused  to  surrender,  and 
the  foe  were  met  with  such  energy  that 
at  last  they  were  glad  to  give  up  the  at- 
tempt with  the  loss  of  four  hundred  men, 
including  Count  Donop. 

1777.  Oct.  23.  An  unsuccessful 
attack  was  made  on  Fort  Mifflin,  near 
Fort  Mercer,  by  British  vessels. 

1777.  Nov.  1.  Henry  Laurens,  of 
South  Carolina,  was  elected  president  of 
the  continental  congress,  to  succeed  John 
Hancock. 

1777.  Nov.  15.  Articles  of  Con. 
federation.  Congress  agreed  on  "  Arti- 
cles of  Confederation  "  for  a  closer  union 
between  the  colonies.  This  matter  had 
been  discussed  a  year  before,  and  since 
the  spring  of  this  year,  very  considerably. 
The  conflicts  between  different  colonial 
interests  came  out  ia  this  discussion.  A 
national  union  of  some  kind  was  seen  to 
be  necessary,  but  the  separate  states  were 
very  cautious  in  entrusting  any  power  to 
a  central  government.  These  "  articles  " 
established  a  mere  league  of  states,  with- 
out power  of  any  essential  kind.  No 
taxes  could  be  raised  by  congress.  The 
national  credit  at  once  began  to  decline. 
The  provincial  assemblies  ratified  the 
"  articles,"  though  some  of  them  were 
slow  to  do  so. 

1777.  Nov.  16.  Fort  Mifflin  was 
evacuated.  The  garrison  escaped  to 
Fort  Mercer. 

1777.     Nov.  20.     Fort    Mercer   was 


evacuated.  Its  fall  left  the  Delaware 
River  open  to  the  British. 

1777.  Dec.  4.  Howe's  Strategy. 
Gen.  Howe  left  Philadelphia  in  order  to 
draw  Washington  into  a  battle.  The 
American  general  was  warned  by  Lydia 
Darrah,  who  had  overheard  the  plan  as 
it  had  been  arranged  by  the  British  offi- 
cers in  council  at  her  house.  She  at  once 
prepared  to  go  to  mill,  and  thus  passed 
the  British  lines  in  safety. 

1777.  Dec.  7.  Battle  of  Edge  Hill. 
A  fight  took  place  at  Edge  Hill,  between 
a  small  number  of  troops  on  each  side. 
The  British  loss  was  eighty-nine,  and 
the  American  twenty-seven.  Howe  re- 
turned to  Philadelphia  with  an  entire 
failure  to  accomplish  his  purpose. 

1777.  Dec.  11.  Valley  Forge. 
Washington  marched  for  Valley  Forge, 
where  he  put  his  army  into  winter  quar- 
ters. Many  of  the  soldiers  were  almost 
or  wholly  barefoot,  and  there  was  little 
straw  which  could  be  obtained  to  put 
upon  the  ground  inside  their  huts.  Howe 
remained  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  saying 
of  Franklin  became  true  of  the  pleasure- 
loving  general.  "  Howe  did  not  take 
Philadelphia,  so  much  as  Philadelphia 
took  Howe." 

1777.  Wool-card     Teeth.       Oliver 
Evans  invented  a  machine   for  making 
the   teeth  for  wool-cards  at  the  rate  of 
three    hundred    a    minute.      They  had 
previously  been  made  by  hand. 

1778.  January.       "Battle    of   the 
Kegs."     An  attempt   was    made  to  de- 
stroy the  British  fleet  at  Philadelphia  by 
floating   kegs   of  powder  down   stream 
upon  a  raft,  with  attachments  for  explod- 
ing them  when  they   struck   any  object. 
The    design    was    invented    by    David 
Bushnell,  of  Saybrook,  Conn.     The  ves- 
sels had  been  moved  just  before,  and   so 


1775-1783.] 

escaped  injury,  but  the  device  caused 
great  alarm  in  the  city,  through  an  explo- 
sion which  occurred  in  hitting  a  block  of 
ice  or  some  other  floating  object.  There 
was  a  great  deal  of  firing  at  strange  ob- 
jects floating  on  the  water  during  the 
next  few  days.  A  comic  ballad  was 
written  upon  the  affair  by  Judge  Francis 
Hopkinson. 

1778.  Jan.  16.  A  great  fire  raged 
in  Charleston,  S.  C.,  with  great  rapidity, 
for  twenty-four  hours.  The  inhabitants 
fled  without  being  able  to  protect  their 
property.  The  shipping  and  boats  in  the 
harbor  were  filled  with  distressed  families. 

1778.  Jan.  20.  "  Light  Horse  Har- 
ry." A  party  of  two  hundred  British 
cavalrymen  made  an  unsuccessful  at- 
tempt to  capture  Capt.  Henry  Lee  at  his 
post  six  miles  from  Valley  Forge.  Capt. 
Lee  with  seven  men  barricaded  the  house 
and  drove  off  the  enemy,  preventing 
them  also  from  taking  away  the  horses 
out  of  the  barn  near  by.  The  British 
fled  with  a  loss  of  four  killed,  and  three 
wounded.  Lee's  loss  was  two  wounded, 
besides  the  capture  of  his  patrols.  Capt. 
Lee  was  made  a  major  and  authorized  to 
raise  a  corps  of  his  own,  which  became 
known  as  "Lee's  Legion,"  while  their 
leader  was  commonly  called  "  Light 
Horse  Harry."  He  was  the  father  of 
Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee,  commander-in-chief 
of  the  Confederate  army,  in  the  late  civil 
war. 

1778.  Feb.  6.  A  treaty  of  alliance 
and  commerce  was  concluded  between 
France  and  the  United  States,  and  was 
the  first  one  which  the  latter  had  ar- 
ranged with  any  nation.  France  thereby 
acknowledged  the  independence  of  the 
United  States. 

1778.     February.     Baron  Steuben,  a 

Prussian   who   had    served    seven  years 
22 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


337 


under  Frederick  the  Great,  arrived  at 
Valley  Forge  to  enter  the  American 
army.  He  was  soon  appointed  inspector- 
general,  and  began  to  drill  the  troops 
with  great  good  results.  The  effects  of 
his  discipline  were  visible  throughout  the 
rest  of  the  war. 

1778.  March  7.  A  naval  action 
took  place  between  the  Randolph,  an 
American  vessel,  and  the  Yarmouth,  an 
English  vessel.  All  of  the  Randolph's 
crew  of  three  hundred  and  fifteen  men, 
except  four,  perished  by  the  explosion  of 
the  ship's  magazine. 

1778.     March.     Lord  North's  Plan. 
Lord  North  offered  certain  conciliatory 
bills  to  Parliament,  which    mi.irj8 
were  passed  by  that  body.  Voltaire. 

The  capture  of  Burgoyne    17°^"78- 

°    J  William  Pitt. 

and  the  position  of  France    1712-1778. 
led  to  these  measures.     But  Rous***** 

there  was  a  total  misconception  in  Eng- 
land of  the  spirit  of  the  American  leaders, 
and  all  the  bills  were  based  upon  the 
former  relations  between  the  two  coun- 
tries. It  was  now  impossible  to  come  to 
an  agreement  upon  old  terms. 

1778.  May  18.  The  Meschianza. 
Just  before  Gen.  Howe's  departure  for 
England  a  great  pageant  was  held  in  his 
honor  in  Philadelphia.  It  was  under 
the  management  of  Major  Andre",  and 
consisted  of  a  regatta,  a  tournament,  and 
a  ball  at  which  a  rich  banquet  was 
spread.  This  untimely  display  and  rev- 
elry in  the  midst  of  war  caused  much 
ridicule  and  criticism  to  be  heaped  upon 
those  who  participated  in  the  affair. 

1778.  May  21.  An  attempt  to  cap- 
ture Lafayette,  whom  Washington  had 
stationed  at  an  outpost  between  Valley 
Forge  and  Philadelphia,  was  made  by 
Gen.  Howe.  But  Lafayette  out-generaled 
him,  and  escaped  from  the  net. 


338 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES . 


1778.  May  24.  Gen.  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  arrived  in  Philadelphia  to  as- 
sume command  of  the  British  army  in 
America,  upon  the  recall  of  Gen.  Howe. 

1778.  June  4.  Three  commission- 
ers who  had  been  appointed  by  the  Eng- 
lish government  in  accordance  with  Lord 
North's  plan  of  conciliation,  arrived  in 
Philadelphia  to  treat  for  peace.  Their 
mission  was  a  failure,  because  they  had 
no  authority  to  stipulate  for  the  removal 
of  the  British  army  from  America,  or  to 
acknowledge  the  independence  of  the 
United  States,  both  of  which  things  were 
claimed  by  the  United  States  as  a  pre- 
liminary to  all  conference.  Congress 
refused  abruptly  to  hold  any  intercourse 
till  these  things  were  agreed  upon.  It 
was  one  of  these  commissioners  who 
sent  an  offer  of  £  10,000  to  Gen.  Joseph 
Reed  if  he  would  exert  himself  for  a 
reconciliation,  eliciting  the  famous  reply, 
"  I  am  not  worth  purchasing,  but  such  as 
I  am,  the  King  of  Great  Britain  is  not 
rich  enough  to  buy  me."  Of  a  similar 
sort  was  the  reply  of  Nathan  Coffin 
upon  another  occasion,  when  asked  to 
enter  the  royal  naval  service.  "Hang 
me  if  you  will  to  the  yard-arm  of  your 
ship,  but  do  not  ask  me  to  become  a 
traitor  to  my  country." 

1778.  June  18.  The  British  evac- 
uated Philadelphia  under  orders  from 
England.  The  whole  force  to  the  num- 

O 

ber  of  fourteen  thousand  troops,  set  out 
across  New  Jersey.  Washington  at  once 
made  preparations  to  follow  in  pursuit. 

1778.  June  28.  Battle  of  Mon- 
mouth.  A  severe  battle  was  fought  at 
Monmouth,  N.  J.,  one  hot  Sunday  when 
the  mercury  stood  ninety-six  degrees 
above  zero  in  the  shade.  At  the  first 
attack  the  American  van  under  Gen. 
Charles  Lee,  gave  way.  Washington 


came  up,  and  by  almost  superhuman 
efforts,  stopped  the  flight.  The  battle 
continued  till  dark,  when  the  patrols 
were  left  on  the  field,  and  the  weary 
soldiers  lay  down  to  sleep.  The  Ameri- 
cans lost  three  hundred  and  sixty-two 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  The  Brit- 
ish lost  in  the  battle  three  hundred  and 
fifty-five.  Gen.  Charles  Lee  was  court- 
martialed  for  his  lack  of  bravery,  and 
for  his  insolent  replies  to  Washington. 
He  was  suspended  for  one  year,  and  at 
a  later  date  upon  additional  proof  of 
treachery  to  his  country,  was  dismissed 
from  service.  It  was  in  this  battle  that 
the  brave  Mollie  Pitcher  assisted  in  load- 
ing the  cannon  at  which  her  husband  had 
been  stationed  till  he  was  shot  down. 
On  the  following  day  she  received  from 
Washington  a  sergeant's  commission, 
with  half-pay  for  life.  The  British  con- 
tinued their  march  toward  New  York, 
and  lost  nearly  one  thousand  men  upon 
the  way,  by  desertion. 

1778.  July  3.  A  great  massacre 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Wyoming  Valley, 
Penn.,  took  place  at  the  hands  of  more 
than  a  thousand  tories  and  Indians, 
headed  by  Col.  John  Butler.  The  ab- 
sence of  able  bodied  men  to  serve  in  the 
continental  army  left  the  Valley  almost 
defenceless. 

1778.  July  4.  Forty  Fort,  in  Wyo- 
ming Valley  was  taken,  and  more  cruel- 
ties committed.  The  whole  region  was 
burned  and  desolated  in  the  most  scathing 
manner. 

1778.  July  4.  A  duel  was  fougnt 
between  Generals  Cadwallader  and  Con- 
way,  because  of  the  latter's  opposition' to 
Washington.  Conway  was  wounded, 
and  thinking  death  near  at  hand,  he  wrote 
Washington  a  letter  full  of  repentance 
for  all  his  dishonorable  efforts. 


.PS 


VALE  OF  WYOMING. 


[339 


340 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


1778.  Another  duel  was  fought  this 
year  between  Maj.-Gen.  Charles  Lee 
and  Col.  John  Laurens,  an  aide  of  Wash- 
ington, who  challenged  Lee  because  of 
slighting  remarks  made  by  the  latter  con- 
cerning Washington  in  defending  his  own 
conduct  at  Monmouth.  Gen.  Lee  was 
wounded,  but  the  affair  terminated  with- 
out any  very  decisive  character. 

1778.  July  8.  The  Trench  fleet 
under  Count  D'Estaing,  arrived  off  the 
mouth  of  the  Delaware  a  few  days  after 
the  British  fleet  had  sailed  out  of  that 
river,  on  its  way  from  Philadelphia  to 
New  York.  The  first  minister  from 
France  to  the  United  States,  a  Mr. 
Gerard,  came  in  this  fleet. 

1778.  July  29.  The  Trench  fleet 
arrived  at  Narragansett  Bay  in  obedi- 
ence to  an  order  to  unite  with  a  land 
force  under  Gen.  Sullivan,  in  driving  the 
British  from  Rhode  Island. 

1778.  Aug.  6.  M.  Gerard,  first  min- 
ister from  France  to  the  United  States, 
was  received  by  congress  with  imposing 
ceremonies. 

1778.  Aug.  10.  A  severe  storm  pre- 
vented an  impending  battle  between  the 
French  fleet  and  Lord  Howe's  fleet  off 
Newport,  and  did  great  damage  to  the 
American  camp.  After  a  short  time 
D'Estaing  sailed  to  Boston  to  refit  his 
ships. 

1778.  Aug.  18.  Capt.  Cook,  the 
great  English  navigator,  having  ex- 
plored Behring's  Strait  and  determined 
its  width,  reached  and  named  Icy  Cape, 
on  the  northwest  coast  of  Alaska.  From 
there  he  sailed  to  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
where  he  was  killed.  He  had  hoped  on 
this  northern  trip  to  settle  the  question  of 
a  northwest  passage,  but  the  ice-fields 
prevented.  The  chief  value  of  Cook's 
voyages  was  in  making  the  world  ac- 


quainted with  the  Tahitian  sugar  cane, 
which  contains  a  larger  proportion  of 
sugar,  and  ripens  more  quickly.  It  is- 
now  cultivated  in  a  large  part  of  the 
sugar-growing  districts  of  the  world. 

1778.  Aug.  29.  A  battle  took  place 
between  the  American  land  forces  which 
had  begun  to  retreat  from  their  position 
near  Newport,  R.  I.,  and  the  British,  who 
were  in  pursuit.  Gen.  Greene,  who  com- 
manded the  right  of  Gen.  Sullivan's 
force,  drove  back  the  British  with  a  loss- 
of  two  hundred  and  sixty  men.  The 
American  loss  was  two  hundred.  At 
other  points  the  Americans  were  driven 
back. 

1778.  Aug.  30.  Gen.  Sullivan's  army 
withdrew  from  Rhode  Island.  Within 
a  few  days  the  British  ravaged  the  coast 
to  the  east,  including  New  Bedford,  Fair- 
haven  and  Martha's  Vineyard. 

1778.  Sept.  28.  Baylor's  American 
"  Light-horse  "  were  surprised  and  mas- 
sacred one  night  while  sleeping  in  barns 
in  New  Jersey,  by  a  small  British  force 
under  Gen.  Grey.  They  were  bayoneted 
while  begging  for  quarter. 

1778.  Oct.  15.  Pulaski's  infantry 
were  surprised  and  massacred  where  they 
were  quartered  for  the  night,  by  Capt. 
Patrick  Ferguson  and  a  British  force. 

1778.  Nov.  10.  Cherry  VaUey  Mas- 
sacre. A  band  of  tories  and  Indians 
under  Walter  N.  Butler,  a  tory,  and 
Brant,  an  Indian,  fell  upon  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Cherry  Valley,  N.  Y.,  in  a  storm 
of  rain,  and  desolated  the  region  with  the 
scalping  knife,  and  with  fire. 

1778.  Dec.  10.  John  Jay,  LL.  D., 
was  elected  president  of  the  continental 
congress  to  succeed  Henry  Laurens,  who 
had  resigned. 

1778.  Dec.  29.  Savannah,  Ga.,  was 
seized  by  a  British  force  under  Lieut.-Col. 


1775-1783.] 


THE  DAY  OF  TRIAL. 


341 


Campbell,  who  lost  twenty-four  men  in 
the  attack.  The  American  loss  was  quite 
heavy,  comprising  nearly  one-half  the 
troops,  baggage,  and  guns  which  they 
possessed. 

1778.  "Nancy's   Rock."     A   young 
girl,  working  in  a  family  in  Jefferson,  N. 
H.,  was  engaged  to  be  married  to  a  young 
man    in  the    same    family.     The   young 
man  left  the  region  on  a  trip  to  Ports- 
mouth with  the  man  he  worked  for,  while 
his  affianced  was  away  for  a  few  days. 
He  left  her  no  word.     Having    returned 
.and  found  that  he  had  gone,  she  packed 
up  a  bundle  and  started  to  follow  him  on 
foot.      A  snow-storm  was  driving,   and 
night   was  setting  in.     It   was    at   least 
thirty  miles  to  Crawford  Notch,   in   the 
White  Mountains,  where    any  one  lived. 
There  was  only  a  path  to  be  followed  by 
blazed  trees.     In  the  midst  of  the  storm 
she  pushed  on.     Finally   she   reached   a 
camp  where  her  lover  had  been,  shortly 
before.     She  tried  to  kindle  a  fire  in  the 
warm  ashes  again.     She  pushed  on  into 
the  Notch,  and  climbed  along  her  rough 
way,  fording  the  Saco    River.     At   last 
•she  gave  out,  and.  was  found  by  a  party 
who  had  set  out  in  pursuit  of  her.     But 
she  was  cold  and  dead.     Her  lover  is  said 
to  have  gone  insane  and  died  a  madman, 
after  he  had  learned  of  this  devotion  of  a 
loving  heart. 

1779.  Jan.  1.     Federal  money  had 
depreciated  to  such   an   extent  that  one 
Collar  in  gold  would  buy  seven  or  eight 
dollars  in  the  bills  of  credit. 

1779.  Jan.  9.  The  fort  at  Sunbury, 
Ga.,  was  taken  by  the  British  under  Gen. 
P  revest.  Augusta  was  taken  a  few  days 
later. 

1779.  Feb.  14.  Battle  of  Kettle 
Creek.  A  tory  force  which  was  plun- 
dering the  region,  was  defeated  at  Kettle 


Creek,  Ga.,  by  Col.  Andrew  Pickens, 
with  a  company  of  citizens  from  Ninety- 
Six. 

CLARK'S  FAMOUS  EXPEDITIONS. 
1779.  Feb.  25.  The  British  post  at 
Vincennes,  Ind.,  was  taken  by  Col. 
George  Rogers  Clark,  after  a  difficult 
march  across  the  country  from  Kaskaskia. 
In  order  to  understand  the  situation  it  is 
necessary  to  look  at  his  previous  efforts. 
Col.  Clark  had  in  1775  undertaken  to 
bring  the  settlements  scattered  through 
Illinois,  Indiana  and  Kentucky,  under  the 
rule  of  Virginia.  Difficulties  hindered 
the  accomplishment  of  this  step,  but  he 
persevered,  and  finally  in  1778  raised 
an  expedition  with  which  he  marched 
against  the  French  settlements  of  Illinois. 
He  first  secured  possession  of  Kaskaskia 
without  bloodshed,  and  by  his  treatment 
of  the  inhabitants  won  their  good  will  to 
such  an  extent  that  the  French  priest  en- 
gaged to  secure  the  allegiance  of  the 
inhabitants  at  Vincennes  to  the  United 
States.  The  British  governor  of  that 
post  had  gone  to  Detroit,  and  the  citizens, 
attracted  by  the  new  show  of  freedom, 
readily  consented  to  the  change.  Capt. 
Helm  was  sent  from  Kaskaskia  by  Col. 
Clark,  to  take  charge  of  Vincennes. 
This  was  in  August,  1778.  By  an  act  of 
the  Virginia  assembly,  that  whole  re- 
gion was  raised  to  the  name  of  Illinois 
County.  Near  the  end  of  this  year, 
however,  the  British  governor  of  Detroit 
raised  an  army  of  about  five  hundred, 
including  Indians,  and  descended  upon 
Vincennes.  The  English  had  reached 
the  vicinity  of  the  fort  and  were  in  full 
march  toward  the  gate,  when  a  sturdy 
voice  shouted,  "  Halt! "  It  was  the 
voice  of  Capt.  Helm,  who  stood  at  a 
cannon  in  the  open  gate,  ready  to  dis- 
charge it  in  an  instant.  Gov.  Hamilton 


342 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


stopped  his  force  and  demanded  the  sur- 
render of  the  garrison.  "  No  man  shall 
enter  here  until  I  know  the  terms,"  was 
the  reply  of  Capt.  Helm.  Hamilton  in 
a  few  moments  agreed  to  grant  the  hon- 
ors of  war,  and  drew  up  his  force  to  re- 
ceive the  garrison  as  they  should  march 
out.  What  was  the  amazement  of  Indi- 
ans and  regulars  to  see  Capt.  Helm,  with 
a  solitary  private  named  Henry,  march 
out  of  the  gate,  and  down  the  lines. 
These  two  Americans  were  the  only  gar- 
rison in  the  place.  This  recapture,  tak- 
ing place  in  December,  1778,  separated 
Col.  Clark  from  the  east.  He  therefore 
began  the  raising  of  a  force  to  march 
against  Vincennes  and  attempt  its  seizure. 
It  must  be  done  at  once,  for  the  British 
would  be  reinforced  in  the  spring.  On 
Feb.  5  he  set  out  across  the  country, 
having  sent  a  vessel  around  by  the  rivers. 
The  whole  region  was  flooded,  and  the 
men  were  obliged  to  march  through 
water  a  great  part  of  the  way.  At  times 
a  large  part  of  the  force  were  in  danger 
of  drowning  through  exhaustion.  After 
many  difficulties  the  distance  was  accom- 
plished, and  the  siege  began.  It  continued 
several  days  with  the  usual  incidents,  and 
at  last,  after  considerable  parley,  the  post 
surrendered.  Col.  Clark  had  saved  the 
western  territory  to  the  United  States. 
His  expeditions  were  very  important  in 
gaining  these  posts  and  impressing  the 
western  Indians  with  a  sense  of  the  power 
of  the  United  States.  Col.  Clark's  energy 
was  of  a  remarkable  sort.  His  efforts  rank 
very  high  in  the  list  of  Revolutionary 
adventures. 

1779.  March  3.  Battle  of  Brier 
Creek,  Ga.  A  large  detachment  of  Gen. 
Lincoln's  army  under  Ashe  was  defeated 
at  Brier  Creek,  Ga.,  with  great  loss,  by 


the  British  who  were  commanded  by 
Gen.  P revest. 

1779.  April  26.  Putnam's  Escape. 
A  company  of  patriots  under  Gen.  Put- 
nam tried  to  resist  a  raid  made  by  Ex- 
Gov.  Tryon  of  North  Carolina,  with 
fifteen  hundred  British  and  Hessians,  into 
the  territory  of  Connecticut,  near  Green- 
wich. The  American  force  was  so  small 
that  it  fled  at  once.  Gen.  Putnam  rode 
swiftly  toward  Stamford  meeting-house^ 
pursued  by  dragoons.  On  reaching  the 
brow  of  the  hill  on  which  the  meeting- 
house stood,  Gen.  Putnam  dashed  down 
at  headlong  speed,  crossing  in  his  course 
some  stone  steps  which  led  down  the  de- 
clivity. The  British  did  not  dare  to  fol- 
low, and  the  general  escaped.  After 
having  destroyed  some  property,  Tryon 
marched  back  to  Kingbridge  followed  by 
Gen.  Putnam,  who  gathered  his  men  to- 
gether and  took  thirty-eight  of  the  enemy 
prisoners,  besides  recovering  some  of  the 
stolen  property.  Putnam  lost  twenty 
men. 

1779.  May  9.  A  British  expedition 
of  twenty-five  hundred  men  overran 
Suffolk  Co.,  Va.,  burning  property,  and 
wasting  the  whole  region.  Three  thous- 
and hogsheads  of  tobacco  were  car- 
ried back  to  New  York.  The  damage 
to  the  property  of  the  region  was  esti- 
mated at  $2,000,000.  Over  one  hundred 
vessels  were  destroyed. 

1779.  May  11.  Gen.  Prevost  ap- 
peared before  Charleston,  S.  C.,  and 
demanded  its  surrender.  His  request  was 
refused,  and  upon  the  rumored  approach 
of  Gen.  Lincoln,  Prevost  abandoned  the 
attempt. 

1779.  May  31.  Stony  Point,  N.  Y.,. 
was  captured  by  the  British  under  Clin- 
ton. The  entire  garrison  escaped  by 
flight. 


1775-1783.] 

1779.     June    1.     Verplanck's   Point, 

opposite  Stony  Point,  was  also   captured 
by  Clinton,  together  with  its  garrison. 

1779.  June  20.  A  severe  battle 
occurred  at  Stono  Ferry,  S.  C.,  between 
a  part  of  Gen.  Lincoln's  force  and  a 
British  garrison  left  to  guard  the  ferry. 
Each  side  lost  about  three  hundred  men. 

1779.  July  5.  Another  raid  upon 
Connecticut  was  made  by  Tryon.  For 
a  week  his  force  pursued  their  work,  de- 
stroying New  Haven,  East  Haven,  Fair- 
field,  and  Norwalk.  Tryon  was  delighted 
with  the  task,  and  sat  in  a  rocking  chair 
upon  a  hill  during  the  burning  of 
Norwaik. 

1779.  July  16.  Stony  Point  was 
stormed  a  little  past  midnight  in  the 
morning  by  an  American  detachment 
under  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  commonly 
called  "  Mad  Anthony."  The  surprise 
was  complete,  and  the  contest  very  sharp 
for  a  few  moments.  But  the  garrison 
soon  surrendered,  having  lost  sixty-three 
men,  killed.  Five  hundred  forty-three 
prisoners  were  taken.  The  American 
loss  was  fifteen  killed,  and  eighty-three 
wounded.  The  cannon  and  stores  were 
removed  from  Stony  Point,  and  the  post 
was  abandoned.  But  it  was  soon  re- 
occupied  by  the  British. 

1779.  Aug.  19.  Major  Henry  Lee 
with  an  American  force,  got  inside  the 
fort  at  Paulus  Hook,  N.  J.,  now  Jersey 
City,  being  mistaken  by  the  sentinel  for 
a  returning  foraging  party,  and  captured 
one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  of  the  British 
garrison,  whom  he  carried  off  prisoners. 

1779.  Aug.  29.  Expedition  against 
the  Indians.  Generals  Sullivan  and 
Clinton  having  organized  an  expedition 
against  the  Indians  of  Western  New 
York  in  retaliation  for  Wyoming  and 
Cherry  Valley  outrages,  fought  them  at 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


343 


Chemung,  now  Elmira,  N.  Y.  Eight 
hundred  Indians  and  tories  were  routed. 
Within  the  next  five  weeks  many  Indian 
villages  and  stores  were  burned,  and  the 
inhabitants  scattered  abroad.  It  was  a 
terrible  lesson  to  them.  The  Indians 
gave  Washington  the  name  of  "  The 
Town  Destroyer." 

1779.     Sept.  23.     Paul   Jones'    Vic- 
tory.    A  great  naval  victory  was  gained 
by  John  Paul  Jones  off  the  coast  of  Eng- 
land over  the  Serapis  and   Scarborough, 
two  English  vessels-of-war  in  charge  of 
a    fleet   of    merchantmen.     Com.  Jones 
had    five   vessels,    and   commanded    the 
Bon  Horn  me  Richard  himself,  with  which 
he  fought  at  close   quarters,  the   Serapis, 
the  most  powerful  of  the  enemy's  ships. 
The   Richard    had  forty-two  guns,   and 
the  Serapis  fifty.     After  the  fight  opened 
the  two  vessels  were  lashed  together,  side 
to  side.     When  everything  seemed  going 
to  ruin,  Com.  Pearson  cried  out  to  Jones 
through    the    smoke,   "  Has    your    ship 
struck?"    to   which   the    reply    at   once 
flashed  back,  "  I  haven't  begun  to  fight 
yet."    For  most  of  the  night  did  the  fearful 
conflict  rage,  until  at  last  Com.  Pearson 
surrendered.     During  the  battle,  the  Al- 
liance, one  of  Jones'  vessels  under  Capt. 
Landais,  came  up  and  fired  a   broadside 
into  the  stern  of  the  Bon  Horn  me  Rich- 
ard, thereby  intending,  it  is  thought,  to 
kill  Jones,  and  take  the   Serapis  in  her 
disabled   condition,  in  order  to  gain  the 
glory.     The  Scarborough  was  captured 
after  an  hour's  battle  by  the  Pallas  under 
Capt.  Cottineau.     Com,  Pearson,  of  the 
Serapis,  was  knighted  by  the  queen  for 
his  bravery.     Com.  Jones,  when  he  heard 
of  it  said,  "  Well,  he  deserved  it,  and  if  I 
meet  him  again,  I   will  make  a  lord  of 
him."     The  news  of  this  wonderful  vic- 
tory excited  the  world,  and  respect  for 


314 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR  UGGLES. 


American  bravery  increased.  Reuben 
Chase,  of  Nantucket,  midshipman  of  the 
Bon  Homme  Richard  in  this  battle,  be- 
came the  Long  Tom  Coffin  of  Cooper's 
"  Pilot."  Paul  Jones  himself  was  the 
unknown  pilot  of  the  story. 

1779.  Sept.  28.  Samuel  Hunting- 
ton  of  Connecticut,  was  elected  president 
of  the  continental  congress,  to  succeed 
John  Jay,  who  had  been  appointed  to  the 
Spanish  mission. 

1779.  Oct.  1.  Col.  White's  Strata- 
gem. During  the  siege  of  Savannah 
five  British  vessels  lay  about  twenty-five 
miles  below  the  city  on  the  Ogeechee, 
under  the  charge  of  Capt.  French  and 
some  regulars.  Col.  White  of  Georgia, 
with  a  captain  and  three  soldiers,  five  of 
them  in  all,  kindled  a  great  number  of 
fires  in  the  woods  around,  and  rode  back 
and  forth,  giving  orders  to  imaginary  sol- 
diers. He  then  demanded  the  surrender 
of  the  British,  which  Capt.  French  hast- 
ened to  comply  with,  in  the  conviction 
that  he  was  surrounded  by  a  large  force. 
White  sent  the  prisoners  off  under  three 
men,  saying  that  he  must  keep  his  army 
in  camp  for  fear  of  a  slaughter.  He 
then  raised  a  force  of  militia  and  over- 
took the  captives  before  they  had  gone 
far.  This  was  one  of  the  most  successful 
stratagems  of  the  war. 

1779.  Oct.  9.  The  siege  of  Savan- 
nah, Ga.,  by  an  American  force  in  con- 
junction with  the  French  fleet  under 
Count  D'Estaing,  which  had  been  going 
on  for  some  weeks,  closed  with  a  bloody 
assault  which  was  entirely  unsuccessful. 
The  Americans  lost  four  hundred,  the 
French  six  hundred.  Count  Pulaski  was 
killed  during  the  attack.  Gen.  Lincoln 
retired  to  Charleston. 

1779.  October.  Board  of  Admiralty. 
The  committee  of  congress  upon  the 


navy  was  erected  into  a  "  Board  of  Ad- 
miralty "  with  three  members  added, 
who  were  not  members  of  congress. 

O 

1779.  Morristown  Winter  Quarters. 
Washington  made  his  new  winter  quarters 
for  this  season  at  Morristown,  N.  J.,  and 
the  army  endured  greater  misery  than  at 
Valley  Forge.  It  was  one  of  the  sever- 
est winters  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
Before  the  close  of  the  year  the  British 
had  withdrawn  from  the  Hudson  and 
from  Rhode  Island,  and  held  no  place  in 
New  England  west  of  the  Penobscot. 
Early  in  the  year  Lafayette  had  returned 
to  France,  where  he  was  received  with 
great  honor,  and  obtained  from  the  king 
at  the.  close  of  the  year,  the  promise  of 
an  army  for  American  service. 

1779.  December.  The  Federal  cur- 
rency had  depreciated  so  rapidly  during 
this  year  that  at  its  close  one  dollar  in 
gold  or  silver  would  buy  thirty  dollars  in 
paper  money. 

1779.  Antonio  de  Ulloa,  a  Spanish 
scientist  and  naval    commander,  was  put 
in  charge  of  a  fleet,  which,  after  some 
attacks  upon  English  commerce,  was  to 
sail    against  the    English    settlements  in 
Florida.       But   Ulloa,   the   commander, 
became  engaged  in  some  peculiar  astro- 
nomical    investigations,    and  forgot   to 
open  his  sealed  orders.     At  a  subsequent 
date  he  was  court-martialed,  but  was  ac- 
quitted, and  retired  from  naval  service. 

1780.  Feb.  5.     State  Quotas.     Con- 
gress called  upon  the   states   to   fill    up 
their   quotas  so  far  as  to  make  an  army 
of  thirty-five  thousand  men.     The  whole 
number  at  that  time  did  not  exceed  ten 
thousand. 

1780.  March*  1.  The  first  bank  in 
the  United  States,  and  probably  in  Amer- 
ica, "  The  Bank  of  Pennsylvania,"  was 
chartered. 


1775-1783.] 

1780.  March  1.  The  gradual  eman- 
cipation of  slaves  in  Pennsylvania  was 
provided  for  by  an  act  of  the  assembly. 
All  persons  born  after  this  date  were  to 
be  free  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight. 

1780.  April  14.  Defeat  of  Huger. 
Two  regiments  of  Americans  under  Gen. 
Huger  were  destroyed  at  Monk's  Cor- 
ner, about  thirty  miles  from  Charleston, 
by  Tarleton,  the  British  cavalryman,  who 
acquired  such  a  reputation  for  fierceness  . 
and  cruelty. 

1780.  May  4.  The  American  Acad- 
emy of  Arts  and  Sciences  was  founded. 

1780.  May  6.  Tarleton  routed  a 
remnant  of  American  horse  troops  under 
Lieut.-Col.  White,  on  the  Santee  River. 

1780.  May  11.  Lafayette  rejoined 
the  American  army  from  France,  bring- 
ing the  promise  of  material  aid,  together 
with  a  commission  for  Washington  "  as 
lieutenant-general  of  the  French  army, 
and  vice-admiral  of  its  navy. 

1780.  May  19.  A  dark  day  occurred 
in  New  England,  and  to  some  extent  in 
other  parts  of  the  country.  The  phe- 
nomenon began  about  ten  o'clock  in  the 
forenoon,  and  the  darkness  increased  rap- 
idly until  it  was  impossible  in  many  places 
to  read  ordinary  print.  Great  fear  was 
caused  to  man  and  beast.  The  whole 
scene  was  an  extremely  unnatural  one. 
During  the  first  of  the  night  following 
the  darkness  was  utter,  although  the  full 
moon  rose  at  about  nine  o'clock.  It  is 
supposed  that  the  vapors  of  the  atmos- 
phere settled  in  a  heavy  load  upon  the 
earth,  an  explanation  which  has  some 
reason  in  view  of  the  testimony  to  the 
smoky  smell  and  vaporous  feeling  of  the 
air.  The  legislature  of  Connecticut  was 
in  session  at  Hartford.  Dr.  Dwieht 

o 

relates  that  some  of  the  members  wished 
to  adjourn,  thinking   that   the   "  Day  of 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


345 


Judgment"  was  at  hand.  Col.  Abra- 
ham Davenport  was  asked  his  opinion, 
and  replied,  "  I  am  against  adjournment. 
The  day  of  judgment  is  approaching,  or 
it  is  not.  If  it  is  not,  there  is  no  cause 
for  adjournment;  if  it  is,  I  choose  to  be 
found  doing  my  duty.  I  wish,  therefore, 
that  candles  be  brought."  A  lady  who 
lived  near  Dr.  Matthew  Byles,  of  Boston, 
sent  her  little  son  to  him  to  seek  an  ex- 
planation of  the  phenomenon.  "  My 
dear,"  said  he,  "you  will  give  my  com- 
pliments to  your  mamma  and  tell  her  that 
I  am  as  much  in  the  dark  as  she  is." 

1780.  May  12.  Capture  of  Charles- 
ton. Charleston,  S.  C.,  was  surrendered 
by  Gen.  Lincoln  after  a  siege  of  forty 
days,  to  a  combined  British  land  and 
naval  force  under  Generals  Clinton  and 
Cornwallis.  The  place  was  given  up  to 
plunder.  Plate  and  other  valuables  were 
seized,  and  slaves  were  sent  to  the  West 
Indies  to  be  sold.  Patriot  citizens  were 
persecuted.  The  share  of  the  spoil  for  a 
major-general  amounted  to  five  thousand 
guineas.  The  prisoners  of  war  num- 
bered five  thousand. 

1780.  May  29.  "  Tarleton's  Quar- 
ter." .  Tarleton's  British  cavalry  de- 
stroyed a  regiment  of  Virginians  under 
Col.  Buford,  on  Waxhaw  Creek,  S.  C. 
Andrew  Jackson,  then  thirteen  years  old, 
was  taken  prisoner.  Little  mercy  was 
shown,  and  "Tarleton's  quarter  "  became 
a  war  cry  of  the  American  army  ever 
afterward. 

178O.  June.  Destitution  of  Amer- 
ican Army.  The  American  army  be- 
came very  destitute  of  supplies,  and  were 
almost  starving.  It  nearly  broke  up  the 
whole  force  in  the  field.  Three  million 
rations  were  sent  to  camp  by  Robert 
Morris,  of  Philadelphia.  Soldiers  "  relict 
associations  "  were  formed. 


346 


REVOLUTIONARY  STRUGGLES. 


1780.  June  23.  British  Repulse  in 
New  Jersey.  A  British  force  of  five 
thousand  men  which  had  started  out 
from  Staten  Island  into  New  Jersey  on  a 
tour  of  conquest  under  Gen.  Knyphausen, 
was  repulsed  at  the  Rahway  River  near 
Springfield,  by  Gen.  Greene.  It  was 
here  that  Rev.  James  Caldwell,  whose 
wife  had  been  brutally  shot  a  fortnight 
before  by  British  soldiers,  brought  hymn 
books  out  of  the  Presbyterian  church  for 
wadding  when  everything  else  had  failed, 
and  exclaimed,  "Now,  boys,  put  Watts 
into  them."  The  British  retired  to 
Staten  Island,  harassed  along  their  march 
by  the  patriot  force  in  a  severe  manner. 

1780.  July  10.  A  French  fleet 
arrived  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  with  an  army 
of  six  thousand  men  under  Count  de 
Rochambeau. 

178O.  July  25.  Gen.  Gates  having 
been  appointed  commander-in-chief  of 
the  army  of  the  south,  a  position  made 
vacant  by  the  capture  of  Lincoln,  joined 
the  army  at  Deep  River. 

1780.  July  30.  Battle  of  Rocky 
Mount.  Gen.  Sumter  was  repulsed  by 
a  British  force  at  Rocky  Mount  on  the 
Catawba  River,  S.  C. 

1780.  Aug.  6.  Battle  of  Hanging 
Rock.  A  battle  was  fought  at  Hanging 
Rock,  S.  C.,  a  place  where  a  huge  rock 
thirty  feet  in  diameter  overhangs  the  side 
of  the  hill.  A  precipice  one  hundred 
feet  high  makes  one  side  of  the  hill. 
Gen.  Sumter  charged  the  Prince  of 
Wales'  regiment  of  American  loyalists 
on  the  summit  of  this  hill.  The  British 
force  was  nearly  destroyed. 

1780.  Aug.  16.  Battle  of  Camden. 
Gen.  Gates  was  totally  defeated  at  San- 
der's Creek,  near  Camden,  S.  C.,  by 
Cornwallis.  Gates  had  about  three 
thousand  raw  men,  many  of  whom  were 


sick  from  marching  through  a  region  of 
scanty  supplies.  Gen.  Gates  retired  from 
this  battle,  almost  alone,  two  hundred 
miles  in  three  and  a  half  days.  Baron 
John  De  Kalb,  who  fell  mortally  wounded 
in  this  battle,  was  one  of  the  brave  for- 
eign officers  who  gave  up  their  lives  in 
the  service  of  American  liberty.  .  He 
was  born  in  Alsace,  June  29,  1721,  and 
died  three  days  after  the  battle  of  Cam- 
den. He  fell  while  fighting  with  great 
valor  to  resist  the  charge  of  the  British 
troops.  He  had  been  for  years  connected 
with  the  French  army,  and  received  upon 
his  arrival  in  America,  a  major-general's 
commission. 

1780.  Aug.  18.  Defeat  of  Sumter. 
Gen.  Sumter,  who  had  captured  some 
British  stores  a  few  days  before,  was  sur- 
prised and  defeated  at  Fishing  Creek,  S. 
C.,  by  Tarleton's  cavalry. 

1780.  Aug.  18.  The  British  gar- 
rison of  five  hundred  men,  at  Musgrove'e 
Mills,  was  routed  by  Col.  Williams,  of 
Ninety  Six. 

1780.  Aug.  20.  Gen.  Marion  re- 
captured one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners 
taken  in  the  fight  at  Camden,  by  sur- 
prising and  defeating  their  guard  at  Nel- 
son's Ferry  on  the  Santee  River. 

1780.  Sept.  23.  The  treason  of 
Benedict  Arnold  to  his  country,  one  of 
the  darkest  features  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  was  discovered  by  the  capture  of 
Major  Andre,  the  British  officer  who  had 
been  within  the  American  lines  to  confer 
with  Arnold  about  the  surrender  of 
West  Point  to  the  English.  Major 
Andre  load  a  pass  as  John  Anderson. 
But  he  was  stopped  by  three  militia  men 
named  John  Paulding,  David  Williams, 
and  Isaac  Van  Wart,  on  his  way  back 
along  the  Hudson,  he  having  decided  to 
go  back  by  land  rather  than  by  water. 


1775-1783.] 

Suspicions  were  aroused  by  his  replies  to 
their  questions,  and  he  was  searched. 
The  fatal  proofs  were  found  in  his  boots 
in  the  shape  of  papers  detailing  the  con- 
dition of  West  Point,  and  other  import- 
ant matters  for  the  English.  Gen.  Arnold 
learned  of  the  capture  in  time  to  escape 
from  West  Point  before  the  arrival  of 
Washington,  who  was  to  breakfast  with 
him.  He  fled  to  the  British  ship-of-waf, 
Vulture,  in  the  Hudson.  His  plot  failed, 
and  his  future  career  was  not  one  of  hap- 
piness or  honor,  even  from  those  whom 
he  intended  to  benefit.  He  was  regarded 
with  contempt  by  the  higher-minded 
British  officers.  His  life  proved  a  tre- 
mendous failure  at  this  point. 

1780.  Oct.  2.  Execution  of  Andre. 
Major  Andre,  having  been  tried  as  a  spy, 
was  sentenced  to  death.  Great  efforts 
were  made  for  the  release  of  this  brilliant 
young  officer,  and  Washington  was  at 
this  time  severely  condemned  in  England 
for  the  execution  of  the  sentence,  but  the 
decree  was  unchangeable,  and  the  event 
ordered  took  place  by  hanging.  His 
character  drew  forth  the  regard  of  the 
American  officers  with  whom  he  came 
into  contact  after  his  capture.  The  senti- 
ment regarding  his  execution  changed 
after  the  first  excitement  swept  away. 

1780.  Oct.  7.  Battle  of  King's 
Mountain.  A  British  and  tory  force 
under  Gen.  Ferguson,  was  defeated  and 
captured  at  King's  Mountain,  S.  C.,  by  a 
patriot  force  of  about  nine  hundred  farm- 
ers and  backwoodsmen.  The  British 
lost  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  eight, 
killed  and  prisoners,  besides  one  thousand 
five  hundred  stands  of  arms.  Gen.  Fer- 
guson was  slain.  The  American  loss 
was  eighty-eight,  killed  and  wounded. 
Ten  tories  were  hung  by  the  exasperated 
mountaineers.  This  victory  revived  the 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


347 


hopes  of  the  colonists.  Cornwallis  was 
now  making  a  great  attempt  to  subdue 
the  Carolinas.  This  great  battle  was  a 
crisis,  and  Cornwallis  had  to  retreat  be- 
fore the  rising  patriots. 

1780.  Oct.  10.  An  awful  hurricane 
devastated  Barbadoes  for  forty-eight 
hours,  and  destroyed  almost  every  build- 
ing on  the  island.  About  four  thousand 
persons  lost  their  lives. 

1780.  Oct.  25.  A  new  constitution! 
which  had  been  adopted  a  few  months 
before,  went  into  effect  in  Massachusetts. 
It  declared  all  men  "  free  and  equal."  A 
case  soon  arose  before  the  supreme  court 
which  decided  that  this  declaration  pre- 
cluded slavery. 

1780.  October.  Henry  Laurens,  ex- 
president  of  congress,  was  captured  at 
sea  by  a  British  cruiser,  and  shown  to 
have  been  negotiating  with  Holland.  He 
was  imprisoned  in  the  tower  at  London, 
till  peace  was  secured. 

1780.  Nov.  20.  Battle  of  Blackstock. 
Tarleton  attacked  Sumter  at  Blackstock, 
S.  C.,  but  was  repulsed  with  severe  loss. 
Sumter  was  wounded  during  this  en- 
gagement. 

1780.  November.  Marion's  Patriot- 
ism. Marion  was  at  this  time  gaining 
many  victories  over  small  British  and 
tory  forces,  retiring  when  pursued,  to 
Snow's  Island,  in  the  Pedee  River. 
There  a  British  officer  who  had  come  to 
treat  for  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  was 
asked  by  Marion  to  dine  with  him.  At 
dinner  nothing  was  served  up  except 
roasted  sweet  potatoes.  "  Surely  this 
cannot  be  your  ordinary  fare,"  was  the 
officer's  exclamation.  "  Indeed  it  is,'* 
said  Marion,  "  and  it  is  fortunate  that  we 
have  more  than  usual  to-day."  It  is  re- 
ported that  the  officer  at  his  return  re- 
fused to  serve  in  the  army  longer,  saying 


348 


REVOLUTIONARY  STRUGGLES. 


that  "  such  a  people  cannot,  and  ought 
not  to,  be  subdued." 

1780.  December.  Gen.  Greene  took 
command  of  the  southern  army  in  place 
of  Gen.  Gates,  who  was  removed  on  ac- 
count of  the  defeat  at  Camden. 

1780.  Dec.  2O.  England  declared 
war  against  Holland,  because  the  latter 
had  begun  negotiations  with  the  United 
States. 

1780.  Nancy  Hart,  of  Georgia,  be- 
came widely  known  for  her  aid  to  the 
patriot  cause.  Six  tories  ordered  her  to 
set  them  a  dinner,  and  she  obeyed,  but 
when  they  drew  up  to  it,  she  seized  one 
of  the  guns  which  they  had  stacked,  and 
told  them  she  would  shoot  the  first  one 
that  moved.  Her  little  boy  ran  for  help, 
and  the  six  were  taken  prisoners. 

1780.  Sewing  Women.  Over  twenty- 
two  hundred  sewing  women  were  em- 
ployed by  Mrs.  Sara  Bache,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Franklin,  to  work  for  the  American 
troops.  She  was  very  efficient  in  organ- 
izing this  kind  of  aid,  and  acted  nobly  in 
devoting  herself  to  it.  Women  who 
could  give  no  money,  gave  their  work. 

1780.  The  first  Universalist  church 
in  America  was  organized  at  Gloucester, 
Mass.,  by  Rev.  John  Murray,  who  had 
adopted  Universalism  in  England  some 
years  before. 

1780.  The  first  Free  Baptist  church 
in  the  world  was  organized  at  New  Dur- 
ham, N.  H.,  by  Rev.  Benjamin  Randall, 
who  had  been  in  the  Baptist  ministry. 
This  branch  of  the  church  is  evangelical, 
and  maintains  "  free  salvation  "  and  open 
communion. 

1780.  A  great  revolution  broke  out 
in  Peru  among  the  native  inhabitants, 
led  by  Tupac  Amaru,  who  was  of  royal 
Peruvian  blood.  He  was  proclaimed 
Inca  of  Peru,  and  so  strong  did  the  re- 


volt become  that  it  was  three  years  before 
it  could  be  suppressed,  and  then  only 
with  great  bloodshed.  Amaru  and  others 
were  put  to  death. 

LOGAN. 

•  1780.  Logan,  the  Mingo  chief,  was  a 
member  of  a  branch  of  the  Iroquois 
nation.  His  father,  Shikallimus,  was  a 
Cayuga  chief,  and  was  very  much  at- 
tached to  a  man  named  James  Logan, 
for  whom  he  is  supposed  to  have  named 
his  son.  On  arriving  at  manhood  Logan 
made  his  way  to  the  tribes  in  Ohio,  and 
his  natural  abilities  soon  caused  him  to 
rise  into  power  among  them.  He  was 
especially  noted  for  his  kindness  of  heart 
and  peaceable  disposition.  During  the 
long  French  and  Indian  war  Logan  re- 
mained quietly  in  his  home,  and  after- 
ward, in  spite  of  the  fact  that  some  of 
his  relations  were  murdered  in  the  horri- 
ble massacre  of  the  Conestoga  Indians  in 
1763,  at  Lancaster,  he  still  retained  a 
friendly  feeling  for  the  whites.  In  1774 
Capt.  Michael  Cressap  at  the  head  of  a 
party  of  whites,  undertook  to  avenge  the 
loss  of  some  horses  which  had  been 
stolen,  by  an  attack  upon  a  band  of  inno- 
cent Indians  encamped  a  few  miles  below 
Wheeling,  Va.  In  this  attack  several 
members  of  Logan's  family  were  killed. 
Soon  after  this  quite  a  number  of  Indians 
were  killed,  and  among  them  were  a 
brother  and  sister  of  Logan,  almost  the 
last  of  his  relations.  No  wonder  that  a 
spirit  of  revenge  was  enkindled  in  his 
breast  against  a  people  who  could  com- 
mit such  wrongs.  Logan,  although  intent 
upon  revenging  the  blood  of  his  relatives 
upon  the  whites,  manifested  the  humanity 
of  his  disposition  by  often  saving  cap- 
tives from  torture  and  death,  and  having 
them  adopted  into  the  tribe.  A  hard 


1775-1783.] 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


349 


fought  battle  took  place  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Great  Kanawha  River,  between  the 
Indians  and  a  force  of  two  thousand 
men.  The  former  were  forced  to  retreat. 
They  were  followed  to  their  settlements 
on  the  Scioto  River,  where  a  conference 
was  held,  and  a  treaty  of  peace  made. 
Logan  was  not  present  at  this  conference, 
and  a  messenger  was  sent  to  see  if  he 
was  in  favor  of  making  the  treaty.  To 
the  messenger  he  expressed  himself  as 
in  favor  of  peace,  and  with  great  emotion 
delivered  himself  of  the  eloquent  and 
impressive  language  which  so  fully  re- 
vealed the  spirit  of  this  son  of  the  forest. 
"  I  appeal  to  any  white  man  to  say  if 
ever  he  entered  Logan's  cabin  hungry, 
and  he  gave  him  not  meat;  if  ever  he 
came  cold  and  naked,  and  he  clothed  him 
not.  During  the  course. of  the  last  long 
and  bloody  war  Logan  remained  idle  in 
his  cabin,  an  advocate  for  peace.  Such 
was  my  love  for  the  whites  that  my 
countrymen  pointed  as  they  passed,  and 
said,  '  Logan  is  the  friend  of  the  white 
men.'  I  had  even  thought  to  have  lived 
with  you,  but  for  the  injuries  of  one  man. 
Col.  Cressap  the  last  spring,  in  cold  blood 
and  unprovoked,  murdered  all  the  rela- 
tions of  Logan,  not  even  sparing  my 
women  and  children.  There  runs  not  a 
drop  of  my  blood  in  any  living  creature. 
This  called  on  me  for  revenge.  I  have 
sought  it;  I  have  killed  many.  I  have 
fully  glutted  my  vengeance.  For  my 
country  I  rejoice  at  the  beams  of  peace. 
But  do  not  harbor  a  thought  that  mine  is 
the  joy  of  fear;  Logan  never  felt  fear. 
He  will  not  turn  on  his  heel  to  save  his 
life.  Who  is  there  to  mourn  for  Logan? 
Not  one."  Habits  of  intemperance  had 
grown  on  Logan  for  several  years.  He 
is  said  to  have  nearly  lost  his  reason.  In 
a  fit  of  drunkenness  he  assailed  his  wife 


and  fled,  and  was  soon  killed  near  De- 
troit by  Indians,  who  were  obliged  to 
take  his  life  in  self  defence,  because  he 
attacked  them  through  fear  that  they 
were  his  enemies. 

1781.  Jan.  1.  The  situation  of  af- 
fairs at  the  beginning  of  this  year,  when 
looked  at  in  all  its  aspects,  was  very  crit- 
ical. It  was  seen  by  many  that  the 
union  of  States  must  have  some  more 
fully  recognized  central  authority,  instead 
of  remaining  a  mere  league  as  it  had 
been.  The  separate  states  would  not 
submit  to  the  authority  of  congress  in 
any  essential  point.  The  prevalence  of 
a  patriotic  spirit  concealed  for  a  time  the 
inherent  weakness  of  the  colonial  posi- 
tion, a  weakness  which  appeared  as  soon 
as  the  pressure  of  the  war  was  withdrawn. 
During  the  year  1780,  one  dollar  in 
specie  became  worth  forty  dollars  in 
paper  money.  The  following  bill  for 
merchandise  was  rendered  this  month, 
and  shows  vividly  this  depreciation,  viz : 
"  I  pr.  boots,  $600;  6  yds.  chintz,  at 
$150  a  yd.,  $900;  i  skein  thread,  $10." 

1781.  Jan.  1.  Pennsylvania  Re- 
volt. Thirteen  hundred  Pennsylvania 
troops  revolted  at  Morristown,  N.  J.,  and 
because  of  suffering  and  lack  of  pay, 
proceeded  to  Princeton,  accompanied  by 
Gen.  Wayne,  after  he  had  attempted  to 
prevent  the  step.  There  they  laid  their 
demands  before  congress,  and  part  of  the 
troops  disbanded  for  the  winter.  New 
Jersey  troops  were  influenced  by  this 
action,  but  were  afterward  won  over. 

1781.  Jan.  2.  Raid  in  Virginia. 
Benedict  Arnold,  with  a  force  of  British 
troops,  made  a  raid  into  Virginia,  and 
destroyed  property,  in  conjunction  with 
Cornwallis,  to  the  amount  of  fifteen  mil- 
lion dollars.  Thirty  thousand  slaves  were 


350 

carried  off.      Large  rewards  were  offered 
for  the  arrest  of  Arnold. 

1781.  Jan.  17.  Battle  of  Cowpens. 
Gen.  Morgan  defeated  Tarleton,  who 
was  pressing  him  with  a  superior  force, 
at  Cowpens,  S.  C.,  taking  more  than  five 
hundred  prisoners,  eight  hundred  mus- 
kets, two  standards,  besides  cannon  and 
horses.  The  British  were  totally  routed, 
and  the  American  loss  was  only  seventy- 
two,  killed  and  wounded.  After  this  bat- 
tle Gen.  Greene  joined  Morgan,  and 
Cornwallis  set  out  in  pursuit  of  them. 
They  were  followed  rapidly  into  Vir- 
ginia for  two  hundred  miles.  At  last 
Cornwallis  gave  up  the  pursuit,  when 
the  patriot  forces  at  once  turned  upon  him 
and  began  to  annoy  his  army. 

1781.  January,  The  "  Pine-log  Can- 
non." Lieut.-Col.  Washington,  with  a 
few  light-horse  and  a  pine-log  on  wheels, 
made  to  imitate  a  cannon,  captured  one 
hundred  and  twelve  tories  under  Col. 
Rudgeley,  in  a  barn  where  they  had  sta- 
tioned themselves. 

1781.  Feb.  3.  The  Dutch  West  In- 
dia island  St.  Eustatius,  was  seized  by 
the  British  West  India  fleet,  with  a  great 
amount  of  property.  The  Dutch  settle- 
ments in  South  America  were  all  taken 
this  year. 

1781.  March  1.  Maryland  ratified 
the  Articles  of  Confederation,  and  com- 
pleted the  number  required,  so  that  the 
Federal  Union  became  a  fact.  Up  to 
this  time  the  government  had  been  ad- 
ministered by  committees  of  congress. 

1781.  March  2.  A  tory  force  of 
three  hundred  men  was  defeated  at  Alla- 
mance  Creek  by  Col.  Henry  Lee. 

1781.  March  15.  Battle  of  Guilford 
Court  House.  A  severe  battle  took 
place  at  Guilford  Court  House  between 
Cornwallis  and  Greene.  The  Americans 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


retreated,  but  the  contest  was  about 
equally  disastrous  to  both  sides.  Greene 
had  three  thousand  six  hundred  men,  a 
portion  of  them  being  raw  militia. 
Cornwallis  did  not  have  as  many.  The 
American  loss  was  four  hundred  and 
nineteen;  the  British  five  hundred  and 
seventy.  Cornwallis  marched  into  Vir- 
ginia. British  influence  in  North  Caro- 
lina was  greatly  broken  by  this  battle. 

1781.  April  26.  Fort  Watson,  at 
Wright's  Bluff,  S.  C.,  was  taken  from 
the  British  by  Generals  Marion  and  Lee. 
This  led  to  the  evacuation  of  Camden. 

1781.  April  28.  Gen.  Greene  was 
defeated  at  Hobkirk  Hill  near  Camden, 
S.  C.,  by  a  British  force  under  Lord 
Rawdon. 

1781.  May  9.  Pensacola,  Florida, 
was  taken  from  the  British  by  a  Spanish 
force  from  Havana  and  Mobile. 

1781.  May  10.  Camden  was  evacu- 
ated by  the  British.  Within  a  few  days 
Nelson's  Ferry,  Fort  Motte,  Orangeburg 
and  other  small  places,  were  taken  by 
American  troops. 

1781.  May  21.  Fort  Galphin,  Ga., 
was  taken  by  the  Americans. 

1781.  June  5.  Augusta,  Ga.,  was 
surrendered  to  the  Americans  under  Lee 
and  Pickens. 

1781.  July  4.  A  fight  took  place  at  - 
Jamestown  Ford,  between  Cornwallis 
and  Wayne.  The  latter  was  entrapped 
by  a  stratagem,  but  escaped  by  a  bold 
charge,  with  the  assistance  of  a  force 
under  Lafayette. 

1781.  Robert  Morris  gave  his  own 
notes  for  one  million  four  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  for  the  aid  of  the  army, 
and  thus  helped  it  through  the  summer 
campaign. 

1781.  July  10.  Thomas  McKean,LL.D., 
of  Delaware,  was  elected  president  of  the 


1775-1783.] 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


351 


continental  congress,  to  succeed  Samuel 
Huntington. 

1781.  French  Loan.  Col.  John  Lau- 
rens  was  sent  by  congress  to  negotiate  a 
loan  with  France.  A  subsidy  of  one 
million  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  was 
obtained,  and  a  loan  in  addition. 

1781.  July  19.  Greene  fled  from 
before  Ninety-Six,  which  he  had  been 
besieging,  and  retreated  before  Lord 
Rawdon,  but  afterward  turned  upon 
Rawdon,  and  offered  battle.  The  British 
general  declined  it.  Greene  captured 
forty-eight  dragoons.  Emily  Geiger  was 
sent  as  a  messenger  from  Greene  to 
Marion,  but  upon  being  arrested  by  tories, 
she  swallowed  her  letter  and  was  allowed 
to  proceed  upon  her  way,  since  nothing 
was  found  concealed  about  her  person. 

1781.  Aug.  4.  Execution  of  Hayne. 
Col.  Isaac  Hayne  of  South  Carolina,  a 
patriot,  was  hung  without  trial,  for  an 
alleged  breaking  of  his  patrol.  Col. 
Hayne  had  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  England  with  the  assurance  that  he 
would  never  be  required  to  fight  against 
his  country.  He  was  afterward  sum- 
moned to  do  so,  and  considered  his  pledge 
annulled  by  the  breaking  of  the  contract 
on  the  part  of  Lord  Rawdon.  He  then 
raised  a  patriot  force,  was  captured,  and 
hung  without  mercy.  Lord  Rawdon 
has  been  universally  condemned  for  this 
act  of  violence.  It  excited  perfect  hatred 
of  him  throughout  the  province. 

1781.  Sept.  5.  Count  de  Grasse, 
having  arrived  in  Chesapeake  Bay  with 
a  French  fleet  of  twenty-five  vessels,  had 
a  contest  with  the  English  fleet,  and  drove 
it  off. 

1781.  Sept.  6.  Burning  of  New 
London.  Benedict  Arnold,  with  a  British 
force,  burned  New  London,  Conn.  Fort 
Griswold  was  taken,  and  the  garrison 


was  massacred  in  the  most  cold-blooded 
manner.  Arnold  does  not  appear  again 
in  history. 

1781.  Sept.  8.  Greene  defeated  the 
British  under  Col.  Stewart,  at  Eutaw 
Springs,  S.  C.,  and  then  was  driven  back, 
but  on  the  next  day  the  British  retreated 
to  Charleston.  It  was  in  this  battle  that 
a  soldier  in  the  command  of  "  Light 
Horse  Harry  "  Lee,  named  Manning,  of 
great  repute  for  courage  and  strength, 
dashed  off  in  pursuit  of  the  vanishing 
British,  and  in  his  haste  found  that  he 
had  broken  into  a  crowd  of  the  enemy, 
and  was  left  to  contend  with  them  single- 
handed.  He  speedily  took  in  the  situa- 
tion, and  at  once  made  his  decision. 
Grabbing  an  officer  near  him  by  the 
collar  and  snatching  away  his  sword,  he 
began  to  retreat,  at  the  same  time  hold- 
ing the  officer  between  himself  and  the 
enemy.  The  frightened  British  officer, 
when  thus  summarily  captured,  began 
immediately  to  enumerate  his  titles.  "  I 
am  Sir  Henry  Barry,  deputy  adjutant- 
general,  captain  in  the  52d  regiment,  etc., 
etc."  "  Enough,"  said  Manning,  "  you 
are  just  the  man  I  was  looking  for." 

1781.  Sept.  30.  The  siege  of  York- 
town,  Va.,  began  by  the  combined 
French  and  American  forces.  Washing- 
ton had  collected  the  bulk  of  the  Ameri- 
can army  to  aid  in  this  siege. 

1781.  Oct.  19.  Cornwallis  surren- 
dered Yorktown,  with  twelve  thousand 
prisoners,  including  sailors,  tories,  and 
negroes.  There  were  eight  thousand 
muskets,  two  hundred  and  thirty-five 
cannon,  twenty-eight  standards,  besides 
munitions  and  stores.  The  news  was 
received  at  Philadelphia  at  two  o'clock 
the  next  morning.  People  wept  with 
delight,  and  the  old  door-keeper  of 
congress  died  with  joy.  Religious  ser- 


352 


RE  VOL  UTIONART  STRUGGLES. 


vice  was  held  by  congress  in  the  Luth- 
eran church,  and  the  next  day  at  the 
head  of  the  regiments.  This  defeat  vir- 
tually closed  the  war.  The  House  of 
Commons  voted  that  whosoever  advised  a 
continuance  of  the  war,  was  a  public  en- 
emy. The  news  was  received  by  Lord 
North  with  great  agitation.  He  opened 
his  arms  as  if  "  he  had  received  a  ball  in 
his  breast,  exclaiming  wildly  as  he  paced 
up  and  down  the  apartment,  '  O,  God,  it 
is  all  over.'1'  The  city  of  London  now 
remonstrated  against  the  war  as  unnatural 
and  unfortunate. 

1781.  Nov.  5.  John  Hanson,  of 
Maryland,  was  elected  president  of  the 
continental  congress,  to  succeed  Thomas 
McKean. 

1781.  Dec.  31.  The  Bank  of  North 
America  was  chartered,  with  a  capital  of 
four  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  bills 
of  this  bank  were  the  first  ones  on  this  side 
of  the  water  payable  at  presentation,  and 
were  made  legal  tender  for  all  taxes  and 
dues  of  the  United  States.  Robert  Mor- 
ris, who  was  at  the  time  superintendent 
of  finance  of  the  United  States,  had 
drawn  up  a  scheme  for  the  business  of 
the  bank,  which  had  been  approved  by 
congress  in  the  previous  May.  Other 
eminent  men  had  heartily  encouraged  it 
by  subscribing  to  its  stock.  It  was  the 
intention  of  its  supporters  that  this  bank 
should  aid  the  government  in  its  arrange- 
ments for  the  pay  of  the  army.  It  began 
business  Jan.  7,  1782*  and  was  a  very 
great  assistance  until  the  end  of  the  war. 
Its  first  president  was  Thomas  Willing. 
This  bank  is  now  in  existence  as  a  na- 
tional bank. 

1781.  A  secretary  of  the  marine  was 
appointed  in  the  United  States.  Gen. 
Alexander  McDougall  was  the  first  in- 
cumbent of  the  office. 


1781.  Horrors  of  Slave  Trade.  Caph 
Collingwood,  of  the  slave  ship  Zong, 
from  Africa  to  Jamaica,  threw  a  large 
number  of  sick  slaves  overboard,  that  if 
possible  the  loss  might  fall  upon  the  in- 
surers. The  case  was  afterward  tried  in 
English  courts,  and  the  loss  was  placed 
on  the  owners. 

1781.  A  Nicaragua  canal  route  was 
explored  for  the  Spanish  government  by 
Don  Manuel  Galisteo. 

1781.  An  uprising  in  New  Grenada, 
took  place,  in  opposition  to  the  tax  regu- 
lations of  the  province.  Terms  were  ar- 
ranged with  the  rebels,  and  severe  meas- 
ures were  taken  by  the  Spanish  crown 
in  the  government  of  the  province.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  revolutionary  com- 
motion in  the  province. 

1781.  Felix   de  Azara,   an   eminent 
Spanish  naturalist,  came  to  South  Amer- 
ica to  assist  in  settling  the  boundary  be- 
tween the  Portuguese  and  Spanish  prov- 
inces.    He  made   diligent   investigations 
into  the  natural  and  political  history  of 
the  whole  La  Plata  region.     He  pursued 
his  work  here  until    1801,  and  the  pub- 
lished results  of  his  labors  are  among  the 
chief  authorities  upon  that  country. 

1782.  April  12.    A  great  naval  battle 
took  place  in  the  West  Indies  near  Guad- 
aloupe,  between    a   French  fleet   under 
Count  de  Grasse,  and    an   English   fleet 
under  Rodney.      The  latter  was  victori- 
ous, with  a   loss  of  one   thousand  men. 
The  French  loss  was  three  thousand. 

1782.  April  19.  Holland  acknowl- 
edged the  independence  of  the  United 
States,  and  was  the  second  power  in  the 
world  to  do  so. 

1782.  May.  Col.  Louis  Nicola,  a 
foreigner  who  had  served  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania troops,  wrote  a  letter  to  Wash- 
ington suggesting  that  he,  with  the  assist- 


1775-1783.] 


THE  DA  T  OF  TRIAL. 


35o 


ance  of  the  army,  establish  a  monarchy 
in  the  United  States,  and  become  its  head. 
The  idea  originated  in  the  conviction  that 
the  weakness  of  the  country  was  due  to 
its  republican  government.  Many  offi- 
cers were  led  to  favor  the  plan,  through 
the  doubt  which  hung  over  the  question 
of  their  pay  for  military  ser.vices.  The 
whole  project  was  at  once  effectually 
crushed  by  a  strong  and  clear  refusal  from 
Washington. 

1782.  June  20.  The  great  seal  of 
the  United  States  was  adopted.  After  it 
had  been  found  that  a  satisfactory  result 
was  not  likely  to  be  reached  through  con- 
gressional committees,  the  whole  matter 
had  been  put  into  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Thomson,  the  secretary  of  congress,  with 
power.  He  requested  William  Barton 
of  Philadelphia,  to  make  a  design,  but  a 
device  was  sent  to  Mr.  Thomson  about 
this  time  by  Mr.  John  Adams,  who  was 
in  London,  and  had  received  it  from  Sir 
John  Prestwitch,  a  well-known  English 
antiquary. ,  This  was  the  design  adopted. 
The  dies  were  cut  in  Paris  under  the 
1782.  Pant™  charge  of  Dr-  Franklin. 

marshes  in  Italy      The    design    consists  of     "  a 

^.Punishment  sPread  cagle  bearing  on  its 
of  death  in  Ger-  breast  our  national  shield ; 

many  abolished.  .,     -,         ,  i,         .,,     .u 

in  its  beak  a  scroll,  with  the 
words  E  Pluribus  Unum;  in  its  right 
talon  an  olive  branch,  a  symbol  of  peace, 
and  in  its  left  a  bundle  of  thirteen  arrows, 
a  symbol  of  the  United  States,  and  of 
War ;  the  crest,  a  glory  breaking  through 
a  cloud,  and  surrounding  a  cluster  of  stars, 
forming  a  constellation."  A  design  for 
the  reverse  side  was  included,  but  has 
never  been  used. 

1782.  July.  The  British  Parliament 
passed  a  bill  to  enable  the  king  to  ac- 
knowledge the  independence  of  the 
United  States. 

23 


1782.     July  11.     Savannah,  Ga.,  was 

evacuated  by  the  British. 

1782.  August.  A  fight  at  Combahee 
Ferry,  S.  C.,  took  place,  in  which  an 
American  force  drove  off  a  foraging 
party  of  British  from  Charleston.  Col- 
John  Laurens  was  killed. 

1782.  September.  The  Last  Blood- 
shed. Capt.  Wilmot  was  killed  in  a  fight 
at  Somes  Ferry,  and  is  supposed  to  have 
shed  the  last  blood  in  the  Revolution. 

1782.  September.  Congress  appointed 
John  Adams,  John  Jay,  Dr.  Franklin,  and 
Henry  Laurens  who  was  now  freed  from 
the  Tower,  as  commissioners  of  peace. 
The  British  government  gave  Mr.  Os- 
wald full  power  to  treat  with  them. 

CHARLES  LEE. 

1782.  Oct.  2.  Charles  Lee,  who  had 
served  as  a  major-general  in  the  Ameri- 
can army,  died  at  Philadelphia  at  the  age 
of  fifty-one  years.  He  was  the  son  of 
Gen.  John  Lee,  of  the  British  army,  and 
was  born  in  England  in  1731.  -  He  was 
educated  partly  in  England,  and  partly  in 
Switzerland.  He  mastered  several  of  the 
continental  languages  while  yet  very 
young ;  and  being  with  his  father  a  great 
deal,  he  developed  a  taste  for  military 
science.  In  this  he  became  so  proficient 
that  he  was  commissioned  an  officer  in 
the  army  of  Great  Britain  when  only 
eleven  years  of  age.  As  he  grew  older 
he  exhibited  more  and  more  the  fiery, 
changeable  qualities  which  afterward  dis- 
abled his  life.  His  first  experience  was 
in  the  French  and  Indian  war.  In  Cen- 
tral New  York  he  came  into  contact  with 
the  Mohawks,  whose  wild  customs  just 
suited  his  romantic  and  adventurous  spirit. 
They  adopted  him  into  their  tribe,  and 
made  him  a  chief,  by  the  name  of  Oune- 
waterika,  or  Boiling  Water.  He  was 


354 


RE  VOL  UTIONART  S TR  UGGLES. 


wounded  in  an  attack  upon  Ticonderoga, 
and  was  placed  at  Albany  with  other 
officers  for  recovery.  Here  he  met  and 
flogged  soundly  a  surgeon  who  had  writ- 
ten a  libel  on  him.  The  surgeon  unsuc- 
cessfully attempted  to  shoot  Lee  in  a  re- 
tired spot,  as  they  met  upon  horseback. 
After  the  war  was  over,  Lee  returned  to 
England  and  received  the  commission  of 
lieutenant-colonel.  He  was  under  Bur- 
goyne  while  assisting  Portugal  to  resist 
the  invasions  of  Spain.  Afterward  re- 
turning to  England,  he  entered  into  pol- 
itics with  as  much  violence  as  he  had 
shown  in  war.  His  military  character 
and  skill  made  him  a  great  favorite  at 
courts.  After  resigning  his  commission 
and  roving  over  all  Europe  about  three 
years  on  difficult  tours,  his  love  of  ad- 
venture brought  him  back  to  America  in 
1773.  He  was  induced  by  Col.  Gates  to 
buy  a  homestead  in  Virginia,  and  settle 
upon  it.  His  dash  and  energy  were  ap- 
parently just  what  were  needed  by  a 
people  "who  had  thrown  off  the  bonds  of 
allegiance,  and  when  the  continental 
army  was  organized  in  1775,  he  was  ap- 
pointed major-general.  It  is  thought  by 
some  that  he  wished  to  be  commander- 
in-chief.  He  accepted  the  commission 
given  him,  thereby  forfeiting  his  estates 
in  England,  the  income  of  which  was 
about  seven  thousand  dollars  a  year.  He 
received  a  pledge  from  congress  that  he 
should  be  remunerated  for  all  losses  in 
entering  the  American  service.  He  was 
placed  at  Cambridge  and  worked  ener- 
getically in  bringing  the  army  into  good 
condition,  until  he  was  sent  to  Newport 
and  then  to  New  York,  at  the  beginning 
of  1776.  It  was  threatened  that  British 
ships  in  the  harbor  would  fire  upon  the 
latter  city  if  Lee  and  his  troops  entered 
it.  "  The  first  house  set  in  flames  by  their 


guns,"  said  he,  "shall  be  the  funeral  pile  of 
some  of  their  best  friends."  Lee  was  af- 
terward sent  to  the  South,  where  he  was 
present  at  the  repulse  of  the  British  from 
Sullivan's  Island,  in  Charleston  harbor. 
He  subsequently  went  to  Philadelphia, 
and  thence  joined  Washington,  during 
the  latter's  occupancy  of  New  York. 
His  capture  during  the  retreat  across 
New  Jersey,  and  his  conduct  at  the  battle 
of  Monmouth,  have  already  been  de- 
tailed. A  paper  has  been  brought  to 
light  which  seems  to  show  that  while  a 
captive  he  held  some  communication 
with  English  authorities,  with  traitorous 
intent.  It  detailed  a  plan  for  the  successful 
re-conquest  of  America.  Lee  was  a  good 
scholar,  an  eminent  and  able  writer,  an 
enemy  to  oppression,  and  a  shrewd  poli- 
tician. His  last  years  were  spent  on  his 
farm  in  Virginia  where  he^  grew  poorer 
and  poorer,  and  lived  in  his  house  with 
only  chalk-marks  for  partitions.  He 
went  to  Philadelphia  in  the  attempt  to 
sell  his  place,  was  taken  sick,  and  died. 
As  his  last  breath  was  expiring,  he  said, 
"  Stand  by  me,  my  brave-  grenadiers," 
and  passed  from  life.  The  so-called 
"  Palladium  of  American  Liberty  "  was 
no  more. 

1782.     Oct.  8.     Holland  concluded  a 
treaty  of  amity  and  commerce  with  the- 
United  States. 

1782.  Nov.  3.  Elias  Boudinot,  LL.  D., 
of  New  Jersey,  was  elected  president  of 
the  continental  congress  to  succeed  John 
Hanson.  » 

1782.  Nov.  30.  A  preliminary 
treaty  of  peace  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain  was  signed  at 
Paris. 

1782.  Dec.  5.  The  independence 
of  the  United  States  was  acknowledged 
in  England  in  a  speech  of  George  III. 


1775-1783.] 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


355 


to  the  House  of  Commons.  The  state- 
ment was  made  quite  heartily,  and  yet 
with  some  evident  hesitation. 

1782.  Dec.  14.  Charleston,  S.  C., 
was  evacuated  by  the  British. 

1782.  The  last  naval  exploit  of  the 
Revolution  was  the  escape  of  the  Amer- 
ican frigate  Hague,  Capt.  Manley,  from 
four  British  ships  of  the  line,  after  lying 
on  a  shoal  near  Gaudaloupe,  West  Indies, 
for  three  days,  under  fire  from  them. 


1783.  Feb.  25.  Denmark  acknowl- 
edged the  independence  of  the  United 
States. 

1783.  March.  24.  Spain  acknowl- 
edged the  independence  of  the  United 
States. 

1783.  April  19.  The  cessation  of 
hostilities  was  proclaimed  by  Washing- 
ton at  the  head  of  the  army.  It  was 
the  eighth  anniversary  day  of  the  battles 
of  Lexington  and  Concord. 


WASHINGTON  S    ARMY  CHEST. 


1782.  Washington  and  Lee  Univer- 
sity, Lexington,  Va.,  was  chartered  this 
year.  It  took  Washington's  name  in 
1796,  because  he  gave  it  one  hundred 
shares  of  James  River  canal  stock.  It 
took  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee's  name  at  his 
death  in  1870.  Gen.  Lee  served  as  pres- 
ident from  1865  to  1870. 

1782.  A  pestilence  in  Greenland  car- 
ried off  many  of  the  inhabitants. 

1783.  Feb.    5.      Sweden    acknowl- 
edged the  independence  of  the  United 
States. 


1783.  June  19.  The  "  Society  of 
the  Cincinnati "  which  is  still  in  exist- 
ence, was  oi'ganized  at  Newburg  on  the 
Hudson,  by  some  of  the  army  officers. 
Its  objects  were  to  cement  by  frequent 
re-unions  the  friendship  they  had  formed 
in  scenes  of  war,  to  commemorate  the 
experiences  through  which  they  had 
passed,  and  to  aid  in  the  extension  of 
liberty,  and  of  good  feeling  between  the 
states. 

1783.  June  21.  Mutinous  soldiers 
besieged  the  doors  of  the  State  House  in 


356 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR  UGGLES . 


Philadelphia,  where  congress  was  in  ses- 
sion, demanding  immediate  pay  for  ser- 
vice. The  difficulties  of  the  situation' 
had  a  delay  in  the  issue  of  notes  for  the 
last  three  months.  The  city  militia  re- 
fused aid,  and  congress  finally  adjourned 
to  Princeton,  where  the  members  were 
received  with  hospitality  by  the  college. 
This  forced  removal  brought  up  for  vig- 
orous discussion  the  question  of  a  perma- 
nent abode  for  the  government. 

1783.  An  anti-slavery  barbacue 
presided  over  by  Dr.  Bloomfield,  was 
held  at  Woodbridge,  N.  J.  An  ox  was 
roasted  whole  for  the  public  dinner,  and 
a  great  deal  of  interest  attended  the 
gathering. 

1783.  July.  Russia  acknowledged 
the  independence  of  the  United  States. 

1783.  Sept.  3.  A  definite  treaty  of 
peace  between  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain  was  signed  at  Paris.  The 
Mississippi  River  was  the  western  boun- 
dary, Canada  and  Nova  Scotia  the 
northern  and  eastern  boundaries.  There 
was  a  long  discussion  over  the  western 
boundary,  because  the  English  commis- 
sioners insisted  upon  making  it  the  Ohio 
River.  Dr.  Franklin  was  inclined  to 
grant  it,  but  Adams  and  Jay  refused  to 
do  so,  because  the  land  northwest  of  that 
river  had  been  conquered  by  Clark, 
and  was  then  occupied  by  United  States 
troops.  Adams  and  Jay  preferred  to 
return  home  and  continue  the  war,  rather 
than  yield  the  territory. 

1783.  Oct.  16.  A  dark  day  oc- 
curred in  Canada.  The  phenomenon 
was  about  one  hour  long,  but  extreme 
while  it  lasted.  The  first  approach  was 
at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  the 
darkness  came  on  suddenly,  then  relaxed, 
and  came  again. 

1783.     Oct.    18.     The    discharge   of 


the  soldiers  who  enlisted  for  the  war,  was 
proclaimed  by  congress. 

1783.  Nov.  2.  Farewell  orders  to 
the  army  were  issued  by  Washington. 

1783.  Nov.  3.  The  disbanding  of 
the  army  took  place.  The  entire  num- 
ber of  troops  sent  by  the  different  states 
to  serve  in  the  continental  army  was 
231,791.  A  large  number  of  militia 
troops  engaged  ia  the  struggle  in  a  more 
or  less  private  and  irresponsible  way. 
The  cost  of  the  war  was  $130,000,000, 
exclusive  of  the  amounts  lost  by  private 
individuals  and  the  different  states. 

1783.  Nov.  3.  Thomas  Miffiin,  of 
Pennsylvania,  was  elected  president  of 
the  continental  congress,  to  succeed  Elias 
Boudinot. 

1783.  Nov.  25.  "  Evacuation  Day." 
The  British  army  evacuated  New  York, 
their  last  foothold  in  the  United  States. 

1783.  Dec.  4.  Washington  bade 
farewell  to  the  army  officers  in  Fraunce's 
tavern,  at  the  corner  of  Broadway  and 
Pearl  Streets,  New  York.  The  scene 
was  one  of  great  tenderness,  and  both 
Washington  and  his  companions  were 
melted  to  tears. 

1783.  Dec.  23.  Washington  re- 
signed his  commission  to  congress,  and 
proceeded  to  Mount  Vernon.  His  jour- 
ney was  a  triumphal  march.  All  com- 
pensation save  for  his  actual  expense 
was  refused. 

1783.  Slavery  was  excluded  from 
New  Hampshire  by  a  constitutional  dec- 
laration of  rights,  which  was  adopted  to 
go  into  effect  in  June,  1784. 

1783.  Noah  Webster  began  his  lex- 
icographical work  on  the  English  lan- 
guage this  year  by  issuing  the  "  First 
Part  of  a  Grammatical  Institute  of  the 
English  Language." 

1783.     "Webster's    Spelling   Book" 


1775-1783.] 


THE  DAT  OF  TRIAL. 


357 


was  issued  for  the  first  time,  and  has  sold 
since  by  hundreds  of  thousands  of  copies. 

1783.  Improved  machinery  for  flour 
mills  was  invented  by  Oliver  Evans,  and 
has  been  the  basis  of  all  the  changes 
since  his  time.  His  improvements  con- 
sisted of  the  endless  chain,  the  conveyor, 
the  hopper  boy,  the  drill,  and  the  kiln- 
drier. 

1783.  Improved  cattle  were  first 
imported  into  the  United  States,  and 
were  bought  by  Matthew  Patton,  of 
Virginia,  for  breeding  purposes.  Mr. 
Patton  became  widely  known  for  his 
fine  stock. 

1783.  The  Northwest  company  of 
Canada  was  formed,  to  compete  with 
the  Hudson  Bay  company  in  the  fur 
trade.  There  were  often  serious  diffi- 


culties between  the  two  companies,  al- 
most amounting  to  war  at  times.  But 
the  new  company  gained  great  power, 
extending  its  operations,  and  soon  had 
two  thousand  men  in  its  employ  through 
Canada. 

1783.  Dominica  was  restored  to 
England,  having  been  in  the  possession 
of  the  French  from  1778,  at  which  time 
it  was  captured  by  a  French  squadron 
under  the  Marquis  de  Bouille.  Grenada 
and  St.  Vincent,  Windward  Islands,  were 
also  restored  to  England,  together  with 
the  Bahama  Islands.  A  great  many 
royalists  had  gone  to  the  latter  at  the 
close  of  the  Revolution.  British  Hon- 
duras was  confirmed  to  England,  which 
made  great  efforts  to  extend  its  limits, 
but  unsuccessfully. 


A  REVOLUTIONARY  FLAG. 


SECTION  XV. 
OF  A  NATION. 


HE  close  of  the  war  left  the  States 
very  weak,  and  with  no  strength 
of  union.  Congress  had  no  power 
to  carry  out  any  measures,  save  as 
the  State  legislatures  confirmed  them. 
Different  rules  were  adopted  by  different 
States,  thus  creating  confusion.  Preju- 
dices and  unkind  feelings  existed,  and 
great  peril  threatened  the  young  republic. 
There  was  an  indifference  on  the  subject 
of  raising  taxes,  and  in  some  sections  a 
positive  opposition  to  it.  Incipient  re- 
bellions appeared  here  and  there.  The 
financial  distress  was  very  great,  and 
bore  heavily  upon  thousands  of  people. 
In  the  midst  of  this  agitation  the  consti- 
tution was  formed.  The  wfedom  of  the 
great  leaders  secured  it,  and  the  elevation 
of  Washington  to  the  chief  magistracy, 
established  its  operation.  Now  began 
that  wonderful  career  in  invention  and 
kindred  lines  of  progress  which  to-day 
puts  the  United  States  into  the  forefront 
of  the  world.  Manufactures  began  to 
multiply.  The  western  territory  began 
to  be  sprinkled  with  settlements  which 
started  into  existence.  Intelligence  and 
manliness  spread  abroad  rapidly.  A  new 
power  was  in  active  operation  in  the 
land.  [3.s 


1784.  March.  All  persons  were  de- 
clared free  who  should  be  born  in  the 
State  of  Rhode  Island  after  this  date. 

1784.  July  5.  The  first  bank  under 
the  State  Constitution  of  Massachusetts 
began  business,  and  was  for  some  years 
the  only  banking  house  in  the  State.  It 
was  the  second  in  the  United  States. 
The  Bank  of  North  America  in  Phila- 
delphia, was  the  first.  The  capital  was 
limited  to  $300,000.  Up  to  1876  thi& 
bank  had  passed  but  two  dividends,  one 
about  1815,  and  one  in  1836. 

1784.  Nov.  14.  First  American 
Episcopal  Bishop.  •  The  Rev.  Samuel 
Seabury,  D.  D.,  was  ordained  bishop, 
having  been  elected  to  that  office  by  the 
Episcopalians  of  Connecticut.  Political 
obstacles  pi'evented  his  ordination  in 
England,  and  the  service  was  performed 
at  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  by  three  Scottish 
bishops.  Hitherto  the  church  in  America 
had  been  under  the  care  of  the  London 
bishop,  and  American  candidates  for  the 
ministry  were  obliged  to  go  to  London 
to  be  ordained.  The  first  organization 
of  the  American  Episcopal  church  fol- 
lowed in  less  than  a  year,  and  other  bish- 
oprics were  soon  erected. 

1784.      Nov.    30.      Richard    Henry 


1784-1799.] 

Lee,  of  Virginia,  was  elected  president 
of  the  continental  congress  at  Trenton, 
N.  J.,  to  succeed  Thomas  Mifflin. 

1784.  Dec.  24.  Organization  of 
Methodist  Church.  A  convention  of 
sixty  ministers  was  held  in  Baltimore 
upon  the  arrival  of  Rev.  Thomas  Coke, 
LL.  D.,  who  had  been  ordained  in  Eng- 
land by  Wesley,  as  superintendent  of 
American  societies.  The  convention  at 
once  adopted  the  Episcopal  form  of  gov- 
ernment, instituted  some  minor  arrange- 
ments, and  elected  Coke  and  Asbury  to 
serve  as  superintendents.  This  was  the 
first  formal  organization  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  in  America.  . 

1784.  The  gradual  abolition  of  sla- 
very was  provided  for  in  Connecticut  by 
an  act  passed  this  year. 

1784.  The  first  agricultural  society 
in  America  was  organized  in  South  Car- 
olina. It  was  named  the  "  South  Caro- 
lina Agricultural  Society,"  and  is  in  ex- 
istence at  the  present  time. 

1784.  The  first  law  school  in  Amer- 
ica was  established  aj  Litchfield,  Conn., 
by  the  Hon.  Tapping  Reeve. 

1784.  The  first  frame  house  on  the 
site  of  Saratoga  Springs  was  erected  by 
Gen.  Philip  Schuyler. 

1784.  Morse's  Geography.  The 
first  geography  published  in  the  United 
States  was  printed  at  New  Haven.  It 
was  a  single  small  iSmo.,  and  was  pre- 
pared by  Jedediuh  Morse,  who  followed 
it  with  larger  works.  For  thirty  years 
Mr.  Morse  remained  the  principal  occu- 
pant of  this  line  of  work.  His  books 
sold  by  hundreds  of  thousands.  He  was 
the  father  of  Prof.  S.  F.  B.  Morse. 

1784.  Eight  bales,  or  about  seventy- 
one  bags  of  cotton,  which  had  been 
shipped  from  America  to  England,  were 
seized,  "  on  the  ground  that  so  much 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


359 


cotton    could    not   be   produced   in    the 
United  States." 

1784.  The  exportation  of  a  stocking 
frame  from  England  into  the  States  was 
made  subject  to  a  penalty  of  .£40. 

1784.  A  model  for  a  boat  to  move 
against  wind  and  tide  by  the  force  of  the 
current  acting  upon  setting  poles,  was 
shown  Gen.  Washington  this  year  by 
James  Rumsey,  its  inventor,  who  pat- 
ented it  in  several  States.  The  model 
was  operated  upon  the  Potomac. 

1784.  The  first  lecturer  on  Natural 
History  in  any  American  college  was 
Benjamin  Waterhouse,  M.  D.,  of  Brown 
University  and  Harvard  College,  who 
led  the  way  in  the  study  of  Mineralogy. 

1784.  The  American  flag  was  dis- 
played for  the  first  time  in  a  Chinese 
port,  by  the  ship  Empress  of  China, 
commanded  by  Capt.  Green,  of  New 
York. 

1784.  The  American  fur  company, 
of  which  John  Jacob  Astor  was  the  chief 
proprietor,  began  operations  this  year. 

1784.  The  first  daily  paper  in  Amer- 
ica, named  Poulson's  Daily  General  Ad- 
vertiser, was  established  in  Philadelphia. 
It  had  been  running  since  1771  as  a 
weekly,  called  "  The  Pennsylvania 
Packet." 

1784.  New  Brunswick,  hitherto  a 
part  of  Nova  Scotia,  was  made  a  sepa- 
rate colony,  and  Sir  Guy  Carleton  was 
soon  after  appointed  governor.  At  the 
close  of  the  American  Revolution  a  great 
many  royalists  settled  in  the  province. 

1784.  Cape  Breton  was  this  year 
separated  from  Nova  Scotia. 

1784.  St.  Bartholomew,  one  of  the 
Leeward  Islands,  was  ceded  by  France 
to  Sweden,  and  is  the  only  one  of  the 
West  India  Islands  possessed  by  the  latter 
power. 


360 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


1785.  Jan.  25.  An  anti-slavery 
society  for  "  promoting  the  manumission 
of  slaves,  and  protecting  such  of  them  as 
have  been,  or  may  be  liberated,"  was 
formed  in  New  York,  and  chose  for  its 
first  president  John  Jay.  Alexander 
Hamilton  was  the  second  president  of 
this  society. 

1785.  February.  First  Minister  to 
England.  John  Adams  was  sent  as  the 
first  minister  plenipotentiary  from  the 
United  States  to  England,  with  special 
instructions  to  try  to  adjust  the  standing 
difficulties  in  connection  with  the  fulfill- 
ment of  the  treaty  of  1783.  But  the 
mission  resulted  in  no  advantage. 

"BROTHER  JONATHAN." 

1785.  Aug.  17.  Jonathan  Trumbull, 
LL.  D.,  of  Connecticut,  died  at  Lebanon 
in  that  State,  at  the  age  of  75  years.  He 
was  born  in  Lebanon,  June  10,  1710,  and 
was  educated  for  the  ministry,  but  finally 
studied  law,  and  entered  political  life. 
From  1733,  when  he  was  elected  to  the 
colonial  assembly,  to  1783,  when  he  re- 
signed the  governorship,  a  period  of  fifty 
years,  he  was  constantly  in  the  public 
service.  His  judgment  was  highly  es- 
teemed by  Washington,  who  often  went 
to  him  for  advice.  After  the  latter  had 
taken  command  of  the  American  army, 
he  found  a  great  destitution  of  military 
stores  existed.  In  his  consideration  of  the 
matter,  he  said  to  some  one,  "  Let  us 
see  what  Brother  Jonathan  says  about 
it,"  referring  to  Mr.  Trumbull,  who 
was  at  that  time  governor  of  Connecti- 
cut. Mr.  Trumbull  was  consulted  upon 
the  matter,  and  aided  very  much  by 
his  wisdom  in  providing  for  the  army. 
From  this  the  term  "  Brother  Jona- 
than "  grew  into  use  as  a  name  for  the 
U.  S.  government. 


1785.  Weakness  of  the  Confedera- 
tion. Maryland  and  Virginia  appointed 
commissioners  to  arrange  the  navigation 
of  Chesapeake  Bay  and  the  Potomac 
and  Roanoke  Rivers.  After  discussion, 
the  commissioners  found  that  their  author- 
ity was  too  weak  to  complete  a  settlement. 
James  Madison,  of  Virginia,  drew  up 
some  resolutions  based  upon  their  exper- 
iences, and  presented  them.  From  the 
nature  of  these  suggestions  he  has  been 
called  the  "  Father  of  the  Constitution." 
The  commissioners  did  not  agree,  and 
the  legislature  of  Virginia  invited  the 
other  States  to  a  gathering  at  Annapolis, 
to  consider  the  defects  existing  in  the 
government. 

1785.  The  first  Universalist  Con- 
vention  in  the  United  States  was  held, 
and  was  the  beginning  of  their  denom- 
inational work  in  America.  The  dis- 
tinguishing tenet  of  this  body  is 'a  belief 
in  the  final  salvation  of  all  men. 

1785.  "  The  great  American  piano- 
forte, of  his  own  invention,"  was  adver- 
tised by  James  Juliann,  of  Philadelphia. 

1785.  Improvements  in  stoves  began 
to  be  devised  by  Count  Rumford,  an 
American  who  became  eminent  for  his 
practical  scientific  knowledge.  He  in- 
vented a  cooking  range,  which  was  for 
some  years  the  model  of  manufactures  in 
that  line.  Stoves  had  not  yet,  however, 
come  into  general  use,  and  were  the  sub- 
ject of  a  great  deal  of  prejudice. 

1785.  Algiers  declared  war  upon  the 
United     States,    and     congress    advised 
building  five  men-of-war  of  forty  guns 
each,   but   lack  of   power  in   that  body 
made  the   recommendation   of  no  effect, 
consequently  there    was  no  interference 
with  Algerine  depredations. 

1786.  June  6.     Nathaniel  Gorham, 
of  Massachusetts,  was  elected  president 


1784-1799.] 

of  tne  continental  congress.  John  Han- 
cock, who  was  again  sent  from  Massa- 
chusetts, had  been  elected  to  succeed 
Richard  Henry  Lee,  but  had  not  be'en 
present,  because  of  sickness.  Daniel 
Ramsey,  of  South  Carolina,  presided 
temporarily  until  Mr.  Gorham  was 
•elected  in  place  of  Mr.  Hancock. 

GEN.  NATHANIEL  GREENE. 

1786.  June  19.  This  eminent  Amer- 
ican soldier  died  at  Mulberry  Grove,  near 
Savannah,  Ga.,  at  the  age  of  forty-four 
years.  He  was  born  at  Warwick,  R.  I., 
May  27,  1742.  His  father  was  a  Qua- 
ker preacher,  and  the  son  was  early  in- 
structed in  the  principles  of  liberty  and 
piety.  He  was  a  great  lover  of  athletic 
sports,  and  was  especially  fond  of  danc- 
ing. His  father  was  deadly  opposed  to 
the  latter,  and  upon  hearing  that  his  boy 
had  attended  dances,  planned  to  horse- 
whip him.  Nathaniel,  suspecting  his 
father's  intentions,  slipped  some  stout 
shingles  down  his  back,  and  in  this  way 
"bore  the  blows  of  the  weapon  with  ease. 
But  his  strong  mind  could  not  long  find 
its  satisfaction  in  frivolity.  Upon  being 
set  to  work  at  a  forge  which  his  father 
owned,  he  began  the  collection  of  a 
small  library  with  all  his  surplus  money. 
He  became  enslaved  to  books,  and  would 
stop  to  study  while  the  iron  was  heating. 
In  this  way  he  disciplined  his  mind  to  a 
very  excellent  degree.  In  1770  he  was 
elected  to  the  general  assembly  of  the 
colony,  and  took  great  interest  in  the  dif- 
ferences with  the  mother  country,  having 
thoroughly  studied  the  nature  of  the 
quarrel.  He  was  soon  convinced  that 
the  battle-field  must  decide  the  contest, 
and  resolved  to  enter  the  conflict  when  it 
came.  He  therefore  carefully  studied  every 
book  upon  military  science  which  he  could 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


361 


obtain.  For  this  the  Quakers  called  him 
to  account,  and  refusing  to  make  amends, 
he  was  banished  from  their  society.  He 
was  married  in  1774,  but  the  attractions 
of  his  new  home  could  not  hinder  his 
purpose.  Hence,  when  the  first  blood 
had  been  spilled  at  Lexington  and  Con- 
cord he  hastened  to  Boston  and  enlisted 
in  the  army.  He  was  appointed  briga- 
dier-general by  congress,  and  did  good 
service  in  drilling  the  Rhode  Island 
troops.  He  soon  won  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  Washington,  who  sent  him 
in  the  spring  to  occupy  Long  Island. 
Gen.  Greene  never  entered  a  battle  with- 
out studying  the  situation  thoroughly, 
and  making  approximate  calculations 
upon  the  result.  After  examining  the 
ground  and  making  extensive  prepara- 
tions upon  Long  Island,  he  was  taken 
sick  with  bilious  fever,  and  Putnam  was 
put  in  command.  Being  ignorant  of 
Greene's  plans,  the  latter  would  have 
suffered  a  defeat  fatal  to  the  American 
army,  had  not  Washington  saved  it. 
Greene  was  soon  in  active  service  again. 
At  Brandywine,  Germantown  and  other 
places,  his  boldness  and  skill  prevented 
final  disaster.  His  men,  under  his  will, 
behaved  like  veterans.  He  was  now  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  the  southern 
army,  which  was  left  by  Gates  in  a  cha- 
otic, destitute  condition.  His  conduct  of 
the  campaign,  in  thwarting  the  English 
troops,  in  retreating  before  Cornwallis 
and  then  turning  upon  him,  until  at  last, 
reinforced,  he  was  able  to  follow  up  his 
efforts  and  see  the  enemy  gradually  give 
way  before  him,  was  masterly. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  removed  to 
a  plantation  near  Savannah,  Ga.,  and  died 
there  from  the  effects  of  a  sunstroke.  His 
integrity,  heroism,  and  patriotism,  com- 
mend him  as  an  example  of  the  purest  sort. 


363 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  S  TR  UGGLES. 


1786.  July.  A  skiff  propelled  by  a 
steam  engine  which  turned  a  crank,  to 
which  paddles  were  attached  at  the  stern 
of  the  boat,  was  exhibited  upon  the  Del- 
aware. The  engine  was  constructed  by 
John  Fitch  and  Henry  Voight,  and  had 
a  three  inch  cylinder.  They  had  previ- 
ously made  a  smaller  engine,  but  this  was 
their  first  application  of  the  power  to  the 
moving  of  boats. 

1786.  August.  A  decimal  coinage 
of  gold  and  silver  was  decided  upon  by 
congress,  who  adopted  names  and  de- 
signs for  the  same. 

1786.  September.  The  Annapolis 
Convention,  consisting  of  delegates  from 
the  States,  was  held  at  Annapolis,  Md., 
in  accordance  with  the  suggestion  of 
Virginia  to  consider  the  commercial  re- 
lations of  the  States,  and  to  decide  how 
far  they  could  be  made  uniform.  Five 
States,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Penn- 
sylvania, Delaware  and  Virginia,  were 
represented,  and  the  body  voted  to  advise 
congress  to  call  a  convention  to  revise 
the  Articles  of  Confederation. 

1786.  A  Sunday  school  was  started  in 
Hanover  Co.,  Va.,  by  Bishop  Francis 
Asbury,  of  the  Methodist  church. 

1786.  A  Roman  Catholic  hierarchy 
was  for  the  first  time  established  in  the 
United  States  by  the  appointment  of  John 
Carroll  as  vicar-general. 

1786.  The  first  machines  for  roving, 
carding  and  spinning  cotton,  ever  made 
in  America,  were  constructed  by  two 
Scotchmen  named  Alexander  and  Robert 
Barr,  for  Mr.  Hugh  Orr.  Massachusetts 
appropriated  £200  to  encourage  the  set- 
ting up  of  such  machinery  at  East 
Bridgewater. 

1786.  A  tack  and  nail  machine  was 
invented  this  year  by  Ezekiel  Reed,  of 
Bridgewater,  Mass. 


1786.  The  first  printing  press  west 
of  the  Alleghenies,  was  set  up  this  year 
in  Kentucky. 

1786.  Extent  of  Slave  Trade.  The  total 
number  of  negro  slaves  imported  into  all 
the  English  colonies  since  1680,  was 
2,130,000.  Into  the  island  of  Jamaica 
alone  since  1 700,  there  had  been  brought 
610,000,  according  to  the  importing  lists. 
Thousands  also  had  died  on  the  way. 
The  entire  number  of  those  who  had 
been  shipped  for  the  colonies,  was  un- 
doubtedly much  larger  than  the  above. 

1786.  The  first  Sea  Island  cotton 
raised  in  the  United  States  was  cultivated 
on  Sapelo  Island,  on  the  coast  of  Georgia. 
It  was  of  the  Pernambuco  variety,  and 
the  seed  had  been  sent  to  Frank  Levett 
by  a  Mr.  Patrick  Walsh,  of  Jamaica. 
Before  many  years  its  superior  quality 
caused  it  to  bring  higher  prices  than 
other  cotton.  The  cultivation  of  it  has 
brought  wealth  to  very  many. 

1786.  The  first  American  play  ever 
put  upon  the  stage  was  "  The  Contrast," 
written  by  Royal  Tyler,  who  afterward 
became  chief-justice  of  Vermont.  The 
piece  remained  upon  the  stage  but  a  little 
while.  Other  plays  were  brought  out 
after  this,  but  no  American  productions 
had  much  merit. 

1786.  A  law  forbidding  theatrical 
exhibitions  was  passed  by  Pennsylvania. 
Massachusetts  had  just  before  re-enacted 
her  old  law  to  the  same  effect. 

1786.  An  excited  mob  surrounded  the 
legislature  of  New  Hampshire  at  Exeter, 
in  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  frighten  the 
members  into  the  issue  of  paper  money 
for  the  relief  of  the  financial  distress  of 

the  times. 

SHAYS  REBELLION. 

1786.  December.  The  restlessness 
of  the  people  of  Massachusetts  because 


1784-1799.] 

of  the  poverty  of  the  country,  and  the 
prevalent  inability  to  pay  taxes,  broke 
out  into  an  armed  rebellion  under  the 
leadership  of  Daniel  Shay,  who  had 
been  an  officer  in  the  continental  army. 
The  province  had  been  drained  of  money 
to  pay  the  army.  Taxes  were  high.  A 
flood  of  suits  for  debt  'broke  out  in  the 
courts.  The  people  were  distressed,  and 
urged  very  strenuously  that  the  State 
officers  were  receiving  too  much  salary, 
and  that  fees  were  too  high.  Conventions 
had  been  held,  and  the  delegates  to  the 
general  court  had  been  instructed  to  ad- 
just the  difficulties  by  legal  measures, 
but  no  result  occurred.  Men  began  to 
band  themselves  together,  and  to  call 
themselves  "  Regulators."  The  first 
armed  attempt  had  been  made  in  Sep- 
tember of  this  year,  in  preventing  the 
court  at  Worcester  from  sitting.  The 
success  of  this  movement,  which  caused 
the  court  to  adjourn  till  December,  en- 
couraged the  ill-feeling.  During  No- 
vember the  court  of  sessions  attempted 
to  meet  at  Worcester,  but  were  pre- 
vented from  entering  the  court  house  by 
a  solid  guard  of  armed  men.  The  sheriff, 
Col.  William  Greenleaf  of  Lancaster, 
was  undertaking  to  open  a  way  through 
the  crowd  for  the  judges,  when  one  of 
the  insurgents  said  they  wished  redress 
for  their  grievances,  and  that  one  of  the 
greatest  of  these  grievances  was  the 
sheriff  himself,  and  next  were  his  fees, 
which  were  exorbitant,  especially  for 
criminal  executions.  The  irritated  sheriff 
at  once  replied,  "  If  you  consider  fees  for 
executions  oppressive,  you  need  not  wait 
long  for  redress;  for  I  will  hang  you  all, 
gentlemen,  for  nothing,  with  the  great- 
est pleasure."  With  this  retort  he  was 
forced  to  turn  away.  The  government 
of  Massachusetts  was  slow  in  adopting 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


363 


severe  measures,  although  the  attempt 
had  been  made  to  get  out  the  militia 
without  success,  for  numbers  of  them 
sympathized  with  the  rebellion.  During 
December  a  body  of  a  thousand  men 
suspended  the  session  of  the  supreme 
court  at  Worcester,  and  held  the  city  at 
their  control.  A  portion  of  them  marched 
to  Springfield. 

1787.  January.  The  militia  called 
out  by  Gen.  Lincoln  to  suppress  the  in- 
surrection in  Massachusetts,  marched  from 
Boston  to  Springfield,  where  about  two 
thousand  of  the  insurgents  were  collected,, 
under  Daniel  Shay,  Luke  Day,  and  Eli 
Parsons,  in  an  attempt  to  secure  posses- 
sion of  the  United  States  arsenal.  Gen» 
Lincoln  left  a  force  at  Worcester  to  keep 
the  surrounding  towns  in  awe,  and  the 
courts  began  to  proceed  with  their  busi- 
ness. Blood  had  already  been  shed  at 
Springfield,  but  by  Gen.  Lincoln's  en- 
ergy the  rebellion  was  soon  broken  up, 
and  those  engaged  in  it  captured  or  scat- 
tered. Many  of  them  were  afterward 
punished.  Some  of  them  were  brought 
to  the  gallows  for  the  sake  of  the  exam- 
ple, and  reprieved  just  before  execution,, 
in  order  that  no  harsh  feeling  might  be 
left.  The  sentiments  which  led  to  this 
rebellion  continued  to  prevail,  but  turned 
their  force  into  the  elections,  since  the 
more  considerate  of  the  people  began  to 
see  the  danger  of  trying  to  adjust  their 
difficulties  by  force.  The  insurgents 
around  Worcester  had  in  the  meantime 
suffered  much  from  the  severities  of  the 
season,  and  had  been  practically  disabled. 
At  one  time  an  attack  upon  Boston  was 
meditated,  but  finally  given  up.  The 
sentiment  of  large  numbers  began  to  go 
against  the  insurgents,  before  this  month 
was  over.  The  difficulties  were  righted 
gradually,  as  the  country  began  to  prosper. 


364 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR  T  S  TR  UGGL  ES. 


1787.     Feb.  2.     Arthur  St.  Glair  was 

elected  president  of  the  continental  con- 
gress, to  succeed  Nathaniel  Gorham. 

1787.  Feb.  12.  The  revision  of  the 
«'  Articles  of  Confederation  "  was  deter- 
mined upon  by  congress,  and  a  conven- 
tion was  called  for  that  purpose. 

1787.  May  14.  The  constitutional 
convention  called  by  congress  for  the 
revision  of  the  "  Articles  of  Confedera- 
tion" met  at  Independence  Hall,  Phila- 
delphia. Each  State  was  represented, 
except  Rhode  Island.  George  Wash- 
ington was  elected  president,  and  William 
Jackson  secretary.  There  was  an  in- 
definite idea  of  what  would  be  necessary 
to  be  done.  All  knew  that  the  country 
had  no  standing  abroad  in  credit,  and 
that  the  situation  was  daily  growing 
worse  instead  of  better.  The  States 
could  unite  upon  nothing,  for  separate 
interests  were  continually  clashing.  The 
members  of  the  convention  proceeded  to 
consider  the  "  Articles,"  and  take  up 
various  methods  of  revision.  It  began 
very  soon  to  dawn  upon  some  that  an 
entirely  new  constitution  must  soon  be 
prepared. 

1787.  July  11.  The  "Ordinance 
of  1787 "  for  the  government  of  the 
"  Northwest  Territory  "  was  passed  by 
congress.  This  act  forbade  any  "  slavery 
or  involuntary  servitude  except  for  crime," 
within  the  limits  of  the  Territory.  Pro- 
visions were  also  made  for  schools,  by  the 
cession  of  tracts  of  land  for  that  purpose. 
This  celebrated  ordinance  became  the 
basis  of  all  subsequent  constitutions  in 
the  States  since  cut  out  of  that  great 
Territory. 

1787.  The  first  practical  American 
steamboat  was  exhibited  on  the  Dela- 
ware River  before  the  authorities  of 
Philadelphia,  by  John  Fitch,  who  had 


made  a  similar  exhibition  on  a  much 
smaller  scale  the  year  before.-  This  boat 
was  not  successful  as  a  packet,  on  account 
of  the  smallness  of  the  machinery.  The 
engine  had  only  a  cylinder  of  twelve 
inches.  The  propelling  power  of  steam 
was  fully  shown.  A  speed  of  eight 
miles  an  hour  in  dead  water  was  attained 
by  this  steamboat. 

1787.  Sept.  10.  AU  plans  for  the 
revision  of  the  Articles  of  Confederation 
were  placed  by  the  convention  in  the 
hands  of  a  committee  composed  of  Mad- 
ison, Hamilton,  King,  Johnson,  and  Gov. 
Morris. 

1787.  Sept.  17.  The  constitution 
of  the  United  States  as  drawn  up  by  the 
committee,  was  presented  to  the  conven- 
tion, and  after  discussion  it  was  adopted 
and  signed  by  all  the  members  except 
sixteen.  The  convention  voted  to  give 
congress  the  power  to  abolish  slavery  in 
the  United  States  twenty  years  after  the 
adoption  of  the  constitution.  It  was 
agreed  in  estimating  the  basis  of  repre- 
sentation to  count  five  hundred  slaves 
equal  to  three  hundred  whites.  This  is 
the  famous  three-fifths  rule. 

1787.  Sept.  28.  The  new  constitu- 
tion having  been  laid  before  congress, 
was  sent  out  for  the  ratifications  of  the 
States.  Now  arose  a  great  struggle 
during  which  the  two  great  parties,  the 
Federalists  and  the  Anti-Federalists,  or 
Democrat-Republicansitook  the  full  shape 
which  they  retained  till  other  questions 
came  in  to  modify  them. 

1787.  Oct.  5.  Arthur  St.  Glair  was 
elected  by  congress  first  governor  of  the 
"  Northwest  Territory."  He  was  in- 
structed to  hold  a  general  treaty  with 
the  Indians  of  the  Territory,  to  adjust  the 
relations  between  them  and  the  gov- 
ernment. 


1784-1799.] 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


365 


1787.  October.  The  slave  trade 
•was  prohibited  in  Rhode  Island  by  the 
passage  of  an  act  forbidding  any  citizen 
to  engage  in  it. 

1787.  Dec.  7.  Delaware  was  the 
first  State  to  ratify  the  new  constitution, 
and  thus  took  the  lead  in  the  formation 
of  a  real  nation  out  of  the  original  thir- 
teen confederated  States.  It  has  an  area 
of  2,120  square  miles,  and  a  population 
in  1880  of  146,654.  Its  motto  is  "Lib- 
erty and  Independence,"  and  it  is  called 
«  The  Blue  Hen." 

1787.  Dec.  12.  Pennsylvania  was 
the  second  State  to  ratify  the  new  consti- 
tution. It  has  an  area  of  46,000  square 
miles,  and  a  population  in  1880  of 
4,283,786  inhabitants.  Its  motto  is  "  Vir- 
tue, Liberty  and  Independence,"  and  it  is 
called  "  The  Keystone  State,"  as,  in  an 
arch  of  the  old  thirteen  beginning  with 
New  Hampshire,  it  is  the  keystone. 

1787.  Dec.  18.  New  Jersey  was 
the  third  State  to  ratify  the  new  constitu- 
tion. It  has  an  area  of  8,320  square  miles, 
and  a  population  in  1880  of  1*130,892 
inhabitants.  The  motto  of  the  state  is 
"Liberty  and  Independence." 

1787.  December.  A  steamboat 
was  exhibited  upon  the  Potomac  by 
James  Rumsey,  who  had  experimented 
with  steam  for  some  months.  A  stream 
of  water  was  pumped  in  at  the  bow  of 
the  boat,  and  expelled  forcibly  at  the 
stern  directly  into  the  water  of  the  river, 
thus  pushing  the  boat  ahead.  Rumsey 
seems  to  have  tried  the  same  plan  on  a 
smaller  scale  the  year  before.  A  Dr. 
Allen,  of  England,  was  experimenting 
upon  it  also.  Rumsey  became  involved 
in  a  controversy  with  John  Fitch  as  to 
the  priority  of  their  respective  exper- 
iments. He  afterward  went  to  England 
and  was  progressing  quite  well  in  his 


endeavors,  when  he  died  in  the  midst  of 
them. 

1787.  The  first  cotton-mill  really 
built  in  New  England,  was  started  at 
Beverly,  Mass.  The  machinery  was  so 
rude  that  in  fifteen  years  the  mill  ceased 
to  run  because  no  one  could  be  found  to 
build  improved  machinery.  The  principal 
cloths  made  were  corduroys  and  bed- 
tickings. 

1787.  The  first  high  pressure  engine 
was  made  this  year  by  Oliver  Evans  of 
Philadelphia.  A  steam  land  carriage 
was  also  conceived  by  Mr.  Evans  at  this 
time. 

1787.  The  salt  works  at  Syracuse, 
N.  Y.,  began  with  the  manufacture  of 
about  ten  bushels  a  day.  These  were 
the  first  springs  worked  by  English  peo- 
ple in  America. 

1787.  Stage-players  were  classed  as 
"  vagrants  subject  to  'arrest,"  by  an  act 
passed  in  South  Carolina. 

1787.  Robert  Metlin,  a  Scotchman, 
died  at  Wakefield,  Mass.,  at  the  age  of 
115  years.  He  had  been  a  baker  in 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  and  used  to  walk  to 
Boston,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles,  in  a 
single  day,  for  the  purchase  1719.1737. 
of  flour.  This  he  did  as  late  Mozart. 

as  his  eightieth  year.  When  he  had  put 
his  goods  on  board  a  coaster,  he  would 
walk  home  the  next  day.  He  was  one 
of  the  well-known  pedestrians  of  his 
time. 

1787.  The  oldest  incorporated  mis- 
sionary society  in  the  United  States  was 
«  the  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel 
among  the  Indians  and  others  in  North 
America."  A  few  men  of  Boston  and 
vicinity  founded  it. 

1787.  A  model  for  an  iron  bridge  of 
four  hundred  feet  span  to  be  built  across 
the  Schuylkill,  was  exhibited  by  Thomas 


366 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


Paine,  the  author  of  the  famous  Revolu- 
tionary pamphlet,  "  Common  Sense." 
He  got  his  idea  from  the  spider's  web. 
But  it  was  regarded  as  a  hazardous  exper- 
iment. A  similar  judgment  was  ex- 
pressed concerning  a  plan  offered  by  a 
Mr.  Weston,  for  an  iron  bridge  upon 
stone  piers.  A  covered  wooden  bridge 
was  built,  instead  of  either.  Mr.  Paine's 
idea  was  afterward  experimented  upon 
in  France  or  England. 

1788.  Jan.  2.  Georgia  was  the  fourth 
State  to  ratify  the  constitution.  It  has  an 
area  of  52,009  square  miles,  and  a  popu- 
lation in  1880  of  1,538,988  persons.  The 
motto  of  the  State  is  "  Wisdom,  Justice, 
and  Moderation." 

1788.  Jan.  9.  Connecticut  was  the 
fifth  State  to  ratify  the  constitution.  The 
area  of  the  State  comprises  4,674  square 
miles.  The  population  numbei'ed  in 
1880,  622,683  persons.  The  motto  of 
the  State  is  "  Qui  transtulit  sustinet." 
"  He  who  brought  us  over  sustains  us." 
It  is  known  as  the  "  Nutmeg  State." 

1788.  Jan.  22.  Cyrus  Griffin  of 
Virginia,  was  elected  president  of  the 
continental  congress,  to  succeed  Arthur 
St.  Clair. 

1788.  Feb.  7.  Massachusetts  was  the 
sixth  State  to  ratify  the  constitution.  It 
has  an  area  of  7,800  square  miles,  and  a 
population  in  1880  of  1,783,086  persons. 
The  motto  of  the  State  is  "  Ense  petit 
placidam  sub  libertate  quietem."  "  By 
the  sword  he  seeks  placid  rest  in  liberty." 
Massachusetts  is  known  through  the 
country  as  the  "Bay  State." 

1788.  April  7.  Marietta,  Ohio,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum  River, 
was  founded  by  a  company  of  sixty  per- 
sons, the  greater  part  of  whom  were  ex- 
soldiers  and  officers  of  the  Revolution, 
who  came  from  New  England  under 


Gen.  Rufus  Putnam.  They  left  New 
England  in  1787,  crossed  the  mountains, 
but  encamped  during  the  winter,  and 
reached  their  destination  in  the  spring. 
They  were  to  occupy  a  grant  of  2,000,- 
ooo  acres  ceded  to  Sargent,  Cutler,  and 
company,  the  leaders  of  the  enterprise. 
No  regular  settlement  had  yet  been  made 
in  the  State,  though  separate  settlers  had 
in  some  instances  come  in.  The  present 
settlers  soon  made  arrangements  for  all 
the  New  England  privileges,  in  the  way 
of  churches  and  schools.  Improvements 
were  vigorously  begun. 

1788.  April  28.  Maryland  was  the 
seventh  State  to  ratify  the  constitution. 
It  has  an  area  of  11,124  square  miles, 
and  a  population  in  1880  of  935,139 
persons.  The  motto  of  the  State  is 
"  Crescite  et  multiplicamini."  "  Increase 
and  multiply." 

1788.  May  23.  South  Carolina  was 
the  eighth  State  to  ratify  the  constitution. 
It  has  34,000  square  miles,  and  a  popula- 
tion in  1880  of  995,706  persons.  Its 
motto  is  "  Animis  opibusque  parati." 
"  Ready  in  will  and  deed."  It  is  known 
as  the  Palmetto  State. 

1788.  May.  Messenger,  a  thorough- 
bred English  horse,  was  imported  into  the 
United  States  and  became  the  ancestor 
of  many  of  the  fast  horses  of  the  present 
century.  He  died  at  Oyster  Bay,  Long 
Island,  in  1808.  A  volley  of  muskets 
was  fired  at  his  burial,  because  of  his  long 
popularity. 

1788.  May.  Impromptu  Courts. 
The  courts  not  having  been  set  up  yet 
under  the  ordinance  for  the  government 
of  the  "  Northwest  Territory,"  the  emi- 
grants were  left  open  to  violations  of  law. 
The  emigrants  in  the  Miami  region,  in 
order  to  protect  themselves,  met  and  or- 
ganized a  court,  appointed  a  judge,  and 


1784-1799.] 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


367 


'began  to  try  the  cases  which  came  up, 
inflicting  punishment  if  so  decreed.  The 
military  officer  interfered,  and  the  United 
States  court  was  set  up  in  August.  The 
self-acting  code  was  therefore  superseded. 

1788.  June  21.  New  Hampshire 
was  the  ninth  State  to  ratify  the  consti- 
tution, and  thus  made  the  proposed  gov- 
ernment a  fact.  It  has  an  area  of  9,280 
square  miles,- and  in  1880,  346,784  inhab- 
itants. New  Hampshire  is  known  as  the 
«  Granite  State." 

1788.  June  26.  Virginia  was  the 
tenth  State  to  ratify  the  constitution.  It 
has  an  area  of  38,352  square  miles,  and 
in  1880,  1,512,203  inhabitants.  Its  motto 
is  "  Sic  semper  tyrannis."  "  So  always 
with  tyrants,"  and  it  is  known  as  the 
"  Old  Dominion." 

1788.  June.  John  Ledyard,  an  Amer- 
ican traveler  of  repute  in  his  day,  left 
England  upon  an  attempt  to  cross  Africa 
in  a  westerly  direction  from  Sennaar.  He 
was,  however,  taken  sick  at  Cairo,  in 
Egypt,  and  died  the  following  January. 
He  had  shown  great  perseverance  and 
endurance  in  other  undertakings.  He 
sailed  with  Capt.  Cook  on  his  third  voy- 
age round  the  world.  He  afterward 
•crossed  Northern  Europe  with  the  inten- 
sion of  going  overland  to  explore  Beh- 
ring's  Strait  and  the  adjacent  coast.  He 
attempted  to  cross  the  Gulf  of  Bothnia 
on  the  ice,  but  came  to  open  water,  and 
only  reached  St.  Petersburg  after  a  long 
walk  around  the  coast  of  the  gulf.  He 
had  gone  1,400  miles  in  seven  weeks. 
He  went  into  Siberia,  but  after  long 
wanderings  he  was  obliged  to  return  to 
his  friends  and  patrons  in  London.  It 
being  suggested  that  he  go  to  the  interior 
of  Africa,  the  question  was  asked  of  him 
when  he  would  be  ready.  "To-morrow 
morning,"  was  the  quick  reply.  Mr. 


Ledyard  was  born  at  Groton,  Conn.,  in 
1751,  and  entered  Dartmouth  College, 
but  left  before  his  term  was  completed. 
His  life  was  one  of  constant  wandering 
and  adventure. 

1788.  July  4.  A  great  celebration 
was  held  at  Philadelphia  in  honor  of  the 
newly  adopted  constitution.  The  trades 
and  industries  were  prominently  repre- 
sented in  procession.  At  Providence,  R. 
I.,  an  intended  celebration  of  the  same 
event,  although  the  State  had  not  yet 
joined  the  union,  was  prevented  by  a  mob 
of  a  thousand  men  from  the  neighboring 
towns,  who  opposed  the  adoption  of  the 
new  constitution.  A  great  excitement 
came  near  bursting  forth. 

1788.  July  14.  The  question  of 
carrying  the  new  government  into  effect 
over  the  nine  consenting  States,  was  re- 
ferred by  the  continental  congress  to  a 
committee.  The  time  for  the  new  con- 
gress to  open  its  session  was  to  be  March 
4,  1789,  and  the  place  was  to  be  New 
York.  The  choice  of  electors  was  to  be 
on  the  first  Wednesday  in  January, 
1789,  and  the  voting  of  the  electors  was 
to  be  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  February, 
1789.  The  first  steps  in  national  gov- 
ernment were  now  to  be  taken.  The 
country  was  to  gradually  make  its  way 
out  of  the  condition  of  separation  into 
one  of  consolidation  and  power.  The 
wisdom  of  very  earnest,  prophetic  minds 
was  put  into  the  constitution,  which  now 
took  its  place  among  the  charters  of  the 
world. 

CONSTITUTION  OF' THE  UNITED  STATES. 

We,  the  people  of  the  United  States,  in  order 
to  form  a  more  perfect  union,  establish  justice, 
insure  domestic  tranquility,  provide  for  the  com- 
mon defense,  promote  the  general  welfare,  and 
secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and 
our  posterity,  do  ordain  and  establish  this  Con- 
stitution for  the  United  States  of  North 
America: 


368 


RE  VOL  UTIONA RT  STR UGGLES. 


ARTICLE  I. 

SECTION  i.  All  legislative  powers  herein 
granted  shall  be  vested  in  a  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  which  shall  consist  of  a  Senate 
and  House  of  Representatives. 

SEC.  2.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall 
be  composed  of  members  chosen  every  second 
year  by  the  people  of  the  several  States,  and  the 
electors  in  each  State  shall  have  the  qualifica- 
tions requisite  for  electors  of  .the  most  numerous 
branch  of  the  State  legislature. 

No  person  shall  be  a  representative  who  shall 
not  have  attained  to  the  age  of  twenty-five  years, 
and  been  seven  years  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an 
inhabitant  of  that  State  in  which  he  shall  be 
chosen. 

Representatives  and  direct  taxes  shall  be 
apportioned  among  the  several  States  which 
may  be  included  within  this  Union,  according  to 
their  respective  numbers,  which  shall  be  deter- 
mined by  adding  to  the  whole  number  of  free 
persons,  including  those  bound  to  service  for  a 
term  of  years,  and  excluding  Indians  not  taxed, 
three-fifths  of  all  other  persons.  The  actual 
enumeration  shall  be  made  within  three 
years  after  the  first  meeting  of  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States,  and  within  every 
subsequent  term  of  ten  years,  in  such  man- 
ner as  they  shall  by  law  direct.  The  -num- 
ber of  representatives  shall  not  exceed  one 
for  every  thirty  thousand ;  but  each  State  shall 
have  at  least  one  representative ;  and  until  such 
enumeration  shall  be  made,  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire  shall  be  entitled  to  choose  three, 
Massachusetts  eight,  Rhode  Island  and  Provi- 
dence Plantations  one,  Connecticut  five,  New 
York  six,  New  Jersey  four,  Pennsylvania  eight, 
Delaware  one,  Maryland  six,  Virginia  ten,  North 
Carolina  five,  South  Carolina  five,  and  Georgia 
three. 

When  vacancies  happen  in  the  representation 
from  any  State,  the  executive  authority  thereof 
shall  issue  writs  of  election  to  fill  such 
vacancies. 

The  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose 
their  speaker  and  other  officers ;  and  shall  have 
the  sole  power  of  impeachment. 

SEC.  3.  The  Senate  of  the  United  States 
shall  be  composed  of  two  Senators  from  each 
State,  chosen  by  the  legislature  thereof,  for  six 
years ;  and  each  Senator  shall  have  one  vote. 

Immediately  after  they  shall  be  assembled  in 
consequence  of  the  first  election,  they  shall  be 
divided,  as  equally  as  may  be,  into  three  classes. 
The  seats  pf  the  Senatocs  of  the  first  class  shall 
be  vacated  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  year, 
of  the  second  class  at  the  expiration  of  the 
fourth  year,  and  of  the  third  class  at  the  expira- 
tion of  the  sixth  year,  so  that  one-third  may 
be  chosen  every  second  year;  and  if  vacancies 
happen,  by  resignation  or  otherwise,  during  the 
recess  of  the  legislature  of  any  State,  the  exec- 
utive thereof  .may  make  tempprary  appoint- 
ments until  the  next  meeting  of  the  legislature, 
which  shall  then  fill  such  vacancies. 


No  person  shall  be  a  senator  who  shall  not 
have  attained  the  age  of  thirty  years,  and  been 
nine  years  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and 
who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  inhabitant  of 
that  State  for  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

The  Vice-President  of  the  United  States  shall 
be  president  of  the  Senate,  but  shall  have  no- 
vote,  unless  they  be  equally  divided. 

The  Senate  shall  choose  their  other  officers,, 
and  also  a  president  pro  tempore,  in  the  absence 
of  the  Vice-President,  or  when  he  shall  exercise 
the  office  as  President  of  the  United  States. 

The  Senate  shall  have  the  sole  power  to  try 
all  impeachments.  When  sitting  for  that  pur- 
pose, they  shall  be  on  oath  or  affirmation. 
When  the  President  of  the  United  States  is. 
tried,  the  chief-justice  shall  preside;  and  no  per- 
son shall  be  convicted  without  the  concurrence 
of  two-thirds  of  the  members  present. 

Judgment,  in  cases  of  impeachment,  shall  not 
extend  further  than  to  removal  from  office,  and 
disqualification  to  hold  and  enjoy  any  office  of 
honor,  trust  or  profit,  under  the  United  States; 
but  the  party  convicted  shall,  nevertheless,  be 
liable  and  subject  to  indictment,  trial,  judgment, 
and  punishment,  according  to  law. 

SEC.  4.  The  times,  places,  and  manner  of 
holding  elections  for  senators  and  representa- 
tives, shall  be  prescribed  in  each  State  by  the 
legislature  thereof;  but  the  Congress  may,  at 
any  time,  by  law,  make  or  alter  such  regulations,, 
except  as  to  the  places  of  choosing  senators. 

The  Congress  shall  assemble  at  least  once  in 
every  year ;  and  such  meeting  shall  be  on  the 
first  Monday  in  December,  unless  they  shall  by 
law  appoint  a  different  day. 

SEC.  5.  Each' house  shall  be  the  judge  of  the 
elections,  returns,  and  qualifications  of  its  own 
members ;  and  a  majority  of  each  shall  consti- 
tute a  quorum  to  do  business;  but  a  smaller 
number  may  adjourn  from  day  to  day,  and  be 
authorized  to  compel  the  attendance  of  absent 
members,  in  such  manner  and  under  such  pen- 
alties as  each  house  may  provide. 

Each  house  may  determine  the  rules  of  its. 
proceedings,  punish  its  members  for  disorderly 
behavior,  and,  with  the  concurrence  of  two- 
thirds,  expel  a  member. 

Each  house  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  pro- 
ceedings, and  from  time  to  time  publish  the  same,, 
excepting  such  parts  as  may  in  their  judgment 
require  secrecy ;  and  the  yeas  and  nays  of  the 
members  of  either  house,  on  any  question,  shall, 
at  the  desire  of  one-fifth  of  those  present,  be 
entered  on  the  journal. 

Neither  house,  during  the  session  of  Con- 
gress, shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  other, 
adjourn  for  more  than  three  days,  nor  to  any 
other  place  than  that  in  which  the  two  houses 
shall  be  sitting. 

SEC.  6.  The  senators  and  representatives 
shall  receive  a  compensation  for  their  services, 
to  be  ascertained  by  law,  and  paid  out  of  the 
treasury  of  the  United  States.  They  shall,  in 
all  cases  except  treason,  felony,  and  breach  of 
the  peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest  during  their 
attendance  on  the  session  of  their  respective 


1784-1799.] 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


369 


houses,  and  in  going  to  and  returning  from  the 
same;  and,  for  any  speech  or  debate  in  either 
house,  they  shall  not  be  questioned  in  any  other 
place. 

No  senator  or  representative  shall,  during  the 
time  for  which  he  was  elected,  be  appointed  to 
any  civil  office  under  the  authority  of  the 
United  States  which  shall  have  been  created,  or 
the  emoluments  whereof  shall  have  been  in- 
creased, during  such  time ;  and  no  person  hold- 
ing any  office  under  the  United  States,  shall  be 
a  member  of  either  house  during  his  continu- 
ance in  office. 

SEC.  7.  All  bills  for  raising  revenue  shall 
originate  in  the  House  of  Representatives;  but 
the  Senate  may  propose  or  concur  with  amend- 
ments, as  on  other  bills. 

Every  bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  House 
of  Representatives  and  the  Senate,  shall,  before 
it  become  a  law,  be  presented  to  the  President 
of  the  United  States ;  if  he  approve  he  shall 
sign  it,  but  if  not  he  shall  return  it  with  his  ob- 
jections, to  that  house  in  which  it  shall  have 
originated,  who  shall  enter  the  objections  at 
large  on  their  journal,  and  proceed  to  reconsider 
"•it.  If,  after  such  reconsideration,  two-thirds  of 
that  house  shall  agree  to  pass  the  bill,  it  shall  be 
sent,  together  with  the  objections,  to  the  other 
house,  by  which  it  shall  likewise  be  reconsidered, 
and,  if  approved  by  two-thirds  of  that  house,  it 
shall  become  a  law.  But,  in  all  such  cases,  the 
votes  of  both  houses  shall  be  determined  by 
yeas  and  nays ;  and  the  names  of  the  persons 
voting  for  and  against  the  bill  shall  be  entered 
on  the  journal  of  each  house,  respectively.  If 
any  bill  shall  not  be  returned  by  the  President 
within  ten  days  (Sundays  excepted)  after  it 
shall  have  been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shall 
be  a  law,  in  like  manner  as  if  he  had  signed 
it,  unless  the  Congress  by  its  adjournment 
prevent  its  return,  in  which  case  it  shall  not  be 
a  law. 

Every  order,  resolution  or  vote,  to  which  the 
concurrence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives may  be  necessary  (except  on  a 
question  of  adjournment),  shall  be  presented  to 
the  President  of  the  United  States;  and,  before 
the  same  shall  take  effect,  shall  be  approved  by 
him,  or,  being  disapproved  by  him,  shall  be  re- 
passed  by  two-thirds  of  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives,  according  to  the  rules  and 
limitations  prescribed  in  the  case  of  a  bill. 

SEC.  8.    The  Congress  shall  have  power: — 

To  lay  and  collect  taxes,  duties,  imposts,  and 
excises,  to  pay  the  debts,  and  provide  for  com- 
mon defense  and  general  welfare,  of  the  United 
States;  but  all  duties,  imposts,  and  excises,  shall 
be  uniform  throughout  the  United  States. 

To  borrow  money  on  the  credit  of  the  United 
States. 

To  regulate  commerce  with  foreign  nations, 
and  among  the  several  States,  and  with  the 
Indian  tribes: 

To  establish  an  uniform  rule  of  naturalization, 
and  uniform  laws  on  the  subject  of  bankrupt- 
cies throughout  the  United  States : 

To  coin  money,  regulate  the  value  thereof, 
24 


and  of  foreign  coin,  and  fix  the  standard  of 
weights  and  measures : 

To  provide  for  the  punishment  of  counter- 
feiting the  securities  and  current  coin  of  the 
United  States: 

To  establish  post-offices  and  post-roads : 

To  promote  the  progress  of  science  and  the 
useful  arts,  by  securing  for  limited  times,  to 
authors  and  inventors,  the  exclusive  right  to 
their  respective  writings  and  discoveries : 

To  constitute  tribunals  interior  to  the  Su- 
preme Court: 

To  define  and  punish  piracies  and  felonies 
committed  on  the  high  seas,  and  offenses  against 
the  law  of  nations : 

To  declare  war,  grant  letters  of  marque  and 
reprisal,  and  make  rules  concerning  captures  on 
land  and  water: 

To  raise  and  support  armies ;  but  no  appropri- 
ation of  money  to  that  use  shall  be  for  a  longer 
term  than  two  years : 

To  provide  and  maintain  a  navy : 

To  make  rules  for  the  government  and  regu- 
lation of  the  land  and  naval  forces : 

To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  exe- 
cute the  laws  of  the  Union,  suppress  insurrec- 
tions and  repel  invasions : 

To  provide  for  organizing,  arming,  and  dis- 
ciplining the  militia,  and  for  governing  such 
part  of  them  as  may  be  employed  in  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  reserving  to  the  States 
respectively,  the  appointment  of  the  officers, 
and  the  authority  of  training  the  militia  accord- 
ing to  the  discipline  prescribed  by  Congress: 

To  exercise  exclusive  legislation,  in  all  cases 
whatsoever,  over  such  district  (not  exceeding 
ten  miles  square)  as  may,  by  cession  of  particu- 
lar States,  and  the  acceptance  of  Congress,  be- 
come the  seat  of  government  of  the  United 
States ;  and  to  exercise  like  authority  over  all 
places  purchased  by  the  consent  of  the  legisla- 
ture of  the  State  in  which  the  same  shall  be,  for 
the  erection  of  forts,  magazines,  arsenals,  dock- 
yards, and  other  needful  buildings : — And 

To  make  all  laws  which  shall  be  necessary 
and  proper  for  carrying  into  execution  the  fore- 
going powers,  and  all  other  powers  vested  by 
this  Constitution  in  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  or  in  any  department  or  officer 
thereof. 

SEC.  9.  The  migration  or  importation  of  such 
persons,  as  any  of  the  States  now  existing  shall 
think  proper  to  admit,  shall  not  be  prohibited  by 
the  Congress  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  eight;  but  a  tax  or  duty  may 
be  imposed  on  such  importation,  not  exceeding 
ten  dollars  for  each  person. 

The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus 
shall  not  be  suspended,  unless  when  in  cases  of 
rebellion  or  invasion,-  the  public  safety  may 
require  it. 

No  bill  of  attainder  of  ex  fast  facto  law,  shall 
be  passed. 

No  capitation  or  other  direct  tax  shall  be  laid, 
unless  in  proportion  to  the  census,  or  enumera- 
tion, hereinbefore  directed  to  be  taken. 

No  tax  or  duty  shall  be  laid  on   articles   ex- 


370 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR  T  S  TR  UGGLES. 


ported  from  any  State.  No  preference  shall  be 
given  by  any  regulation  of  commerce  or  reve- 
nue to  the  ports  of  one  State  over  those  of 
another ;  nor  shall  vessels  bound  to  or  from  one 
State  be  obliged  to  enter,  clear,  or  pay  duties  in 
another. 

No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  treasury 
but  in  consequence  of  appropriations  made  by 
law ;  and  a  regular  statement  and  account  of  the 
receipts  and  expenditures  of  all  public  money 
shall  be  published  from  time  to  time. 

No  title  of  nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the 
United  States ;  and  no  person  holding  any  office 
of  profit  or  trust  under  them  shall,  without  the 
consent  of  Congress,  accept  of  any  present, 
emolument,  office,  or  title  of  any  kind  whatever, 
from  any  king,  prince,  or  foreign  state. 

SEC.  10.  No  State  shall  enter  into  any  treaty, 
alliance,  or  confederation ;  grant  letters  of  marque 
or  reprisal;  coin  money;  emit  bills  of  credit; 
make  anything  but  gold  and  silver  coin  a  tender 
in  payment  of  debts ;  pass  any  bill  of  attainder, 
ex  post  facto  law,  or  law  impairing  the  obligation 
of  contracts ;  or  grant  any  title  of  nobility. 

No  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the 
Congress,  lay  any  imposts  or  duties  on  imports 
or  exports,  except  what  may  be  absolutely  nec- 
essary for  executing  its  inspection  laws;  and  the 
net  produce  of  all  duties  and  imposts  laid  by 
any  State  on  imports  or  exports,  shall  be  for  the 
use  of  the  treasury  of  the  United  States;  and 
all  such  laws  shall  be  subject  to  the  revision  and 
control  of  the  Congress.  No  State  shall,  with- 
out the  consent  of  Congress,  lay  any  duty  of 
tonnage,  keep  troops  or  ships  of  war  in  time  of 
peace,  enter  into  any  agreement  or  compact  with 
another  State,  or  with  a  foreign  power,  or  engage 
in  war,  unless  actually  invaded,  or  in  such  im- 
minent danger  as  will  not  admit  of  delay. 

ARTICLE  II. 

SECTION  i.  The  executive  power  shall  be 
vested  in  a  President  of  the  United  States  of 
America.  He  shall  hold  his  office  during  the 
term  of  four  years,  and  together  with  the  Vice- 
President,  chosen  for  the  same  term,  be  elected 
as  follows : — 

Each  State  shall  appoint,  in  such  manner  as 
the  legislature  thereof  may  direct,  a  number  of 
electors  equal  to  the  whole  number  of  senators 
and  representatives  to  which  the  State  may  be 
entitled  in  the  Congress ;  but  no  senator  or  rep- 
resentative, or  person  holding  any  office  of  trust 
or  profit  under  the  United  States,  shall  be  ap- 
pointed an  elector. 

The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective 
States,  and  vote  by  ballot  for  two  persons,  of* 
whom  one,  at  least,  shall  not  be  an  inhabitant  of 
the  same  State  with  themselves.  And  they 
shall  make  a  list  of  all  the  persons  voted  for, 
and  of  all  the  votes  for  each ;  which  list  they  shall 
sign  and  certify,  and  transmit  sealed  to  the  seat 
of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  directed 
to  the  president  of  the  Senate.  The  president 
of  the  Senate  shall,  in  the  presence  of  the  Sen- 
ate and  House  of  Representatives,  open  all  the 


certificates;  and  the  votes  shall  then  be  counted. 
The  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes 
shall  be  the  President,  if  such  number  be  a  ma- 
jority of  the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed; 
and  if  there  be  more  than  one  who  has  such 
majority,  and  have  an  equal  number  of  votes, 
then  the  House  of  Representath  ~  shall  imme- 
diately choose,  by  ballot,  one  of  th  :n  for  Presi- 
dent; and  if  no  person  have  a  majority,  then, 
from  the  five  highest  on  the  list,  the  said  house 
shall,  in  like  manner,  choose  the  President. 
But  in  choosing  the  President,  the  votes  shall 
be  taken  by  States ;  the  representation  from  each 
State  having  one  vote ;  a  quorum  for  this  pur- 
pose shall  consist  of  a  member  or  members 
from  two-thirds  of  the  States;  and  a  majority  of 
all  the  States  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.  In 
every  case,  after  the  choice  of  the  President,  the 
person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  of 
the  electors,  shall  be  Vice-President.  But,  if 
there  should  remain  two  or  more  who  have 
equal  votes,  the  Senate  shall  choose  from  them, 
by  ballot,  the  Vice-President. 

The  Congress  may  determine  the  time  of 
choosing  the  electors,  and  the  day  on  which  they 
shall  give  their  votes ;  which  day  shall  be  the 
same  throughout  the  United  States. 

No  person,  except  a  natural  born  citizen  or 
a  citizen  of  the  United  States  at  the  time  of  the 
adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  eligible  to 
the  office  of  President;  neither  shall  any  per- 
son be  eligible  to  that  office  who  shall  not  have 
attained  to  the  age  of  thirty-five  years,  and 
been  fourteen  years  a  resident  within  the  United 
States. 

In  case  of  the  removal  of  the  President  from 
office,  or  of  his  death,  resignation,  or  inability 
to  discharge  the  powers  or  duties  of  the  said 
office,  the  same  shall  devolve  on  the  Vice-Pres- 
ident; and  the  Congress  may  by  law,  provide 
for  the  case  of  removal,  death,  resignation  or  in- 
ability, both  of  the  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent, declaring  what  officer  shall  then  act  as 
President;  and  such  officer  shall  act  accordingly, 
until  the  disability  be  removed,  or  a  President 
shall  be  elected. 

The  President  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive 
for  his  services  a  compensation,  which  shall 
neither  be  increased  or  diminished  during  the 
period  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected ;  and 
he  shall  not  receive  within  that  period  any  other 
emolument  from  the  United  States,  or  any  of 
them. 

Before  he  enter  on  the  execution  of  his  office, 
he  shall  take  the  following  oath  or  affirmation : — 

"  I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will 
faithfully  execute  the  office  of  President  of  the 
United  States,  and  will,  to  the  best  of  my  abil- 
ity, preserve,  protect,  and  defend  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States." 

SEC.  2.  The  President  shall  be  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United 
States,  and  of  the  militia  of  the  several  States, 
when  called  into  the  actual  service  of  the  United 
States ;  he  may  require  the  opinion,  in  writing, 
of  the  principal  officer  in  each  of  the  executive 
departments,  upon  any  subject  relating  to  the 


1784-1799.] 

duties  of  their  respective  offices,  and  he  shall 
have  power  to  grant  reprieves  and  pardons  for 
offences  against  the  United  States,  except  in 
cases  of  impeachment. 

He  shall  have  power,  by  and  with  the  advice 
and  consent  of  the  Senate,  to  make  treaties, 
provided  two-thirds  of  the  senators  present  con- 
cur; and  he  shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the 
advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  shall  appoint 
ambassadors,  other  public  ministers,  and  con- 
suls, judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  all 
other  officers  of  the  United  States,  whose  ap- 
pointments are  not  herein  otherwise  provided 
for,  and  which  shall  be  established  by  law;  but 
the  Congress  may,  by  law,  vest  the  appointment 
of  such  inferior  officers  as  they  think  proper,  in 
the  President  alone,  in  the  courts  of  law,  or  in 
the  heads  of  departments. 

The  President  shall  have  power  to  fill  up  all 
vacancies  that  may  happen  during  the  recess  of 
the  Senate,  by  granting  commissions,  which 
shall  expire  at  the  end  of  their  next  session. 

SEC.  3.  He  shall,  from  time  to  time,  give  to 
the  Congress  information  of  the  state  of  the 
Union,  and  recommend  to  their  consideration 
such  measures  as  he  shall  judge  necessary  and 
expedient;  he  may,  on  extraordinary  occasions, 
convene  both  houses,  or  either  of  them,  and,  in 
case  of  disagreement  between  them  with  respect 
to  the  time  of  adjournment,  he  may  adjourn 
them  to  such  time  as  he  shall  think  proper;  he 
shall  receive  ambassadors  and  other  public  min- 
isters ;  he  shall  take  care  that  the  laws  be  faith- 
fully executed;  and  shall  commission  all  the 
officers  of  the  United  States. 

SEC.  4.  The  President,  Vice-President  and  all 
civil  officers  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  re- 
moved from  office  on  impeachment  for  and  con- 
viction of  treason,  bribery,  or  other  high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE  III. 

SECTION  i.  The  judicial  power  of  the  United 
States  shall  be  vested  in  a  Supreme  Court,  and 
in  such  inferior  courts  as  the  Congress  may 
from  time  to  time  ordain  and  establish.  The 
judges,  both  of  the  supreme  and  inferior  courts, 
shall  hold  their  offices  during  good  behavior;  and 
shall,  at  stated  times,  receive  for  their  services  a 
compensation,  which  shall  not  be  diminished 
during  their  continuance  in  office. 

SEC.  2.  The  judicial  power  shall  extend  to  all 
cases,  in  law  and  equity,  arising  under  this  Con- 
stitution, the  laws  of  the  United  States,  and 
treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under 
their  authority;  to  all  cases  affecting  ambassa- 
dors, other  public  ministers  and  consuls;  to  all 
cases  of  admiralty  and  maritime  jurisdiction; 
to  controversies  to  which  the  United  States  shall 
be  a  party ;  to  controversies  between  two  or 
more  States,  between  a  State  and  citizens  of 
another  State,  between  citizens  of  different 
States,  between  citizens  of  the  same  State 
claiming  lands  tinder  grants  of  different  States, 
and  between  a  State,  or  the  citizens  theceof,  and 
foreign  States,  citizens,  or  subjects. 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


371 


In  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  pub- 
lic ministers  and  consuls,  and  those  in  which  a 
State  shall  be  a  party,  the  Supreme  Court  shall 
have  original  jurisdiction.  In  all  the  other  cases 
before  mentioned,  the  Supreme  Court  shall  have 
appellate  jurisdiction  both  as  to  law  and  fact, 
with  such  exceptions,  and  under  such  regulations 
as  the  Congress  shall  make. 

The  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  cases  of  im- 
peachment, shall  be  by  jury ;  and  such  trial  shall 
be  held  in  the  State  where  the  said  crimes 
shall  have  been  committed;  but,  when  not 
committed  within  any  State,  the  trial  shall  be  at 
such  place  or  places  as  the  Congress  may  by 
law  have  directed. 

SEC.  3.  Treason  against  the  United  Stales 
shall  consist  only  in  levying  war  against  them, 
or  in  adhering  to  their  enemies,  giving  them  aid 
and  comfort.  No  person  shall  be  convicted  of 
treason  unless  on  the  testimony  of  two  wit- 
nesses to  the  same  overt  act,  or  on  confession  in 
open  court. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  declare  the 
punishment  of  treason,  but  no  attainder  of  trea- 
son shall  work  corruption  of  blood  or  forfeiture, 
except  during  the  life  of  the  person  attainted. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

SECTION  i.  Full  faith  and  credit  shall  be 
given  in  each  State  to  the  public  acts,  records, 
and  judicial  proceedings  of  every' other  State. 
And  the  Congress  may,  by  general  laws,  pre- 
scribe the  manner  in  which  such  acts,  records, 
and  proceedings  shall  be  proved,  and  the  effect 
thereof. 

SEC.  2.  The  citizens  of  each  State  shall  be 
entitled  to  all  privileges  and  immunities  of  citi- 
zens in  the  several  States. 

A  person  charged  in  any  State  with  treason, 
felony,  or  other  crime,  who  shall  flee  from  jus- 
tice, and  be  found  in  another  State,  shall,  on  the 
demand  of  the  executive  authority  of  the  State 
from  which  he  fled,  be  delivered  up,  to  be  re- 
moved to  the  State  having  jurisdiction  of  the 
crime. 

No  person  held  to  service  $rc  labor  in  one 
State  under  the  laws  thereof,  escaping  into 
another,  shall,  in  consequence  of  any  law  or 
regulation  therein,  be  discharged  from  such  ser- 
vice or  labor,  but  shall  be  delivered  up  on  claim 
of  the  party  to  whom  such  service  or  labor  may 
be  due. 

SEC.  3.  New  States  may  be  admitted  by 
Congress  into  this  Union ;  but  no  new  State 
shall  be  formed  or  erected  within  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  any  other  State;  nor  any  State  be  formed 
by  the  junction  of  two  or  more  States  or  parts 
of  States,  without  the  consent  of  the  legislature  of 
the  States  concerned,  as  well  as  of  the  Congress. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of 
and  make  all  needful  rules  and  regulations  re- 
specting the  territory  or  other  property  be- 
longing to  the  United  States;  and  nothing  in 
this  Constitution  shall  be  so  construed  as  to 
prejudice  any  claims  of  the  United  States,  or  of 
any  particular  State. 


372 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


SEC.  4.  The  United  States  shall  guarantee 
to  every  State  in  this  U  nion  a  republican  form 
of  government,  and  shall  protect  each  of  them 
against  invasion ;  and  on  application  of  the  leg- 
islature, or  of  the  executive  (when  the  legislature 
cannot  be  convened),  against  domestic  violence. 

ARTICLE   V. 

The  Congress,  whenever  two-thirds  of  both 
houses  shall  deem  it  necessary,  shall  propose 
amendments  to  this  Constitution,  or,  on  the  appli- 
cation of  the  legislatures  of  two-thirds  of  the 
several  States,  shall  call  a  convention  for  propos- 
ing amendments,  which,  in  either  case,  shall  be 
valid,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  part  of  this 
Constitution,  when  ratified  by  the  legislatures  of 
three-fourths  of  the  several  States,  or  by  conven- 
tions in  three-fourths  thereof,  as  the  one  or  the 
other  mode  of  ratification  may  be  proposed  by  the 
Congress ;  Provided,  that  no  amendment  which 
may  be  made  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  eight,  shall  in  any  manner 
affect  the  first  and  fourth  clauses  in  the  ninth 
section  of  the  first  article ;  and  that  no  State, 
without  its  consent,  shall  be  deprived  of  its 
equal  suffrage  in  the  Senate. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

All  debts  contracted  and  engagements  en- 
tered into,  before  the  adoption  of  this  Constitu- 
tion, shall  be  lis  valid  against  the  United  States 
under  this  Constitution,  as  under  the  Confed- 
eration. 

This  Constitution,  and  the  laws  of  the  United 
States,  which  shall  be  made  in  pursuance 
thereof;  and  all  treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be 
made,  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States, 
shall  be  the  supreme  law  of  the  land ;  and  the 
judges  in  every  State  shall  be  bound  thereby, 
anything  in  the  Constitution  or  laws  of  any 
State  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

The  senators  and  representatives  before  men- 
tioned, and  the  members  of  the  several  State 
legislatures,  and  all  executive  and  judicial 
officers,  both  of  the  United  States  and  of  the 
several  States,  sh»ll  be  bound  by  oath  or  affirma- 
tion to  support  this  Constitution ;  but  no  reli- 
gious test  shall  ever  be  required  as  a  qualifica- 
tion to  any  office  or  public  trust  under  the 
United  States. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

The  ratification  of  the  conventions  of  nine 
States  shall  be  sufficient  for  the  establishment 
of  this  Constitution  between  the  States  so  rati- 
fying the  same. 

Done  in  convention  by  the  unanimous  con- 
sent of  the  States  present,  the  seventeenth  day 
of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven,  and 
of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  the  twelfth.  In  witness  whereof,  we 
have  hereunto  subscribed  our  names: 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON, 

PRESIDENT,  AND 
DEPUTY  FROM  VIRGINIA. 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE.— John  Langdon,  Nicholas 
f~, .,  •>  & 

Gilman. 

MASSACHUSETTS. — Nathaniel  Gorham,  Rufus 
King.  , 

CONNECTICUT. — William  Samuel  Johnson, 
Roger  Sherman. 

NEW  YORK. — Alexander  Hamilton. 

NEW  JERSEY. — William  Livingston,  David 
Bearly,  William  Patterson,  Jonathan  Dayton. 

PENNSYLVANIA. — Benjamin  Franklin,  Thom- 
as Mifflin,  Robert  Morris,  George  Clymer,. 
Thomas  Fitzsimmons,  Jared  Ingersoll,  James 
Wilson,  Gouverneur  Morris. 

DELAWARE. — George  Read,  Gunning  Bed- 
ford, Jr.,  John  Dickinson,  Richard  Bassett, 
Jacob  Broom. 

MARYLAND. — James  McHenry,  Daniel  of 
St.  Thomas  Jenifer,  Daniel  Carroll. 

VIRGINIA. — John   Blair,   James   Madison,  Jr. 

NORTH  CAROLINA. — William  Blount,  Rich- 
ard Dobbs  Spaight,  Hugh  Williamson. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. — John  Rutledge,  Charles 
Cotesworth  Pinckney,  Charles  Pinckney,  Pierce 
Butler. 

GEORGIA. — William  Few,  Abraham  Baldwin^ 

[ATTEST.]  WILLIAM  JACKSON, 

Secretary. 

AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  CONSTITUTION* 
ARTICLE  I. 

Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  es- 
tablishment of  religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free 
exercise  thereof;  or  abridging  the  freedom  of 
speech,  or  of  the  press ;  or  the  right  of  the  peo- 
ple peaceably  to  assemble,  and  to  petition  the. 
government  for  a  redress  of  grievances. 

ARTICLE  II. 

A  well-regulated  militia  being  necessary  to  the- 
security  of  a  free  State,  the  right  of  the  people 
to  keep  and  bear  arms  shall  not  be  infringed. 

ARTICLE  III. 

No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quartered 
in  any  house  without  the  consent  of  the  owner ; 
nor  in  time  of  war,  but  in  a  manner  prescribed 
by  law. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their 
persons,  houses,  paper,  and  effects,  against  un- 
reasonable searches  and  seizures,  shall  not  be 
violated ;  and  no  warrants  shall  issue  but  upon 
probable  cause,  supported  by  oath  or  affirmation, 
and  particularly  describing  the  place  to  be 
searched,  and  the  person  or  things  to  be  seized. 

ARTICLE   V. 

No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capi- 
tal or  otherwise  infamous  crime,  unless  on  a 
presentment  or  indictment  of  a  grand  jury,  ex- 
cept in  cases  arising  in  the  land  or  naval  forces, 

*  The  first  ten  amendments  were  declared  in  force  De- 
cember 15th,  1791. 


1784-1799.] 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


373 


or  in  the  militia  when  in  actual  service,  in  time 
of  war  or  public  danger;  nor  shall  any  person 
be  subject,  for  the  same  offence,  to  be  twice  put 
in  jeopardy  of  life  or  limb ;  nor  shall  be  com- 
pelled, in  any  criminal  case,  to  be  a  witness 
against  himself;  nor  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty, 
or  property,  without  due  process  of  law;  nor 
shall  private  property  be  taken  for  public  use, 
without  just  compensation. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused  shall 
enjoy  the  right  to  a  speedy  and  public  trial,  by 
an  impartial  jury  of  the  State  and  district  where- 
in the  crime  sha'll  have  been  committed,  which 
district  shall  have  been  previously  ascertained 
bylaw;  and  to  be  informed  of  the  nature  and 
•cause  of  the  accusation;  to  be  confronted  with 
the  witnesses  against  him;  to  have  compulsory 
process  for  obtaining  witnesses  in  his  favor ;  and 
to  have  the  assistance  of  counsel  for  his  defense. 

ARTICLE   VII. 

In  suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value  in 
controversy  shall  exceed  twenty  dollars,  the 
right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  be  preserved;  and  no 
fact,  tried  by  a  jury,  shall  be  otherwise  re-exam- 
ined in  any  court  of  the  United  States,  than  ac- 
cording to  the  rules  of  the  common  law. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  ex- 
cessive fines  imposed,  nor  cruel  and  unusual 
punishments  inflicted. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

The  enumeration  in  the  Constitution  of  cer- 
tain rights,  shall  not  be  construed  to  deny  or 
disparage  others  retained  by  the  people. 

ARTICLE    X. 

The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States 
by  the  Constitution,  nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the 
States,  are  reserved  to  the  States  respectively, 
or  to  the  people. 

ARTICLE   XL* 

The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall 
not  be  construed  to  extend  to  any  suit  in  law  or 
equity,  commenced  or  prosecuted  against  one 
of  the  United  States  by  citizens  of  another 
State,  or  by  citizens  or  subj  ects  of  any  foreign 
State. 

ARTICLE  Xll.f 

The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective 
States  and  vote  by  ballot  for  President  and  Vice- 
President,  one  of  whom,  at  least,  shall  not  be  an 
inhabitant  of  the  same  State  with  themselves ; 
they  shall  name  in  their  ballots  the  person  voted 
for  as  President,  and  in  distinct  ballots  the  per- 
son voted  for  as  Vice  President;  and  they  shall 

*  Declared  in  force  Jan.  8,  1798. 
t  Declared  in  force  Sept.  25,  1804. 


make  distinct  lists  of  all  persons  voted  for  as 
President,  and  of  all  persons  voted  for  as  Vice- 
President,  and  of  the  number  of  votes  for  each, 
which  lists  they  shall  sign  and  certify,  and 
transmit  sealed  to  the  seat  of  the  government  of 
the  United  States,  directed  to  the  President  of 
the  Senate ;  the  president  of  the  Senate  shall,  in 
the  presence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, open  all  the  certificates,  and  the 
votes  shall  then  be  counted ;  the  person  having 
the  greatest  number  of  votes  for  President  shall 
be  the  President,  if  such  number  be  a  majority 
of  the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed ;  and 
if  no  person  have  such  majority,  then  from  the 
persons  having  the  highest  numbers,  not  ex- 
ceeding three  on  the  list  of  those  voted  for  as 
President,  the  House  of  Representatives  shall 
choose  immediately  by  ballot,  the  President. 
But  in  choosing  the  President,  the  vote  shall  be 
taken  by  States,  the  representation  from  each 
State  having  one  vote ;  a  quorum  for  this  pur- 
pose shall  consist  of  a  member  or  members 
from  two-thirds  of  the  States,  and  a  majority  of 
all  the  States  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice. 
And  if  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  not 
choose  a  President,  whenever  the  right  of 
choice  shall  devolve  upon  them,  before  the 
fourth  day  of  March  next  following,  then  the 
Vice-President  shall  act  as  President,  as  in  the 
case  of  the  death  or  other  constitutional  disa- 
bility of  the  President. 

The  person  having  the  greatest  number  of 
votes  as  Vice-President,  shall  be  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent, if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole 
number  of  electors  appointed ;  and  if  no  person 
have  a  majority,  then  from  the  two  highest 
numbers  on  the  list,  the  Senate  shall  choose  the 
Vice-President;  a  quorum  for  this  purpose  shall 
consist  of  two-thirds  of  the  whole  number  of 
senators,  and  a  majority  of  the  whole  number 
shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice. 

But  no  person  constitutionally  ineligible  to 
the  office  of  President,  shall  be  eligible  to  that 
of  Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 

ARTICLE   XIII.* 

SECTION  i.  Neither  slavery  nor  involuntary 
servitude,  except  as  a  punishment  for  crime, 
whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  duly  con- 
victed, shall  exist  within  the  United  States,  or 
any  place  subject  to  their  jurisdiction. 

SEC.  2.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  en- 
force this  article  by  appropriate  legislation. 

ARTICLE  XIV .f 

SECTION  i.  All  persons  born  or  naturalized 
in  the  United  States,  and  subject  to  the  jurisdic- 
tion thereof,  are  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
and  of  the  State  wherein  they  reside.  No  State 
shall  make  or  enforce  any  law  which  shall 
abridge  the  privileges  or  immunities  of  citizens 
of  the  United  States;  nor  shall  any  State  de- 
prive any  person  of  life,  liberty,  or  property, 

*  Declared  in  force  Dec.  18,  1865. 
t  Declared  in  force  July  28,  1868. 


374 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR  T  S  TR  UGGL  ES. 


without  due  process  of  law,  nor  deny  to  any 
person  within  its  jurisdiction  the  equal  protec- 
tion of  the  laws. 

SEC.  2.  Representatives  shall  be  apportioned 
among  the  several  States,  according  to  their 
respective  numbers,  counting  the  whole  number 
of  persons  in  each  State,  excluding  Indians  not 
taxed.  But  when  the  right  to  vote  at  any  elec- 
tion for  choice  of  electors  for  President  and 
Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  represen- 
tatives in  Congress,  the  executive  and  judicial 
officers  of  a  State,  or  the  members  of  the  legis- 
lature thereof,  is  denied  to  the  male  inhabitants 
of  such  State,  being  twenty -one  years  of  age, 
and  citizens  of  the  United  States,  or  in  any  way 
abridged,  except  for  participation  in  rebellion  or 
other  crime,  the  basis  of  representation  therein 
shall  be  reduced  in  the  proportion  which  the 
number  of  such  male  citizens  shall  bear  to  the 
whole  number  of  male  citizens  twenty-one  years 
of  age  in  such  State.. 

SEC.  3.  No  person  shall  be  a  senator,  or  rep- 
resentative in  Congress,  or  elector  of  President 
and  Vice-President,  or  hold  any  office,  civil  or 
military,  under  the  United  States,  or  under  any 
State,  who,  having  previously  taken  an  oath  as  a 
member  of  Congress,  or  as  an  officer  of  the 
United  States,  or  as  a  member  of  any  State  leg- 
islature, or  an  executive  or  judicial  officer  of  any 
State,  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  shall  have  engaged  in  insurrection  or  re- 
bellion against  the  same,  or  given  aid  or  comfort 
to  the  enemies  thereof;  but  Congress  may,  by  a 
vote  of  two-thirds  of  each  house,  remove  such 
disability. 

SEC.  4.  The  validity  of  the  public  debt  of 
the  United  States  authorized  by  law,  including 
debts  incurred  for  payment  of  pensions,  and 
bounties  for  services  in  suppressing  insurrection 
or  rebellion,  shall  not  be  questioned.  But  neither 
the  United  States,  nor  any  State,  shall  assume 
or  pay  any  debt  or  obligation  incurred  in  aid  of 
insurrection  or  rebellion  against  the  United 
States,  or  any  claim  for  the  loss  or  emancipation 
of  any  slave;  but  all  such  debts,  obligations, 
and  claims,  shall  be  held  illegal  and  void. 

SEC.  5.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to 
enforce  by  appropriate  legislation,  the  provisions 
of  this  Article. 

ARTICLE   XV.* 

SECTION  i.  The  right  of  citizens  of  the 
United  States  to  vote  shall  not  be  denied  or 
abridged  by  the  United  States,  or  by  any  State,  on 
account  of  race,  color,  or  previous  condition  of 
servitude. 

SEC.  2.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to 
entorce  this  Article  by  appropriate  legislation. 


1788.  July  26.  New  York  was  the 
eleventh  State  to  ratify  the  constitution. 
It  has  an  area  of  47,000  square  miles, 
and  a  population  in  1880  of  5,082,982 


*  Declared  in  force  March  30,  1870. 


persons.  Its  motto  is  Excelsior,  and  it  is 
known  as  the  "  Empire  State." 

1788.  July  27.  A  mob  attacked  the 
office  of"  Greenfield's  Political  Register," 
a  newspaper  in  New  York  which  opposed 
the  constitution. 

1788.  Dec.  22.  The  county  of 
Washington,  containing  sixty-four  square 
miles,  was  ceded  by  Maryland  to  the 
United  States,  to  become  part  of  the 
capital. 

1788.  Dec.  24.  Queen  City  of  the 
West.  The  first  settlers  arrived  upon 
the  present  site  of  Cincinnati,  which  had 
been  bought  by  Matthias  Denman,  of 
Springfield,  N.  J.,  at  the  rate  of  fifteen 
pence  an  acre  in  specie.  The  payment 
was  in  continental  currency  at  the  rate  of 
five  shillings  an  acre.  The  next  year 
the  city  was  surveyed  and  laid  out  in  lots, 
even  then  giving  promise  of  what  it  has 
since  become. 

1788.  A  law  prohibiting  the  slave 
trade,  was  passed  in  Massachusetts.  The 
kidnapping  of  three  colored  persons  in 
Boston,  and  the  selling  of  them  in  the 
West  Indies,  led  to  this  act.  Connecticut 
and  Pennsylvania  soon  passed  similar 
laws. 

1788.  The  abolition  of  slavery  was 
advised  in  a  pastoral  letter  sent  out  by 
the  Presbyterian  church  in  New  York 
and  Philadelphia.  The  Methodist  church 
soon  disqualified  slave-holders  from  being 
communicants,  but  the  law  effecting  it 
was  soon  repealed. 

1788.  Mining  for  lead  was  attempted 
in  Iowa  by  Julien  Dubuque,  a  French- 
Canadian  who  settled  upon  the  site  of  the 
town  which  has  since  taken  his  name. 

1788.  The  Doctors'  Mob.  Several 
physicians  of  New  York  city  were  found 
to  have  robbed  the  graveyards,  in  order 
to  obtain  bodies  for  dissection.  So  great 


1784-1799.] 

did  the  popular  excitement  become,  that 
they  were  lodged  in  prison  to  protect 
them  from  the  fury  of  the  people.  An 
assault  on  the  prison  was  at  one  time 
attempted,  but  was  successfully  resisted. 
Some  of  the  physicians  had  already  fled 
the  city. 

1788.  The  first  native  American 
dentist  was  John  Greenwood,  of  New 
York.  The  profession  was  introduced 
into  the  United  States  a  few  years  before 
by  Le  Mair,  a  Frenchman,  who  was 
connected  with  the  forces  which  had 
joined  the  American  army  during  the 
Revolution.  An  Englishman  named 
Whitlock  also  began  business  after  Le 
Mair.  Mr.  Greenwood  made  a  complete 
set  of  teeth  carved  from  ivory,  for  Gen. 
Washington.  They  were  called  very 
fine  work.  The  profession  increased 
slowly  for  years.  In  1820  there  were 
not  more  than  one  hundred  dentists  in  the 
United  States. 

1788.  The  Federalist.  In  defending 
the  new  constitution  and  explaining  it 
for  the  people,  a  series  of  papers  was 
prepared  by  Hamilton,  Jay  and  Mad- 
ison, and  issued  over  the  signature  Publius. 
They  have  since  been  published  as  a 
volume  with  the  above  title,  and  consti- 
tute one  of  the  most  valuable  of  all  pub- 
lications relating  to  the  American  gov- 
ernment. 

1788.  A  cotton  company  was  or- 
ganized by  Brown  and  Alrny,  of  Prov- 
idence, R.  I.,  and  a  small  factory  was 
started,  but  for  a  number  of  years  they 
worked  under  many  disadvantages. 

1788.  A  steamboat  was  built  by 
Fitch,  and  provided  with  the  machinery 
he  had  used  the  year  before.  It  made  a 
few  trips  from  Burlington  to  Philadel- 
phia and  back,  at  the  rate  of  four  miles 
an  hour. 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


375 


FIRST  PRESIDENTIAL 

1789.  January.  All  thoughts  turned 
toward  George  Washington  as  the  desire 
of  the  nation  for  its  first  president.  The 
electors  were  chosen  this  month  by  the 
legislatures  of  the  several  States. 

1789.  February.  The  electoral  col- 
lege met  and  chose  George  Washington 
president,  and  John  Adams  vice-president, 
of  the  United  States.  According  to  the 
first  provisions  of  the  constitution,  no 
votes  were  cast  for  president  and  vice- 
president  distinctively,  but  each  elector 
voted  for  two  persons,  and  in  the  final 
count  the  person  who  had  received  the 
highest  vote  of  all  was  pronounced  pres- 
ident, and  the  one  who  had  received  the 
next  highest  vote,  vice-president.  In  the 
present  election  ten  States  only  voted, 
as  New  York  had  not  yet  any  law  which 
provided  for  the  choice  of  electors,  and 
two  States  of  the  old  thirteen,  North 
Carolina  and  Rhode  Island,  had  not  yet 
ratified  the  new  constitution.  Each 
elector  cast  one  vote  for  George  Wash- 
ington, giving  him  69  in  all,  a  unanimous 
election  as  president.  Of  the  other  votes 
of  the  electors  John  Adams  received  34, 
the  next  highest  number,  and  was  elected 
vice-president.  The  remaining  35  votes 
were  cast  for  John  Jay,  John  Hancock, 
and  others. 

ETHAN  ALLEN. 

1789.  Feb.  13.  Ethan  Allen,  the 
Green  Mountain  champion  of  liberty, 
died  Feb.  13,  1789,  at  the  age  of  60  years. 
"He  was  born  in  Connecticut,  and  at  an 
early  age  removed  to  the  "  Hampshire 
Grants,"  now  Vermont.  At  a  later 
period  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  polit- 
ical strife  between  that  section  and  New 
York,  which  laid  claim  to  the  Territory 
of  the  "  grants."  When  the  noise  of 
Lexington  and  Concord  swept  across 


376 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR  T  S  TR  UGGL  ES. 


the  country,  Ethan  Allen  was  among  the 
first  to  answer  the  summons.  His  first 
effort  was  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point,  and  is  the  one  for  which  he  is  re- 
membered most  popularly.  The  sleepy 
British  commander  was  surprised  to  see 
this  energetic  Vermonter  at  his  door  so 
early  in  the  morning,  but  gave  up  the 
garrison  at  the  peremptory  demand.  It 
was  an  auspicious  opening  for  the  patriot 
cause  in  that  region,  through  which 
there  was  afterward  to  be  such  an  at- 
tempt to  invade  the  States.  Allen  was 
afterward  ordered  to  assist  Montgomery 
in  an  invasion  of  Canada,  and  in  an  at- 
tack, upon  Montreal  was  captured,  and 
taken  to  England.  When  he  arrived 
there  a  great  crowd  gathered  to  see  this 
rustic  with  worsted  stockings,  a  deer-skin 
coat,  and  a  red  worsted  cap.  During  a 
somewhat  prolonged  stay  in  England  he 
was  offered  a  tract  of  land  in  the  Eng- 
lish American  colonies,  if  he  would  be- 
come a  British  officer.  To  this  he  re- 
plied :  "  That  reminds  me  of  Satan's 
offer  to  Jesus  Christ  of  all  the  kingdoms 
in  the  world  if  he  would  fall  down  and 
worship  him,  when  at  the  same  time  the 
poor  devil  had  not  a  foot  of  land  on 
the  earth."  He  was  afterward  shipped 
to  Halifax,  and,  having  suffered  a  dreary 
and  injurious  imprisonment,  he  was  ex- 
changed in  1778  for  Campbell.  He  was 
promoted  to  brigadier-general,  and  sta- 
tioned at  the  North,  but  did  no  military 
service,  as  the  war  was  thereafter  at  the 
South.  Ethan  Allen  deserves  more* 
credit  for  his  suffering  than  for  his  mil- 
itary career,  which  was  brief,  but  roman- 
tic. He  was  a  self-made  American 
soldier. 

1789.     March  4.     The  new  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States  was  to  have 


gone  into  operation  at  this  time,  but 
there  was  not  a  sufficient  number  of 
members  of  congress  who  arrived  at  New 
York  to  form  a  quorum. 

1789.  April  6.  The  new  congress 
at  last  opened  its  session,  the  continental 
congress  having  ceased  to  exist.  Fred- 
erick A.  Muhlenburg,  of  New  York, 
was  chosen  speaker.  The  electoral  votes 
were  counted,  and  the  result  affirmed. 

1789.  April.  The  first  petition  pre- 
sented to  congress  was  from  the  mechan- 
ics and  tradesmen  of  Baltimore,  who 
called  attention  to  the  de- 
cline  in  manufactures  and  French  Revoiu- 
trade,  and  asked  that  the  tioH- 
government  make  them  "  independent  in 
fact,  as  well  as  in  name,"  by  imposing 
duties  on  foreign  articles,  which  would 
create  a  demand  for  home  labor.  This 
was  followed  by  memorials  from  nearly 
all  the  principal  cities. 

1789.  April  30.  George  Washing- 
ton,  "  The  Father  of  his  Country,"  was 
inaugurated  president  of  the  United 
States  in  Federal  Hall,  New  York.  The 
oath  of  office  was  administered  by  Rob- 
ert R.  Livingston.  On  the  way  from 
his  home  at  Mt.  Vernon,  he  had  passed 
through  a  succession  of  ovations,  and 
was  everywhere  received  with  acclama- 
tions. John  Adams  had  already  taken 
his  place  as  presiding  officer  of  the 
senate.  The  day  of  inauguration  was  a 
day  of  great  jubilee. 

1789.  May  12.  The  Tammany  So- 
ciety was  organized  in  New  York  for 
charitable  purposes  only.  An  Irishman, 
named  William  Mooney,  was  the  leader 
in  its  formation.  The  society  took  its 
name  from  a  recent  Delaware  chief  of 
great  age  and  virtue,  who  was  made 
patron  saint  of  the  order.  The  society 
was  organized  in  imitation  of  the  Jacobin 


1784-1799.] 

Clubs  of  Paris,  then  recently  established. 
In  the  course  of  years  it  has  become 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party,  and 
very  lately  with  a  peculiar  section  of  the 
party,  having  been  made  an  engine  of 
political  effort.  William  M.  Tweed's 
connection  with  it  somewhat  discredited 
the  club,  but  it  has  since  been  put  upon  a 
firmer  basis,  and  is  still  flourishing.  The 
titles  of  sachems,  sagamores,warriors,  are 
applied  to  the  officers  and  members. 

1789.  June.  The  professional  train- 
ing of  school  teachers  was  first  publicly 
suggested  in  the  Massachusetts  Magazine, 
by  Elisha  Ticknor. 

1789.  July  4.  First  Revenue  Bill. 
A  bill  which  congress  had  been  discussing 
since  April,  and  which  laid  duties  upon 
a  list  of  imported  articles  "  for  the  en- 
couragement and  protection  of  manufac- 
tures," was  signed  by  the  president,  and 
became  a  law.  There  were  many  dif- 
ferent ideas  as  to  what  articles  should  be 
taxed.  The  basis  of  this  bill  has  been 
called  the  Protective  System,  and  has 
been  followed  by  the  government  till  the 
present  time,  with  a  variation  in  the 
amount  of  duties  laid.  It  has  sometimes 
been  called  the  American  system. 

1789.  July  27.  The  Department  of 
State  in  the  United  States  government 
was  organized  under  the  name  of  the 
Department  of  Foreign  Affairs.  Thomas 
Jefferson  was  appointed  first  secretary. 

1789.  Aug.  7.  The  Department  of 
War  in  the  United  States  government 
was  established  by  act  of  congress,  and 
Gen.  Henry  Knox,  of  Massachusetts, 
was  appointed  first  secretary.  He  had 
previously  held  the  same  office  under  the 
Confederation.  The  department  covered 
the  army,  the  navy,  and  Indian  affairs. 

1789.  Sept.  2.  The  Department  of 
the  Treasury  in  the  United  States  gov- 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


377 


ernment  was  established  by  act  of  congress. 
Alexander  Hamilton  was  appointed 
secretary. 

1789.  Sept.  22.  The  Postoffice  De- 
partment of  the  United  States  was 
created  by  act  of  congress.  Samuel  Os- 
good,  of  Massachusetts,  was  the  first 
postmaster-general.  The  head  of  the 
department  was  not  a  member  of  the 
presidential  cabinet  till  1829. 

1789.  Sept.  24.  The  judicial  system 
of  the  United  States  was  established  by 
congress,  who  appointed  John  Jay  chief- 
justice,  and  Edmund  Randolph,  attorney- 
general. 

1789.  The  first  presidential  cabinet 
was  now  complete,  and  was  composed  of 
Alexander  Hamilton,  of  New  York,  a 
Federalist,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury; 
Gen.  Henry  Knox,  of  Massachusetts,  a 
Federalist,  Secretary  of  War;  Thomas 
Jefferson,  of  Virginia,  an  Anti-Federalist, 
Secretary  of  State. 

1789.  Nov.  8.  A  tour  through 
New  England  was  made  by  the  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  in  his  own 
carriage.  He  was  nine  days  in  riding 
from  New  York  to  Boston,  and  was 
everywhere  received  with  great  attention 
and  enthusiasm,  especially  by  the  veterans 
of  the  Revolution. 

1789.  Nov.  21.  North  Carolina 
was  the  twelfth  State  to  ratify  the  new 
constitution.  It  was  the  northern  por- 
tion of  the  great  tract  known  as  Carolina, 
and  has  an  area  of  50,704  square  miles, 
with  a  population  in  1880  of  1,400,000 
persons.  It  is  sometimes  known  as  the 
Old  North  State,  or  Turpentine  State. 

1789.  Dec.  3.  The  county  of  Al- 
exandria, containing  thirty-six  square 
miles,  was  ceded  by  the  State  of  Virginia 
to  the  United  States,  to  become  part  of 
the  capital. 


378 


RE  VOL  UTIONART  S TR UGGLES. 


1789.     First  Roman  Catholic  Bishop. 

John  Carroll,  who  in  1786  had  been  ap- 
pointed vicar-general  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  church  for  the  United  States, 
was  this  year  appointed  bishop,  under  the 
title  of  Bishop  of  Baltimore.  This  was 
the  foundation  of  the  organization  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church  in  the  United 
States.  Mr.  Carroll  was  consecrated  in 
England. 

1789.  Georgetown  College,  the  first 
Roman  Catholic  college  erected  in  the 
United  States,  was  founded  at  George- 
town, D.  C. 

1789.  Theatrical  exhibitions  were 
made  free  in  Pennsylvania  by  the  repeal 
of  the  act  which  had  been  passed  con- 
demning them. 

1789.  First  Temperance  Move- 
ment. The  first  public  movement  in  the 
United  States  in  behalf  of  temperance, 
was  made  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  where 
two  hundred  farmers  agreed  together 
"  not  to  use  any  distilled  liquor  in  doing 
their  farm  work  the  ensuing  season." 

1789.  A  conspiracy  in  Brazil,  in  the 
district  of  Minas,  was  formed  for  the 
purpose  of  throwing  off  the  Portuguese 
authority,  but  the  outbreak  was  at  once 
suppressed. 

1789.  Mackenzie  River.     Alexander 
Mackenzie,  an  agent  of  the  Northwest 
Fur  Company,  of  Canada,  explored  the 
country  north  of  Lake  Athabasca  in  the 
British  Possessions,  and  after  some  weeks 
reached  the  Arctic  Ocean  at  the  mouth 
of  the  great  river  which  bears  his  name, 
he  having  descended  it  from  Slave  Lake. 
Mr.    Mackenzie   was  one   of  the    most 
energetic  of  the  explorers  of  the  great 
company  in  whose  service  he  labored. 

1790.  Jan.    14.      American    Fund- 
ing System.     Alexander  Hamilton,  sec- 
retary of  the  treasury,  reported   at  great 


length  in  the  second  session  of  congress 
upon  the  condition  of  .the  treasury  as  it 
had  been  left  by  the  Confederation,  and 
suggested  plans  for  the  improvement  of 
the  management  of  the  finance  of  the 
Union,  and  for  the  increase  of  the  public 
credit.  A  protracted  discussion  between 
the  Federalists  and  Anti-Federalists  con- 
sumed nearly  the  entire  session.  A  cer- 
tain portion  of  the  State  debt  was  finally 
assumed,  and  a  funding  bill  passed,  pro- 
viding for  both  the  foreign  debt  at  its  es- 
tablished methods,  and  the  domestic  debt,, 
with  terms  and  rates  of  interest  for  the 
latter  in  a  funded  shape.  The  domestic 
debt  and  State  debts  alone  were  funded. 
The  total  amount  of  debt  was  $80,000,- 
ooo,  or  more,  and  when  the  measures 
were  canned  out,  the  public  credit  was 
benefited,  and  agriculture,  commerce, 
and  manufactures,  stimulated. 

1790.  Feb.  12.  The  Abolition  of 
slavery  was  the  subject  of  a  petition  sent 
to  the  first  national  congress  by  the  Penn- 
sylvania Abolition  Society.  The  peti- 
tion received  favorable  attention  on  the 
part  of  many,  and  the  matter  was  re- 
ferred to  the  States  for  the  promotion  of 
the  objects  embraced  in  the  memorial. 
All  decided  congressional  action  was  de- 
ferred because  of  the  twenty  year  law 
passed  in  1788.  It  is  thought  to  have 
been  one  of  the  last  public  acts  of  Dr. 
Franklin,  to  sign  this  petition. 

179O.  March  23.  Importation  of 
Slaves.  Congress,  after  a  prolonged  dis- 
cussion, voted  that  it  could  not  prohibit 
the '  importation  of  slaves  before  1808, 
and  could  not  emancipate  them  at  any 
time,  the  power  to  do  this  remaining 
with  the  individual  States.  It  decided, 
however,  that  Americans  could  be  for- 
bidden to  supply  foreigners  with  slaves,, 
and  that  the  fitting  out  of  a  slave  vessel 


1784-1799.] 

by   a   foreigner   in    any  American   port, 
could  be  prohibited. 

1790.     March  24.     A  naturalization 
law  was  passed  by  congress. 

1790.  April  15.  The  first  patent 
right  law  of  the  United  States  was 
passed  by  congress.  For  46  years,  how- 
ever, the  bureau  of  patents  was  in  the 
charge  of  the  president  and  cabinet,  who 
could  not  organize  the  business  because 
of  the  press  of  their  other  duties.  The 
work  was  there- 
fore done  in  a  very 
unsystematic  way. 

BENJ.  FRANKLIN. 

1790.  April  17. 
This  eminent 
American  sage, 
statesman,  and 
philosopher,  died 
after  an  illness  of 
twelve  months,  in 
the  85th  year  of 
his  age.  He  was 
born  in  Boston, 
Jan.  17,  1706,  and 
was  the  youngest 
son  in  a  family  of 
seventeen  chil- 
dren. There  were 
two  daughters 
younger  than  him- 
self. His  parents 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


379 


iff? 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

came    to    America 

from  Northampton,  England,  in  1682,  to 
find  greater  freedom  of  religious  opinion. 
His  father,  Josiah  Franklin,  was  a  dyer 
by  trade,  but  in  the  new  home  he  took 
up  the  business  of  a  tallow  chandler,  and 
by  his  excellent  qualities  became  a  much 
respected  citizen  of  Boston.  Benjamin 
was  at  first  designed  for  the  ministry,  but 
he  was,  after  a  little  schooling,  taken  into 
the  shop  with  his  father.  Here  he  re- 


mained  discontentedly  two  years,  till  he 
was  twelve  years  of  age.  He  was  then 
bound  an  apprentice  to  his  brother  James, 
a  printer.  His  spare  time  was  occupied 
in  reading.  A  volume  of  the  Spectator 
fell  into  his  hands,  and  made  a  great  im- 
pression upon  him  by  its  style.  He  read 
the  book  several  times,  and  then  tried  to 
reproduce  it  in  prose  and  poetry.  In 
this  way  he  acquired  facility  of  composi- 
tion. When  he  was  about  fourteen 
years  old  he  com- 
posed a  story  for 
his  brother's  pa- 
per,  The  New 
England  Courant, 
and  slipped  it  un- 
der the  office  door 
one  night.  In  the 
morning  it  was 
found,  and  seem- 
ing  to  posse  ss 
great  merit,  was 
published,  and  met 
with  universal  fa- 
vor. More  articles 
foil  ow  ed  ,  and 
every  effort  was 
made  to  find  the 
unknown  author. 
Benjamin  at  last 
disclosed  the  mat- 
ter to  his  brother, 

but  met  with  poor  treatment  for  his  pains. 
After  still  further  unpleasantness  between 
himself  and  brother,  he  took  secret  passage 
to  New  York.  There  he  could  get  no 
work,  and  went  on  to  Philadelphia, 
where  he  arrived  in  a  destitute  condition. 
Within  a  few  days  he  obtained  employ- 
ment of  Mr.  Keimer.  His  intelligence 
and  good  conduct  soon  attracted  the  at- 
tention of  prominent  men,  among  whom 
was  Gov.  Keith.  He  formed  the  ac- 


380 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


quaintance  of  the  reading  classes  of  the 
city,  and  was  highly  esteemed  in  society. 
In  undertaking  to  start  business  for  him- 
self, at  the  suggestion  of  Gov.  Keith,  he 
went  to  London  to  buy  type.  Here  he 
found  that  the  promises  made  to  him 
would  not  be  fulfilled,  and  he  was  obliged 
to  go  to  work  for  a  living.  Finally,  in 
two  years  an  opportunity  opened  for  his 
return  to  Philadelphia,  and  he  gladly  ac- 
cepted it.  He  soon  after  started  in  bus- 
iness for  himself,  and  began  the  publica- 
tion of  "  Poor  Richard's  Almanac." 
With  a  few  of  his  friends  he  organized  a 

O 

secret  debating  club,  called  the  Junto. 
The  work  of  this  club  necessitated  ref- 
erence to  books,  ancL  he  thus  conceived 
the  idea  of  forming  a  company  for  a 
public  library,  which  is  now  the  Phila- 
delphia Library  Company.  Franklin 
soon  purchased  Keimer's  newspaper, 
which  he  greatly  improved,  and  pub- 
lished under  the  name  of  The  Pennsyl- 
vania Gazette.  He  soon  began  to  be 
put  forward  into  places  of  trust,  and  was 
appointed  deputy  postmaster-general  by 
the  British  government.  He  assisted  in 
establishing  newspapers  in  other  colonies. 
An  interest  in  the  heating  of  dwellings 
led  him  to  the  invention  of  the  Franklin 
stove,  which  is  still  a  standard.  He  was 
the  means  of  organizing  a  fire  company 
in  1737,  and  a  militia  company  in  1743. 
In  1749  he  was  the  main  worker  in 
starting  the  Academy  of  Science,  which 
has  grown  into  the  present  University  of 
Philadelphia.  • 

He  was  now  put  into  the  assembly  of 
the  province,  and  gave  up  his  private 
business,  that  he  might  attend  wholly  to 
public  affairs.  His  reputation  was  en- 
larging rapidly,  and  his  advice  deemed 
essential  in  all  important  concerns.  Sev- 
eral conventions  had  the  benefit  of  his 


experience  and  wisdom.  During  a  visit 
to  Boston  he  met  a  man  who  had  brought 

o 

some  electrical  apparatus  from  England. 
This  led  to  experiments  which  have 
made  his  name  famous  in  that  line  alone. 
The  service  of  Dr.  Franklin  during  the 
Revolution  already  brought  out  in  our 
previous  record,  can  hardly  be  over  esti- 
mated. He  was  a  great  honor,  and  a 
vast  aid  to  his  country  in  her  peril. 
Loyally  did  he  serve  her.  His  life  is  an 
example  of  the  widest  individual  useful- 
ness along  any  merely  human  lines 
which  it  is  possible  to  attain.  The  ver- 
satility of  his  mind  was  unequaled  in  his 
own  day,  and  almost  in  any  day  of  the 
world.  His  gifts  were  remarkable. 
But  working  through  all  his  capabilities 
and  acquirements,  was  the  wonderful  dil- 
igence of  the  man.  He  occupied  his  gifts 
thoroughly.  The  record  of  what  he 
was,  and  of  his  unintermitting  applica- 
tion to  his  mission  is  woven  through  and 

O 

through  the  story  of  the  vicissitudes  of 
his  native  land,  which  will  never  cease  to 
express  in  her  institutions  and  work,  the 
grandeur  of  the  endowments  of  Benja- 
min Franklin. 

GEJf.  ISRAEL  PUTNAM. 

1790.  May  19.  Gen.  Putnam,  the 
"  Iron  Man,"  as  he  has  been  called,  died 
at  his  farm  in  Brooklyn,  Conn.,  at  the 
age  of  72  years.  He  was  born  in  Salem, 
Mass.,  Jan.  7,  1718,  and  grew  up  without 
many  opportunities  for  getting  arrcduca- 
tion.  It  was  his  intention  to  become  a 
farmer.  When  the  French  and  Indian 
war  broke  out  he  received  command  of  a 
company  of  rangers  in  the  English  army. 
His  adventures  in  the  field  marked  him 
as  a  man  of  fearless  courage.  At  the 
opening  of  the  Revolution  he  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  four  major-generals  by 


1784-1799.] 

congress.  His  service  during  the  war 
showed  that  no  man  was  his  superior  in 
striking  a  fearful  blow  with  a  small  force. 
He  did  not  have  the  discipline  of  mind 
which  would  have  enabled  him  to  han- 
dle large  armies.  The  British  tried  to 
gain  him  to  their  side  by  bribes,  but  he 
could  not  be  tempted.  The  adventures 
of  his  life  make  up  a  rare  list.  His  per- 
sonal courage  became  widely  known, 
when  at  25  years  of  age  he  shot  a  she 
wolf  in  her  den.  He  was  captured  once 
or  twice  and  threatened  with  torture  by 
Indians,  but  was  saved  by  intervention. 
At  Fort  Edward  he  saved  a  magazine  of 
three  hundred  barrels  of  powder,  by 
standing  between  it  and  the  leaping 
flames,  upon  which  he  threw  water 
handed  him  by  his  men.  Portions  of 
his  body  were  severely  burned,  and  por- 
tions of  his  skin  came  off  after  the  dan- 
ger was  over.  His  escape  from  pursuit 
by  riding  down  the  steps  at  Stamford, 
Conn.,  is  a  household  word.  Gen.  Putnam 
had  two  challenges  to  fight  a  duel.  The 
first  was  from  an  American  officer  whom 
he  unintentionally  offended  at  table. 
Putnam  agreed  to  meet  him  the  next 
morning  without  seconds.  The  officer 
came,  armed  with  sword  and  pistols,  but 
before  taking  his  place  he  received  a 
shot  from  Putnam's  gun  at  thirty  rods 
distance.  The  general  began  to  reload, 
and  the  officer  approached  quickly,  and 
asked,  "  What  are  you  about  to  do?  Is 
this  the  conduct  of  an  American  officer, 
and  a  man  of  honor?"  "What  am  I 
about  to  do  ? "  said  the  general ;  "  a  pretty 
question  to  put  to  a  man  whom  you  in- 
tended to  murder.  I'm  about  to  kill  you, 
and  if  you  don't  beat  a  retreat  in  less 
time  than  it  takes  old  Heath  to  hang  a 
tory,  you  are  a  gone  dog."  The  officer 
waited  no  longer,  but  fled  the  field. 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


381 


The  second  challenge  was  from  a 
British  officer  who  was  a  prisoner  on 
parole.  Gen.  Putnam,  being  the  chal- 
lenged party,  agreed  to  select  the  weapon 
and  appear  at  the  place  named,  with 
arms  for  both.  The  officer  found  him 
at  the  time  appointed,  calmly  smoking 
his  pipe,  and  seated  near  a  cask  with 
powder  grains  scattered  over  the  top  of 
it.  Gen.  Putnam  asked  the  officer  to 
take  a  seat  on  the  other  side,  and  remark- 
ing "  that  there  was  an  equal  chance  for 
both  of  them,"  set  fire  to  a  match  which 
communicated  with  the  contents  of  the 
cask.  The  officer  looked  at  the  match  a 
few  moments,  and  as  the  fire  approached 
the  powder,  he  left  hastily.  As  he  was 
going,  "  Old  Put "  exclaimed,  "  You  are 
just  as  brave  a  man  as  I  took  you  to  be. 
This  is  nothing  but  a  barrel  of  onions 
with  a  few  grains  of  powder  on  top,  to 
try  you  by.  But  you  don't  like  the 
smell." 

The  rough,  hardy  nature  of  Gen.  Put- 
nam was  true,  but  did  not  appreciate  the 
delicacies  of  life.  He  filled  a  large  place 
in  the  contest  for  freedom.  At  last  his 
frame,  which  had  been  subjected  to  great 
strains,  gave  out,  and  he  was  stricken 
with  paralysis  in  the  left  side.  This  laid 
him  aside  from  active  service  till  he  died. 


1790.     May  29.     Rhode  Island   was 

the  thirteenth  State,  the  last  of  the  «  old 
thirteen,"  to  ratify  the  constitution,  and 
enter  the  Union.  It  has  an  area  of  1,306 
square  miles,  being  the  smallest  of  our 
States,  and  a  population  in  1880  of  276,- 
528  persons.  Its  motto  is  "  Hope,"  and 
it  is  known  as  "  Little  Rhody." 

1790.  June  5.  A  steamboat  was 
put  upon  the  Delaware  River  by  John 
Fitch,  and  ran  during  the  season  between 
Philadelphia  and  Burlington  as  a  passen- 


382 


REVOLUTIONART  STRUGGLES. 


ger  steamer,  an  aggregate  distance  of 
over  two  thousand  miles,  at  an  average 
rate  of  seven  and  one-half  miles  an  hour. 
Its  paddle-wheel  was  at  the  stern.  This 
was  the  first  steamer  in  the  world  which 
carried  passengers  regularly.  The  parts 
of  the  machinery  were  greatly  improved 
over  what  Mr.  Fitch  had  previously 
employed. 

1790.  July  10.  The  Capital  of  the 
United  States.  Philadelphia  was  made 
the  capital  of  the  United  States  till  1800, 
by  a  bill  passed  by  congress.  After  that 
date  some  place  situated  upon  the  Poto- 
mac was  to  be  selected  by  the  president. 
This  measure  was  a  compromise  be- 
tween the  friends  of  several  different 
cities. 

1790.  July  16,  District  of  Colum- 
bia. Congress  accepted  the  cessions 
made  by  Maryland  and  Virginia,  one  or 
two  years  before,  for  a  capital  of  the 
United  States. 

179O.  July  17.  Maple  Sugar  Manu- 
facture. A  half  ton  of  maple  sugar 
was  brought  to  Philadelphia  from  Stock- 
port,  on  the  Delaware.  At  a  later  day 
forty  hogsheads  came  in  a ,  sloop  from 
Albany.  Estimates  were  made,  showing 
that  the  domestic  supply  of  maple  sugar 

could  be  made  sufficient   for  the   Union. 

% 

The  matter  was  recommended  in  public 
print  by  Dr.  Rush  and  others. 

179O.  Oct.  17.  Harmar's  Defeat. 
The  Indians  of  the  Northwest  Territory 
having  become  troublesome,  Gen.  Har- 
mar  was  sent  out  against  them,  and  a 
battle  was  fought  near  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
where  the  American  force  was  defeated. 
The  troops  were  very  poorly  equipped 
and  were  undisciplined,  some  of  the 
militia  running  at  the  first  fire.  Many 
also  were  old  and  feeble.  The  Indian 
villages  were,  however,  destroyed  in  the 


absence  of  the  occupants,  and  the  great 
object  of  crippling  the  enemy  was  thus 
accomplished. 

1790.  December.  The  first  Ark- 
wright  machinery  for  spinning  cotton 
in  America,  was  set  up  in  Providence, 
R.  I.,  for  Messrs.  Almy  and  Brown,  by 
Samuel  Slater,  a  young  man  who  had 
been  thoroughly  educated  in  English 
mills,  and  was  a  practical  mechanic.  He 
is  known  as  the  "father  of  American 
cotton  manufactures."  The  Arkwright 
machinery  could  not  be  imported  from 
England,  and  Slater  made  it  from  mem- 
ory. The  weaving  was  done  in  private 
families.  This  mill  was  the  first  success- 
ful water-power  cotton-mill  in  America 

1790.  The  first  jewelry  manufactured 
in  the  United  States  was  by  Epaphras 
Hinsdale,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  this  year,  or 
a  little  later. 

1790.  The  first  American  voyage 
around  the  world  was  completed  by 
Capt.  Gray  of  Boston,  who,  in  the  ship 
Columbia,  sailed  to  the  Pacific  coast  of 
North  America,  having  left  Boston  Sept. 
30,  1787,  and  from  there  with  furs  to 
China,  and  then  home  by  the  way  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope. 

1790.  "  John  Sears'  Folly  "  at  Den- 
nis, Barnstable  County,  Mass.,  caused  ex- 
citement in  the  region.  It  consisted  of 
a  pump  and  windmill  which  Sears  had 
erected  to  raise  the  sea -water  for  the 
manufacture  of  salt.  He  tried  the  ex- 
periment of  solar  evaporation,  although 
only  the  process  of  artificial  heat  was 
used  along  the  Atlantic  coast.  Until 
this  year  he  had  raised  the  water  in 
buckets,  but  having  found  the  pump  in 
the  wreck  of  a  British  ship,  he  set  it 
working,  and  was  so  successful  that 
numerous  companies  were  formed  to 
follow  his  example. 


1784-1799.] 

1790.  Yankee  Enterprise.  The  well- 
known  Elkanah  Watson,  after  having 
taken  up  his  residence  in  Albany,  N.  Y.5 
began  to  agitate  the  question  of  improv- 
ing the  city  in  various  ways,  and  finally 
secured  the  undertaking  of  some  changes. 
In  his  journal  he  narrates  the  following 
personal  danger  into  which  his  attempts 
brought  him: 

"Just  after  State  Street  had  been 
paved  at  a  heavy  expense,  I  sauntered 
into  it,  immediately  after  a  heavy  thun- 
der storm,  and  whilst  regretting  the  dis- 
turbance in  the  sidewalk,  and  observing 
the  cellars  filling  with  water,  for  in  that 
section,  which  was  in  the  present  locality 
of  the  State  Bank,  the  street  in  grading 
had  been  elevated  about  two  feet,  I  heard 
two  women  in  the  act  of  clearing  their 
invaded  premises  from  the  accumulation 
of  mud  and  water,  cry  out,  '  Here  comes 
that  infei'nal  paving  Yankee.'  They 
approached  me  in  a  menacing  attitude, 
broomsticks  erect.  Prudence  dictated  a 
retreat,  to  avoid  being  broomsticked  by 
the  infuriated  Amazons,  although  I  did 
not  run,  as  some  of  my  friends  insisted, 
but  walked  off  at  a  quick  pace." 

1790.  A  steamboat,  which  went  five 
miles  an  hour  up  stream,  was  exhibited 
upon  the  Savannah  River  by  William 
Longstreet,  an  inventor  who  then  lived  in 
Georgia.  He  obtained  money  to  aid  him 
in  his  project  from  several  who  became 
interested  in  it.  Longstreet  also  devised 
a  new  way  of  ginning  cotton,  and 
affirmed  that  steam  would  finally  become 
the  dominating  motive  power  of  the 
world. 

179O.  Postal  Service.  The  whole 
number  of  postoffices  in  the  United 
States  was  seventy-five,  and  the  postal 
service  covered  only  7,375  miles.  In  five 
years  it  had  increased  to  1,799,720  miles, 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


383 


while  in  1845  tne  numDer  of  miles  was 
35,634,269. 

1790.  The  first  census  of  the  United 
States  enrolled  3,929,827  persons,  exclud- 
ing  Indians.      It  was  taken  at  a  cost  of 
$44,377.18.       There   were    found  to   be 
nearly  700,000  slaves.     This  was  the  first 
systematic  census  ever  taken  by  order  of 
any  government  in  the  world. 

1791.  February.  Bank  of  the  United 
States.     Congress  passed  an  act  to  estab- 
lish a  United  States  Bank,  with  a  capital 
of  $10,000,000,  of  which  one-fifth  was  to 
be  subscribed  by  the  United  States,    and 
four-fifths    by    individuals.      Its    charter 
was  to  run  twenty  years.     This  act  was 
in  accordance  with  the  recommendation 
of  Alexander  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury. 

1791.  March  4.  Vermont  was  the 
fourteenth  State  to  take  its  place  in  the 
Union.  It  is  the  northwestern  New 
England  State,  with  an  area  of  10,212 
square  miles,  and  a  population  in  1880 
of  332,286  persons.  Its  motto  is  "  Free- 
dom and  Unity."  It  is  called  "The 
Green  Mountain  State." 

1791.  March  30.  The  United  States 
Capital.  President  Washington  issued 
a  proclamation  ordering  the  running  of 
the  lines  of  the  new  capital  of  the  United 
States  upon  the  Potomac,  according  to 
his  selection. 

1791.  April  15.  The  first  corner- 
stone  of  the  District  of  Columbia  was 
set  at  Jones'  Point  by  Hon.  David  Car- 
roll and  Dr.  David  Stewart,  with  Ma- 
sonic ceremonies. 

1791.  May  15.  Black  Voters  in  San 
Domingo.  The  French  Convention  de- 
clared that  all  free  persons  of  color  in  its 
colonies  could  vote.  This  was  drawn 
out  in  explanation  of  a  decree  of  1790, 
declaring  that  all  free  persons  could  vote. 


384 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES . 


The  planters  of  San  Domingo  affirmed 
that  free  blacks  were  not  included. 
There  had  been  great  agitation  on  the 
island  over  the  matter,  and  now  it  in- 
creased still  more.  The  affair  grew  so 
stormy  that  in  the  following  autumn  a 
decree  was  issued  reversing  the  one  of 
this  date..  San  Domingo  had  a  popula- 
tion of  686,000  persons,  of  whom  42,000 
were  white,  44,000  free  blacks,  and  600,- 
ooo  slaves. 

1791.  July.  United  States  Bank 
Stock.  In  less  than  a  day  after  the  stock 
of  the  United  States  Bank  was  opened 
to  the  public,  it  was  all  taken.  Branches 
were  soon  established  in  other  cities  of 
the  Union. 

1791.  Aug.  23.  A  slave  insurrection 
broke  out  in  Hayti,  and  caused  the 
whites,  through  fear  of  destruction,  to 
grant  the  rights  of  the  decree  of  May  1 5 
to  the  mulattoes. 

1791.  August.  The  first  minister  from 
Great  Britain  to  the  United  States,  was 
appointed  in  the  person  of  George 
Hammond. 

1791.  August.  The  first  patent  for 
a  nail  cutting  machine  given  in  America, 
1749-1791.  was  to  Samuel  Briggs  of 

Miraieau.  Philadelphia.  Many  were 
trying  at  this  time  to  accomplish  the 
same  thing,  and  patents  soon  followed 
rapidly. 

1791.  Sept.  9.  Washington,  D.  C., 
was  named  in  a  letter  from  the  commis- 
sioners appointed  for  the  selection  of  a 
site  for  the  capital  of  the  United  States, 
to  Major  L'Enfant,  who  was  designing 
maps  for  it.  They  directed  him  to  call 
the  whole  district  the  Territory  of 
Columbia,  and  the  city  within  it,  the  city 
of  Washington. 

1791.  Sept.  15.  Advocate  of  Eman- 
cipation. Rev.  Dr.  Jonathan  Edwards, 


afterward  president  of  Union  College, 
preached  a  very  able  sermon  before  the 
"  Connecticut  Society  for  the  Promotion 
of  Freedom,"  which,  in  a  solid  and  con- 
vincing wayj  set  forth  the  argument  for 
emancipation.  This  was  printed  and 
sent  far  and  wide,  doing  a  great  work  at 
the  time.  Dr.  Samuel  Hopkins'  Dia- 
logue on  Slavery  was  also  influential. 

1791.  Sept.  24.  A  civil  war  of  great 
severity  arose  in  San  Domingo  because 
the  French  assembly  this  day  repealed 
the  decree  of  May  15,  which  gave  the 
rights  of  citizens  to  the  free  blacks. 

1791.  Nov.  4.  St.  Glair's  Defeat.  Gen. 
St.  Clair,  who  had  been  appointed  to  suc- 
ceed Harmar  in  the  Indian  war,  having- 
marched  into  the  Northwest  Territory 
with  a  force  of  2,300  men,  was,  in  spite 
of  warnings  given  him  beforehand  not  to 
allow  his  troops  to  be  surprised,  taken  off 
his  guard  where  he  had  encamped  near 
the  Wabash,  by  a  large  force  of  Indians 
under  "  Little  Turtle,"  and  •  severely 
beaten,  with  a  loss  of  half  his  army. 
The  rout  continued  27  miles  to  Fort 
Jefferson.  This  defeat  is  said  to  have 
excited  Washington  almost  beyond  his 
control  when  he  heard  of  it,  a  surprise 
being  contrary  to  all  his  ideas  of  military 
vigilance.  There  were,  however,  many 
palliating  circumstances.  The  Indians 
afterward  resisted  offers  of  peace,  and 
murdered  the  ambassadors. 

1791.  Dec.  15.  The  first  ten 
amendments  to  the  constitution,  which 
had  been  proposed  to  congress  the  pre- 
vious year,  were  declared  in  force.  They 
were  passed  in  order  to  satisfy  Anti- 
Federalists,  and  had  something  to  do 
with  bringing  into  the  government  the 
States  of  North  Carolina  and  Rhode 
Island,  which  had  refused  to  ratify  the 
constitution  as  it  first  stood. 


17&H799.] 

1791.  The  University  of  Vermont 
was  established  at  Burlington,  and  re- 
ceived a  generous  gift  from  Ira  Allen,  a 
brother  of  Ethan  Allen. 

1791.  A  law  classing  stage-players 
as  vagrants,  was  repealed  by  South 
Carolina. 

1791.  First  Internal  Taxation.  Con- 
gress laid  a  tax  on  domestic  distilled 
spirits,  which  was  the  first  instance  of 
internal  taxation  in  the  shape  of  an  excise 
duty,  in  the  States.  This  tax  was  estab- 
lished to  aid  in  paying  the  government 
debt,  and  was  the  origin  of  the  Whisky 
Rebellion  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1794. 
Opposition  to  the  tax  manifested  itself 
almost  at  once  in  certain  sections  of  that 
State. 

1791.  The  yellow  fever  visited  New 
York  with  great  mortality. 

1791.  The  first  mail  wagon  west  of 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  was  started  by  a  Mr. 
Beal,  who  had  been  carrying  the  mail  on 
horseback  from  Albany  to  Canajoharie, 
once  a  week.  At  the  suggestion  of  a 
traveler  he  started  a  mail  wagon  and 
carried  passengers  between  those  two 
places.  An  unsuccessful  enterprise  of 
the  kind  had  been  undertaken  before. 
Mr.  Beal's  experiment  was  entirely  suc- 
cessful, and  soon  grew  into  the  great 
stage  lines  of  Central  New  York. 

1791.  The  first  carpet  manufactory 
in  America  was  established  at  Philadel- 
phia, by  William  P.  Sprague. 

1791.  Anthracite  coal  was  discovered 
in  the  mountains  of  Carbon  Co.,  Penn., 
by  Philip  Ginter,  as  he  was  returning 
home  from  a  hunting  expedition. 

1791.  The  Province  of  Canada  was 
divided  by  act  of  Parliament  into  two 
parts,  Upper  Canada  and  Lower  Canada, 
because  of  the  difference  in  the  popula- 
tion, which  made  the  question  of  repre- 
25 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


385 


sentation  in  the  assembly  difficult  to  settle. 
The  provinces  have  also  been  known  as 
Canada  West,  and  Canada  East. 

1792.  April  1.  American  manu- 
factures were  for  the  first  time  allowed 
in  Great  Britain,  by  order  of  that  gov- 
ernment. 

1792.    April.    Gen.  Anthony  Wayne 
was  appointed  in  command  of  the  army 
against  the  western  Indians,  and  imme- 
diately began  preparations    m2    France 
to  take  the  field,  but  being    declared  a  Rt- 
warned   by  the  defeats   of  fublic- 
Harmar  and  St.  Clair,  declared  that  he 
would  not  do  it  until  he  had  a  disciplined 
army. 

1792.  May  8.  A  uniform  militia 
system  for  the  United  States,  which  has 
continued  to  the  present  day,  with  little 
variation,  was  provided  for  by  an  act  of 
congress. 

1792.  May  11.  Columbia  Biver. 
Capt.  Robert  Gray  discovered  the  Co- 
lumbia River  on  the  Pacific  coast  of  the 
United  States,  and  entered  it  in  the  "  Co- 
lumbia Rediviva,"  a  Boston  vessel. 

1792.  June  1.  Kentucky  was  the 
fifteenth  State  to  be  received  into  the 
Union.  It  has  an  area  of  37,680  square 
miles,  and  a  population  in  1880  of  1,648,- 
599  persons.  Its  motto  is  "  United  we 
stand,  divided  we  fall."  It  is  called  «  The 
Blue  Grass  State." 

1792.  June.  The  first  turnpike  road 
in  the  United  States  was  begun,  from 
Philadelphia  to  Lancaster.  Two  thou- 
sand two  hundred  and  sixty-seven  shares 
of  stock  in  it  were  sold  in  twelve  hours. 

PAUL  JONES. 

1792.  July  18.  Paul  Jones,  the 
brilliant  naval  commander,  died  in  Paris 
at  the  age  of  forty-five  years.  John 
Paul,  for  this  was  his  real  name,  was 


386 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


born  in  Scotland  in  1747,  and  was  the 
son  of  a  gardener.  A  life  on  the  beach 
subjected  him  to  the  fascination  of  the 
sea,  and  when  he  was  twelve  years  old 
he  was  received  as  a  sailor  on  board  the 
"  Friendship,"  bound  for  Rappahannock, 
Va.  By  his  fidelity  and  intelligence  he 
was  promoted  through  the  several  grades 
of  duty,  until  he 
was  captain. 
He  was  upon 
the  sea  most  of 
the  time  until 
he  was  twenty- 
six  years  of  age, 
when  he  took 
charge  of  his 
deceased  broth- 
er's farm  in  Vir- 
ginia, where  he 
remained  two 
years.  In  1775 
he  was  ap- 
pointed by  con- 
gress first  lieu- 
tenant of  the 
Alfred,  and  un- 
folded a  nation- 
al ensign  for 
the  first  time  on 
shipboard.  The 
design  of  this 
flag  is  only 
traditionally 
known.  At  a  PAUL 

later  day  he  received  the  first  salute 
ever  paid  by  a  foreign  nation  to  the 
Stars  and  Stripes,  which  was  given  by 
France.  On  his  first  cruise  in  the  Provi- 
dence, to  which  he  had  been  transferred, 
he  took  one  hundred  cannon  from  six- 
teen different  prizes.  He  was  an  ener- 
getic sailor  and  hard  fighter.  His  edu- 
cation was  small,  but  he  presented  plans 


to  congress  for  the  improvement  of  the 
navy.  They  were  favorably  received 
and  acted  upon.  His  ambition  and 
courage  were  limitless.  His  very  reck- 
lessness seemed  his  protection.  The 
brave  are  the  longest  lived.  Having 
been  put  in  charge  of  the  Ranger,  he 
cruised  in  British  waters,  and  about  mid- 
night of  April 
22,  1778,  he  en- 
tered the  port  at 
W  hitehaven, 
where  there 
were  about 
three  hundred 
ships,  well 
guarded  by  a 
strong  battery. 
After  leaving 
orders  for  the 

shiPPmg  to  be 
|^  fired,  he  ad- 
vanced in  a  row 
boat  with  only 
one  man,  under 
the  very  muzzle 
of  the  guns,  to 
take  the  fort. 
He  entered  the 
battery  after 
having  made 
way  with  the 
sentinel,  spiked 
the  cannon,  and 
at  daybreak 
was  surprised  not  to  see  the  vessels  on  fire. 
Indignant  at  the  neglect  or  inefficiency  of 
his  lieutenant,  he  refused  to  depart,  and 
entering  a  large  ship,  kindled  a  fire  in  the 
steerage.  The  inhabitants  rushed  from 
their  homes,  but  he  posted  himself  at  the 
entrance  to  the  wharves  with  a  loaded 
pistol,  and  declared  he  would  shoot  the 
first  man  who  came  toward  him.  They 


JONES. 


1784-1799.] 

turned  and  fled,  when  he  sailed  leisurely 
away,  returning  pistol  shots  for  the  dis- 
charges of  the  two  cannon,  which  were 
the  only  ones  capable  of  being  worked 
in  the  battery.  This  was  an  example  of 
his  whole  career.  He  planned  to  abduct 
the  Earl  of  Selkirk  from  his  home  on  the 
river  Dee,  in  order  to  force  exchanges 
with  England,  but  was  not  able  to  carry 
out  his  purpose,  because  of  the  absence  of 
his  intended  captive.  His  greatest  naval 
contest,  and  the  one  on  which  his  popu- 
lar fame  rests,  was  the  one  between  the 
Bon  Homme  Richard  and  the  Serapis, 
an  English  vessel.  He  was  apparently 
beaten  two  or  three  times,  but  refused  to 
surrender.  He  exhibited  the  greatest 
daring  until  the  British  gave  up  the  fight. 
His  presence  in  the  little  American  navy 
was  worth  an  incalculable  amount.  He 
was  the  great  hero  of  the  day.  The  king 
of  France  gave  him  a  gold  mounted 
sword.  Congress  gave  him  a  gold  medal. 
After  peace  was  declared  he  entered  the 
Russian  service  on  a  cruise,  in  the  Black 
Sea,  but  could  not  agree  with  his  supe- 
rior officer,  and  withdrew,  receiving  the 
promise  of  a  pension  from  the  Empress 
Catharine,  without  fulfillment.  He  re- 
tired to  Paris.  His  last  days  were  spent 
in  obscurity.  But  notice  of  his  death 
was  taken  by  the  French  court,  and  a 
eulogium  pronounced  upon  him.  His 
moral  character  has  been  condemned  by 
some.  He  was  undoubtedly  full  of  pride. 
Yet  the  name  of  Paul  Jones  will  brighten 
the  page  of  American  history  as  long  as 
an  American  vessel  floats. 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


387 


1792.  July.  Samson  Occom,  a  Mo- 
hegan  Indian,  who  graduated  at  Mr. 
Wheelock's  school  at  Lebanon,  N.  H., 
and  became  a  preacher,  died  at  sixty-nine 
years  of  age.  He  visited  England  at 


one  time,  and  was  received    with    great 
favor.     His  gifts  were  very  excellent. 

1792.  July  22.  Alexander  Macken- 
zie, who  had  previously  been  down  the 
Mackenzie  River  to  the  Arctic  Ocean, 
arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Fraser  River 
opposite  Vancouver's  Island,  having  fol- 
lowed it  from  its  source  in  a  trip  across 
the  continent. 

1792.  Oct.  13.  The  White  House. 
The  corner  stone  of  the  president's  house 
at  Washington,  D.  C.,  was  laid.  The 
building  was  designed  by  James  Hoban, 
after  the  country  house  of  the  Duke  of 
Leinster,  England,  and  was  built  of 
porous  Virginia  freestone. 

1792.  Canal  Enterprise.  The  South 
Hadley,  and  the  Montague  Canals,  the 
oldest  in  the  United  States,  were  begun 
by  a  company  chartered  this  year.  They 
were  dug  around  the  rapids  of  the  Con- 
necticut River,  the  former  being  two 
miles  long,  and  the  latter  three  miles. 
There  were  also  two  canal  companies 
chartered  at  this  time  by  New  York, 
one  for  "  opening  a  lock  navigation  from 
the  navigable  waters  of  the  Hudson,  to 
be  extended  to  Lake  Ontario  and  Seneca 
Lake,"  and  another  from  the  Hudson  to 
Lake  Champlain.  Gen.  Philip  Schuyler 
was  largely  instrumental  in  getting  the 
charter.  Work  was  done  and  navigation 
opened  by  taking  advantage  of  water- 
courses, but  the  undertaking  was  after- 
ward swallowed  up  by  the  Erie  Canal. 
Many  other  canal  projects  were  proposed, 
but  few  of  them  came  to  anything,  be- 
cause of  lack  of  capital  and  other  rea- 
sons. It  was  thought  it  would  be,  how- 
ever, the  great  coming  method  of  trans- 
portation. 

1792.     The  first  clock  in  the  world 
with  wooden  wheels,  was  made  by  Eli 
Terry  of  Connecticut.     He  entered  into 


388 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


the  manufacture  of  them,  at  first  shaping 
the  wheels  with  a  knife.  He  went  about 
the  country  twice  a  year  to  sell  them. 

1792.  The  first  piece  of  dress  silk 
in  the  United  States,  of  purely  domestic 
production,  was  made  in  the  family  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Atwater  of  Beauford,  Conn., 
who  raised  the  silk  himself. 

1792.  A  small  theater  was  opened  in 
Boston,  notwithstanding  the  law  against 
it.  During  the  exhibition  one  night,  the 
company  were  arrested  on  the  stage,  but 
soon  released  through  some  legal  defect 
in  the  papers.  A  second  arrest,  however, 
broke  up  the  company. 

1792.  Vancouver  Island.  The  Span- 
ish  commander,  Quadra,  surrendered 
Vancouver  Island  to  Capt.  Geo.  Van- 
couver, who  gave  it  the  name  of  Quadra 
and  Vancouver  Island,  and  took  posses- 
sion for  the  British  government. 

1792.  Postal  Bates.  In  the  further 
organization  of  the  postofHce  depart- 
ment, rates  were  fixed  at  six  cents  on 
each  letter  carried  thirty  miles  or  less, 
and  twenty-five  on  each  letter  carried 
450  miles  or  more.  On  newspapers  the 
rate  was  one  cent  for  100  miles  or  less, 
and  one  cent  and  a  half  for  a  longer  dis- 
tance. Members  of  congress  had  the 
liberty  to  employ  the  franking  privilege 
during  the  sessions  of  that  body,  and  for 
twenty  days  thereafter. 

1792.  The  investigation  of  Hamilton 
was  carried  on  by  the  Anti-Federalists, 
who  used  the  greater  part  of  the  last 
session  of  congress  this  year  in  this  way. 
The  lines  between  the  parties  were  be- 
coming more  distinct,  and  the  An ti- Fed- 
eralists opposed  the  growth  of  a  national 
government,  which  could  issue  currency 
and  collect  money  for  imposts,  lay  taxes, 
raise  an  army  and  navy,  and  legislate 
with  power  in  various  ways,  over  the 


several  States.  The  investigation  finally 
resulted  in  showing  the  ability  and  integ- 
rity of  Hamilton. 

SECOND  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN. 

1792.  In  the  second  presidential  cam- 
paign it  was  again  universally  thought 
that  George  Washington  must  be  reelect- 
ed.  He  therefore  received  one  vote  cast 
by  each  elector.  John  Adams  was  again 
elected  vice-president  by  receiving  sev- 
enty-seven votes  out  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty-two.  George  Clinton,  Thomas 
Jefferson,  and  Aaron  Burr,  were  the  chief 
opposing  candidates,  supported  by  the 
Anti-Federalists.  In  this  campaign  the 
two  parties  became  more  distinctly  out- 
lined, though  both  sides  united  in  sup- 
porting Washington. 


1793.  Jan.  24.  A  great  celebration 
took  place  in  Boston,  in  honor  of  the 
proclamation  of  the  French  Republic.  A 
banquet  was  held  in  Faneuil  Hall,  at 
which  Samuel  Adams  presided.  The 
school  children  paraded  the  streets. 
Other  cities  had  similar  rejoicings. 

1793.  Feb.  12.  The  surrender  of 
fugitives  and  criminals  in  whatever  State 
they  might  be  taken,  was  required  accord- 
ing to  an  act  of  congress.  This  was 
made  to  apply  to  fugitive  slaves,  though 
there  was  trouble  afterward  in  exe- 
cuting it. 

1793.  Feb.  22.  The  celebration  of 
Washington's  birthday  became  the  sub- 
ject of  much  criticism  among  those  who 
feared  that  there  would  be  an  attempt  to 
set  up  a  monarchy,  with  him  at  the  head 
of  it. 

1793.  March  4.  George  Washington 
was  inaugurated  president,  and  John 
Adams  vice-president,  each  for  a  second 
term. 


1784-1799.] 

1793.  Aprils.  Citizen  Genet  arrived 
in  the  United  States  as  the  minister  of 
the  French  Republic,  and  began  at  once 
to  fit  out  privateers  to  prey  on  English 
commerce,  and  attempted  the  raising  of 
supplies  and  men  for  the  French.  He 
caused  great  excitement,  and  even  inti- 
mated, after  he  found  it  likely  that  the 
United  States  government  would  inter- 
fere with  his  plans,  that  he  would  appeal 
to  the  American  people.  Several  occur- 
rences showed  the  excitability  of  a  large 
portion  of  the  citizens  of  the  States.  But 
Genet  pursued  such  an  extreme  course, 
and  violated  so  recklessly  the  laws  of 
America,  that  he  at  last  alienated  the  best 
of  his  friends,  and  thus  ruined  his  pros- 
pects. At  a  later  day  he  was  recalled,  at 
the  suggestion  of  the  United  States. 

1793.  Democratic  Clubs.  A  large 
number  of  clubs  in  imitation  of  the  Jaco- 
bin clubs  of  Paris  were  organized  in  the 
United  States.  They  even  went  so  far 
as  to  advocate  the  abolition  of  the  title 
Mr.,  and  the  use  of  the  title  Citizen, 
instead.  They  were  violently  opposed 
to  the  administration.  These  clubs  ex- 
isted till  after  the  Whisky  Rebellion  of 
1794,  and  then  died,  partly  because  Wash- 
ington publicly  declared  them  to  be  the 
instigators  of  that  evil.  This  withdrew 
much  sympathy  from  them,  and  they 
disappeared.  The  French  Jacobin  clubs 
died  out  previously,  at  the  overthrow  of 
Robespierre. 

1793.  April  22.  The  famous  proc- 
lamation of  neutrality  was  issued  by 
1793.  Muratas-  President  Washington,  in 

sassinateJ  by  i  •    i     i  rr*  1.1  i 

charlotte  Cor-       which  he  affirmed  that  the 
<*«y-  United    States  would  take 

1793.  Coalition  of  .    •        ,1  •,  ,  c 

Europe    against     ™     Part    m    the    troubles    of 

France.  European    powers.       The 

French  sympathizers  at  once  denounced 
the   government   in   the   grossest  terms, 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


389 


claiming  that  it  was  unfriendly  to  repub- 
lican institutions.  The  Anti-Federalists 
were  just  ready  to  espouse  the  cause  of 
France  against  England. 

1793.  June  8.  American  com. 
merce  was  crippled  by  an  order  from 
England  that  all  vessels  loaded  with 
corn  for  France,  should  be  stopped,  and 
compelled  to  go  into  English  ports. 

1793.  July  23.  Roger  Sherman,  of 
Connecticut,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  died  at  New  Haven,  at 
the  age  of  72  years.  He  was  born  at 
Newton,  Mass.,  April  19,  1721,  and  be- 
came a  shoemaker  until  he  was  22  years 
of  age.  At  that  time  he  and  a  brother 
opened  a  store  in  New  Milford,  Conn. 
He  used  his  private  moments  for  study, 
and  became  a  fine  mathematician.  He 
afterward  read  law,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1754.  He  soon  began  to  rise 
in  influence,  and  passed  from  one  station 
to  another,  till  he  had  been  assistant  gov- 
ernor of  Connecticut  19  years,  judge  of 
common  pleas,  and  of  the  superior  court, 
23  years,  treasurer  of  Yale  College  10 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  conti- 
nental congress  from  1774  till  its  expira- 
tion in  1789,  and  a  member  of  the  na- 
tional congress  from  that  time  till  his 
death.  He  was  mayor  of  New  Haven 
for  9  years,  and  served  his  State  and 
country  at  several  times  on  important 
commissions.  He  was  unexcelled  for 
practical  wisdom  and  Christian  integrity. 

1793.  August.  English  hostility 
was  shown  by  the  failure  of  the  Amei'- 
ican  commissioners  to  conclude  a  treaty 
with  the  western  Indians,  which  was 
thought  to  be  owing,  to  some  extent,  to 
the  influence  of  British  agents  upon 
them.  This  was  but  one  of  the  many 
difficulties  of  the  time.  The  impress- 
ment of  seamen  was  becoming  more 


390 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES . 


common.  The  refusal  to  surrender  west- 
ern posts,  and  to  pay  for  slaves  taken 
during  the  Revolution,  was  persisted  in. 
In  reply  England  pleaded  that  the  United 
States  had  violated  the  treaty  by  not 
paying  the  debts  due  British  subjects,  and 
acted  every  way  as  if  the  United  States 
were  in  alliance  with  France. 

1793.  Sept.  18.  The  corner-stone 
of  the  old  capitol  at  Washington,  D.  C., 
which  is  now  the  center  of  the  new 
capitol,  was  laid  by  Washington  with  a 
grand  Masonic  ceremonial,  amid  a  great 
concourse  of  people.  The  plan  for  the 
building  was  drawn  by  Dr.  Thornton. 

JOHX  HANCOCK. 

1793.  Oct.  8.  John  Hancock,  well 
known  as  President  Hancock  of  the  con- 
tinental congress,  at  the  passage  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  died  at  the 
age  of  56  years.  "The  British  ministry 
can  read  that  without  their  spectacles ;  let 
them  double  their  reward,"  was  his  ex- 
clamation as  he  affixed  his  bold  signature 
to  the  Declaration,  at  the  head  of  the  list. 
He  was  born  at  Quincy,  Mass.,  Jan.  12, 
J737'  an<^  when  quite  young  was  given 
to  the  care  of  an  affectionate  uncle.  He 
graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1754, 
and  took  a  position  in  the  counting  house 
of  his  uncle.  Such  was  his  evident  busi- 
ness capacity  that  he  was  sent  to  London 
at  the  age  of  24  years,  on  a  commercial 
mission.  At  twenty-six  he  received  by 
inheritance  the  property  of  his  uncle, 
who  died  one  of  the  most  wealthy  men 
of  New  England.  Mr.  Hancock  became 
an  eminent  merchant,  and  a  well  known 
leader  in  society.  In  1766  he  was  the 
representative  of  Boston  in  the  State  as- 
sembly. He  delivered  the  annual  oration 
in  1 7 74,  in  commemoration  of  the  Boston 
Massacre,  and  the  same  year  was  elected 


president  of  the  provincial  congress,  and 
a  delegate  to  the  continental  congress. 
The  following  year  he  was  chosen  pres- 
ident of  the  latter  body,  in  place  of  Pey- 
ton Randolph,  who  had  resigned.  Mr. 
Hancock's  health  began  to  decline,  and 
in  1777  he  resigned  his  seat  in  congress. 
After  assisting  in  framing  a  new  consti- 
tution for  Massachusetts,  he  was  rewarded 
with  the  office  of  chief  magistrate,  to 
which  he  was  re-elected,  save  at  one 
time  when  he  refused  it,  till  his  death, 
John  Hancock  was  a  zealous  patriot,  and 
greatly  assisted  public  affairs  with  his 
large  fortune.  He  was  deservedly  pop- 
ular, and  discharged  all  his  public  duties 
with  ability  and  accuracy.  He  and  Sam- 
uel Adams,  because  of  their  bold,  patriotic 
sentiments  and  wide  influence,  were 
called  "  arch  rebels  "  by  the  British  min- 
istry, who  set  a  price  upon  their  heads. 
He  was  thoroughly  a  strong  New  Eng- 
land gentleman,  able  to  obey  or  presider 
with  equal  ease  and  dignity,  as  the  case 
might  be. 

1793.  Nov.  9.  "  The  Centinel  of 
the  Northwest  Territory"  was  issued 
in  its  first  number  by  William  Maxwell, 
at  Cincinnati.  It  was  the  first  paper 
north  of  the  Ohio  River,  and  third  west 
of  the  mountains. 

1793.  Williams  College  was  founded 
at  Williamstown,  Mass. 

1793.  The  law  prohibiting  stage 
playing  in  Massachusetts  was  repealed. 

1793.  The  yellow  fever  visited  Phil- 
adelphia during  the  summer  and  autumn 
of  this  year,  and  soon  spread  into  other 
parts  of  the  United  States.  This  was 
the  first  malignant  disease  with  which 
that  city  had  been  visited  on  so  extensive 
a  scale.  Business  was  suspended,  fam- 
ilies fled  from  the  city,  and  by  Oct.  20 
over  4,000  persons  had  died. 


1784-1799.] 

1793.      Whitney's  Cotton    Gin.      A 

cotton  gin  was  invented  by  Eli  Whitney, 
which  was  patented  this  year,  and  passed 
into  successful  use.  When  the  matter 
was  first  suggested  to  Mr.  Whitney,  he 
had  never  seen  cotton,  or  cotton  seed,  but 
his  ingenious  mind  grasped  the  problem, 
and  he  soon  provided  a  machine  which 
added  greatly  to  the  value  of  the  cotton 
crop,  and  what  was  before  comparatively 
worthless,  because  it  could  not  be  readily 
cleansed,  became  one  of  the  great  staples 
of  America.  The  production  of  cotton 
went  up  from  487,600^5,  in  1793,  to 
6,276,300  Ibs.  in  1796,  and  increased  rap- 
idly afterward,  causing  a  great  increase 
of  slave  labor.  Mr.  Whitney  ranks 
among  the  great  benefactors  of  the 
world.  The  story  of  Mr.  Whitney's 
success  and  subsequent  trials  is  like  that 
of  many  another  great  inventor.  He  had 
graduated  from  college,  and  had  gone 
South  to  teach  at  Savannah,  Ga.,  where 
he  boarded  in  the  family  of  Mrs.  Gen. 
Greene.  Some  one  was  complaining  in 
her  house  one  day  of  the  difficulty  of 
separating  the  cotton  seeds  from  the  fiber, 
and  wishing  for  some  machine  which 
would  do  it.  Mrs.  Greene  told  him  to 
speak  to  her  young  friend, 
for  he  could  make  any- 
thing. The  question  was 
explained  to  Mr.  Whitney, 
and  he  soon  had  solved  it  in  his  mind, 
and  hastened  in  secret  to  put  it  into  shape. 
This  he  did,  but  without  permanent  ben- 
efit to  himself.  His  patents  were  hin- 
dered and  infringed;  his  rights  in  the 
matter  disregarded,  and  he  was  left 
unrewarded. 

1793.  A  mold  board  for  plows, 
which  would  turn  a  furrow  without 
breaking  it,  was  invented  by  Thomas 
Jefferson,  who  had  been  experimenting 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


1793.  Louis  XV I. 
and  Marie  An- 
toinette executed 
in  France.  Reign 
of  Terror. 


391 

on  his  farm  in  Virginia.  His  interest  in 
the  subject  was  great,  and  he  was  one  of 
the  first  in  the  country  to  investigate  the 
matter. 

1793.  First  Spanish  Merinoes.  Three 
full-blooded  Spanish  Merino  sheep  were 
imported  from  Cadiz  by  William  Foster, 
of  Boston.     He  gave  them  to  a  friend  of 
his,  named   Andrew  Cragie,  who  killed 
and  ate  them.     The  same  kind  of  sheep 
were  bought  by  Mr.  Cragie  afterward  at 
$1,000  a  head.     Within  ten  years  others 
were  imported,  and   they  soon  became 
highly  esteemed. 

1794.  Jan.  1.    A  national  abolition 
convention  was   held   at   Philadelphia, 
composed  of  delegates  from  all  the  abo- 
lition   societies   in  the   country.     It   pre- 
sented a  memorial  to  congress  praying 
for  the  suppression  of  the  slave  trade. 

1794.  March  26.  Congress  voted 
an  embargo  on  American  ports  for 
thirty  days,  and  afterward  added  thirty 
more,  in  order  to  stop  the  British  in  the 
West  Indies  from  securing  provisions. 
This  was  in  return  for  a  British  "  Order 
in  Council"  authorizing  the  seizure  of 
any  vessel  laden  with  supplies  for  the 
French  colonies. 

1794.  March  27.  The  United  States 
Navy.  A  vote  of  congress  authorized 
the  construction  of  six  frigates.  This 
was  the  immediate  outcome  of  the  Alge- 
rine  troubles.  No  one  of  them  was  to 
carry  less  than  thirty-two  guns,  and  the 
building  of  them  was  not  to  proceed,  if 
peace  should  be  proclaimed. 

1794.  April  16.  Mission  to  England. 
Chief-Justice  Jay  was  nominated  by 
Washington  as  Envoy  Extraordinary  to 
England,  to  arrange  the  difficulties  be- 
tween the  two  nations.  In  spite  of  the 
opposition  of  the  Democrats,  the  appoint- 
ment  was  confirmed,  and  he  sailed  foi 


392 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


England.  This  was  one  of  the  great 
party  contests  in  congress. 

1794.  May  9.  United  States  Coast 
Defenses.  Congress  established  a  corps 
of  artillerists  and  engineers,  to  have 
charge  of  the  work  of  constructing  coast 
defenses.  Gentlemen  of  foreign  birth, 
skilled  in  engineering,  were  to  be  ap- 
pointed in  charge.  By  the  year  1812 
our  coast  fortifications  were  very  strong. 

1794.  June  17.  The  anniversary  of 
the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  was  celebrated 
for  the  first  time,  and  by  the  Charles- 
town  artillery.  The  day  was  observed 
with  parades  by  military  organizations, 
and  an  oration  was  pronounced. 

RICHARD  HEXRY  LEE. 

1794.  June  19.  Richard  Henry  Lee, 
one  of  the  most  illustrious  of  the  signers 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  died 
at  Chantilly,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Va., 
at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  He  was 
born  at  Stratford,  in  the  same  county, 
Jan.  20,  1732,  being  just  one  month  older 
than  Washington,  who  was  a  native  of 
the  same  county.  Mr.  Lee  became  one 
of  the  foremost  statesmen,  orators,  pa- 
triots, of  the  revolutionary  period.  He 
was  finely  educated,  both  in  this  country 
and  in  England.  His  attainments  as  a 
scholar  were  very  extensive  and  accurate. 
Lee,  when  young,  formed  an  aversion  for 
the  British  cause,  from  the  manner  in 
which  Braddock  refused  the  aid  of  a  vol- 
unteer company  which  he  had  raised  and 
offered  for  service  during  the  campaign. 
The  young  men  remembered  their  disap- 
pointment. The  governor  of  Virginia 
appointed  Mr.  Lee  a  justice  of  the  peace  in 
1757,  and  when  he  was  only  twenty-five 
years  of  age  he  was  elected  to  the  House 
of  Burgesses,  where  his  thoughtfulness 
and  eloquence  anointed  him  a  leader  in 


the  affairs  of  state.  When  the  Stamp 
Act  was  passed,  he,  without  due  consid- 
eration, applied  for  the  post  of  collector, 
but  before  he  was  appointed  he  saw, 
upon  reflection,  the  inconsistency  of  his 
act,  and  came  out  boldly  against  the 
measure.  He  always  cherished  the  idea 
of  independence,  and  was  one  of  the  fore- 
most patriots  in  his  patriotic  State.  Lee 
first  conceived  the  idea  of  a  general  con- 
vention, in  which  all  the  colonies  should 
be  represented,  as  a  means  of  protection 
and  harmony.  This  grew  into  the  con- 
tinental congress,  to  which  he  was  elected 
in  1774.  He  sei'ved  on  most  of  the  im- 
portant committees,  usually  as  chairman. 
His  literary  acquirements  and  parliamen- 
tary knowledge,  fitted  him  for  that  place. 
In  June,  1776,  he  offered  the  resolu- 
tions which  have  made  his  name  to  be 
indissolubly  connected  with  American 
independence.  He  was,  however,  called 
home  by  sickness,  and  could  not  serve  on 
the  committee  which  drafted  the  Decla- 
ration. In  1783  he  was  elected  president 
of  the  continental  congress.  In  the  con- 
test over  the  constitution  he  sympathized 
deeply  with  the  rights  of  the  individual 
States,  and  feared  centralized  power. 
But  he  afterward  supported  it  with  all  his 
might,  and  was  the  first  senator  from 
Virginia  under  the  new  government. 
This  office  he  held  till  age  compelled  him 
to  retire  from  public  life.  He  was  greatly 
beloved  by  all  that  knew  him,  even  his 
enemies,  and  his  death  was  deeply  felt  by 
the  nation  he  had  done  so  much  to  found, 
and  had  served  so  faithfully. 


1794.  July  10.  Amnesty.  President 
Washington  issued  a  proclamation  grant- 
ing full  pardon  to  persons  engaged  in 
the  Whisky  Insurrection,  which  was  now 
causing  great  agitation,  with  the  excep- 


1784-1799.] 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


393 


tion  of  those  who  had  committed  certain 
offenses. 

1794.  July  16.  Whisky  Insurrection. 
The  opposition  which  had  existed  in  the 
valley  of  the  Monongahela,  Penn.,to  the 
tax  laid  by  congress  upon  distilled  spirits 
in  1 79 1,  now  took  the  form  of  an  armed 
rebellion.  The  officers  of  the  law  were 
fired  upon,  and  a  vast  force  of  men  be- 
gan to  talk  of  marching  on  Pittsburg  to 
take  the  U.  S.  arsenal  and  fort.  The 
numbers  at  last  rose  to  nearly  16,000,  and 
"all  western  Pennsylvania  was  in  a 
blaze."  The  president  had  already  issued 
a  proclamation  for  the  preservation  of 
peace.  But  collectors  of  taxes  had  been 
maltreated  in  many  ways,  and  their  lives 
endangered.  The  trouble  grew  worse. 
The  insurgents  insisted  that  it  was  not 
just  for  a  very  small  part  of  the  country 
to  pay  a  tax  on  something  not  produced 
elsewhere.  Their  excessive  crops  of 
grain  could  not  be  disposed  of,  save  to  the 
distillers,  hence  the  trouble.  At  last 
Washington  issued  a  call  for  troops,  and 
raised  a  large  force  from  several  states. 
When  the  leaders  of  the  rebellion  found 
that  an  army  was  coming  against  them, 
they  made  terms  of  peace,  and  the  mat- 
ter was  settled  without  bloodshed.  A 
great  deal  of  political  excitement  attended 
the  growth  and  culmination  of  this  affair. 
The  management  of  it  served  as  a  test  of 
the  new  constitution,  and  the  result  was 
every  way  favorable. 

1794.  Aug.  20.  Wayne's  Victory. 
A  great  battle  was  fought  between  Gen. 
Anthony  Wayne,  "  Mad  Anthony,"  who 
had  pushed  into  the  Indian  country  with 
a  force  of  about  2,000  men,  and  «'  Little 
Turtle  "  at  the  head  of  his  Indian  follow- 
ers, on  the  Maumee  River,  Ohio.  The 
Indians  were  completely  routed  by  the 
energy  of  Gen.  Wayne,  and  never  re- 


covered from  this  defeat.  Their  loss  was 
never  known.  The  American  loss  was 
139,  killed  and  wounded.  Canadian 
auxiliaries  assisted  the  savages,  and  the 
action  was  fought  near  a  British  fortified 
post  in  the  Northwest  Territory.  A 
sharp  correspondence  ensued  between 
Gen.  Wayne  and  the  commander  of  the 
post.  Gen.  Wayne  destroyed  Indian 
villages  and  supplies  in  the  neighborhood. 
1794.  Nov.  19.  Jay's  Treaty.  A 
treaty  of  commerce  and  navigation  with 
Great  Britain,  was  signed  by  John  Jay, 
for  the  United  States.  This  treaty  was 
rendered  necessary  by  the  complaints  of 
the  British  concerning  the  loss  of  the 
property  of  loyalists  in  the  American 
Revolution,  and  by  Americans  concern- 
ing the  loss  of  slaves  at  the  close  of  the 
same  w;ar,  and  other  alleged  violations  of 
the  treaty  of  1783.  The  treaty  did  not 
reach  America  until  March,  when  it  was 
secretly  discussed  in  the  senate  until  one 
of  the  members  gave  it  to  the  public,  by 
whom  it  was  received  with  indignation, 
because  it  did  not  provide  for  stopping 
impressments.  So  much  excitement  pre- 
vailed among  the  anti-federalists,  that 
the  president  was  assailed,  and  even 
threatened,  if  he  signed  it,  but  he  did 
sign  it,  however,  believing  it  to  be  better 
than  no  treaty.  The  final  effects  showed 
the  wisdom  of  his  course. 

BARON  STEUBEN. 

1794.  Nov.  28.  Frederick  William 
Augustus  Steuben,  baron,  eminent  in 
service  to  the  American  cause  at  a  time 
when  it  needed  help  from  such  as  he, 
died  near  Utica,  N.  Y.,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-four  years.  Deep  a-ffection  from 
every  true  American  is  his  due,  for  the 
order  and  skill  to  which  he  brought  the 
American  forces  in  their  great  exigency. 


394 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


Like  many  other  foreigners,  he  left  home, 
wealth,  honor,  for  the  privilege  of  fight- 
ing for  the  Ameriean  cause.  He  was 
born  at  Magdeburg,  Prussia,  Nov.  15, 
1730,  and  received  a  good  education. 
He  entered  the  military  service,  and  soon 
rose  to  a  position  near  the  person  of  the 
king,  the  great  Frederic  William.  He 
ranked  high  in  the  military  and  court 
circles  of  Europe,  because  of  the  reputa- 
tion he  had  gathered  in  the  seven  years' 
war.  He  was  not  obliged  to  leave  his 
country,  but  came  voluntarily,  and  upon 
arrival  offered  his  service  to  congress. 
He  was  placed  with  the  army  at  Valley 
Forge,  and  at  once  began  to  introduce 
the  Prussian  drill,  by  adapting  it  to  the 
American  troops.  In  the  brilliant  cam- 
paigns which  followed,  his  influence  was 
marked.  He  wrote  a  book  on  military 
science  in  French,  at  the  solicitation  of 
Washington  and  congress.  He  could 
not  use  the  English  language.  It  was 
translated,  and  was  the  only  book  of  the 
kind  accessible  to  American  officers  dur- 
ing the  Revolution.  He  ultimately  be- 
came a  major-general.  His  service  can 
never  be  over-estimated.  He  was  a  fer- 
vent Christian,  but  was  possessed  of  a 
quick  temper,  which  would  manifest 
itself  when  he  undertook  to  deal  with 
raw  troops.  He,  however,  gained  the 
affection  of  the  soldiers,  and  would  often 
reward  the  apt  scholars  out  of  his  own 
pocket.  His  life  was  full  of  noble  and  gen- 
erous acts.  His  fortune  dwindled  away 
through  his  kindness.  He  was  voted,  in 
1790,  by  congress,  an  annuity  of  $2,500  a 
year,  for  life.  He  received  land  from 
several  States,  among  the  rest  16,000  acres 
from  New  York.  He  retired  to  a  log 
house  upon  the  latter,  and  freely  settled 
some  of  his  old  army  companions  upon 
portions  of  it,  which  he  presented  to 


them.     His  last  years  were  spent  in  com- 
parative quiet. 

1794.  Dec.  2.  The  first  monument 
in  commemoration  of  the  "  Battle  of 
Bunker  Hill,"  was  dedicated  by  the  King 
Solomon  Lodge  of  Free  Masons,  who 
had  erected  it.  It  was  a  plain  wooden 
pillar  on  a  brick  pedestal,  twenty-eight 
feet  high,  and  stood  upon  the  spot  where 
Warren  fell.  Its  cost  was  $1,000.  In 
1825  it  was  presented  to  the  Bunker  Hill 
Monument  Association. 

1794.  Bowdoin  College  was  char- 
tered at  Brunswick,  Maine,  and  named 
in  honor  of  Gov.  James  Bowdoin,  of 
Massachusetts,  who  befriended  it,  and  at 
his  death  gave  it  a  gallery  of  paintings, 
which,  until  quite  recently,  has  been  the 
finest  in  the  country. 

1794.  An  alleged  fugitive  slave  was 
arrested  in  Boston,  and  brought  before 
the  court.  Josiah  Quincy  was  defending 
him,  when  a  bustle  took  place,  and  the 
colored  man  passed  out  in  the  confusion, 
and  escaped.  The  master  of  the  slave 
threatened  to  sue  Mr.  Quincy  for  ob- 
structing his  agent,  but  failed  to  do  so. 

1794.  Swedenborgian  churches  were 
first  formed  in  America  by  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Hill,  from  England. 

1794.  First  Cotton  Sewing  Thread. 
Cotton  was  first  used  in  the  manufacture 
of  sewing  thread  at  Pawtucket,  R.  L,  by 
Samuel  Slater.  Flax  had  always  been 
used  everywhere,  but  as  Mrs.  Slater  was 
spinning  cotton,  she  noticed  the  fineness 
of  the  fiber,  and  at  once  conceived  that  it 
would  make  smooth  thread.  The  idea 
was  immediately  put  into  successful  use.. 

1794.  A  steamboat  with  a  stern 
wheel  was  built  by  Samuel  Morey,  of 
Connecticut,  who  navigated  it  from  Hart- 
ford to  New  York  city. 


1784-1799.] 

1794.  Wood  engraving  was  intro- 
duced into  the  United  States  by  Alexander 
Anderson,  who,  until  his  death  in  1870, 
was  known  as  an  engraver.  He  made 
the  first  pictures  with  which  Webster's 
Spelling  Book  was  embellished. 

1794.  The    Stars    and    Stripes.     It 
was  voted  by  congress  that  the  United 
States  flag  should  consist  of  fifteen  stripes, 
alternate  red  and  white,  and  fifteen  stars, 
white   on    a   blue   field.     A    star  and   a 
stripe    were  to  be  added  for  each  new 
State.      It    remained    thus    until     1818, 
when  the  present  arrangement  was  finally 

adopted. 

FRANCIS  MARIOX. 

1795.  Feb.  28.    Gen.  Francis  Marion, 
a  well-known  revolutionary  leader  of  the 
South,  died  near  Eutaw,  S.  C.,  at  the  age 
of  63  years.     He  was  born  near  George- 
town, S.  C.,  in  1732,  the  year  that  gave 
birth   to    Washington  and   R.    H.    Lee. 
Partisan  warfare  was  an  essential  feature 
of  the  Revolution,  and  to  it  was  due  the 
fact  that  the  British  could  get  no  enduring 
foothold    south  of  the   Potomac  River. 
Francis    Marion   was   one  of  the  select 
partisan  leaders.     His  boyhood,  except  a 
few  months   when  he  was  at  sea,  was 
spent  on  a  farm.     He  had   little  educa- 
tion, but  an  abundant  supply  of  common 
sense.     In  the  French  and   Indian  war 
he    served    as   a   private   soldier   in    his 
brother's  command.     When  the  Revolu- 
tion broke  out  he  was  appointed  captain 
of  a    company.      At   Fort  Moultrie   he 
fired  the  last  cannon,  killing   two  young 
officers  and  three  sailors  on  one  of  the 
departing   ships.     At   Savannah   he  ex- 
hibited his  bravery,  but  at  Charleston  an 
accident    befell    him,   and    he    returned 
home.     After   his  recovery   he  raised  a 
company  of  volunteers,  and  joined  Gates. 
He  afterward  began  his  celebrated  for- 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


395 


ages,  and  unexpected  assaults,  which  con- 
tinued in  rapid  succession,  when  and 
where  the  enemy  least  expected  them. 
He  formed  his  famous  brigade,  each 
member  of  which  was  to  provide  his 
horse,  and  armed  them  with  swords 
made  out  of  saw  blades  from  the  saw- 
mills. His  secret,sudden,  dashing  attacks 
came  to  be  dreaded  by  the  British.  At 
Butler's  Neck  he  struck  a  large  band  of 
tories  like  a  thunderbolt.  This  was  his 
way,  and  usually  his  men  carried  greater 
numbers  than  their  own  before  them. 
In  his  brigade  were  five  brothers  named 
James,  the  eldest  of  whom  chased  Major 
Gainey,  a  tory  leader,  over  half  a  mile, 
and  then  found  himself  alone  in  the 
midst  of  a  company  of  the  Major's 
friends  gathering  to  his  aid.  But  James 
dashed  upon  them,  shouting,  "  Come  on, 
boys,  here  they  are !"  and  the  whole  com- 
pany broke  and  fled,  thinking  themselves 
surrounded'  by  patriots.  Everywhere 
Marion  went  he  left  his  mark  upon  the 
exasperated  British  and  tories,  who  were 
not  free  from  his  attack  at  any  time  of 
day  or  night.  Tarleton,  with  a  superior 
force,  was  ordered  by  Cornwallis  to  de- 
stroy "  Mr.  Marion's  band  at  all  hazards," 
but  after  having  chased  them  a  long  dis- 
tance, and  having  received  several  blows 
in  retaliation,  he  ordered  his  men  to  return, 
saying  that  they  could  find  the  "game 
cock," — Gen.  Sumter — but  that  the  evil 
one  himself  could  not  catch  the  "  swamp 
fox," — Gen.  Marion.  When  peace  was 
made  he  was  offered,  but  did  not  accept, 
the  command  of  Fort  Johnson  in  Charles- 
ton harbor.  He  was  now  fifty  years 
old,  and  was  at  last  conquered  by  a  rich 
Huguenot  lady,  whom  he  married.  They 
lived  happily  upon  his  desolated  farm  at 
Pond  Bluff.  He  occasionally  took  part 
in  legislative  affairs.  His  life  was  com- 


396 


RE  VOL  UTIONART  STRUGGLES. 


paratively  quiet  until  he  died,  leaving  no 
children  to  bear  his  name. 


1795.     July  22.     Spanish  Hay ti  was 

ceded  to  France  according  to  the  terms 
of  the  treaty  of  Basel. 

1795.  Aug.  3.  Wayne's  Treaty.  A 
treaty  was  arranged  with  the  western 
Indians  by  Gen.  Wayne,  at  Greenville, 
1795.  Litiwg-  Ohio,  which  closed  the  In- 
rapky  in-vented.  dian  war,  and  opened  the 

1795.    Extinction  _T  _ 

of  Poland as  a  great  Northwest  Territory 
kingdom.  to  the  incoming  settlers. 

The  council  lasted  several  weeks.  About 
1,130  Indians  from  different  tribes  were 
present,  and  gave  up  British  influence, 
professing  to  wish  for  peace.  This  hast- 
ened the  execution  of  the  treaty  of  1793 
by  England.  Wayne  told  the  Indians 
that  if  they  ever  violated  the  treaty,  he 
would  rise  from  his  grave  to  fight  them. 
"  Big  Wind,"  as  they  called  him,  to- 
gether with  his  threat,  was  long  remem- 
bered by  them. 

1795.  August.  The  famous  intrigue 
between  Randolph,  Secretary  of  State, 
and  the  French  minister  Fauchet,  became 
known  to  the  president.  It  was  entirely 
political,  and  came  out  during  the.  at- 
tempt to  secure  the  ratifications  of  Jay's 
treaty. 

1795.  Sept.  5.  Treaty  with  Algiers. 
A  treaty  was  concluded  with  the  Dey  of 
Algiers,  by  which  the  United  States 
were  made  to  pay  $800,000  for  captives 
then  alive,  give  the  Dey  a  frigate  worth 
$100,000,  and  an  annual  tribute  of 
$23,000  in  maritime  stores,  all  of 
which  was  to  insure  peace  in  the  future. 
Under  this  treaty  the  building  of  the  six 
frigates  was  at  once  suspended,  until  con- 
gress provided  for  the  completion  of  them, 
when  the  work  went  on.  The  historic 
trio  which  formed  the  first  really  effective 


American  navy  was  the  United  States, 
Constitution,  and  Constellation. 

1795.  Oct.  20.  A  treaty  with 
Spain  was  concluded,  which  fixed  the 
boundaries  between  the  United  States 
and  Florida,  and  opened  the  Mississippi 
to  the  navigation  of  either  party. 

1795.  October.  A  malignant  attack 
was  made  through  the  press  upon  Pres- 
ident Washington,  stating  that  he  had 
overdrawn  his  salary,  etc.,  but  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Treasury,  and  Alexander 
Hamilton,  proved  the  falsity  of  the  charge. 

1795.  The  "establishment  of  com- 
mon schools  throughout  the  State  "  was 
recommended  by  Gov.  Clinton,  of  New 
York,  in  his  message  to  the  legislature. 
$50,000  were  accordingly  set  aside,  and 
for  a  time  the  matter  was  earnestly  car- 
ried out,  but  in  a  few  years  it  practically 
failed. 

1795.  Union  College  was  founded  at 
Schenectady,  N.  Y. 

1795.  The  earliest  scientific  school 
in  the  United  States  was  "  The  Agricul- 
tural and  Mechanical  College  of  the 
University  of  North  Carolina,"  which 
was  opened  for  instruction  in  mining, 
civil  engineering,  and  kindred  lines  of 
study. 

1795.  Yazoo  Fraud.  A  great  ex- 
citement was  produced  in  Georgia  over 
the  sale,  by  the  legislature,  of  the  west- 
ern lands  belonging  to  that  State.  After 
much  political  controversy  the  sales  were 
obliterated  from  the  State  records.  But 
in  the  United  Sta^s  courts  the  claims  of 
the  buyers  were  afterward  declared  good. 
The  matter  ran  through  several  years, 
and  is  known  in  history  as  the  Yazoo 
Fraud. 

1795.  The  first  manufactory  of  mus- 
kets in  the  United  States  was  established 
at  Springfield,  Mass. 


WASHINGTON'S    GRAVE. 


397 


1784-1799.]  THE  RISE 

1795.  The  "Maxwell  Code."  The 
first  job  printing  done  in  the  Northwest 
Territory  was  the  Maxwell  code,  a  body 
of  laws  adopted  for  the  government  of 
the  province,  by  the  governor  and  judges 
of  the  Territory.  They  were  printed  by 
William  Maxwell,  who  had  set  up  a 
printing  office  at  Cincinnati,  the  first  one 
northwest  of  the  Ohio.  Maxwell  had 
established  a  newspaper  in  1793- 

1795.  A  revolt  of  the  Maroons  in 
Jamaica,  W.  I.,  took  place,  but  was  sup- 
pressed in  a  shoi't  time.  The  Maroons 
were  fugitive  slaves,  who  had  congre- 
gated in  the  northern  part  of  the  island. 
The  English  government  sent  to  Cuba 
for  "  chasseurs,"  who  made  it  a  business 
to  hunt  fugitives  with  trained  dogs. 
Each  chasseur  led  three  dogs,  trained  to 
stop  a  fugitive  by  barking  at  him  and 
crouching  by  him  until  he  could  be  seized. 
These  men  would  sometimes  follow  fu- 
gitives for  weeks.  No  one  could  escape 
them.  The  Maroons  of  Jamaica  grad- 
ually surrendered  in  small  numbers. 
Within  a  year  quite  a  large  number  were 
transported  to  Halifax,  where  they  helped 
fortify  the  city,  and  built  the  Maroon 
bastion.  Others  at  a  later  day  were  sent 
to  Africa. 

1795.  Revolutionary    efforts    were 
made  in  Colombia,  S.  A.,  without  much 
success. 

1796.  June    1.     Tennessee  was  the 
sixteenth    State   to   be   admitted   to   the 
Union.     It  has  an  area  of  45,600  square 
miles,  and  a  population  in  1880  of  1,242,- 
463  persons.     Its  motto  is  "Agriculture, 
Commerce."     It  is  called  the  "  Big  Bend 
State." 

1796.  Sept.  17.  Farewell  Address. 
Washington  issued  his  "Farewell  Ad- 
dress "  to  the  American  people.  It  was 
his  last  direct  utterance  to  his  fellow- 


OF  A  NATION. 


399 


countrymen,  and  was  full  of  practical 
wisdom,  and  rich  with  patriotism.  It 
reviewed  his  own  labors,  and  warned 
against  the  dangers  to  which  the  country 
was  liable.  It  showed  that  he  was  an 
eminent  lover  of  his  country,  and  truly 
entitled  to  the  name  "  Father  of  His 
Country." 

1796.  Dec.  7.  Washington  made 
his  closing  address  to  congress,  briefly 
reviewing  the  situation  of  the  country. 

ANTHONY  W&JNE. 

1796.  Dec.  14.  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne, 
known  as  "  Mad  Anthony,"  died  at 
Presque  Isle,  now  Erie,  Penn.,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-one  years.  He  was  born  in 
Chester  Co.,  Penn.,  Jan.  i,  1745.  He 
was  sent  to  school  at  home,  and  then  to* 
the  Philadelphia  academy,  where  he  be- 
came specially  proficient  in  mathematics. 
When  he  was  twenty  years  old  he 
opened  a  surveyor's  office,  and  was  sent 
to  Nova  Scotia  to  locate  some  land  for 
the  crown.  The  business  was  discharged 
so  faithfully  that  he  was  made  superin- 
tendent of  the  settlement,  and  remained 
there  about  two  years.  He  then  returned 
home,  and  began  business  again.  In 
1773  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly. 
When  he  saw  the  storm  brewing  in 
1775,  he  left  the  general  discussion  to 
politicians,  and  raising  a  volunteer  corps, 
began  to  drill  them.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  war  he  was  appointed  a  colonel, 
and  sent  to  Canada.  After  the  failure  of 
the  attack  on  Three  Rivers,  he  was  with 
the  army  in  its  retreat  to  Ticonderoga. 
He  saw  that  the  peril  and  glory  of  the 
war  were  to  be  with  Washington,  and 
thirsting  for  these,  at  his  own  request  he 
was  joined  to  Washington's  army,  and 
was  made  brigadier.  At  the  battles  of 
Germantown,  Brandywine  and  Mon- 


400 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


mouth,  he  showed  that  headlong  spirit 
and  presence  of  mind  which  never  for- 
sook him.  When  asked  by  Washington 
if  he  would  storm  the  almost  impregna- 
ble Stony  Point,  on  the  Hudson,  his 
reply,  though  profane,  indicated  a  fearless 
heart,  and  a  touching  reverence  for  his 
commander.  When  peace  was  declared, 
Georgia  gave  him  a  handsome  farm,  but 
he  returned  to  his  old  home.  In  1793, 
after  two  unsuccessful  attempts  by  Har- 
mar  and  St.  Clair  to  subdue  western 
Indians,  Washington  appointed  Gen. 
Wayne  commander-in-chief.  The  Indi- 
ans said  "  The  white  men  have  a  leader 
who  never  sleeps."  In  battle  he  routed 
them  completely,  and  then  made  peace 
with  them.  Upon  his  return  he  was  re- 
ceived with  great  honor  at  Philadelphia. 
He  died  while  returning  from  the  North- 
west Territory.  He  was  an  eminently 
useful  man  to  his  country. 


1796.  French  Depredations.  During 
this  year  French  cruisei's  began  to  prey 
upon  American  commerce,  under  a  secret 
order  from  the  French  Directory,  which 
was  embittered  because  of  the  neutral 
position  assumed  by  the  United  States 
in  the  war  between  France  and  England. 
The  "  Mount  Vernon,"  owned  by  an 
American  citizen,  was  seized  at  the  capes 
of  the  Delaware  by  the  "  Flying  Fish," 
a  French  privateer  which  had  been  lying 
at  Philadelphia.  The  French  minister 
refused  to  give  any  explanation  of  the 
affair. 

1796.  Western  Military  Posts.  The 
British  surrendered  their  posts  at  Detroit, 
Niagara,  Michillimackinac,  and  other 
1796-1815.  Wars  places,  including  the  rapids 
t^a^°n  L  of  the  Maumee.  This  was 

275y-2 tab* 

Robert  Bums,    in    accordance    with     Mr. 
Jay's  treaty  in  1 793,  but  their  action  was 


hurried  by  the  great  victory  of  Wayne 
over  the  Indians  the  previous  year. 

1796.  Indian  Slavery.  When  Detroit 
and  other  places  occupied  by  the  Cana- 
dian French  were  turned  over  to  the 
United  States,  numbers  of  Pawnee  slaves 
were  found  in  use  as  domestic  servants 
and  laborers.  It  seems  that  the  Pawnees, 
who  were  thought  by  other  tribes  to  be 
inferior,  had  been  sold  to  the  French 
when  taken  captives  in  war,  and  not  only 
remained  enslaved,  but  their  children 
after  them  also.  At  the  time  of  the  sur- 
render of  Detroit,  the  inhabitants  boasted 
of  the  efficiency  of  their  servants.  The 
Pawnees  had  become  superior  household 
servants.  . 

1796.  The  first  machine  for  cutting 
a  nail  and  making  a  head  upon  it  at  the 
same  time,  was  patented  this  year  by 
Isaac  Garrettson,  of  Pennsylvania.  Form- 
erly the  head  had  been  made  by  hand  with 
a  hammer,  while  the  nail,  after  being 
cut,  was  grasped  in  a  vise. 

1796.  The  First  Propeller.  A  little 
steamboat  was  run  by  a  wheel  under  the 
water  at  the  stern  of  the  boat,  on  Collect 
Pond,  in  New  York  city.  It  was  made 
by  John  Fitch,  and  had  for  a  boiler  a 
twelve  gallon  pot  with  a  plank  top, 
fastened  down  by  an  iron  bar  and  clamps. 
This  was  John  Fitch's  last  attempt.  He 
was  discouraged  in  trying  to  make  a 
complete  success  of  steam  navigation, 
and  was  involved  in  numerous  lawsuits 
over  lands  which  he  held  in  Kentucky. 
During  a  fit  of  depression  he  took  some 
opium  pills  and  ended  his  life. 

1796.  Dutch  Guiana,  S.  A.,  was  oc- 
cupied by  the  English. 

THIRD  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN. 

1796.  The  third  presidential  campaign 
was  the  first  well-defined  party  contest 


1784^1799.] 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


401 


in  the  United  States.  Near  the  close  of 
this  year  electors  were  chosen  by  the 
several  legislatures.  There  was,  as  yet, 
no  popular  presidential  election  by  the 
people.  Nominations  were  not  as  yet 
made  by  any  party  assemblies.  The 
federalists  supported  by  common  con- 
sent, John  Adams  of  Massachusetts,  for 
president,  and  <  Thomas  Pinckney  of 
Maryland,  for  vice-president.  The  dem- 
ocrat-republicans supported  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson of  Virginia,  for  president,  and  Col. 
Aaron  Burr  of  New  York,  for  vice-pres- 
ident. The  French  minister  to  the 
United  States  attempted  to  influence  the 
election  by  issuing  an  "  Address  to  the 
American  People,"  in  which  he  inti- 
mated that  if  the  result  should  be  adverse 
to  the  democrat-republicans  the  French 
government  would  break  off  their  con- 
nection with  the  United  States.  The 
election  was  comparatively  close,  and  the 
result  was  divided.  Of  the  electoral 
votes  John  Adams  had  71,  and  Thomas 
Pinckney  59.  Thomas  Jefferson  had  68, 
and  Aaron  Burr  30.  A  few  scattering 
votes  were  thrown.  The  votes,  accord- 
ing to  the  constitution,  made  John  Adams, 
federalist,  president,  and  Thomas  Jeffer- 
son, democrat-republican,  vice-president, 
as  having  the  next  highest  number. 


1797.  February.  French  Indignities. 
C.  C.  Pinckney  of  South  Carolina,  who 
had  been  appointed  minister  to  France, 
and  who,  upon  his  arrival  late  in  1796, 
had  been  refused  recognition,  was  or- 
dered to  leave  France,  and  withdrew  to 
Holland.  The  French  government  was 
greatly  offended  by  the  treaty  of  Jay. 

1797.  March  4.  John  Adams  was 
inaugurated  president,  and  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson vice-president. 

1797.  May.  The  French  government, 
n 


excited  by  the  election  of  Adams,  au- 
thorized the  capture  of  American  vessels, 
and  declared  that  an  American  sailor 
found  on  a  hostile  ship,  even  if  placed 
there  unwillingly,  should  be  hung. 
American  sailors  were  subject  to  impress- 
ment by  England,  and  execution  by 
France. 

1797.  October.  The  X.  Y.  Z.  Mission. 
An  American  mission  was  appointed  to 
go  to  France  and  negotiate  for  peace. 
It  was  composed  of  Charles  C.  Pinckney, 
John  Marshall,  and  Elbridge  Gerry. 
They  proceeded  to  France,  but  were  re- 
fused reception  by  the  government,  unless 
large  sums  of  money  were  first  paid  to 
the  French  officers.  It  was  then  that 
Pinckney  made  his  famous  reply,  "  Mil- 
lions for  defence,  but  not  one  cent  for 
tribute."  The  envoys  were  badly  treated, 
and  finally  returned  home  without  effect- 
ing any  result.  The  name  of  the  mis- 
sion  in  history  has  come  from  the  fact 
that  the  suggestions  concerning  bribes  to 
be  paid  to  the  French,  were  made  in 
letters  written  over  the  signature  X.  Y. 
Z.  These  letters  were  afterward  ob- 
tained by  England,  and  published 
through  Europe. 

1797.  War  preparations  were  un- 
dertaken by  congress,  who  provided  for 
80,000  militia,  ordered  a  small  naval 
force  to  be  prepared,  and  passed  strict 
acts  against  privateering,  under  a  threat- 
ened  penalty  of  $10,000,  and  ten  years' 
imprisonment. 

1797.  Middlebury  College  was  found- 
ed at  Middlebury,  Vermont. 

1797.  Frederick  College  was  founded 
at  Frederick,  Maryland. 

1797.  The  first  medical  journal  in 
the  United  States,  was  issued  in  New 
York.  Dr.  Rush  and  others  had  written 
much  through  the  press  before. 


402 


RE  VOL  UTION-AR T  STR UGGLES. 


1797.     The  first  steam  locomotive  in 

America,  and  probably  in  the  world,  was 
invented  this  year  by  A.  Kinsley,  and 
ran  upon  the  streets  of  Hartford,  Conn. 

1797.  A  cast-iron  plow  was  invented 
by  Charles  Newbold  of  Burlington,  N. 
J.,  who  laid  out  about  $30,000  in  perfect- 
ing it.  The  report  spread  among  the 
farmers,  however,  that  the  cast-iron  plow 
i729-ny7.  "poisoned  the  soil,  ruined 

Edmund  Burke,  fae  crops,  and  promoted  the 
growth  of  rocks."  Hence  the  manu- 
facture of  them  ceased.  There  were 
other  patents  on  different  plans  within  a 
few  years,  but  of  no  great  importance, 
until  1819. 

1797.  The  yellow  fever  raged  along 
the  Atlantic  coast  of  the  United  States. 

1797.  The  island  of  Trinidad,  which 
had  been  taken  from  the  Spanish  by  the 
French  in  1676,  and  shortly  restored,  was 
taken  by  the  English,  in  whose  posses- 
sion it  has  since  remained. 

1797.  A  conspiracy  for  revolutioniz- 
ing the  province  of  Caraccas,  S.  A.,  was 
discovered     among     the    Creoles,     and 
thwarted  for  a  time.     One  of  the  leaders 
was  executed  two  years  afterward,  and 
became  one  of  the  first  martyrs  of  liberty 
in  Colombia.     Caraccas  has  been  called 
the  "  cradle  of  South  American  liberty." 

1798.  Jan.  8.    The  Eleventh  Amend- 
ment  to  the  constitution  was  declared  in 
force,  making  it  impossible  for  a  suit  to 
be  brought  against  a  state  in  the  United 
States  court,  and  enabling  states   to   re- 
pudiate debts. 

1798.  April  30.  The  Department 
of  the  Navy  in  the  United  States  was 
created  by  act  of  congress,  and  Benjamin 
Stoddert  of  Maryland,  was  appointed  to 
fill  the  office  of  Secretary.  The  navy 
had  been  previously  in  the  War  De- 
partment. 


1798.     May  28.     A  provisional  army 

was  voted  to  be  raised  by  congress. 
This  act  enabled  the  president  to  enlist 
ten  thousand  men  for  three  years,  in  case 
of  war. 

1798.  July  2.  Commander-in- 
chief.  The  president  nominated  Wash- 
ington Lieut.-General  in  command  of  all 
the  armies  of  the  United  States,  and  he 
was  unanimously  confirmed  the  next  day. 
By  Washington's  request,  Alexander 
Hamilton  was  appointed  major-general. 

1798.  July  10.  The  inhabitants  of 
British  Honduras,  a  colony  in  Central 
America,  successfully  repulsed  the  attack 
of  a  Spanish  fleet  and  land  force  of 
2,000  men,  since  which  it  has  remained 
undisturbed  in  the  possession  of  England. 

1798.  July.  "  Alien  and  Sedition  " 
laws  were  passed  by  congress,  the  former 
making  it  possible  for  the  president  to 
arrest  any  foreigner,  and  send  him  out 
of  the  country;  and  the  latter  subjecting 
to  a  heavy  fine  and  imprisonment  any 
who  might  be  found  aiding  or  abetting 
any  resistance  to  the  government  of  the 
United  States.  These  were  at  once,  and 
for  a  long  time,  extremely  unpopular  with 
the  anti-federalists,  and  much  scorn  was 
heaped  upon  the  administration.  These 
two  laws  were  the  .secret  of  the  after 
defeat  of  the  federalists,  and  in  fact,  the 
death  of  the  party;  for  the  democrat- 
republicans  thought  that  they  violated 
the  first  amendment,  which  prohibited 
any  abridgement  of  the  freedom  of 
speech  or  press. 

1798.  "  Hail  Columbia,"  the  national 
ode  of  the  American  people,  was  written 
during  the  summer  by  Joseph  Hopkinson 
of  Philadelphia.  A  young  actor  named 
Fox,  was  to  have  a  benefit  in  that  city. 
Two  days  before  its  occurrence  he  was 
in  company  with  Mr.  Hopkinson,  whom 


1784-1799.] 

he  had  known  in  his  school  days,  and 
said  that  if  he  could  have  a  patriotic  ode 
adapted  to  the  tune  of  the  "  President's 
March  "  he  would  sing  it  on  his  benefit 
night.  Mr.  Hopkinson  asked  him  to  call 
the  next  day,  and  when  he  came,  gave 
him  the  ode,  which  has  since  become  so 
truly  national  in  its  reputation. 

1798.  Nov.  10.  The  celebrated 
Kentucky  Resolutions  were  drawn  up 
by  Jefferson,  declaring  that  the  States 
and  the  Federal  government  were  two 
parties  to  a  contract,  either  of  which 
might  judge  of  infractions. 

1798.  Nov.  20.  French  privateers 
took  the  American  frigate  Retaliation, 
under  Lieut.  Bainbridge,  and  carried  her 
to  Guadeloupe,  W.  I. 

1798.  Dec.  24.  The  Virginia  Res- 
olutions  were  a  series  drawn  up  by 
1798.  Battu  of  Madison,  and  adopted  by 
the  Nile.  Nei-  the  Virginia  legislature,  de- 
interpose  to  prevent  unconstitutional 
United  States  authority,  and  that  the 
"  Alien  and  Sedition  "  laws  were  usur- 
pations. Copies  were  sent  to  the  other 
states,  but  were  not  favorably  received. 
The  next  year,  however,  Virginia  passed 
similar  resolutions. 

1798.  Impressment.  Some  Amer- 
ican sailors  were  impressed  by  a  British 
squadron  off  Havana,  Cuba.  The  affair 
caused  much  excitement,  and  began  that 
long  agitation  which  finally  resulted  in 
the  war  of  1812,  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  United  States. 

1798.  The  first  regular  mining  shaft 
in  Missouri  was  sunk  by  Moses  Austin 
of  Virginia.  A  furnace  and  shot  tower 
were  also  built. 

1798.  The  first  effective  steam  en- 
gine, after  those  made  by  Fitch,  was 
constructed  by  Nicholas  Rooseveldt,  who 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


403 


made  experiments  in  steam  navigation 
near  New  York. 

1798.  A  bonnet  of  oat  straw  was 
made  by  Betsey  Metcalf,  of  Dedham, 
Mass.,  a  girl  twelve  years  old.  It  ac- 
quired such  a  reputation  through  the  re- 
gion that  many  ladies  came  to  see  and 
learn  the  art  of.  making.  She  smoothed 
the  straw  with  scissors,  split  it  with  her 
thumb  nail,  and  bleached  it  by  holding  in 
the  fumes  of  burning  sulphur.  The 
bonnet  was  made  of  seven  open-work 
braids,  and  proved  the  foundation  of  a 
business  in  that  vicinity. 

1798.  The  volcano  of  Izalco,  thirty- 
six  miles  from  San  Salvador,  originated 
by  the  bursting  of  lava  through  a  fissure 
in  the  earth,  and  the  rapid  accumulation 
of  stones  and  debris  of  all  kinds.  There 
has  since  been  an  almost  constant  erup- 
tion at  that  point,  and^the  cone  has  been 
built  up  till  it  is  6,000  feet  above  sea 
level.  This  and  Jorullo  in  Mexico  are 
the  only  volcanoes  known  to  have  been 
opened  within  the  memory  of  man. 

1798.  A  plan  to   revolutionize   the 
Spanish    American   provinces,  was    ar- 
ranged by  Francis  Miranda,  a  native  of 
Venezuela,  S.  A.,  who   hoped  and  tried 
to    obtain    aid   from    England   and   the 
United    States.     The   scheme  was  frus- 
trated by  the  renewal  of  friendly  relations 
between  Spain  and  America. 

1799.  Feb.   4.      The   first   general 
assembly   of    the   Northwest   Territory 
met  at  Cincinnati.     W.  H.  Harrison  was 
elected  the  first  Representative  to  con- 
gress.    A  bill  was  passed  forbidding  the 
sale  of  whisky  to  the  Indian  villages  of 
the  territory,  because  of  the  great  harm 
it  was  doing.     The  measure  originated 
with    the    missionaries    of    the    United 
Brethren. 

1799.     Feb.  9.     Naval  Victory.     The 

24 


404 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES . 


French  frigate,  L'Insurgente,  with  44 
guns  and  409  men,  was  captured  among 
the  West  Indies  by  the  American  frigate 
Constellation,  with  36  guns,  under  Com- 
modore Truxton.  The  French  loss  was 
66,  killed  and  wounded ;  the  American,  i 
killed,  and  3  wounded.  Silver  plate 
worth  $3,000  was  given  to  Truxton  as  a 
reward  for  this  achievement. 

1799.  April.  The  gradual  abolition 
of  slavery  within  New  York  was  pro- 
vided for  in  a  bill  passed  by  the  legisla- 
ture of  that  State.  Male  children  were 
to  be  free  at  twenty-eight  years  of  age, 
females  at  twenty-five. 

PATRICK  HENRY. 

1799.  June  6.  Patrick  Henry,  whose 
eloquence  when  he  was  aroused,  burned 
like  a  flame,  died  at  Red  Hill,  Charlotte 
Co.,  Va.,  at  the  age  of  63  years.  He 
was  the  son  of  a  Scotchman  who  settled 
in  Virginia,  where  Patrick  was  born 
May  29,  1736.  His  boyhood  was  passed 
in  varied  ways,  but  he  finally  grew  to  be 
so  fond  of  hunting  and  fishing  that  he 
would  break  away  at  any  moment  to  go 
upon  an  expedition.  He  seems  to  have 
been  somewhat  shiftless  in  his  young 
manhood.  But  at  last,  when  twenty-four 
years  old,  he  began  to  see  that  something 
must  be  done,  or  his  family  would  starve 
to  death.  After  six  weeks'  diligent  study 
of  the  law  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
on  condition  that  he  would  pursue  the 
study  further  before  attempting  to  prac- 
tice. But  no  one  would  employ  him. 
He  was  nothing  but  a  lazy  pettifogger. 
In  1763  he  was  employed  in  the  case  of 
the  parsons  against  the  state,  in  the  ques- 
tion of  the  state  tax  on  tobacco.  The 
case  had  virtually  gone  against  him,  when 
he  arose.  He  began  in  a  faltering  and 
apparently  broken  manner.  The  persons 


who  sympathized  with  his  side  were  giv- 
ing up  in  dismay,  when  a  sudden  trans- 
formation took  place  in  the  speaker,  who 
now  began  to  throw  his  masterly  power 
over  the  whole  assembly.  Silence  waited 
upon  his  words.  The  people  were 
breathless  with  intense  passion.  He  won 
his  cause.  He  now  was  the  celebrated 
man  of  the  region.  In  1765  he  was 
elected  to  the  Virginia  House  of  Bur- 
gesses, where  he  spoke  with  overpower- 
ing effect  on  the  great  questions  at  issue 
between  Parliament  and  the  colonies. 
He  foretold  that  the  differences  would 
have  to  be  settled  with  the  sword,  and  in 
1775  he  ended  his  greatest  speech  in  the 
assembly  with  the  fiery  words,  "As  for 
me,  give  me  liberty,  or  give  me  death!" 
He  was  elected  the  first  republican  gov- 
ernor of  Virginia,  and  was  again  put  in 
the  same  place,  after  peace  had  been  de- 
clared. Washington  appointed  him  sec- 
retary of  state  in  1795,  but  he  refused  to 
accept.  A  short  time  before  his  death  he 
was  appointed  envoy  to  France  by  Pres- 
ident Adams,  but  his  feeble  health  would 
not  permit  him  to  make  the  journey.  He 
was  bitterly  opposed  to  the  federal  consti- 
tution, being  an  earnest  advocate  of  state 
rights.  He  was  ungainly  in  his  personal 
appearance  to  a  casual  observer,  but  when 
aroused,  his  whole  form  changed  its  bear- 
ing, and  he  seemed  to  dilate  with  a  spirit 
of  power.  He  is  to  be  remembered  as 
the  most  remarkable  orator  of  his  time. 


1799.  July  16.  Alexander  von 
Humboldt,  the  great  European  scientist, 
arrived  at  Cumana,  Venezuela,  for  the 
purpose  of  exploring  the  Spanish  posses- 
sions in  America.  Everything  in  the 
New  World  which  would  aid  him  in 
his  undertaking  had  been  put  at  his  dis- 
posal by  the  Spanish  government. 


1784-1799.] 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


405 


1799.  November.  An  embassy  to 
arrange  the  impending  difficulties  with 
France,  was  appointed  by  John  Adams, 
president  of  the  United  States.  Oliver 
Ellsworth  and  William  R.  Davis  sailed 
under  orders  to  join  William  Vance 
Murray,  American  minister  at  the  Hague, 
for  this  service.  This  commission  was  in 
opposition  to  the  federalist  wishes,  and 
1799.  Travels  in  cost  John  Adams,  who  sent 

Africa  by  Mun-  -^  Q^  without  CVCn  COllSUlt- 
go  Park,  pub- 
lished, ing  his  cabinet,  the  sup- 
port of  his  party.  The  trouble  was 
further  increased  by  an  alienation  be- 
tween Adams  and  Hamilton. 

1799.  Nov.  14.  Nullification.  Ken- 
tucky passed,  resolutions  declaring  that  a 
state  may  nullify  and  declare  void  any 
act  of  congress  which  it  thinks  unconsti- 
tutional. This,  with  the  resolutions  of 
1798,  were  quoted  in  1832  and  1860. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

1799.  Dec.  14.  George  Washington, 
Commander-in-chief  of  the  American 
forces  during  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  first  president  of  the  United  States, 
died  at  Mt.  Vernon,  after  a  very  brief 
illness. 

He  was  born  Feb.  22,  1732,  upon  his 
father's  estate  on  the  bank  of  the  Poto- 
mac, in  Westmoreland  Co.,  Va.  His 
father  died  when  George  was  but  eleven 
years  old,  leaving  him  to  the  care  of  his 
mother,  who  was  a  wise,  capable  woman. 
As  there  was  no  advanced  school  near 
the  estate  in  Stafford  County,  to  which  his 
father  had  gone  soon  after  George's  birth, 
and  as  he  was  deprived  of  his  father's 
help,  he  was  sent  to  his  birthplace  to  live 
with  his  half-brother,  Augustine,  where 
there  was  a  good  school.  He  gave  the 
most  of  his  attention  to  such  studies  as 
would  fit  him  for  business,  and  was  not 


at  all  acquainted  with  the  languages,  nor 
with  rhetoric  and  belles-lettres.  Many 
of  his  vacations  were  spent  at  Mt.  Ver- 
non with  his  older  half-brother  Lawrence, 
between  whom  and  himself  had  sprung 
up  a  strong  attachment,  and  who  seemed 
in  part  to  supply  a  father's  place.  On 
these  visits  he  became  acquainted  with 
Hon.  William  Fairfax,  the  father  of 
Lawrence's  wife,  whose  estate  joined  Mt. 
Vernon.  When  George  was  fourteen 
years  old,  his  brother  and  Mr.  Fairfax 
procured  for  him  a  place  in  the  navy,  but 
at  the  last  moment  this  was  given  up  on 
account  of  the  final  unwillingness  of  his 
mother.  He  therefore  continued  in 
school  two  years  longer,  making  mathe- 
matics a  specialty,  and  became  thor- 
oughly acquainted  with  the  principles  of 
geometry,  trigonometry,  and  practical 
surveying.  At  the  end  of  this  time, 
while  on  a  visit  to  his  brother  at  Mt. 
Vernon,  Lord  Fairfax,  cousin  of  William, 
learning  his  knowledge  of  surveying,  and 
his  interest  in  it,  procured  his  services  in 
surveying  a  large  tract  of  lanjd  which  he 
had  purchased  beyond  the  Blue  Ridge. 
This  was  undertaken  and  carried  through 
by  Washington  with  so  much  acceptance, 
that  he  was  made  public  surveyor,  in 
which  office  he  continued  three  years. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  French  and 
Indian  hostilities  began  to  break  out  on 
the  frontier.  Washington  was  put  in 
command  of  a  company  of  militia;  but 
was  interrupted  in  his  labors  by  the  ill 
health  of  his  brother,  which  made  it 
necessary  for  him  to  seek  a  warmer  cli- 
mate. Washington  accompanied  him 
and  remained  until  midwinter.  Law- 
rence remained  six  months  longer,  but 
not  finding  his  health  improved,  at  length 
hastened  home,  as  he  said,  to  die.  He 
died  July  26,  1752,  leaving  a  wife  and 


406 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


infant  daughter,  to  whom  was  left  Mt. 
Vernon,  which,  in  case  of  her  death,  fell 
to  Washington. 

In  October  of  the  next  year,  Wash- 
ington  set  out  on  the  perilous  undertaking 
of  carrying  a  message  to  the  French 
commandant  on  the  Ohio.  In  the  exe- 
cution of  this  he  showed  so  much  pru- 
dence, especially  in  dealing  with  the 
crafty  French  and  Indians,  that  he  re- 
ceived the  high- 
est commenda- 
tions from  the 
Virginia  legisla- 
ture. On  the 
journey  he  noted 
the  fine  position 
for  a  fort  at  the 
junction  of  the 
Allegheny  and 
Monongahela 
Rivers,  and  hav- 
ing collected 
forces,  set  out  in 
the  following 
spring  to,  put 
plans  in  opera- 
tion for  con- 
structing it,  but 
learned  that  the 
French  had  an- 
ticipated him, 

and  had  erected  Fort  DuQuesne. 
ing  the  months  that  followed,  Wash- 
ington was  learning  valuable  lessons  in 
frontier  warfare,  and,  though  finally 
obliged  to  surrender  his  forces  to  the 
French,  obtained  honorable  terms,  and 
did  not  lose  his  reputation  for  prudence. 
In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  he  resigned 
his  position,  and  after  a  short  visit  to  his 
mother,  returned  to  Mt.  Vernon.  He 
did  not  remain  long,  however;  when 
Gen.  Braddock  was  sent  out  the  next 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

Dur- 


year  from  England  to  reduce  Fort 
DuQuesne,  Washington  went  with  him 
as  aid-de-camp.  Had  Braddock  not 
been  too  proud  to  listen  to  the  advice  of 
his  aid-de-camp,  his  expedition  might  not 
have  ended  so  disastrously.  In  the  ter- 
rible battle  which  terminated  the  unfort- 
unate expedition,  Washington  conducted 
himself  with  great  coolness  and  courage. 
Two  horses  were  shot  under  him,  and 
four  bullets 
passed  through 
his  coat.  An  In- 
dian sharpshoot- 
er .said  that  he 
was  not  born  to 
be  killed  by  a 
bullet,  for  he  had 
taken  direct  aim 
at  him  seventeen 
times,  and  failed 
to  hit  him. 

After  Brad- 
dock's  defeat  the 
command  of  the 
forces  on  the 
frontier  was 
again  placed  in 
Washington's 
hands.  During 
the  next  foul 
years,  until  neat 

the  close  of  the  French  and  Indian  wai; 
he  had  a  chance  to  become  acquainted 
with  all  the  horrors  of  frontier  life  and 
Indian  warfare. 

Washington  was  married  Jan.  6,  i759> 
to  Mi-s.  Martha  Custis,  whom  he  had 
met  the  previous  year;  and  spent  the  next 
fifteen  years,  for  the  most  part,  at  Mt. 
Vernon,  while  occupying  at  the  same 
time  a  seat  in  the  Virginia  House  of 
Burgesses. 

The  passage  of  the  Stamp  Act  occa- 


1784-1799.] 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


407 


sioned  him  great  concern,  and  he  consid- 
ered all  instrumental  in  its  repeal 
"  entitled  to  the  thanks  of  every  British 
subject."  Later  he  approved  discontinu- 
ing the  use  of  taxed  articles,  and  brought 
forward  in  the  House  of  Burgesses,  reso- 
lutions to  that  effect.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  the  calling  together  of  the  first 
General  Congress,  and  in  the  proceedings 
of  that  body. 

On  the  actual  breaking  out  of  hostil- 
ities, Washington  was  appointed  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  Continental  forces, 
and  his  conduct  of  the  war  demonstrated 
the  wisdom  of  the  choice.  Great  Britain 
was  not  the  most  formidable  foe  with 
which  he  had  to  contend;  his  greatest 
victories,  we  may  say,  were  in  his  own 
camp.  It  required  a  more  than  ordinary 
will  to  keep  together  an  army  situated 
as  were  the  men  who  composed  that 
army,  sufficiently  large  to  repel  attacks 
from  the  foe.  It  required  more  than 
ordinary  patience  to  see  troops  leaving 
him  as  soon  as  their  terms  of  enlistment 
had  expii'ed,  whatever  might  be  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  army.  It  required  more 
than  ordinary  watchfulness  to  keep  the 
real  condition  of  the  army  from  the 
enemy,  making  it  necessary  that  it  should 
also  be  kept  from  friends.  It  required 
more  than  ordinary  courage  to  bear  pa- 
tiently the  censures  arising  from  this 
course,  and  to  follow  the  policy  which  he 
knew  to  be  the  only  safe  one  for  his 
country.  It  required  more  than  ordinary 
wisdom  to  allow  just  enough  skirmishing 
to  keep  the  troops  contented,  and  to  select 
that  which  would  be  most  effective.  He 
was  obliged  also  to  make  repeated  ap- 
peals to  congress  for  the  food  and  cloth- 
ing necessary  to  alleviate  the  real  distress 
of  the  army,  and  for  new  methods  of 
enlistment,  by  which,  with  better  pros- 


pects in   respect  to  pay,  men  might  be 
induced  to  enlist  for  longer  periods. 

Perhaps  Washington's  sound  judg- 
ment is  in  no  way  better  shown  than  in 
his  method  of  quelling  rebellions  in  camp. 
He  looked  at  both  sides  of  these  as  of 
other  things;  could  see  reasons  for  the 
apprehensions  of  the  troops  in  regard  to 
their  pay,  and  their  real  need  of  supplies, 
and  endeavored  to  get  their  wrongs 
righted;  while  at  the  same  time  he  was 
prompt  to  quell  the  disturbance  before  it 
should  become  a  general  mutiny.  But 
Washington's  care  for  the  troops  ex- 
tended  further  than  simply  to  bodily 
needs.  He  well  knew  the  tendency  of 
an  army  to  looseness  of  morals,  and 
exercised  an  almost  paternal  care  over  the 
soldiers  in  this  respect.  He  discouraged 
foraging,  allowing  it  only  when  supplies 
could  be  obtained  in  no  other  way,  much 
regretting  the  necessity.  He  enjoined 
upon  the  troops  a  careful  observance  of 
the  Sabbath,  and  checked  profanity  and 
every  vice,  so  far  as  lay  in  his  power. 

While  retaining  the  confidence  of  the 
troops  and  of  the  mass  of  the  people,  he 
was  not  altogether  free  from  plots  against 
his  character  and  reputation.  The^e  he 
heeded  as  little  as  possible,  and  when  an 
opportunity  presented  itself  to  do  the 
well-known  instigators  a  kindness,  did 
not  fail  to  do  it  in  the  kindest  possible 
manner.  In  his  treatment  of  prisoners 
of  war  he  was  ever  disposed  to  be 
humane,  resorted  to  severity  only  as  a 
measure  of1  retaliation,  and  was  glad  to 
change  the  treatment,  when  the  need  no 
longer  existed. 

No  one  hailed  the  return  of  peace  and 
the  prospect  of  rest  from  public  labors, 
with  greater  joy  than  Washington;  yet 
it  was  not  without  much  sorrow  that  he 
took  his  final  leave  of  the  soldiers  and 


408 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR  T  STR  UGGL  ES. 


those  officers  who  had  for  so  long  a  time 
been  his  companions  and  advisers  in  mil- 
itary affairs. 

The  same  regularity  which  had  char- 
acterized his  military  life,  followed  him 
to  his  home;  rising  early,  he  partook  of  a 
simple  breakfast,  and  then  mounting  his 
horse,  rode  to  different  parts  of  his 
estate ;  dinner  was  served  at  two,  and  tea 
early  in  the  evening,  after  which  he 
wrote,  or  spent  his  time  socially  until 
nine,  which  was  his  time  for  retiring. 
During  the  years  just  preceding  the 
adoption  of  the  constitution,  Washington 
became  very  much  interested  in  the 
opening  of  water  communication  be- 
tween the  Potomac  and  Ohio  Rivers, 
feeling  that  it  was  necessary  in  order  to 
the  continuance  of  unity  of  feeling  be- 
tween the  territory  bordering  on  the 
Mississippi  and  the  Atlantic  States. 

In  his  presidential  career  Washington 
was  subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  incident- 
al to  a  new  government ;  trials  from  lack 
of  confidence  on  the  part  of  other  gov- 
ernments; trials  from  lack  of  harmony 
between  the  different  sections  of  our  own 
government;  trials  from  the  impoverished 
state  of  the  country,  owing  to  the  war, 
and  want  of  credit;  trials  from  the  be- 
ginnings of  party  strife.  He,  himself, 
was  no  partisan.  His  clear  judgment 
could  discern  the  golden  mean;  and 
while  perhaps  this  alone  kept  our  govern- 
ment from  sinking  at  its  very  outset,  it 
left  him  exposed  to  attacks  from  both 
sides,  which  were  often  bitter,  and  ex- 
tremely annoying.  In  his  choice  of 
cabinet  officers  he  looked  about  for  those 
men  who,  in  his  judgment,  knew  most 
about  the  duties  and  needs  of  their  re- 
spective departments,  and  in  whose 
integrity  he  had  perfect  confidence.  It 
was  a  source  of  much  trouble  to  him 


that  Jefferson  and  Hamilton,  the  two  in 
whom  he  perhaps  had  the  greatest  con- 
fidence, should  from  the  beginning  have 
been  at  such  variance;  Jefferson  an  ex- 
treme democrat,  while  Hamilton,  at 
least  in  Jefferson's  opinion,  was  almost  a 
royalist. 

The  election  of  Washington  for  a 
second  term  was,  like  the  first,  unani- 
mous. At  the  end  of  the  second  term 
many  were  anxious  that  he  continue  the 
office;  but  it  was  only  because  he  had 
been  made  to  feel  it  unquestionably  his 
duty  that  he  had  accepted  a  second  nom- 
ination, and  a  third  he  absolutely  refused. 
Thankfully  leaving  the  burdens  and 
honors  of  office  after  the  fourth  of 
March,  1797,  he  again  turned  to  his 
home,  hoping  to  pass  there  his  few  re- 
maining years  free  from  the  annoyances 
of  public  life. 

The  prospect  of  a  war  with  France, 
and  the  desire  on  the  part  of  his  country- 
men that  in  such  an  event  he  would 
again  take  command  of  the  armies, 
seemed  likely,  in  1797?  to  interrupt  his 
repose.  He  chose  his  subordinate  offi- 
cers, and  left  to  them  the  care  of  matters 
in  the  field,  which  he  superintended  from 
his  home,  only  once  going  to  Philadel- 
phia, as  in  accepting  the  command  he 
made  the  reservation  that  he  was  not  to 
be  in  the  field  until  necessary.  In  the 
midst  of  these  preparations,  Washington's 
life  was  suddenly  brought  to  a  close.  On 
the  twelfth  of  December,  from  a  ride  in 
the  rain,  he  took  a  severe  cold,  which, 
settling  in  his  throat,  produced  inflamma- 
tion, and  terminated  fatally  on  the  night 
of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eighteenth 
his  body  was  borne  with  military  honors 
to  its  final  resting  place,  and  interred  ir> 
the  family  vault  at  Mt.  Vernon. 

The  news  of  his  death  caused   deep 


1784-1799.] 


THE  RISE  OF  A  NATION. 


409 


sorrow  throughout  the  nation.  Judge 
Marshall  moved  an  adjournment  of  con- 
gress, saying  that  after  receiving  intelli- 
gence of  such  a  national  calamity,  that 
body  could  not  be  fitted  for  the  transac- 
tion of  business.  Nor  was  the  grief 
occasioned  by  his  death  confined  to  his 
own  country.  In  France,  and  Great 
Britain,  too,  high  tribute  was  paid  to  one 
whose  character  could  not  fail  to  com- 
mand the  highest  admiration  and  respect. 
Not  brilliant  in  its  manifestations,  that 
character  seems  to  be  more  fitly  com- 
pared to  a  great  cathedral,  massive  in  all 
its  appointments,  yet  each  part  harmo- 
nizing perfectly  with  every  other,  and 
with  the  whole.  We  call  the  completed 
structure  grand.  Washington  was  grand ; 
perfectly  developed  in  every  part;  the 
clearly  discerning  soul  within  corres- 
ponding to  the  finely  developed  phys- 
ical structure  which  contained  it.  He  is 
rightly  named  with  the  wisest  of  the 
earth. 

1799.  Dec.  26.  A  funeral  oration 
upon  Washington  was  pronounced  before 
congress  by  Henry  Lee,  who  had  been 
one  of  the  most  intimate  personal  friends 
of  the  deceased. 

1799.  The  Russian  American  Fur 
Company  was  founded  under  the  Em- 
peror Paul,  and  carried  on  the  fur  trade 


of  Alaska  until  the  sale  of  that  territory 
to  the  United  States  in  1867.  Its  prin- 
cipal American  depot  has  been  Sitka. 

1799.  The  first  teachers'  association 
in  America  was  formed  this  year  at 
Middletown,  Conn.,  under  the  name  of 
"  The  Middlesex  County  Association  for 
the  improvement  of  Common  Schools." 

1799.  The  University  of  North  Car- 
olina was  founded  at  Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 

1799.  The  first  vaccination  in  Amer- 
ica was  performed  by  Dr.  Benjamin 
Waterhouse  of  Boston,  upon  four  of  his 
children.  The  process  encountered  great 
opposition  at  first. 

1799.  House  Tax  Insurrection.  An 
insurrection  occurred  in  some  of  the 
counties  of  Pennsylvania,  against  the 
levying  of  the  direct  tax  upon  houses. 
In  the  village  of  Bethlehem  the  troubles 
took  the  form  of  an  armed  resistance  to 
the  assessors,  by  about  fifty  men,  led  by 
a  man  named  Fries.  A  large  number  of 
them  were  afterward  arrested,  and  Fries 
was  found  guilty  of  treason.  For  some 
technical  reason  a  new  trial  was  granted 
him,  and  he  was  again  found  guilty,  but 
President  Adams  soon  pardoned  him. 

1799.  Prince  Edward's  Island.  The 
name  of  the  island  in  the  St.  Lawrence 
gulf,  hitherto  known  as  St.  John,  was 
this  year  changed  to  Prince  Edward's 
Island,  in  honor  of  the  Duke  of  Kent. 


WASHINGTON'S  SWORD  AND  CANE. 


SECTION  XVI. 


A 


CONTINENT.    1800-f82£. 


T  last  the  effects  of  the  Revolution 
were  visible  in  all  North  and  South 
America.  After  many  years  of 
burden-bearing  the  Spanish  prov- 
inces began  to  make  greater  efforts  to  ob- 
tain freedom,  and  in  1824  the  work  was 
completed,  save  in  poor  Cuba,  which  has 
never  thrown  off  the  yoke.  During  the 
same  time  the  United  States  were  forced 
to  fight  the  mother  country  once  more, 
to  gain  the  full  blessings  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. Between  the  war  for  Independence 
and  the  war  of  1812,  there  was  a  con- 
stant military  agitation  over  violations  of 
international  rights.  Several  thousands 
of  American  citizens  were  impressed 
into  the  British  service  about  the  first  of 
the  present  century.  Not  a  case  has  oc- 
curred since  1815.  The  North  African 
pirates  were  also  effectually  crushed  by 
American  courage.  The  West  India 
pirates  were  also  annihilated  by  the  same 
agency.  These  things  fill  the  present 
period.  Liberty  was  becoming  a  greater 
power  in  the  world.  A  great  step  was 
taken  in  many  a  direction.  The  early 
promise  of  the  continent  was  beginning 
to  be  realized.  ' 

1800.     Feb.  1.     A  naval  battle  took 


place  near  Guadeloupe,  W.  I.,  between 
the  American  frigate  Constellation  under 
Commodore  Thomas  Truxton,  and  the 
French  frigate  La  Vengeance.  The 
latter,  with  fifty-four  guns  and  five  hun- 
dred men,  was  wholly  disabled  after  five 
hours'  conflict  in  the  night,  but  escaped 
through  the  falling  of  the  Constellation's 
mainmast.  The  Constellation  lost  thirty- 
nine  men,  killed  and  wounded;  the  La 
Vengeance  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

1800.  Feb.  22.  Washington's  Birth- 
day. The  first  anniversary  of  Washing- 
ton's birthday,  which  had  occurred  since 
his  death,  was  observed  throughout  the 
country,  in  accordance  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  congress. 

1800.  April  24.  Congressional  Li- 
brary. An  appropriation  of  $5,000,  to 
be  expended  upon  a  room  and  books  for 
a  congressional  library,  was  voted  by 
congress  at  its  last  session  in  Philadelphia. 

1800.  May  1O.  The  provisional 
army  which  had  been  raised,  because  of 
impending  hostilities  with  France,  was 
now  disbanded  by  act  of  congress,  be- 
cause of  the  favorable  reception  of  the 
American  envoys  in  Europe. 

180O.  May  21.  Amnesty  for  all 
who  had  taken  part  in  the  "  house  tax 

410 


1800-1824.] 

insurrection "   in  Pennsylvania  was  de- 
clared by  President  Adams. 

1800.  June.  Washington,  D.  C., 
was  officially  occupied  as  the  capital  of 
the  United  States.  The  furniture  of  the 
governmental  departments  is  said  to  have 
been  conveyed  from  Philadelphia  to 
Washington  in  one  packet  sloop. 

180O.  Sept.  3O.  A  temporary  treaty 
with  France  was  arranged  by  the  United 
States  commissioners. 

180O.  Oct.  4.  Improved  Telegraph. 
A  description  of  an  improved  telegraph 
which  had  been  put  into  use  between 
Boston  and  Martha's  Vineyard,  a  distance 
of  ninety  miles,  was  filed  in  the  patent 
department  by  Jonathan  Grant,  Jr.,  of 
Belchertown,  Mass.  A  question  had 
been  sent  over  the  line  and  answered,  in 
less  than  ten  minutes. 

1800.  The  second  census  of  the 
United  States  gave  a  population  of  5,308,- 
483  persons.  It  was  taken  at  a  cost  of 
$66,609.04.  There  had  been  an  increase 
in  the  population  since  1790  of  35.10  per 
cent. 

1800.  The  first  college  paper  in  the 
United  States  was  issued  by  the  students 
of  Dartmouth  College,  Hanover,  N.  H., 
and  was  named  "  The  Gazette." 

1800.  The  first  United  States  land 
office  was  opened  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
1800.  Union  of  according  to  an  act  of  con- 
Engiand  and  gress,  which  provided  for 
this  one  and  three  others  at 
Marietta,  Cincinnati,  and  Steubenville, 
respectively.  The  population  of  the 
Northwest  Territory  was  now  45,365 
persons,  who  had  come  in  since  1788. 
Many  of  these  men  were  ruined  finan- 
cially by  the  war,  or  were  young  advent- 
urers without  means.  The  ex-soldiers 
especially  were  in  a  suffering  condition, 
for  they  had  only  government  certificates 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 


411 

which  sold  for  almost  nothing.  At  first 
the  land  had  been  sold  in  tracts  of  one 
and  two  million  acres.  Then  quarter 
townships  were  offered,  and  in  1796  sec- 
tions could  be  bought.  This  year  half 
sections  could  be  bought.  Men  of  small 
means  could  now  invest.  Finally,  it 
was  possible  to  buy  small  amounts  of 
land  at  two  dollars  an  acre  on  five  years' 
credit. 

1800.  Humboldt  explored  the  prov- 
ince of  Venezuela,  acquiring  the  first  real 
knowledge  of  the  Orinoco  River. 

1800.  An  improved  piano  was  pat- 
ented by  John  J.  Hawkins  of  Philadel- 
phia, who  advertised  it  from  No.  15 
South  Second  Street,  under  the  name  of 
Patent  Pdrtable  Grand  Piano.  He 
claimed  that  he  could  sell  it  at  one-half 
the  pi'ice  of  imported  instruments. 

18OO.  The  first  total  abstinence 
pledge  written  in  America,  was  dra,wn 
up  by  Micajah  Pendleton  of  Nelson  Co., 
Va.,  for  his  own  family.  By  his  influence 
other  families  were  induced  to  adopt  it 
also. 

FOURTH  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN. 

1800.  In  the  fourth  presidential  cam- 
paign at  the  close  of  this  year,  the  fed- 
eralists put  in  nomination  by  a  congres- 
sional caucus,  John  Adams  of  Massa- 
chusetts, for  president,  and  C.  C.  Pinckney 
of  South  Carolina,  for  vice-president. 
The  democrat-republicans  in  a  similar 
way  nominated  Thomas  Jefferson  of 
Virginia,  for  president,  and  Aaron  Burr 
of  New  York,  for  vice-president.  These 
were  the  first  nominations  of  the  kind. 
The  federalists  showed  their  partial 
alienation  from  President  Adams,  chiefly 
because  of  his  favor  to  the  Alien  and 
Sedition  laws.  The  consequence  was, 
that  the  democrat-republican  ticket  tri- 
umphed in  the  vote  of  the  electors,  but 


412 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


the  two  candidates  had  each  the  same 
number  of  votes,  thus  making  it  impos- 
sible to  tell  under  the  methods  then  in 
use,  which  should  be  president,  and  which 
should  be  vice-president,  except  by  the 
choice  of  the  house  of  representatives. 
Jefferson  and  Burr  each  had  73  votes. 
Adams  had  65,  and  Pinckney  64,  and 
John  Jay  i. 

1801.  Feb.  1.  Balloting  for  president 
began  in  the  house 
of  representatives. 
The  federalists  had 
a  majority  in  the 
house,  but  were  re- 
stricted in  voting 
to  the  two  highest 
candidates,  who 
were  democrat-re- 
publicans. 

1801.  Feb.  17. 
Upon  the  36th  bal-x 
lot  Thomas  Jeffer- 
son was  elected 
president,  and 
Aaron  Burr,  vice- 
president. 

1801.  March  4. 
Jefferson  and  Burr 
were  inaugurated. 
The  federalists 
foreboded  much  ill 

from  the   loose  po-  BENEDK 

litical  ideas  of  those  who  had  now  been  put 
in  charge  of  the  government.  The  chief 
idea  of  the  democrat-republicans  was 
the  diffusion  of  power  among  the  people. 
The  federalists  still  had  the  head  of  the 
judiciary,  John  Jay.  President  Jefferson 
soon  took  occasion  to  pardon  some  who 
had  been  committed  under  the  "  alien 
and  sedition  "  laws. 


1801.     June.     Office- Holding.     The 


first  removal  from  office  for  political  rea- 
sons was  that  of  Elizur  Goodrich,  feder- 
alist, from  the  post  of  collector  of  the 
port  of  New  Haven,  Conn.  Samuel 
Bishop,  democrat-republican,  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  position.  Mr.  Jefferson,  in 
referring  to  the  matter,  suggested  the 
doctrine  which  has  since  become  so  pop- 
ular, and  is  so  tersely  expressed  in  the 
words  of  Gov.  William  L.  Marcy,  "  To 
the  victors  belong 
the  spoils."  The 
removal,  however, 
seems  not  to  have 
been  made  for 
simply  holding 
federalist  opinions, 
but  for  using  office 
as  a  means  of  en- 
forcing  party 
power. 

1801.  June  10. 
Tripoli  declared 
war  upon  the 
United  States. 

ARNOLD. 

1801.    June  14. 

Benedict  Arnold, 
at  one  time  a  ma- 
jor-general in  the 
continental  army, 
died  in  obscurity  in 
London,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  He 
was  born  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  Jan.  3, 1740. 
He  had  good  training,  and  was  sent  to  the 
best  schools  in  the  vicinity.  But  he  grew 
up  a  reckless,  cruel  boy.  He  would  rob 
birds'  nests  to  hear  the  old  birds  cry,  and 
would  torment  his  schoolmates,  who 
feared  and  despised  him.  When  sent  with 
grist  to  the  mill,  he  would  often  catch  hold 
of  the  mill-wheel  and  go  round  with  it,  just 
to  frighten  his  companions.  At  a  later  day 


1800-1824.] 

he  was  established  in  the  apothecary  bus- 
iness, which  he  had  learned,  and  enlarged 
his  trade  very  much.  At  the  dawn  of 
the  Revolution  he  joined  Washington  at 
Cambridge,  with  a  volunteer  company 
which  he  had  raised.  He  had  already 
been  at  Ticonderoga  with  Ethan  Allen, 
and  now  undertook  the  celebrated  march 
into  Canada,  with  all  its  disaster  and 
final  retreat.  His  conduct  on  Lake 
Champlain,  and  in  the  action  at  Saratoga, 
mark  him  as  a  man  who  was  rash  rather 
than  brave.  He  certainly  feared  nothing- 
Little  by  little  his  alienation  from  the 
patriot  cause  increased,  till  he  was  ready 
to  enter  into  the  attempt  to  betray  his 
country.  Others  had  similar  slights  to 
bear,  but  his  impatient  spirit  could  not 
remain  inactive.  After  his  escape  to  the 
British  vessels  at  the  time  of  the  capture 
of  Andre,  he  became  prominent  in  raids 
for  the  destruction  of  patriot  property, 
and  lives,with  a  fierceness  seldom  equaled. 
After  the  war  he  removed  to  England, 
where  the  "  treason  was  accepted,  but  the 
traitor  despised."  The  rest  of  his  years 
were  spent  in  increasing  separation  from 
everybody,  until  at  last  he  died,  the  vic- 
tim of  the  indulgence  which  he  had 
given  to  his  own  sensitiveness.  One  of 
his  sons  has  served  with  credit  and  high 
rank  in  the  British  army. 


THE  AWAKENED  CONTINENT. 


413 


1801.  July  1.  San  Domingo  was 
declared  an  independent  state  under  a 
constitution  which  was  submitted  to  a 
convention  by  Toussaint  L'Ouverture. 

1801.  July.  An  American  squadron, 
under  Commodore  Dale,  was  ordered  to 
the  Mediterranean  to  protect  United 
States  merchantmen  from  the  depreda- 
tions of  North  African  cruisers. 

1801.  Aug.  6.  The  U.  S.  schooner 
44  Experiment "  captured  a  Tripolitan 


cruiser  of  fourteen  guns  after  a  severe 
battle  of  three  hours,  in  which  the  Ex- 
periment did  not  lose  a  man.  The  Tri- 
politan lost  twenty  killed,  and  thirty 
wounded. 

1801.  December.  The  first  written 
presidential  message  was  communicated 
to  congress  by  President  1801  Ironrail. 
Jefferson.  Washington  and 
Adams  had  delivered  their 
addresses  in  person.  Jefferson's  course 
has  since  been  pursued. 

1801.    The  Sedition  law  of  the  United 

States  expired  by  limitation,  and  could 
not   be    reenacted.     The  Alien  law  was  . 
modified. 

1801.  The  first  suspension  bridge  in 
the  world  was  built  across  Jacob's  Creek, 
and  the  idea  was  afterward  patented  by 
James  Finley,  in  1808.  Within  nine 
years  several  others  were  built. 

1801.  The  oxy-hydrogen  blow-pipe 
was  invented  by  Prof.  Robert  Hare  of 
Philadelphia,  and  by  its  intense  heat, 
what  was  before  impossible  became 
easy.  Prof.  Hare  was  very  young  at  the 
time.  He  afterward  invented  the  hydro- 
static blow-pipe. 

1801.  The  first  fuU-blooded  Merino 
buck  imported  into  America,  was  brought 
to  New  York  state,  where  his  progeny 
became  well-known.  He  was  afterward 
sold  into  Delaware  for  sixty  dollars. 
This  was  the  first  practical  importation  of 
the  kind. 

1801.  Orono,  an  Indian  chief  of  the 
Penobscot  tribe  in  Maine,  who  had  been 
converted,  and  had  labored  to  extend 
Christianity  among  his  fellows,  died  at 
the  age  of  one  hundred  and  thirteen  years. 

1801.  Capture  of  Toussaint.  Na- 
poleon sent  an  expedition  to  San  Do- 
mingo, W.  I.,  to  restore  slavery  to  the 
island.  Toussaint  L'Ouverture,  the  col- 


414 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


ored  leader,  was  ensnared,  and  sent  to 
France,  where  he  soon  died.  Dessalines 
assumed  command  of  the  negro  forces. 

1802.  March  16.  The  United  States 
Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  on 
the  Hudson,  was  founded  by  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  body  of  cadets,  under  the 
instruction  of  a  corps  of  engineers,  which 
was  freshly  organized  by  being  separated 
from  the  artillery,  and  made  to  constitute 
a  military  academy.  A  private  school 
had  been  in  operation  at  the  place  for  a 
year,  but  had  failed  of  success. 

1802.  June  23.  Humboldt  ascended 
to  a  point  within  two  thousand-  feet  of 
the  summit  of  Mt.  Chimborazo,  S.  A., 
reaching  an  altitude  of  19,286  feet,  a 
higher  point  than  had  ever  before  been 
reached. 

1802.  June.  The  first  trade  sale 
for  books  ever  held  in  America,  was 
conducted  at  New  York  by  the  Amer- 
ican Company  of  Booksellers,  of  which 
Mr.  Carey,  of  Philadelphia,  was  a  lead- 
ing member. 

1802.  July  6.  An  improvement  in 
steamboats  was  patented  by  Edward 
West.  It  is  claimed  by  some  that  he 
was  the  inventor  of  the  first  working 
steamboat  in  model. 

QEtf.  DANIEL  MORGAN. 

1802.  July  6.  Gen.  Morgan,  best 
known  for  the  service  which  he  rendered 
in  the  Revolution  with  his  unerring 
riflemen,  died  at  Winchester,  Va.,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-six  years.  He  drove  one  of 
the  teams  connected  with  Braddock's 
expedition,  and  during  the  trip  was 
whipped  with  five  hundred  lashes  be- 
cause it  was  thought  he  had  insulted  a 
British  officer.  When  the  Revolution 
began  he  raised  a  company  of  riflemen, 
and  with  them  marched  six  hundred 


miles  in  three  weeks,  to  reach  the  camp 
at  Boston.  He  was  one  of  the  hardy 
troop  which  pushed  its  way  across  the 
snows  of  Maine  to  the  region  of  Quebec. 
At  the  assault  he  was  captured  by  the 
English.  He  was  afterward  released, 
and  again  did  good  service  with  riflemen 
in  New  York,  and  later  in  the  South, 
against  Cornwallis.  His  health  com- 
pelled him  to  leave  the  army  before 
peace  was  made.  He  was  a  very  bold, 
energetic  fighter,  and  a  great  aid  to  the 
patriot  cause.  He  was  in  the  national 
congress  for  four  years,  at  the  close  of  the 
last  century. 

1802.  Oct.  16.  Navigation  of  the 
Mississippi.  The  Spanish  commander 
at  New  Orleans  issued  an  order  that 
citizens  of  the  United  States  could  no 
longer  deposit  goods  at  that  place,  and 
that  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi 
River  would  be  no  longer  open  to  them. 
This  was  done  in  view  of  the  prospect  of 
the  cession  of  Louisiana  to  France. 
News  soon  came  that  the  cession  had 
been  accomplished,  and  James  Monroe 
was  sent  to  France  to  negotiate  for  the 
old  privileges. 

1802.  Nov.  29.  Ohio  was  the  sev- 
enteenth state  to  be  admitted  into  the 
union.  It  has  an  area  of  39,964  square 
miles,  and  a  population  in  1880  of  3,199,- 
794  persons.  Its  motto  is  "Imperium 
in  imperio."  "  An  empire  in  an  empire." 
It  is  known  as  the  Buckeye  State. 

1802.  The  citizens  of  the  new  Indiana 
territory  petitioned  congress  to  tempora- 
rily suspend  the  prohibition  of  slavery  in 
the  territories  which  came  under  the 
Ordinance  of  1787,  until  the  labor  of  the 
region  could  be  built  up.  The  request 
was  not  granted. 

1802.    Another  squadron  under  Com- 


1800-1824.] 

modore  Richard  V.  Morris,  was  ordered 
to  the  Mediterranean  for  the  protection 
of  American  shipping. 

1802.  The  first  Academy  of  Fine 
Arts  in  the  United  States,  was  established 
in  New  York.  It  was  incorporated  in 
1808,  but  died  in  1825,  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  another  society. 

1802.  The  process  of  making  starch 
from  potatoes,  was  invented  by  John 
Biddis  of  Pennsylvania,  who  patented  it 
at  this  time. 

1802.  A  proposal  to  light  Central 
Square  in  Philadelphia,  by  gas  obtained 
from  coal,  was  made  by  Benjamin  Hen- 
frey,  who  received  a  patent  "  for  a  cheap 
mode  of  obtaining  light  from  fuel."  The 
year  before  he  had  lighted  Richmond 
with  gas  from  wood. 

1802.  Gigantic  bird  tracks  were 
found  in  the  quarries  at  Portland,  Conn. 
They  were  found  at  quite  a  depth,  were 
sixteen  inches  long,  ten  inches  wide,  and 
four  or  five  feet  apart. 

1802.  The  largest  importation  of 
Spanish  Merino  sheep  was  made  this 
year  for  Hon.  David  Humphreys,  min- 
ister to  Spain.  The  flock,  when  shipped, 
numbered  one  hundred.  Nine  died  on 
the  passage.  Nearly  at  this  same  time 
Hon.  R.  R.  Livingston,  minister  to 
France,  imported  some  of  the  Ram- 
bouillet  stock.  These  important  addi- 
tions had  a  great  influence  on  the  future 
sheep-keeping  of  the  country. 

1802.  Dutch  Guiana,  S.  A.,  was  re- 
stored to  Holland  by  England. 

1803.  April  30.     The  first  Arlington 
sheep-shearing  took  place  on  the  estate 
of  George  Washington  Parke  Custis,  at 
a  spring  which  was  known  as  Arling- 
ton Spring.     Mr.  Custis  had  built  a  fine 
house  on  Arlington  Heights,  overlooking 
Washington,  D.  C.,  across  the  Potomac. 


THE  AWAKENED  CONTINENT.  415 

He  wished  to  promote  the  interests  of  the 
region.  The  Arlington  sheep-shearing 
was  held  for  a  number  of  years  on  April 
3oth,  and  became  widely  known.  A 
banquet  was  usually  spread  by  Mr. 
Custis,  and  prizes  given  for  specimens  of 
fine  woolen,  and  other  domestic  manu- 
factures. 

1803.  April  30.  Louisiana  was  pur- 
chased from  Napoleon  I.  for  $15,000,000, 
by  the  United  States.  It  comprised 
900,000  square  miles,  running  from  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  British  Posses- 
sions, and  from  the  Mississippi  River  to 
the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  purchase  of 
this  great  tract  was  negoti-  1803, 
ated  in  secret.  Napoleon  Bank  of  France. 
is  said  to  .have  exclaimed  upon  com- 
pleting the  bargain,  "  This  accession 
of  territory  strengthens  forever  the 
power  of  the  United  States.  I  have 
just  given  England  a  maritime  rival  that 
will,  sooner  or  later,  humble  her  pride." 
By  obtaining  this  territory  the  United 
States  had  a  mountain  barrier  at  the 
west,  and  could  hold  the  gulf  ports.  The 
area  of  the  original  thirteen  states  'was 
820,680  square  miles.  By  the  addition 
of  Louisiana,  containing  899,579  square 
miles,  the  area  of  the  United  States  was 
more  than  doubled,  becoming  1,720,259 
square  miles.  Louisiana  had  her  first 
printing  press  immediately  after  this  time. 


SAMUEL 

1803.  Oct.  2.  Samuel  Adams,  the  in- 
corruptible patriot,  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one  years.  He  was  born  in  Bos- 
ton, Sept.  27,  1722,  and  was  a  distant  rela- 
tive of  John  Adams.  In  1 740  he  was 
graduated  at  Harvard,  and  at  once  began 
to  take  a  great  interest  in  political  matters. 
He  was  an  ardent  patriot,  and  was  ere 
long  engaged  in  writing  for  the  press. 


416 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


His  father  had  had  wealth,  but  lost  it. 
The  son  had  nothing  save  his  own  powers 
with  which  to  aid  his  country.  But  well 
did  he  do  it.  In  caucuses  and  clubs,  and 
public  meetings,  he  was  of  great  influence. 
He  served  ten  years  in  the  assembly. 
The  royalist  Gov.  Hutchinson  said  of 
him,  "  Such  is  the  obstinacy  and  inflexible 
disposition  of  the  man,  that  he  can  never 
be  conciliated  by  any  gift  or  office  what- 
ever." Mr.  Adams  was  a  strong  advo- 
cate of  a  continental  congress,  served  in 
it  for  years,  affixed  his  bold  signature  to 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  was 
chosen  lieutenant-governor,  and  after- 
ward governor  of  Massachusetts,  and 
finally  retired  from  service  through  in- 
creasing infirmities.  He  never  entered 
military  life,  but  wielded  all  his  powers 
for  his  country's  good,  to  such  a  degree 
that  the  British  hated  him  more  than 
they  did  almost  any  man  in  the  Amer- 
ican army. 

1803.     Nov.  30.     The  French  army 

in  San  Domingo  surrendered  to  an  Eng- 
lish fleet,  and  left  the  blacks  once  more  at 
liberty. 

1803.      North    African    Difficulties. 
Commodore    Preble   took   command  of 
the  American  squadron  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean.    He  first  settled  some  difficulties 
• 

with  the  emperor  of  Morocco,  and  then 
appeared  at  Tripoli.  During  a  cruise  in 
the  harbor  of  that  place,  the  frigate 
Philadelphia  struck  on  a  rock,  and  was 
captured  with  her  entire  crew,  by  the 
Tripolitans. 

1803.  Jerome  Bonaparte,  a  brother 
of  Napoleon  I.,  while  on  a  visit  to  the 
United  States,  married  Miss  Patterson,  a 
Baltimore  belle.  The  marriage  was  af- 
terward annulled  by  Napoleon. 

1803.     The   manufacture    of  pianos 


was    begun    at     Boston    by    Adam    and 
William  Brent. 

1803.  The  first  reaping  machine  in 
America  was  patented  by  Richard 
French  and  John  J.  Hawkins.  It  was 
not  very  successful.  One  wheel  ran  in 
the  grain,  and  the  cutting  was  done  by  a 
number  of  scythes  which  revolved  on  a 
pivot. 

1803.  The  Miami  Exporting  Com- 
pany was  organized  to  provide  better 
transportation  for  the  produce  of  the 
great  Northwest  Territory.  The  farm- 
ers had  no  market  for  their  crops.  It 
was  customary  for  several  to  load  a  flat 
boat,  and  descend  with  it  to  New  Or- 
leans by  floating  down  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi.  Having  sold  their  cargo, 
they  would  abandon  their  boats,  and  re- 
turn on  foot  nearly  a  thousand  miles. 
Others  would  go  down  in  large  canoes,, 
which  could  be  brought  back  by  oars. 
It  took  about  six  months  to  make  a  trip, 
and  was,  therefore,  little  help  to  a  farmer. 
There  was  no  demand  for  corn  and 
wheat,  except  in  one's  own  family,  and 
the  new  families  coming  in  during  the 
season.  Corn  and  oats  were  ten  and 
twelve  cents  a  bushel,  wheat  thirty  or 
forty  cents.  Yet  many  of  the  farmers, 
while  not  making  money,  lived  very  com- 
fortably. In  a  short  time  they  began  to 
use  boats  with  sails,  which  enabled  them 
to  return  in  them  from  market.  The 
boats  could  also  carry  more  freight,  and 
thus  reduce  the  cost.  The  Miami  Com- 
pany, which  now  undertook  to  improve 
these  things,  was  not  a  success,  although 
it  declared  dividends  for  a  number  of 
years.  Many  difficulties  beset  it,  and 
a  change  for  the  better  was  due  to  other 
things. 

1803.     Proposed  Mississippi  Steam, 
boat.     Capt.  James   McKeever,  of  the 


1800-1824.] 

United  States  Navy,  and  M.  Louis  Val- 
cour,  built  a  large  boat  with  eighty  feet 
keel,  and  eighteen  feet  beam,  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  floated  it  to  New  Orleans  on"' 
the  current,  in  order  that  Oliver  Evans 
might  at  the  latter  place  put  a  steam 
engine  into  it.  They  intended  to  run  it 
as  a  steamer  between  New  Orleans  and 
Natchez.  The  engine  was  ready,  but 
the  money  of  the  owners  was  gone.  So, 
while  waiting  to  get  more,  they  let  the 
engine  be  set  up  in  a  sawmill,  by  Wil- 
liam Donaldson,  where  it  cut  3,000  feet 
of  boards  every  twelve  hours,  and  did 
not  get  out  of  repair  for  a  year.  It  was 
afterward  used  in  pressing  cotton.  The 
owners  of  it  lost  all  their  means,  and 
could  not  go  on  with  the  steamboat. 

1803.  Slavery  was  abolished  this  year 
in  Canada. 

1803.  Dutch  Guiana  was  recaptured 
by  the  English. 

1803.  St.  Lucia,  one  of  the  Wind- 
ward Islands,  was  taken  by  the  English 
after  having   been    alternately   held  by 
France  and  England.     It  has  since  re- 
mained in  the  possession  of  the    latter 
nation. 

1804.  Jan.  1.     An  independent  re- 
public  was  formed  in  San  Domingo,  and 
Dessalines  was  made  governor  for  life. 

1804.  Feb.  15.  The  gradual  aboli- 
tion of  slavery  was  provided  for  in  New 
Jersey  by  an  act  of  the  legislature. 

1804.  Feb.  15.  Decatur's  Achieve- 
ment. The  frigate  Philadelphia  was 
destroyed  in  the  hai'borof  Tripoli,  where 
she  had  struck  upon  a  rock  and  been 
seized  by  the  Tripolitans,  by  Lieut.  De- 
catur  and  seventy-five  men,  from  the 
American  squadron.  They  approached 
the  Philadelphia  in  the  evening,  unde- 
tected, and  springing  on  board,  soon  con- 
quered the  enemy,  who  lost  twenty  or 

2" 


THE  AWAKENED  CONTINENT. 


417 


more  men.  After  setting  fire  to  the 
frigate,  Lieut.  Decatur  returned  without 
losing  a  man,  thus  putting  on  record  one 
of  the  most  brilliant  deeds  of  his  time. 

1804.  March  7.  Humboldt  sailed 
for  Havana,  Cuba,  after  having  explored 
Mexico,  visited  its  volcanoes  and  pre- 
historic mounds,  and  made  a  profile  of 
the  country  from  sea  to  sea,  which  had 
never  been  done  for  any  other  whole 
country.  In  Cuba  he  spent  two  months 
in  preparing  an  essay  upon  the  island, 
which  was  afterward  published  in  Paris. 

1804.  March.  The  Lewis  and  Clarke 
Expedition.  Lieut.  William  Clarke  and 
Capt.  Meriwether  Lewis,  set  out  from 
St.  Louis  under  the  order  of  President 
Jefferson,  to  explore  the  Louisiana  Pur- 
chase. They  were  accompanied  by 
twenty-seven  officers  and  soldiers,  and 
some  Indian  interpreters.  They  spent 
the  first  season  in  ascending  the  Missouri 
River,  and  wintered  .  among  the  Mandin 
Indians.  Between  this  time  and  the 
autumn  of  1806,  they  made  their  famous 
journey  complete  from  St.  Louis  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean  and  return,  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  journeys  on  record.  It 
was  a  pioneer  enterprise.  Much  inesti- 
mable information  was  collected. 

1804.  July  11.  The  duel  between 
Alexander  Hamilton  and  Aaron  Burr 
occurred  at  Weehawken,  N.  Y.  Burr, 
who  was  at  the  time  vice-president  of  the 
United  States,  challenged  Hamilton  be- 
cause of  some  disrespectful  remarks  which 
the  latter  is  said  to  have  made  concerning 
him.  Hamilton  fired  into  the  air,  and 
fell,  mortally  wounded. 

ALEXANDER  HAMILTON. 

1804.  July  12.  Alexander  Hamil- 
ton, the  great  statesman  and  able  finan- 
cier, died  of  the  wound  received  in  the 


418 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  S TR  UGGLES. 


duel  with  Burr  the  day  before,  at  the 
age  of  forty-seven  years.  He  was  born 
Jan.  IT,  1757,  on  the  island  of  Nevis,  in 
the  West  Indies,  and  was  of  French  and 
Scotch  descent.  He  was  educated  as  far 
as  was  possible,  and  showed  a  great 
taste  for  reading.  At  twelve  years  of 
age  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a 
mercantile  establishment.  He  occupied 
all  his  spare  time  in  eagerly  devouring 
every  book  he  could  find.  At  sixteen  he 
came  to  the  United  States  because  of  his 
earnest  wish  to  secure  a  higher  education, 
and  entered  King's,  now  Columbia,  Col- 
lege. While  an  undergraduate  he  made, 
after  considerable  persuasion,  a  speech  at 
the  great  "  meeting  in  the  fields "  at 
New  York,  July  6,  1774,  and  there 
first  displayed  his  wonderful  gifts  of 
thought  and  tongue,  to  the  astonishment 
of  those  who  heard  him.  He  soon  be- 
gan to  write  for  the  press,  and  afterward 
entered  active  service  with  Washington. 
He  became  confidential  secretary  and 
aid-de-camp  of  Washington  till  after  the 
fall  of  Yorktown.  In  1780  he  married 
the  daughter  of  Gen.  Schuyler.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  began  the  study  and 
practice  of  law  in  New  York,  after  hav- 
ing served  in  the  continental  congress. 
In  law  he  rapidly  rose  to  distinction. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  that 
framed  the  federal  constitution.  When  the 
constitution  was  before  the  states  for  ratifi- 
cation he  wrote  a  large  part  of  that  series 
of  papers  which  have  since  been  such  an 
authority  in  the  interpretation  of  it,  and 
known  as  "  The  Federalist."  In  1789 
he  was  made  secretary  of  the  treasury  at 
the  organization  of  the  national  govern- 
ment, and  for  several  years  gave  great 
labor  to  the  development  of  a  financial 
policy  for  the  country.  Daniel  Webster 
says  of  him,  "  He  smote  the  rock  of 


public  resources,  and  abundant  streams 
of  revenue  burst  forth.  He  touched  the 
dead  corpse  of  public  credit,  and  it  sprang 
'upon  its  feet."  In  1798  he  was  appointed 
under  Washington  to  command  the  army 
raised  for  the  expected  war  with  France. 
Ultimately  a  political  difference  arose 
between  him  and  Aaron  Burr,  because 
the  latter  thought  that  Hamilton  had  not 
given  him  proper  support  for  the  presi- 
dency, and  had  depreciated  his  character. 
He  was  slight  in  personal  appearance, 
but  of  goodly  form.  He  was  one  of  the 
very  few  ablest  men  this  country  has 
ever  had  in  its  service.  His  death  was  a 
sad  sacrifice  to  the  dueling  code. 


1804.     Aug.   3.     The   bombardment 

of  Tripoli  began  under  the  orders  of 
Commodore  Preble,  and  continued  at 
times  for  a  month,  with  great  effect. 

1804.  Aug.  3.  Humboldt  arrived  in 
France  from  his  American  tour.  Upon 
leaving  Cuba,  he  visited  Philadelphia 
and  Washington.  He  brought  back  to 
Europe  from  his  five  years'  labor  on  the 
American  continent,  remarkable  additions 
to  the  scientific  knowledge  of  the  times. 
His  journey  remains  a  permanent  posses- 
sion of  American  explora-  1804.  Napoleon 
tion,  the  value  of  which  cron'nf"L  Em^ 

ror  of  France. 

nothing  can  lessen.  Hum-  1804.  First  lo- 
boldt  saw  a  great  part  of  comotive  s'eam 

engine    used    in 

the  world  during  his  long  Wales. 
life,  for  he  was  not  quite  thirty  years  of 
age  when  he  arrived  in  Amei'ica,  and  he 
lived  to  be  ninety,  dying  at  Berlin,  May 
6,  1859.  The  "  Cosmos"  remains  as  his 
greatest  work. 

1804.  Sept.  2.  A  fire-ship  laden 
with  powder  and  iron,  was  sent  into  the 
harbor  of  Tripoli  in  the  night,  under  the 
charge  of  two  boats'  crews  from  the 
American  squadron,  who  were  to  light 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 

After   awhile   the 


1800-1834.] 

the  fuse  and  escape, 
fire-ship  exploded  with  terrific  power, 
and  no  one  of  the  men  accompanying  it, 
was  ever  heard  from.  A  monument  td 
their  memory  stands  in  Washington,  D. 
C.,  west  of  the  capitol. 

1804.  Sept.  25.  The  twelfth  amend- 
ment to  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States  was  declared  in  force.  Its  object 
is  to  arrange  the  pYesidential  election  so 
that  votes  should  be  cast  for  president 
and  vice-president,  as  such.  It  was  sug- 
gested by  the  undecided  presidential 
election  of  1800. 

1804.  Oct.  8.  Dessalines,  through 
false  ambition,  assumed  the  title  "  Em- 
peror of  Hayti,"  thus  proving  untrue  to 
his  trust,  and  breaking  the  constitution  of 
the  new  republic.  The  island  at  once 
became  a  scene  of  discord  and  war. 

FIFTH  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN. 

1804.  In  the  fifth  presidential  cam- 
paign during  the  autumn  of  this 
year,  the  democrat-republicans  supported 
Thomas  Jefferson  of  Virginia,  for  a  sec- 
ond term  as  president,  and  George  Clin- 
ton of  New  York,  as  vice-president. 
The  federalists  supported  C.  C.  Pinck- 
ney  of  South  Carolina,  for  president,  and 
Rufus  King  of  New  York,  for  vice- 
president.  The  method  by  which  these 
persons  were  nominated  is  unknown. 
The  result  was  an  overwhelming  defeat 
for  the  federalists.  Jefferson  and  Clin- 
ton received  162  electoral  votes;  Pinckney 
and  King  14  votes. 

1804.     The  first  theological  seminary 

in  America  was  established  by  the  As- 
sociate Reformed  church. 

1804.  The  first  agricultural  fair  in 
America  was  held  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
The  city  authorities  established  and  man- 


419 


aged  it.  At  subsequent  exhibitions  the 
farmers  were  stimulated  by  the  offering 
of  premiums. 

1804.  A  steam  dredge  named  the 
Oructor  Amphibolis,  was  put  on  the 
Delaware  by  Oliver  Evans,  who  em- 
ployed in  it  the  first  high-pressure  engine 
ever  used.  The  machinery  was  built  in 
such  a  way  as  to  run  a  land  carriage 
with  equal  facility.  The  dredge  was 
run  to  the  river  by  steam,  upon  wheels 
which  were  put  under  it  temporarily. 

18O4.  A  steamboat  with  a  screw 
propeller  was  exhibited  on  the  Hudson 
River  by  John  C.  Stevens,  who  crossed 
with  it  from  Hoboken  to  New  York. 
He"  made  use  of  a  Watts  engine,  with  a 
tubular  boiler  of  his  own  make.  The 
model  of  this  propeller  is  still  at  the  In- 
stitute for  Engineers,  Hoboken,  N.  J. 

1804.  The  Middlesex  canal  which 
connected  Boston  harbor  with  the  Con- 
cord River,  was  completed.  It  was 
twenty-seven  miles  long,  and  was  fur- 
nished with  twenty-two  locks.  It  was 
the  first  work  of  the  kind  of  much  im- 
portance in  America. 

1804.  The  first  fine  broadcloth  made 
in  America  was  produced  at  Pittsfield, 
Mass.,  by  Arthur  Scholfield,  who  had 
come  to  the  United  States  in  1 789,  with 
Samuel  Slater,  and  had  made  his  own 
machinery,  as  Mr.  Slater  did  at  Prov- 
idence for  cotton  machinery. 

18O4.  "  The  Harmony  Society." 
About  twenty  families  from  Wirtemberg 
settled  in  the  village  of  Harmony,  Butler 
Co.,  Penn.,  to  live  as  a  business  commu- 
nity. They  rapidly  increased  in  num- 
bers, began  the  extensive  cultivation  of 
the  soil,  and  undertook  manufactures  of 
different  kinds,  among  which  was  the 
making  of  broadcloth.  Mr.  George 
Rapp  was  the  leader  of  the  enterprise. 


420 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES . 


1804.  Fort  Dearborn  was  built  by 
the  United  States  government  upon  the 
present  site  of  Chicago. 

1804.  The  first  artificial  propagation 
of  fish  in  the  United  States  was  attempted 
in  South  Carolina. 

1805.  March  4.     Thomas  Jefferson 
of  Virginia,  was  inaugurated   president 
of  the  United  States,  and  George  Clin- 
ton of  New  York,  vice-president. 

1805.  '  April  7.  Lewis  and  Clarke 
set  out  from  their  winter  camp  upon  the 
Missouri,  and  started  up  the  river.  They 
crossed  the  mountain  ridge  on  horseback, 
and  pursued  their  way  through  many 
obstacles. 

1805.  June  3.  A  treaty  of  peace 
was  concluded  with  Tripoli,  which  ar- 
ranged for  an  exchange  of  prisoners, 
man  for  man,  and  the  payment  of  $60,000 
for  two  hundred  whom  the  Dey  held  in 
excess  of  the  captures  by  the  Americans. 
But  it  was  stipulated  that  no  further 
money  should  ever  be  paid  as  ransom 

money. 

WILLIAM  MOULTRIE. 

1805.  Sept.  27.  Gen.  William  Moul- 
trie,  a  patriot  of  incorruptible  integrity, 
died  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four  years.  He  was  born  in 
South  Carolina,  in  1731.  He  distin- 
guished himself  during  the  Revolution 
by  defending  Fort  Moultrie,  contrary  to 
the  advice  of  his  best  military  friends, 
against  the  violent  attack  of  the  enemy, 
with  nearly  two  hundred  cannon,  while 
he  had  but  thirty -one,  and  a  force  of  men, 
some  of  whom  had  never  seen  a  cannon. 
He  was  made  of  heroic  stuff.  During 
an  imprisonment  among  the  British,  he 
was  offered  a  command  of  a  Jamaica 
regiment,  together  with  some  money,  if 
he  would  become  a  British  officer.  "  Not 
the  fee  simple  to  all  Jamaica,"  the  incor- 


ruptible man  said,  "  should  induce  me  to 
part  \vith  my  integrity." 


1805.  Nov.  15.  Lewis  and  Clarke 
reached  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia 
River  on  the  Pacific  coast,  at  a  distance 
of  four  thousand  miles  from  St.  Louis. 
They  passed  the  winter  in  camp. 

1805.  England  seized  and  condemned 
several  American  me'rchant  vessels  with 
their  cargoes,  for  alleged  violations  of 
the  neutral  regulations. 

1805.  A  torpedo  was  devised  by 
Robert  Fulton,  which  was  considered  to 
be  very  effective  for  purposes  of  warfare. 

1805.  Detroit  was  destroyed  by  an 
extensive  fire.     The  place   had  been  an 
important  post  of  the  fur  trade,  and  the 
traders,  subject  to  many  privations  while 
away  upon  their  trips,  lived  luxuriously 
when  at  home.     Wine  suppers  prevailed 
in  rapid  succession,  and  the    1759-1305. 
host  of  the  evening  would  Schiller. 
use  every  method  to  see  how  many  in- 
toxicated guests  he  could  have,  without 
becoming  intoxicated  himself.     At  one 
supper,  a  person  who  was  present  says 
that  the  bottom  of  every  wine  glass  was 
broken  off  to  prevent  "heel-taps."    Each 
one  was  obliged  to  drain  his  glass  before 
he  could  lay  it  down  upon  the  table. 

1806.  March  23.    Lewis  and  Clarke 
began  their  homeward  journey   up  the 
Columbia  River. 

HORATIO  GATES. 

1806.  April  10.  Gen.  Horatio  Gates, 
familiarly  known  as  the  conqueror  of 
Burgoyne,  died  at  New  York  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight  years.  He  was  born  in 
England  in  1728,  and  came  to  America 
in  the  French  and  Indian  war.  He  was 
present  at  Braddock's  defeat,  and  was 
severely  wounded.  After  the  war  he 


1800-1834.] 

settled  in  Berkeley  Co.,  Va.,  and  at  the 
beginning  of  the  Revolution  he  received 
from  congress  the  appointment  of  briga- 
dier-general. In  1776  he  was  placed 
over  the  northern  army.  He  then  went 
into  New  Jersey  with  Washington,  and 
in  1777  was  again  placed  in  command  at 
the  north  to  supersede  Schuyler.  He  was 
himself  superseded  in  May,  but  was  af- 
terward put  in  command  there  again 
when  Burgoyne  was  making  his  way 
down  through  New  York.  Gen.  Gates 
gained  his  extensive  reputation  by  the 
surrender  of  Burgoyne,  but  it  is  doubtful 
whether  he  was  not  an  obstacle  to  that 
event,  rather  than  a  help.  The  victory 
added  force  to  a  pride  already  excessive, 
and  made  him  unfit  to  obey.  He  felt, 
and  others  flattered  him  in  feeling,  that 
he  ought  to  be  commander-in-chief, 
hence  "  Conway's  Cabal,"  which  was  a 
conspiracy  to  undermine  the  position  of 
Washington,  and  place  Gates  in  his  stead. 
The  plan  came  to  nothing,  through  the 
loyal  adherence  of  Lafayette  and  others 
to  their  noble  leader,  who  was  misunder- 
stood by  the  would-be  brilliant  military 
geniuses.  Gates  was  afterward  sent 
south,  but  partially  destroyed  his  reputa- 
tion by  the  mismanagement  of  the  army 
in  that  quarter.  The  battle  of  Camden 
was  an  utter  defeat  for  him.  Gen. 
Greene  was  appointed  in  command  to 
supersede  Gates,  who  did  little  more 
service.  He  retired  to  his  Virginia  es- 
tate where  he  remained  till  1790,  and 
then  moved  to  his  estate  on  Manhattan 
Island.  In  1792  he  served  one  term  in 
the  New  York  legislature.  It  is  said  of 
him,  "  Gen.  Gates  possessed  many  excel- 
lent qualities,  but  he  was  deficient  in  the 
necessary  qualifications  for  a  successful 
commander,  and  his  vanity  generally 
misled  his  judgment."  He  was  a  gentle- 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 


421 


man  in  his  manners,  humane  and  benev- 
olent, but  he  lacked  intellectual  cultiva- 
tion and  true  magnanimity. 


1806.  April  18.  A  retaliation  upon 
England  for  her  numerous  insults,  was 
effected  by  the  United  States  in  the  shape 
of  a  prohibition  to  take  effect  Nov.  15, 
forbidding  the  importation  of  any  British 
manufactures. 

1806.  Sept.  23.  Lewis  and  Clarke 
reached  St.  Louis,  having  been  gone 
upon  their  trip  twenty-eight  months. 
The  men  engaged  in  this  expedition  re- 
ceived grants  of  land  from  mi-isoe. 
the  United  States  govern-  MungoPark. 
ment.  Notes  of  the  entire  trip  were 
kept  by  Lieut.  Clarke,  and  were  after- 
ward published,  and  sold  widely.  This 
was  our  first  great  United  States  explor- 
ing trip. 

1806.  Oct.  17.  Dessalines,  "em- 
peror of  Hayti,"  was  assassinated  in  San 
Domingo,  and  half  the  island  again  came 
under  Spanish  authority.  The  western 
part  remained  under  the  control  of  several 
chiefs. 

GEN.  HENRY  KNOX. 

1806.  Oct.  25.  Gen.  Henry  Knox 
died  at  Thomaston,  Me.,  aged  fifty-six 
years.  He  was  born  in  Boston,  July  25, 
1750,  and  began  life  for  himself  as  a 
clerk  in  a  bookstore.  He  was  a  great 
student,  especially  of  military  matters. 
In  1774  he  married  Miss  Lucy  Fluker, 
the  daughter  of  the  secretary  of  the  prov- 
ince, who  was  a  devoted  royalist.  In 
1775,  on  the  anniversary  of  their  mar- 
riage, June  1 6,  the  young  people  escaped 
from  Boston  to  the  patriot  camp.  Mrs. 
Knox  carried  out  her  husband's  "  gren- 
adier" sword,  by  quilting  it  into  her  pet- 
ticoat. During  the  Revolution  Gen. 
Knox  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Wash- 


422 


RE  VOL  UT1ONAR T  STR UGGL ES. 


ington,  who  relied  upon  him  in  all  mat- 
ters relating  to  artillery.  After  the  war 
he  served  as  Secretary  of  war,  and  was  a 
leader  in  founding  the  U.  S.  navy.  He 
finally  retired  to  Thomaston,  and  died 
from  the  effects  of  a  chicken  bone  which 
he  swallowed,  and  which  produced  mor- 
tification. His  physical  appearance  was 
fine.  He  was  a  great  soldier,  and  an 
intelligent  statesman. 


1806.  December.  A  Rejected  Treaty. 
A  treaty  was  made  with  England,  but 
was  rejected  by  President  Jefferson,  be- 
cause it  gave  England  the  right  of  search 
and  seizure.  This  led  to  angry  feelings 
in  Great  Britain,  and  helped  to  hasten 
the  war  of  1812. 

18O6.  A  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  was 
established  in  New  York  city,  under  the 
name  of  the  Shakespeare  Lodge,  but  it 
did  not  exist  for  a  long  time. 

1806.  Law  Against  Dueling.  The 
congress  of  the  United  States  enacted  a 
law  that  "  no  officer  or  soldier  shall  send 
a  challenge  to  another  officer  or  soldier  to 
fight  a  duel,  or  accept  a  challenge,  if  sent, 
upon  pain,  if  a  commissioned  officer,  of 
beingf  cashiered,  if  a  non-commissioned 

o  ' 

officer,  of  suffering  corporal  punishment, 
at  the  discretion  of  a  court-martial."  The 
practice  of  dueling  was  obtaining  a  pow- 
erful hold  upon  the  army,  and  the  false 
notions  of  honor  made  it  impossible  for 
one  to  decline  a  challenge  without  ruining 
his  character,  and  outlawing  him  from 
high  society. 

1806.  The  "Burr  War."  It  was 
during  this  year  that  Col.  Aaron  Burr 
made  the  western  tour  which  excited  sus- 

1749-iaoe.  FOX,  Picions  of  treasonable  de- 
the great  Eng-  signs.  Public  notice  was 

Ksh  statesman.         taken  Qf  }t  by  thg  governor 

of  Ohio  in  a  communication  to  the  legis- 


lature, and  by  the  president  of  the  United 
States  in  a  proclamation,  and  in  orders 
for  Burr's  arrest.  Military  preparations 
began  to  be  made. 

1806.  Party  strife  ran  high,  and  a 
young  man  named  Austin  was  shot  in 
Boston  by  Selfridge,  a  lawyer,  because 
of  difference  of  opinion.  Austin  was  a 
democrat-republican,  and  had  first  at- 
tempted to  chastise  Selfridge,  who  was  a 
federalist. 

1806.  The  first  cargo  of  ice  exported 
from  the  United  States,  was  a  load  of 
130  tons,  shipped  from  Gray's  wharf, 
Charlestown,  Mass.,  on  the  brig  Favorite^ 
and  sent  to  Martinique,  W.  L,  by  Mr. 
Frederick  Tudor  of  Boston.  The  ice 
was  obtained  from  a  pond  in  Saugus, 
now  Lynn.  Mr.  Tudor  lost  money  upon 
this  enterprise,  and  not  much  more  was 
sent  abroad  before  the  war  of  1812. 

1806.  Mexican  Cotton.  A  quantity 
of  the  seed  of  Mexican  cotton  was  in- 
troduced into  the  United  States,  by  Wal- 
ter Burling  of  Natchez.  The  seed  was 
stuffed  into  a  lot  of  Mexican  dolls,  be- 
cause a  decree  of  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment forbade  the  exportation  of  it.  The 
arrangement  of  the  dolls  was  suggested, 
to  Mr.  Burling  by  the  viceroy,  with  a 
tacit  understanding  that  they  should  be 
employed  for  that  special  purpose. 

1806.  The  National  Road.  Con- 
gress provided  for  a  road  from  Cumber- 
land, Md.,  to  the  State  of  Ohio.  In  1834 
the  construction  of  it  was  given  over  to 
the  states  through  which  it  passed,  and 
more  recently  the  building  of  railroads 
has  destroyed  the  need  of  it.  Portions 
of  it  still  remain  in  use  as  a  roadway. 
It  was  the  first  great  internal  improve- 
ment made  at  the  public  expense. 

1806.  First  Trade  Union  Contest. 
A  trial  of  eight  persons  was  had  before 


1800-1824] 

the  courts  on  the  charge  of  combining  to 
increase  wages,  to  keep  others  from 
working,  and  to  establish  arbitrary  rules 
over  workmen.  For  twenty  years  or 
more  it  seems  that  this  had  been  prac- 
ticed, and  one  or  two  remarkable  cases  of 
the  pursuit  of  those  who  would  not  com- 
bine, came  out  upon  the  trial.  The  pris- 
oners were  sentenced  to  pay  eight  dol- 
lars each,  with  costs  of  suits.  Not  much 
more  is  heard  of  trade-union  in  America 
for  fifty  years. 

1806.  Buenos  Ayres  and  Montevideo 
surrendered  to  English  "forces,  but  were 
speedily  retaken  by  the  Spanish  citizens, 
who  bravely  drove  off  the  invaders. 

1806.  A  plot  to  revolutionize  Vene- 
zuela was  laid  by  Francis  Miranda,  who 
had,  in  1798,  tried  the  same  thing  on  a 
larger  scale.  An  expedition  was  fitted 
out  and  sailed  from  New  York,  but  met 
with  no  success  after  landing  in  South 
America.  It  soon  disbanded. 
*  1807.  Feb.  1O.  An  accurate  survey 
of  the  Atlantic  coast  was  voted  by  con- 
gress at  the  suggestion  of  President  Jef- 
ferson. An  appropriation  of  $50,000 
was  made  for  it,  but  work  did  not  begin 
till  1817. 

.  1807.  February.  Aaron  Burr's  Trial. 
Aaron  Burr  was  arrested  for  supposed 
treasonable  designs  upon  the  government 
of  the  United  States,  and  was  tried  upon 
several  charges.  The  matter  was  made 
intensely  partisan.  The  administration 
tried  to  convict,  and  the  federalists  to 
acquit.  The  trial  ran  through  several 
months.  An  indictment  was  found  by 
the  grand  jury  in  May,  but  the  case  was 
dismissed  in  August  by  the  court,  for 
want  of  jurisdiction.  The  prosecution 
broke  down  in  the  production  of  proof, 
and  as  Burr's  plans  seemed  to  relate  more 
to  Mexico  than  to  the  United  States,  he 


THE  AWAKENED  CONTINENT. 


42'3 


1807.      Abolition 
of   slave     trade 
through  all 
British     domin- 
ions, 

few 


was  acquitted.  Gen.  William  Eaton  of 
Massachusetts,  presented  proofs  that  Burr 
intended  to  form  a  great  southwestern 
empire,  but  this  was  all  excluded  by  the 
court.  Burr  was  tried  simply  for  the 
course  pursued  on  Blennerhassett  Island. 

1807.  March  2.  The  importation 
of  slaves  into  the  United  States  was 
forbidden  by  an  act  of  con- 
gress, which  was  to  become 
a  law  upon  the  first  day  of 
January,  1808.  The  British 
parliament  passed  a  similar  law  a 
days  later. 

1807.  June  22.  The  Leopard  Affair. 
The  British  ship  Leopard,  under  Capt. 
Humphries,  attacked  the  United  States 
frigate  Chesapeake,  under  Commodore 
Barren,  in  an  attempt  to  search  the  latter 
for  alleged  British  deserters.  The  Ches- 
apeake was  not  prepared  for  action,  and 
pnly  one  gun  could  be  fired.  Several 
broadsides  were  fired  by  the  Leopard, 
killing  and  wounding  a  score  of  the 
Chesapeake's  crew.  Four  men  were 
afterward  taken  from  the  Chesapeake  by 
an  officer  of  the  Leopard.  The  affair 
caused  intense  excitement.  Commodore 
Barren  was  tried,  and  suspended  for  five 
years,  without  pay.  The  trouble  arising 
from  this  greatly  contributed  to  the  war 
of  1812. 

1807.  July  2.  All  English  vessels 
were  ordered  to  leave  the  ports  and 
waters  of  the  United  States  until  satis- 
faction should  be  given  for  the  Leopard's 
firing  upon  the  Chesapeake. 

FULTON  S  TRIUMPH. 

1807.  Aug.  7.  The  Clermont,  a 
steamboat  built  by  Robert  Fulton,  left 
New  York  city  for  Albany,  making  the 
trip  to  that  place  and  return  safely,  in 
seventy-two  hours.  This  was  the  six- 


424 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


teenth  steamboat  in  the  order  of  construc- 
tion, but  the  first  to  be  used  permanently. 
The  day  of  the  trial  was  long  to  be  re- 
membered. Crowds  stood  ready  to  sneer 
at  the  project,  if  failure  settled  down  upon 
it.  A  few  were  praying  for  success. 
The  charge  for  the  round  trip  was  $14. 
At  last  the  moment  came.  The  wheels 
were  started.  At  first  a  little  delay  oc- 
curred, but  after  a  while  the  boat  moved 
out  into  the  river,  and  went  resolutely 
against  wind  and  tide.  The  end  which 
poor  John  Fitch  and  others  had  done  so 
much  to  make  possible,  was  at  last 
reached.  Steam  navigation  was  an  ac- 
complished fact.  The  Clermont  excited 
varying  emotions  along  the  route.  Many 
people  feared  her.  Thousands  viewed 
her  course,  and  many  rejoiced  in  her  suc- 
cess. Other  boats  were  speedily  built. 
In  these  later  years  what  may  well  be 
called  "  floating  palaces  "  are  increasing* 
in  number,  beauty,  and  comfort. 


1807.  Nov.  26.  Oliver  Ellsworth, 
LL.  D.,  an  American  jurist,  and  chief- 
justice  of  the  supreme  court  of  the 
United  States  from  1796  to  1800,  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  He  served 
in  the  United  States  senate  previous  to 
his  appointment  as  chief-justice,  and  in 
•all  the  positions  to  which  he  was  called 
was  characterized  by  great  ability  and 
earnestness  of  purpose. 

1807.  Dec.  27.  Embargo  Bill.  The 
United  States  government  laid  an  em- 
bargo upon  all  its  own  ports  and  vessels. 
This  bill  bore  very  heavily  upon  certain 
parts  of  the  countiy,  especially  New 
England,  which  was  increasing  its  ship- 
ping very  rapidly.  Congress  gave  the 
president  power  to  suspend  the  bill  when 
he  thought  it  expedient.  The  commerce 
of  all  nations  was  interrupted  by  the 


succession  of  adverse  decrees  by  France 
and  England. 

1807.  Buenos  Ayres  was  unsuccess- 
fully assailed  by  an  English  force  of 
10,000  men.  Gen.  Whitelocke  was 
cashiered  for  incapacity,  upon  his  return 
to  England.' 

1807.  John  VI.  of  Portugal,  with 
his  court,  fled  to  Brazil  to  escape  the  hos- 
tility of  Napoleon.  This  step  led  the 
way  in  opening  Brazil  to  commerce,  and 
in  improving  the  government  of  that 
province. 

1807.  The  first  newspaper  in  New- 
foundland was  issued  under  the  name  of 
"  The  Royal  Gazette  and  Newfoundland 
Advertiser." 

1808.  Jan.    1.     The   prohibition   of 
the  slave  trade  under  the  act  of  congress 
of  March  2,  1807,  went  into  effect. 

1808.  The  first  temperance  society 
in  America  was  organized  in  Moreau, 
Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  by  Dr.  Billy  J. 
Clarke,  and  Rev.  Lebbeus  Armstrong. 
Forty-seven  male  members  signed  the 
pledge  under  the  name  of  "  The  Moreau 
and  Northumberland  Temperance  So- 
ciety." A  fine  of  twenty-five  cents  was 
imposed  for  every  violation  of  the  pledge. 
The  pledge  prohibited  rum,  gin,  whisky,' 
wine,  or  any  distilled  liquors  whatever. 
It  did  not  therefore  go  as  far  as  a  total 
abstinence  pledge  of  the  present  day. 

1808.  April  8.  A  report  on  public 
turnpikes  was  made  by  Mr.  Gallatin,who 
stated  that  the  cost  varied  from  $1,000 
to  $14,000  a  mile.  Many  turnpike  com- 
panies had  been  chartered  in  the  eastern 
and  middle  states,  especially  in  Connec- 
ticut, where  fifty  had  been  incorporated 
since  1803. 

1808.  Stone  coal  was  first  used  as 
fuel  in  a  fireplace  by  Judge  Fell  of 
Wilkesbarre,  Penn.  At  about  the  same 


1800-1824-] 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 


425 


time  Obadiah  Gore  of  Wyoming  Valley, 
Perm.,  who  had  used  it  for  forty  years  in 
a  blacksmith's  forge,  made  a  similar  suc- 
cessful attempt. 

1808.  The  first  printing  press  be- 
yond the  Mississippi  River  was  set  up  at 
St.  Louis,  by  Jacob  Hinkle. 

1808.  "The  Columbiad,"  by  Joel 
Barlow,  was  issued,  and  received  as  a  fine 
production.  Robert  Fulton  designed  a 
part  of  the  engravings.  The  high  price 
reduced  the  sale  until  it  was  put  on  the 
market  in  a  cheaper  form. 

1808.  The  first  Bible  society  in 
America  was  organized  at  Philadelphia. 

1808.  An  aerolite  weighing  1635 
pounds  fell  in  Texas,  and  is  now  owned 
by  Yale  College. 

1808.  A  duel  between  Henry  Clay 
and  Humphrey  Marshall  was  fought, 
and  both  were  wounded.  They  were 
at  the  time  members  of  the  legislature  of 
Kentucky. 

1808.  Prison-Ship  Victims.  The 
remains  of  the  ten  thousand  soldiers  who 
had  died  on  board  the  British  prison- 
ships  in  New  York  harbor  during  the 
Revolution,  and  had  been  buried  in  the 
sand  on  the  shore,  were  taken  up  and 
placed  in  a  vault  near  the  end  of  Front 
St.,  Hudson  Avenue,  Brooklyn. 

1808.  The  first  ocean  steam  naviga- 
tion in  the  world  was  by  the  steamboat 
Phoenix,  built  by  John  Stevens,  and  nav- 
igated from  Hoboken,  N.  Y.,  to  Phila- 
delphia, by  Robert  L.  Stevens. 

SIXTH  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN. 

1808.  In  the  sixth  presidential  cam- 
paign the  democrat-republicans  supported 
James  Madison  of  Virginia,  for  president, 
and  George  Clinton  of  New  York,  for 
vice-president.  Their  nomination  had 
been  made  by  a  congressional  caucus 


early  in  the  year.  The  federalists  sup-  ' 
ported  C.  C.  Pinckney  of  South  Car- 
olina, for  president,  and  Rufus  King  of 
New  York,  for  vice-president.  The  lat- 
ter had  been  supported  in  the  previous 
campaign.  Of  the  176  electoral  votes 
Madison  received  122,  and  Clinton  113,' 
and  they  were  therefore  triumphantly 
elected.  Pinckney  and  King  received 
47  votes,  a  great  gain  over  the  14  votes 
which  they  had  received  in  the  fifth  cam- 
paign. George  Clinton  received  6  votes 
for  president,  and  there  were  15  scatter- 
ing votes  for  vice-president. 


1808.  Liberal  Movements  in  Mexico. 
The  deposition  of  Ferdinand  VII.  from 
the   throne  of  Spain,  and  the  establish- 
ment of  Joseph   Bonaparte  on  it  by  his 
brother,  Napoleon  I.,  agitated  all  Spanish 
colonies,  and  caused  in  Mexico  and  South 
America   a    great   many    liberal    move- 
ments    looking     towafd     independence. 
The    clergy   generally    adhered    to   the 
house    of    Bourbon.      The    viceroy    of 
Mexico,  named  Don  Jose  de  Iturrigaray, 
having    caused    suspicions   that   he  was 
about  to  make  an  attempt  to  seize  the 
government  of  Mexico,  and  make  it  an 
empire    of    his    own,  was    arrested,  and 
thrown  into  prison.     A  desire  for  free- 
dom was  very  sensibly  growing  among 
the  people. 

1809.  March    4.      James    Madison 
of  Virginia,  was  inaugurated  president  of 
the  United  States,  and   George   Clinton 
of   New  York,  vice-president,  the   latter 
upon  his  second  term.       Mr.  Madison  at 
his  inauguration  wore  a  suit  of  American 
broadcloth,  the  first  which  was  ever  worn 
by  a  president. 

1809.  March  4.  The  embargo  bill 
was  repealed,  so  far  as  all  countries,  ex- 
cept France  and  England,  were  con- 


426 


REVOLUTIONARY  STRUGGLES,  i 


'  cerned.  No  intercourse  was  to  be  per- 
mitted with  the  latter  till  their  obnoxious 
decrees  were  repealed. 

1809.  Nov.  28.  An  agricultural 
society  was  organized  at  Georgetown, 
D.  C.,  under  the  name  of  the  "  Colum- 
bian Society,  for  the  promotion  of  Rural 
and  Domestic  Economy."  It  was  the 
first  one  in  America  which  was  composed 
of  practical  farmers  banded  together  to 
encourage  home  manufactures,  and  the 
rearing  of  domestic  animals. 

1809.  The  Sisters  of  Charity  were 
first  founded  in  the  United  States  at 
Emmettsburg,  Md.,  by  Mrs.  Eliza  Seton, 
who  became  their  first  Mother  Superior. 

1809.  "Disciples."  An  attempt  to 
unite  different  Christian  denominations 
and  bring  about  greater  outward  union, 
was  made  by  Thomas  Campbell,  with 
the  assistance  of  his  son,  Alexander,  and 
resulted  in  the  organization  of  a  sect 
since  known  as  "  Disciples,"  "  Chris- 
tians," and  "  Church  of  Christ,"  or  more 
commonly  as  "  Campbellites."  The 
Campbells  were  originally  Presbyte- 
rians, and  after  their  first  societies  were 
organized  upon  the  new  basis,  they  took 
steps  to  unite  with  a  Baptist  association, 
through  the  belief  that  immersion  was 

o 

the  only  baptism.  They,  however,  in- 
sisted that  they  were  to  retain  their 
fundamental  tenet  that  the  Bible  was  the 
only  creed. 

1809.  First  Modern  Sunday  Schools. 
During  this  year  the  great  change  be- 
gan to  take  place  which  transferred 
Sunday  Schools  from  the  charge  of  paid 
teachers  to  those  who  volunteered  to 
work  without  pay.  The  change  in 
England  took  place  at  a  much  later  day. 
A  new  idea  also  crept  in  with  this  altera- 
tion. It  had  been  thought,  before  this 
date,  under  the  reign  of  paid  teachers, 


that  Sunday  Schools  were  chiefly  for  the 
low  and  ignorant  children.  Under  the 
voluntary  system  it  has  come  to  be  the 
main  effort  to  enlist  all  for  continued 
Bible  study.' 

1809.  The  first  printing  press  in 
Mississippi  was  set  up. 

1809.  The  revolutionary  struggle 
began  in  Ecuador,and  lasted  till  1822, be- 
fore independence  was  achieved. 

1809.  French    Guiana,   S.   A.,  was 
seized  by  the  English. 

1810.  March  23.    The   Rambouillet 
Decree  was  issued  by  Napoleon  I.,  de- 
claring all    American  vessels  in  French 
ports  confiscated,  and  ordering  the  sale  of 
a  large  number,  with  cargoes  worth  sev- 
eral million  dollars* 

1810.  April  19.  The  revolution  in 
Venezuela,  S.  A.,  broke  out  at  Caraccas 
on  the  anniversary  of  the  battles  of  Lex- 
ington and  Concord. 

1810.  On  account  of  the  insolence 
of  the  British  minister  to  the  United 
States  government,  congress  voted  that 
the  president  be  requested  not  to  recog- 
nize him  any  longer. 

FIRST  MEXICAN  UPRISING. 

1810.  Sept.  15.  A  great  revolt  against 
Spanish  authority  burst  forth  violently  in 
Mexico,  under  Don  Miguel  Hidalgo  y 
Costilla,  a  native  Indian  of  learning  and 
character,  belonging  to  the  priesthood. 
He  had  meditated  upon  the  wrongs  of 
his  country,  and  was  freshly  incited  to  an 
attempt  for  freedom  because  his  vine- 
yards, which  he  had  cultivated  very  as- 
siduously, had  been  destroyed,  on  the 
ground  that  no  agricultural  or  manufact- 
uring interests  were  to  be  permitted  to 
take  precedence  of  those  of  Spain.  He 
had  large  and  prosperous  vineyards,  and 
is  said  to  have  introduced  the  silkworm 


1800-1824.]  THE  AWAKENED  CONTINENT. 

into  Mexico.     A  striking  resemblance  to 
the    principle    of    the    revolution   in    the 


427 


English  colonies,  betrays  itself  at  once. 
Hidalgo  had  been  serving  as  the  curate 
of  the  village  of  Dolores.  He  is  said  to 
have  been  remarkable  for  his  priestly 
fidelity.  He  was  kin  to  the  delicate 
minds  which  everywhere  note  oppression 
keenly,  and  fight  against  it  devotedly. 
He  was  led  to  form  a  plan  of  revolt,  and 
had  set  Nov.  i,  1810,  as  the  day  of  out- 
break. But  his  intentions  became  known, 
and  some  of  his  assistants  were  seized  by 
the  'government.  He  therefore  hastened 
his  deed,  and  publicly  declared  his  revolt 
this  day.  The  natives  began  to  rally 
around  him,  under  the  power  of  his 
burning  appeals. 

1810.  Sept.  29.  Hidalgo  captured 
Guanajuato,  with  twenty  thousand  fol- 
lowers, who  received  the  victory  wildly, 
and  plundered  the  city  ravenously,  to  the 
extent  of  $5,000,000.  This  victory  was 
followed  by  others  quite  speedily,  which 
caused  his  numbers  to  increase  till  he  is 
said  to  have  had  a  hundred  thousand 
under  his  command,  a  number  sufficient, 
had  they  been  severely  trained,  to  have 
swept  away  Spanish  power  forever. 
But  an  excommunication  was  launched 
against  him  by  the  Catholic  authorities, 
and  his  followers,  weakly  superstitious, 
were  frightened  by  this  harmless  opposi- 
tion. They  began  to  leave  him,  or  to 
give  themselves  up  to  disorder,  and  thus 
made  the  sky  dark  once  more.  Military 
supplies  were  entirely  gone. 

1810.  Nov.  7.  Hidalgo  was  defeated 
at  Aculco  by  Gen.  Calleja.  But  still  he 
kept  his  forces  in  the  field.  The  devo- 
tion of  some  of  them  has  never  been 
excelled.  Even  the  Mexican  women 
went  with  the  camp  to  cook  for  the 
soldiers,  and  zealously  stimulate  them  to 


bravery.  The  Spanish  forces  soon  took 
Guanajuato,  with  great  loss  to  Hidalgo's 
force,  and  at  the  close  of  the  year  his 
power  was  rapidly  waning. 


1810.  Bolivar  visited  England  to  ob- 
tain aid  for  the  struggling  patriots  of 
Venezuela. 

1810.  The  revolution  in  the  Argen- 
tine Republic  began  and  increased  stead- 
ily in  power,  in  the  attempt  to  throw  off 
the  burden  of  ^Spanish  tyranny. 

1810.  A  revolution  in  Chili  began  in 
the  attempt  to  achieve  independence  by 
the  deposition  of  the  royal  governor. 

1810.  The  ports  of  Brazil  were 
opened  to  the  commerce  of  the  world,  free 
from  all  restrictions. 

1810.  The  "Penn  treaty  tree"  was 
blown  down  by  a  severe  gale  of  wind. 

1810.  The  first  printing  of  cotton 
goods  by  engraved  rollers  and  water 
power  was  done  by  Thorp,  Siddall  &  Co., 
near  Philadelphia.  All  this  work  had 
previously  been  done  by  the  slow  block 
printing. 

1810.  The  first  silk  manufactured  by 
machinery  was  made  by  Rodney  and 
Horatio  Hanks  at  Mansfield,  Conn.,  in  a 
little  mill  twelve  feet  square.  Before  this, 
silk  had  been  made  in  families  upon  the 
same  looms  as  were  used  in  making  other 
cloth. 

1810.  A  card  making  machine,  the 
invention  of  Elizur  Smith  of  Walpole, 
Mass.,  was  patented  by  Thomas  Whitte- 
more.  It  would  insert  the 

1810.    First 

wire  into  the  cards  in  such    steamboat  built 
a  life-like  way  as  to  amaze    inEur°fe- 
the    beholder.      Daniel    Webster   said    it 
was  more  nearly  endowed    with  intelli- 
gence than  any  other  machine  ever  in- 
vented.   John  Randolph  exclaimed  upon 
seeing  it  work,  "  All  but   the   immortal 


428 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR  UGGL ES. 


soul."  More  complicated  machines  have 
since  been  made. 

1810.  The  first  printing  presses  in 
Missouri  and  Michigan  were  set  up  this 
year. 

ftJlO.  Nail  machines  invented  in 
America  were  patented  in  England  by 
Joseph  C.  Dyer  of  Boston,  then  living  in 
London.  In  1811  he  also  patented  the 
'  American  card  making  machine  which 
had  been  so  successful.  The  American 
nail  machines  were  now*  making  the 
finest  nails  in  the  world. 

1810.  The  Celebrated  Sheep- Shear- 
ing. Chancellor  Robert  R.  Livingston 
having  taken  much  pains  to  improve  the 
sheep  stock  of  the  country,  and  having 
been  one  of  the  first  two  or  three  to  in- 
troduce Merinoes,  held  a  sheep-shearing 
at  his  place  on  the  Hudson,  which  brought 
together  a  large  number  of  prominent 
men  from  all  parts  of  the  country.  It 
was  a  most  elegant  entertainment,  and 
caused  newspaper  reports  far  and  wide. 
He  sold  some  of  his  stock  at  from  $50  to 
$  1,000  per  head.  These  prices  were 
afterward  reduced  when  fine  stock  became 
more  common.  A  sort  of  sheep  mania 
arose  for  a  few  years.  A  buck  was 
bought  at  this  sale  for  $175,  and  was  re- 
peatedly sought  for  by  purchasers  within 
a  short  time  at  $1,000,  but  was  afterward, 
when  the  excitement  passed,  sold  for  $12. 

1810.  The  third  census  of  the  United 
States   gave   a   population    of  7,239,881 
persons.     It  was  taken  at  a  cost  of  $  1 78,- 
444.67.     Statistics  of  manufactures  were 
for  the  first  time  taken  in  these  returns, 
and   were  valuable,  although  impei-fect. 
There  had  been  an  increase  in  the  popu- 
lation since  1800  of  36.38  per  cent. 

1811.  Jan.  17.     Hidalgo  in    Mexico 
was  wholly  overthrown  by  the  Spanish 
authorities    in   a  battle  at  the   bridge   of 


Calderon.  His  prospects  were  now  en- 
tirely  darkened,  except  so  far  as  he  could 
hope  to  get  assistance  from  the  outside. 

1811.  March  21.  Hidalgo  was  be- 
trayed by  Elizonclo,  who  had  been  asso- 
ciated with  him  in  his  efforts.  The 
former  was  on  his  way  to  the  United 
States  to  seek  encouragement  and  mate- 
rial aid.  His  plans  were  now  ended.  In 
a  short  time  he  was  subjected  to  ecclesi- 
astical deposition,  and  afterward  shot,  July 
27.  Thus  perished  Mexico's  early  leader, 
the  first  martyr  to  Mexican  liberty.  His 
name  has  been  cherished  by  the  people 
of  that  country,  and  his  example  had  a 
wide  influence.  He  gave  himself  for  his 
native  land. 

1811.  March.  The  Berlin  and  Milan 
decrees  were  proclaimed  by  Napoleon  to 
be  a  part  of  the  fundamental  law  of  the 
realm.  He  declared  that  no  payment 
would  be  made  for  American  vessels 
which  had  been  seized.  • 

1811.  March.  The  first  steamboat 
ever  run  upon  western  waters  was 
•  launched  at  Pittsburg,  Penn.,  and  named 
"New Orleans."  It  was  138  feet  long, 
30  feet  wide,  was  of  300  tons  burden,  and 
cost  $40,000.  The  boat  was  intended 
for  the  carrying  trade  between  New 
Orleans  and  Natchez.  An  epoch  in 
western  navigation  was  created  by  this 
addition  to  the  forces.  The  net  profits  on 
the  trade  done  the  first  season  by  the  boat, 
were  $20,000.  Livingston,  Fulton  and 
Roose veldt  were  the  chief  owners.  This 
steamer  was  lost  on  a  snag  near  Baton 
Rouge  in  1814. 

1811.  April.  The  first  blood  was 
shed  in  Chili  in  the  attempt  to  secure  in- 
dependence. The  patriot  forces  which 
had  gathered,  attacked  the  royal  troops 
at  Santiago,  and  defeated  them.  The 
former  were  successful  nearly  every  time 


1800-1824.] 

in  the  little  conflicts,  at  first.  Don  Juan 
Jose  Carrera  was  appointed  president  and 
general-in-chief. 

1811.  May  16.  The  Little  Belt 
Affair.  A  naval  action  took  place  off 
the  coast  of  Virginia  between  the  British 
sloop  Little  Belt,  under  Capt.  Bingham, 
and  the  U.  S.  frigate  President,  under 
Capt.  Ludlow.  The  former  replied  to 
the  hail  of  the  latter  by  a  cannon  shot, 
and  received  a  broadside  in  return.  The 
Little  Belt  lost  32,  killed  and  wounded, 
before  finally  making  answer,  and  then 
sailed  to  Halifax.  Great  excitement  was 
caused  in  both  countries. 

1811.  July  5.  Colombia,  S.  A.,  then 
known  as  New  Grenada,  was  declared 
independent. 

1811.  Oct.  10.  Slavery  was  abol- 
ished in  Chili  by  declaring  freedom  to 
every  child  born  after  this  date. 

1811.  Nov.  7.  The  battle  of  Tippe- 
canoe  was  fought  with  the  Indians  by 
Gen.  Harrison.  The  Indians  under  the 
lead  of  the  Prophet  attacked  the  camp  of 
Gen.  Harrison  early  in  the  morning,  and 
a  fierce  contest  lasted  for  an  hour  or  two. 
The  savages  were  finally  driven  off  by 
repeated  bayonet  charges.  The  Ameri- 
can loss  was  1 88  men.  This  defeat  dis- 
couraged the  Indians  who  had  been  form- 
ing a  confederacy  at  the  earnest  solicitation 
of  Tecumseh  and  his  brother. 

1811.  Dec.  16.  A  memorable  series 
of  earthquake  shocks  began  in  Missouri. 
The  effects  of  them  were  especially  felt 
in  New  Madrid  upon  the  Mississippi. 
Boats  were  destroyed  upon  the  water,  and 
houses  upon  the  land.  The  ground  rose 
and  fell  in  undulations.  Great  terror  pre- 
vailed during  some  of  these  scenes. 
Several  lakes  and  swamps  were  formed 
in  Tennessee.  The  ground  quaked  in- 
cessantly over  large  regions  for  months. 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 


429 


1811.  Dec.  24.  A  theater  was  burned 
in  Richmond,  Va.,  and  the  governor  of 
the  state,  together  with  several  prominent 
families,  perished  in  the  conflagration. 

1811.  National  Bank.  The  United 
States  Bank  established  in  1791  for 
twenty  years  was  not  re-chartered,  and  ex- 
pired by  limitation.  A  great  effort  was 
made  in  its  favor,  but  it  was  finally  de- 
feated by  one  vote  in  the  House,  and  by 
the  casting  vote  of  the  vice-president  in 
the  Senate. 

1811.  Change  of  Policy.  The  dem- 
ocrat-republicans who  had  been  a  peace 
party  up  to  this  time,  now  experienced  a 
change  of  sentiments,  and  under  the  lead- 
ership of  William  H.  Crawford  of  Geor- 
gia, and  John  C.  Calhoun  of  South  Car- 
olina, inaugurated  a  war  movement. 
England  and  France  continued  the  seizure 
of  American  vessels  with  their  cargoes, 
and  the  impressment  of  seamen.  Over 
900  American  vessels  had  been  taken 
since  1803. 

1811.  The  British  government  at 
last  disavowed  the  act  of  the  Leopard  in 
firing  upon  and  taking  the  U.  S.  frigate 
Chesapeake  in  1807. 

1811.  A  school,  for  deaf-mutes  was 
attempted  unsuccessfully  in  New  York, 
and  afterward  in  Virginia. 

1811.  A  breech-loading  rifle  was 
invented  by  John  Hall  of  the  United 
States,  who  inaugurated  the  whole  sys- 
tem of  breech  instead  of  muzzle  loading. 
He  also .  suggested  the  idea  of  making 
the  parts  of  a  rifle  interchangeable  by 
machinery.  The  U.  S.  government  or- 
dered some  rifles  made  at  Harper's 
Ferry  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Hall. 
The  idea  of  a  breech-loader  was  not 
successfully  put  into  practice  for  years. 

1811.  Iron  plates,  for  the  protection 
of  vessels,  were  first  conceived  by  Rob- 


430 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


ert  L.  Stevens  of  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  though 
he  did  not  bring  out  his  idea  till  much  later. 

1811.  Astoria,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia  River,  Oregon,  was  founded 
by  the  Pacific  Fur  Company,  and  was 
named  for  John  Jacob  Astor,  the  chief 
proprietor.  This  place  was  for  many 
years  the  depot  of  all  the  fur  trade  west 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

1811.  Political  troubles  in  Canada 
appeared.  The  legislative  assembly  was 
considered  by  royal  authorities  to  have 
been  too  independent  in  some  of  its  bus- 
iness. A  newspaper  called  "  The  Cana- 
dian," advocated  the  cause  of  the  assem- 
bly, and  was  seized  by  government, 
its  owner  put  into  prison,  and  its  stock 
destroyed.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
dissensions  which  lasted  thirty  years  or 
more. 

1811.  The  Red  River  Settlement 
was  established  by  Thomas  Douglass, 
the  Earl  of  Selkirk,  in  what  is  now 
Manitoba,  which  had  been  sold  by  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company.  Two  or  three 
bodies  of  colonists  came  from  the  High- 
lands of  Scotland. 

1811.  Uruguay  was  attacked  by  the 
Portuguese. 

1811.  The    independence    of   Par- 
aguay was  secured  under  a  revolutionary 
council,  of  which  Dr.  Francia,  afterward 
sole  dictator,  was  a  member. 

1812.  March.      The    Henry    Docu- 
ments.    President   Madison  transmitted 
to  congress  a  list  of  documents  for  which 
he  had  paid  $50,000  to  John  Henry,  who 
claimed  to  have  been  sent  from  Canada 
to  induce  leading  New  Englanders  to  re- 
nounce the  U.  S.  government.     Congress 
declared  Henry's  papers  to  be  worthy  of 
credence,  in  spite  of  the  disclaimers  of  the 
British   minister.      A   great  indigrfation* 
prevailed  throughout  New  England. 


1812.      April    4.      An    embargo    for 

ninety  days  was  laid   on  American  ship- 
ping, as  a  war  measure. 

1812.  April  20.  George  Clinton  of 
New  York,  vice-president  of  the  United 
States,  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-three  years.  He  was 
born  July  26,  1739,  and  was  fully  edu- 
cated. He  rendered  eminent  services 
during  the  revolutionary  war,  both  for 
New  York  and  the  country  at  large. 

1812.  April  30.  Louisiana  was  the 
eighteenth  state  to  be  received  into  the 
union.  This  state  constitutes  the  lower 
portion  of  the  great  Louisiana  purchase, 
and  has  a  present  area  of  41,346  square 
miles,  with  a  population  in  1880  of 
940,263  persons,  of  whom  one-half  are 
negroes.  Its  motto  is  "  Union  and  Con- 
fidence." It  is  known  as  "  The  Creole 
State." 

1812.  June  18.  War  was  declared 
against  England  by  the  United  States. 
Hundreds  of  American  citizens,  and 
others  claiming  to  be  such,  were  seized 
by  the  English  government,  and  com- 
mitted to  Dartmoor  prison. 

1812.  July  12.  Gen.  Hull,  who  was 
stationed  at  Detroit  with  1,800  men,  in 
obedience  to  orders,  passed  into  Canada 
with  the  intention  of  capturing  Fort 
Maiden,  but  owing  to  insufficient  meas- 
ures, nothing  was  accomplished. 

1812.  July  17.  A  small  garrison  at 
Mackinaw,  being  ignorant  of  the  decla- 
ration of  war,  was  surprised  by  the  Brit- 
ish, and  forced  to  surrender. 

1812.  July  19.  The  U.  S.  frigate 
Constitution,  under  Capt.  Isaac  Hull,  fell 
in  with  the  British  squadron  under  Com- 
modore Brooks,  and  was  chased  for  sixty- 
four  hours,  but  managed  to  1812_  Burning 
escape  through  the  prodig-  of  MOSCOW. 
ious  efforts  of  the  American  sailors,  who, 


1800-1824.] 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 


431 


when  the  wind  died  away,  got  out  the 
small  boats  and  towed  the  Constitution 
away  from  her  pursuers  in  triumph. 

1812.  July.  The  U.  S.  brig  Nau- 
tilus fell  in  with  the  same  squadron,  and 
was  captured.  The  Nautilus  was  the 
first  vessel  taken  on  either  side,  after  the 
declaration  of  war. 

1812.  July  29.  The  British  fleet 
on  Lake  Ontario  was  repulsed  from 
Sackett's  Harbor  by  the  Oneida,  and  an 
old  32  pounder  stationed  on  shore.  In 
one  or  two  instances  a  cannon  ball  from 
the  fleet  striking  on  shore,  was  sent  back 
by  the  American  gunners  with  effect. 

1812.  July  31.  A  fight  occurred 
among  the  "  Thousand  Islands "  in  the 
night,  between  two  British  vessels  and 
two  American  boats.  The  latter  accom- 
plished their  object  of  getting  to  Ogdens- 
burg  and  taking  away  from  that  place 
six  British  merchant  schooners  to  be 
converted  into  ships-of-war  for  American 
use. 

1812.  Aug.  5.  Major  Van  Home, 
who  was  sent  out  by  Hull  from  Detroit 
River  to  meet  a  supply  party,  was  sur- 
prised and  defeated  by  a  combined  force 
of  British  and  Indians. 

1812.  Aug.  8.  Col.  Miller  was  sent 
out  to  the  relief  of  the  supply  party,  and 
having  defeated  a  party  of  British  and 
Indians,  was  pressing  forward  in  pursuit, 
when  recalled  by  Hull. 

1812.  Aug.  13.  The  U.  S.  frigate 
Essex  captured  the  British  brig  "  Alert," 
off  the  grand  banks  of  Newfoundland, 
after  a  contest  of  only  eight  minutes. 
This  was  the  first  British  national  war 
vessel  that  was  captured. 

1812.  Aug.  15.  The  evacuation  of 
Fort  Dearborn,  which  stood  on  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Chicago  took  place,  and  was 
followed  by  a  general  massacre  of  the 


garrison  upon  their  departure,  by  a  body 
of  Indians  who  had  agreed  to  escort 
Capt.  Heald  and  his  followers  in  safety 
to  Fort  Wayne.  The  fort  was  destroyed. 

1812.  Aug.  16.  The  surrender  of 
Detroit  by  Gen.  Hull  to  Gen.  Brock,  in 
charge  of  the  British  force,  was  made 
while  the  American  forces  stood  expect- 
ing the  command  to  fire  upon  the  enemy. 
Both  sides  were  equally  surprised  at  the 
white  flag  which  Gen.  Hull  ordered  dis- 
played. The  surrender  included  the 
whole  territory  of  Michigan.  Gen.  Hull 
was  afterward  tried  for  cowardice  and 
treason.  He  was  acquitted  on  the  last 
charge,  but  convicted  upon  the  first,  and 
sentenced  to  be  shot.  He  was,  however, 
recommended  for  mercy  by  the  court, 
and  was  afterward  pardoned  by  Pres- 
ident Madison. 

1812.  Aug.  19.  The  U.  S.  frigate 
Constitution  under  Capt.  Isaac  Hull, 
captured  the  British  frigate  Guerriere, 
under  Capt.  Dacres.  « Capt.  Hull  sent 
an  officer  to  take  possession  of  the 
Guerriere.  When  he  arrived  alongside, 
he  demanded  of  the  commander  of  the 
English  frigate  if  he  had  struck.  Dacres 
was  extremely  reluctant  to  make  this 
concession  in  plain  terms,  but,  with  a 
shrewdness  which  would  have  done 
honor  to  a  Yankee,  endeavored  to  evade 
the  question.  'I  do  not  know  that  it 
would  be  prudent  to  continue  the  engage- 
ment any  longer,'  said  he.  'Do  I  un- 
derstand you  to  say  that  you  have  struck  ?' 
inquired  the  American  lieutenant.  '  Not 
precisely,'  returned  Dacres,  '  but  I  don't 
know  that  it  will  be  worth  while  to  fight 
any  longer.'  '  If  you  cannot  decide,  I 
will  return  aboard,'  replied  the  Yankee, 
<and  we  will  resume  the  engagement.' 
'Why,  I  am  pretty  much  hors  de  combat 
already,'  said  Dacres;  'I  have  hardly  men 


432 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  S TR  UGGLES. 


enough  left  to  work  a  gun,  and  my  ship 
is  in  a  sinking  condition.'  '  I  wish  to 
know,  sir,'  peremptorily  demanded  the 
American  officer,  « whether  I  am  to  con- 
sider you  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  or  an 
enemy.  I  have  no  time  for  further 
parley.'  '  I  believe  there  is  now  no  alter- 
native. If  I  could  fight  longer,  I  would, 
with  pleasure ;  but  I — must — surrender — 
myself — a  prisoner  of  war! ' 

1812.  Sept.  24.  William  Henry 
Harrison  took  command  of  the  army  in 
the  northwest,  and  at  his  call  large  num- 
bers of  volunteers  flocked  together. 

1812.  Oct.  8.  Two  British  vessels 
were  captured  on  Lake  Erie  by  Lieut. 
Elliot.  The  navy  yard  was  at  Black 
Rock,  near  Buffalo,  and  the  British  ves- 
sels having  anchored  opposite,  Elliot 
crossed  the  lake  at  midnight  in  small  boats, 
and  successfully  surprised  the  unconscious 
enemy. 

1812.  Oct.  13.  The  desperate  bat- 
tle of  Queenstown  Heights  was  fought. 
The  American  forces  under  Gen.  Van 
Rensselaer  crossed  the  Niagara  River  at 
Lewiston  during  the  night,  and  were  met 
by  volleys  from  the  enemy,  but  pressing 
bravely  forward,  the  heroic  Capt.  Wool 
put  the  British  to  flight.  Gen.  Brock, 
the  British  commander,  was  killed,  and 
after  a  fearful  struggle  Capt.  Wool  ob- 
tained the  Heights.  A  band  of  savages 
now  surrounded  them,  but  Gen.  Winfield 
Scott  who  had  shortly  before  arrived,  so 
inspired  his  men  that  the  Indians  fled  in 
dismay,  and  had  reinforcements  arrived, 
the  victory  would  have  remained  with 
the  Americans.  But  the  militia  refused 
to  cross  to  the  aid  of  the  American 
troops,  who,  being  now  overwhelmed  with 
numbers,  were  forced  to  surrender,  hav- 
ing lost  in  all  1 100  men.  This  closed  the 
land  campaign  of  1812,  which  was  a 


failure  on  the   part   of    the  Americans, 
owing  to  lack  of  organization. 

1812.  Oct.  18.  The  American  sloop- 
of-war  Wasp  captured  the  British  brig 
Frolic  off  North  Carolina.  In  the  after- 
noon of  same  day  the  Wasp  and  its  prize 
were  taken  by  the  Poictiers,  a  British  ship 
of  74  guns. 

1812.  Oct.  22.  A  British  force  at 
St.  Regis  was  captured  by  the  Ameri- 
cans. Lieut.  William  L.  Marcy  took 
the  enemy's  flag  with  his  own  hand.  It 
was  the  first  land  trophy  taken. 

1812.  Oct.  25.  The  U.  S.  frigate 
United  States,  under  Capt.  Stephen  De- 
catur,  captured  the  British  frigate  Mace- 
donian, under  Capt.  Garden. 

1812.  Nov.  8.  Capt.  Chauncey  ap- 
peared on  Lake  Ontario  with  six  armed 
schooners,  blockaded  Kingston  Harbor, 
disabled  the  flag-ship  of  the  enemy,  and 
captured  several  merchant  vessels. 

1812.  Dec.  22.  Joel  Barlow,  one  of 
the  earlier  literary  men  of  the  United 
States,  died  near  Cracow,  Poland,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-seven  years.  He  is  chiefly 
known  by  his  "  Vision  of  Columbus," 
which,  published  in  1787,  brought  him  a 
wide  reputation.  He  was  born  at  Read- 
ing, Conn.,  in  1755.  Studied  law  after 
graduation  from  college,  but  because  of 
lack  of  chaplains  in  the  army  during  the 
Revolution,  he  studied  six  weeks,  was 
licensed  in  the  Congregational  ministry, 
and  joined  the  army,  where  he  did  good 
service  in  inspiring  the  troops.  He  be- 
came somewhat  of  a  politician  after  the 
war,  upon  the  resumption  of  his  law 
studies.  A  newspaper  was  established  by 
him  at  Hartford,  Conn.  He  prepared  an 
edition  of  Watts'  hymns  for  use  in  the 
churches  of  Connecticut,  and  added  a  few 
of  his  own.  He  afterward  traveled 
abroad,  and  had  some  connection  with 


1800-1824.] 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 


433 


revolutionary  movements  on  the  conti- 
nent. His  "  Columbiad,"  upon  which  he 
had  spent  long  labor,  appeared  in  1807. 
Its  merit  is  not  equal  to  that  of  the  "  Vi- 
sion of  Columbus,"  though  the  idea  was 
similar.  His  most  popular  poem  was 
upon  "  Hasty  Pudding,"  which  he  wrote 
in  France.  He  died  in  Poland,  upon  his 
way  to  meet  Napoleon,  at  the  latter's  re- 
quest, to  arrange  some  negotiations,  Bar- 
low having  been  appointed  minister  to 
France  from  the  United  States.  He 
wrote  a  poem  concerning  Napoleon,  upon 
his  death  bed. 

1812.  Dec.  29.  The  American  frig- 
ate Constitution,  under  Capt.  Bainbridge, 
captured  the  British  frigate  Java  off  the 
coast  of  Brazil.  American  privateers 
had  captured  during  the  year  250  mer- 
chantmen, and  3,000  prisoners. 

1812.  Algiers  declared  war  upon  the 
United  States. 

SEVENTH  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN. 

1812.  In  the  seventh  presidential 
campaign,  at  the  close  of  this  year,  the 
democrat-republicans  re-nominated  James 
Madison  of  Virginia,  for  president,  and 
Elbridge  Gerry  of  Massachusetts,  for 
vice-president.  These  nominations  were 
made  at  a  congressional  caucus  held  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  in  May,  1812.  The 
re-nomination  of  Mr.  Madison  was  due 
to  the  withdrawal  of  his  opposition  to  the 
war.  The  opposition,  in  a  convention  at 
New  York  representing  eleven  states, 
the  first  of  the  kind  ever  held,  nominated 
DeWitt  Clinton  of  New  York,  for  presi- 
dent, and  Jared  Ingersoll  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, for  vice-president.  The  events  of 
the  year  caused  some  re-arrangement  of 
political  parties  in  the  new  division 
caused  by  the  war.  Madison  and  Gerry 
were  elected.  Out  of  218  electoral  votes 


Madison  received    128,  and 'Gerry    131 
while  Clinton  received  89,  and  Ingersoll, 
86  votes. 

1812.  The  Philadelphia  Company 
for  Life  Insurance,  the  first  in  the  coun- 
try for  the  public  generally,  was  estab- 
lished. A  great  prejudice  had  existed 
against  putting  insurance  upon  life.  This 
company  began  with  a  capital  of  $500,- 
ooo,  and  used  Dr.  Price's  tables,  which  are 
now  discarded. 

"UNCLE  SAM:' 

1812.  It  was  during  this  year  that 
this  phrase  originated  as  a  title  for  the 
United  States.  A  large  amount  of  pro- 
visions was  bought  at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  by 
Elbert  Anderson,  a  United  States  con- 
tractor. The  goods  were  inspected  at 
Troy  by  two  bi'others  named  Ebenezer 
and  Samuel  Wilson,  the  latter  of  whom 
was  known  among  all  the  workmen  as 
Uncle  Sam.  The  packages  of  goods 
were  marked,  E.  A. — U.  S.  A  witty 
workman  was  asked  what  these  letters 
meant,  and  jocosely  said  it  must  be  El- 
bert  Anderson  and  Uncle  Sam.  The 
latter  term  soon  came  to  be  in  current 
use  for  the  United  States. 


1812.  Two  girls  named  Rebecca 
Bates  and  Sarah  Winsor,  frightened  away 
a  British  expedition  which  was  landing 
to  destroy  Scituate,  Mass.  They  got  a 
drum  and  a  fife,  and  while  making  all  the 
noise  upon  them  they  could,  marched 
along  behind  a  headland  toward  the  old 
lighthouse.  The  British  soldiers,  who 
had  already  begun  their  work  of  destruc- 
tion, thought  that  an  army  was  coming 
against  them,  and  flying  to  their  boats, 
tumbled  into  them,  and  pulled  for  the  ship 
as  fast  as  possible.  Two  girls  had  van- 


434 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


quished  British  regulars.     The  place  was 
preserved  from  further  harm. 

1812.  Nine  loads  of  anthracite  coal 
were  brought  to  Philadelphia  by  George 
Schoemaker,  of  Pottsville.  He  sold  two 
loads  of  it  to  a  Mr.  White  who  owned  a 
manufactory  and  tried,  with  his  workmen, 
for  a  half  day  to  make  the  coal  burn.  He 
gave  it  up  in  disgust,  shut  the  furnace 
door,  and  went  home  to  dinner.  When 
he  returned  he  was  amazed  to  find  the 
furnace  door  red-hot,  and  the  coal  burn- 
ing finely.  The  secret  was  discovered. 
Other  men  who  bought  a  part  of  Mr. 
Schoemaker's  coal  failed  to  make  it  burn 
and  got  out  a  writ  for  his  arrest,  upon  the 
charge  of  selling  them  stones. 

1812.  Perpetual  motion  was  claimed 
to  have  been  invented  by  a  man  named 
RedhifTer,  but  acute  observers  soon  dis- 
covered a  concealed  motor.  They  sug- 
gested tests  which  the  proprietor  refused 
to  permit.  Robert  Fulton  visited  the 
machine,  charged  the  owner  with  fraud, 
and  tearing  down  a  part  of  the  wall  of 
the  room,  traced  a  string  to  the  upper 
floor  where  an  old  man  was  found  seated 
diligently  at  work  turning  the  system  of 
weights  and  wheels  exhibited  below. 
The  crowd  were  so  incensed  that  they 
destroyed  the  apparatus. 

1812.  The  Spanish  surrendered 
Montevideo,  and  by  so  doing  virtually 
insured  the  independence  of  the  prov- 
ince which  is  now  the  Argentine  Re- 
public. 

1812.  The  first  newspaper  in  Span- 
ish America  was  established  in  Chili. 

1813.  Jan.    1.      Freedom   was   de- 
clared  to   every   child   born   in    Buenos 
Ayres  after  this  date. 

1813.  Jan.  22.  River  Raisin  Massa- 
cre. A  severe  battle  was  fought  near 
the  River  Raisin  at  Frenchtown,  south 


of  Detroit,  between  a  British  force  under 
Gen.  Proctor,  and  an  American  force 
under  Gen.  Winchester.  The  American 
force  was  cut  to  pieces,  and  the  most  brutal 
atrocities  committed  by  the  savages  with 
whom  the  woods  thronged.  Proctor 
was  suspected  of  encouraging  their  bar- 
barities, and  long  afterward  the  war-cry 
of  the  Americans  was  "  Remember  the 
River  Raisin." 

1813.  January.  A  "sovereign  as- 
sembly" was  constituted  over  the  prov- 
ince of  Buenos  Ayres,  and  held  its  session 
at  Tucman. 

1813.  Feb.  22.  Ogdensburg  was  in- 
vaded by  a  British  force  of  eight  hun- 
dred men  who  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence 
on  the  ice.  Major  Forsythe's  small 
force  was  overpowered  in  a  short  time, 
the  place  was  plundered,  and  the  bar- 
racks and  several  schooners  were  burned. 

1813.  Feb.  24.  The  U.  S.  brig  Hor- 
net under  Capt.  Lawrence,  sunk  the 
British  brig  Peacock  off  the  mouth  of  the 
Demerara  River.  The  battle  had  only 
raged  fifteen  minutes  when  the  Peacock 
began  to  sink  so  rapidly  that  a  number 
of  the  wounded  were  carried  down  with 
her. 

1813.  March  4.  James  Madison  of 
Virginia,  was  inaugurated  president  of 
the  United  States,  and  Elbridge  Gerry  of. 
Massachusetts,  vice-president. 

1813.  The  mediation  of  Russia  was 
offered  to  the  United  States  and  accepted, 
but  England  refused  to  allow  it. 

1813.  April  27.  The  capture  of 
York,  now  Toronto,  was  effected  by  an 
American  force  from  Sackett's  Harbor, 
under  Gen.  Zebulon  M.  Pike.  After  a 
fierce  contest  the  British,  unable  to  hold 
the  fort,  fired  a  magazine  of  powder  near 
the  lake,  causing  a  terrible  loss  of  life. 
Gen.  Pike  was  mortally  wounded  by  the 


1800-1824.] 

explosion,  but  lived  long  enough  to  recog- 
nize the  British  flag  when  it  was  brought 
to  him,  and  requested  that  he  might  die 
with  it  under  his  head.  The  American 
loss  was  286.  The  British  was  140,  be- 
sides prisoners. 

1813.  May  1.  Siege  of  Fort  Meigs. 
Fort  Meigs,  which  had  been  built  at  Mai- 
den by  Gen.  Harrison,  was  attacked  by 
the  British  and  Indians  under  Proctor 
and  Tecumseh.  An  American  reinforce- 
ment under  Gen.  Clay  attacked  the  be- 
siegers, and  although  one  detachment  was 
cut  off  and  captured,  such  was  the  bravery 
of  the  remaining  troops  that  the  Indians 
soon  deserted,  and  the  British  gave  up 
the  siege.  The  Americans  who  had 
been  taken  prisoners  were  treated  with 
great  severity  until  Tecumseh  interfered 
in  their  behalf. 

1813.  May  27.  The  capture  of  Tort 
George  on  the  Canada  frontier  was  ef- 
fected by  an  American  force  under  Gen- 
erals Chandler  and  Winder. 

1813.  May  28.  The  British  attacked 
Sackett's  Harbor,  knowing  that  a  part 
of  the  troops  had  been  withdrawn  at  the 
capture  of  Toronto,  but  were  so  success- 
fully repulsed  that  their  retreat  turned 
into  a  disorderly  flight. 

1813.  June  1.  «'  Don't  Give  up  the 
Ship."  The  U.  S.  frigate  Chesapeake, 
under  Capt.  Lawrence,  was  captured  in 
single  combat  by  the  British  ship  Shan- 
non, under  Capt.  Brookes,  off  Boston 
harbor.  In  a  few  minutes  the  Chesa- 
peake was  terribly  disabled,  and  the 
brave  commander  mortally  wounded. 
As  he  was  carried  below  he  said,  "  Tell 
the  men  to  fire  faster,  and  don't  give  up 
the  ship."  This  utterance  became  a 
watchword. 

1813.  June  3.  Two  American 
schooners  on  Lake  Champlain  were 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 


435 


captured  by  British  gunboats,  aided  by 
the  garrison  at  Isle  aux  Noix.  The  con- 
trol of  the  lake  was  retained  by  the  Brit- 
ish for  the  rest  of  the  season. 

1813.  June  6.  The  battle  of  Stony 
Creek  near  the  west  end  of  Lake  Onta- 
rio was  fought,  and  resulted  in  the  repulse 
of  the  British. 

1813.  June  22.  An  invasion  of  Nor- 
folk, Virginia,  was  attempted  by  the 
British  who  had  been  committing  depre- 
dations all  along  the  southern  coast, 
hoping  to  draw  away  the  American 
forces  from  the  north.  They  were  suc- 
cessfully repulsed,  and  gave  up  all  hope  of 
gaining  Norfolk  or  the  navy -yard. 

1813.  June  24.  The  surrender  of 
the  American  force  of  600  men  who  had 
been  sent  out  to  capture  the  British  post 
at  Beaver  Dams,  was  caused  by  a  woman 
who  walked  nineteen  miles  to  acquaint 
the  British  commander  with  the  plan,  who 
immediately  secured  the  alliance  of  a 
force  of  Indians. 

1813.  June  25.  Admiral  Cockburn, 
angered  by  his  failure  at  Norfolk,  at- 
tacked Hampton  village,  and  soon  over- 
powered its  defenders,  who  fought  most 
bravely,  at  great  odds.  Upon  the  en- 
trance of  the  British,  Admiral  Cockburn 
allowed  the  soldiers  to  perform  such  bar- 
barities upon  the  unprotected  inhabitants, 
that  it  has  surrounded  his  name  with 
perpetual  dishonor. 

1813.  July  31.  Plattsburgand  Swan- 
ton  were  invaded  by  a  British  force  from 
Canada.  The  barracks  were  burned, 
and  a  quantity  of  supplies  taken. 

1813.  Aug.  1.  An  assault  upon 
Fort  Stephenson  at  Lower  Sandusky, 
was  made  by  Proctor  and  his  Indian 
allies.  The  garrison  was  commanded 
by  Maj.  George  Croghan,  who  was  but 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  had  160 


436 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


men  and  one  piece  of  artillery.  Proctor 
demanded  instant  surrender,  with  threat 
of  massacre  if  taken  by  assault.  Crog- 
han  sent  back  the  brave  reply,  that 
when  taken  there  would  be  nobody  left 
alive  to  massacre.  The  enemy  were  re- 
pulsed with  a  loss  of  120  men,  while  the 
Americans  had  but  one  killed.  Great 
honor  was  bestowed  upon  the  brave 
young  commander. 

1813.  Aug.  14.  The  U.  S.  brig  Argus, 
after  a  successful  cruise  in  which  she  had 
captured  twenty  British  merchantmen, 
was  herself  taken  by  the  British  brig 
Pelican. 

1813.  Aug.  30.  The  massacre  of 
Fort  Mimms,  Alabama,  was  perpetrated 
by  the  Creek  Indians  under  their  chief 
Weatherford.  About  300  persons  per- 
ished. The  British  had  offered  $5.00  for 
every  scalp. 

1813.  Sept.  5.  The  U.  S.  brig  En- 
terprise, under  Lieut.  Burrows,  took  the 
British  brig  Boxer,  under  Capt.  Blythe, 
in  Portland  Harbor,  Maine.  The  Boxer 
surrendered  in  four  minutes.  Both  com- 
manders were  mortally  wounded,  and 
were  laid  side  by  side  after  their  deaths, 
in  the  cemetery  at  Portland. 

1813.  Sept.  10.  Perry's  Victory. 
Capt.  Perry,  with  a  fleet  of  nine  Ameri- 
can vessels,  met  the  British  fleet  on  Lake 
Erie,  in  deadly  battle.  For  two  hours 
the  flag  ship  Lawrence  received  the  force 
of  the  battle,  until  but  one  mast  remained 
standing.  The  stars  and  stripes  still 
hung  at  its  top.  Perry  was  set  upon 
victory,  and  crossing  in  a  small  boat, 
under  the  incessant  fire  of  the  enemy,  to 
the  Niagara,  which  had  been  compara- 
tively uninjured,  he  assailed  the  British 
with  such  fresh  force  that  in  eight  min- 
utes they  surrendered.  Perry  went  back 
to  the  battered  decks  of  the  Lawrence  to 


receive  the  British  commander.  Honors 
and  medals  were  showered  upon  the 
young  hero. 

1813.  Sept.  18.  The  American  fleet 
on  Lake  Ontario,  under  Chauncey,  at- 
tacked the  British  fleet  under  Sir  James 
Yeo,  who  had  boasted  that  he  wished  to 
«  fight  the  Yankees."  The  British  were 
soon  so  broken  up  that  they  made  a  re- 
treat toward  Kingston. 

1813.  Sept.  23.  A  stratagem  of 
Com.  Bodgers  enabled  him  to  take  the 
British  brig  Highflyer  without  a  shot. 
Rodgers  was  in  command  of  the  U.  S. 
frigate  President,  and  had  been  cruising 
for  several  weeks  when  he  came  near  the 
Highflyer,  and  raising  the  British  stand- 
ard he  replied  to  signals  from  the  High- 
flyer that  his  vessel  was  the  Sea-Horse. 
The  commander  of  the  Highflyer  then 
came  on  board,  and  finding  his  mistake, 
was  obliged  to  surrender.  In  the  entire 
cruise  the  President  had  taken  eleven 
merchantmen  and  three  hundred  pris- 
oners. 

1813.  Oct.  5.  The  battle  of  the 
Thames,  near  Detroit,  was  fought  be- 
tween Proctor  and  Harrison.  Harrison 
was  encouraged  to  attempt  the  recovery 
of  Detroit  by  Perry's  victory  on  Lake 
Erie.  The  British  forces  were  almost 
entirely  taken  captive.  Proctor  and  his 
staff  fled.  Tecumseh  was  slain.  This 
victory  gained  all  that  Hull  had  surren- 
dered at  the  opening  of  the  war. 

TECUMSEH. 

1813.  Oct.  5.  Tecumseh,  the  Shawnee 
chief  who  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  the 
Thames,  was  forty-five  years  of  age, 
having  been  born  in  1768  near  Spring- 
field, Ohio.  He  was  prominent  in  the 
hostilities  at  the  close  of  the  last  century, 
but  the  idea  of  opposing  the  whites 


1800-1824.] 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT, 


437 


seems  to  have  taken  deepest  hold  upon 
his  mind  after  1805,  in  which  year  his 
brother,  Elskwatawa,  began  his  career  as 
«  The  Prophet."  They  labored  together 
unceasingly  to  form  a  great  union  among 
all  western  Indians.  They  were  making 
some  headway,  but  the  vigor  of  Gen. 
Harrison  restrained  their  plans.  The 
council  at  Vincennes,  and  the  battle  of 
Tippecanoe  in  1811,  were  alike  discour- 
aging to  the  Indians.  Tecumseh  seized 
upon  the  war  with  England  as  a  favora- 
ble opportunity,  and  steadily  fought  with 
the  British  forces.  He  was  made  a  brig- 
adier-general by  British  authority,  and 
wore  the  uniform  of  his  rank.  He  had 
been  a  great  aid  to  Proctor,  and  fell, 
while  fighting  desperately.  He  had  all 
the  determination  found  in  the  greatest 
Indian  leaders  of  our  history,  but  was 
without  many  of  the  fiercer  qualities. 
At  one  time  he  killed  a  Chippewa  chief 
because  he  would  not  stop  massacring 
the  whites  at  the  close  of  a  battle.  Gen. 
William  Tecumseh  Sherman  was  named 
because  of  his  father's  liking  for  this 
brave  and  kind-hearted  Indian  warrior. 


1813.     Nov.  3.     The  Creek  Indians 

•were  defeated  near  Jacksonville,  Ala- 
bama, by  an  American  force  under  Gen. 
Coffee,  who  surrounded  the  savages  and 
overwhelmed  them  completely. 

1813.  Nov.  8.  The  Indians  were 
defeated  at  Talladega,  Alabama,  by  a 
force  under  Gen.  Jackson. 

1813.  Nov.  11.  The  battle  of  Chrys- 
ler's Field  was  fought  near  Williams- 
burg,  Canada.  At  the  end  of  five  hours 
the  Americans  were  driven  from  the 
field,  benumbed  with  snow  ^nd  sleet. 
They  lost  339,  killed  and  wounded.  It 
<vas  thought  beet  to  go  into  winter  quar- 
ters at  French  Mills,  on  the  Salmon 


River.     Thus  closed  the  attempted  inva- 
sion of  Canada. 

1813.  Nov.  13.  Mexico  Declared 
Independent.  A  congress  called  by 
Gen.  Morelos,  who  had  taken  up  the 
struggle  where  Hidalgo  had  left  it  at  his 
death,  declared  Mexico  independent. 
Gen.  Morelos  was  a  devoted  patriot,  and 
like  Hidalgo,  had  been  a  priest.  There 
was  now  another  forward  movement  in 
that  country. 

1813.  Nov.  23.  The  Indians  were 
defeated  in  Lowndes  county,  Alabama, 
by  a  thousand  men  under  Gen.  Claiborne. 

1813.  Nov.  29.  The  Indians  were 
defeated  at  Antossi,  on  the  Tallapoosa 
River,  by  Gen.  John  Floyd,  with  nine 
hundred  men.  The  savages  had  thought 
the  spot  they  chose  to  be  "  holy  ground," 
upon  which  no  white  man  could  stand 
and  live. 

1813.  Dec.  10.  Newark,  Canada, 
was  burned  by  the  Americans.  The 
British  in  retaliation  seized  Fort  Niagara, 
put  part  of  the  garrison  to  death,  and 
burned  many  villages  along  the  frontier. 
Buffalo  was  wholly  destroyed.  These 
dark  events  closed  the  campaign  of  1813 
in  the  north. 

1813.  A  bomb-shell  was  devised  by 
Robert  L.  Stevens,  who  sold  it  to  the  U. 
S.  government  for  an  annuity. 

1813.  The  first  stereotyping  in 
America  was  done  at  the  foundry  of  D. 
and  G.  Bruce,  William  Street,  New 
York,  and  also  at  the  works  of  John 
Watts.  The  first  work  issued  was  by  the 
latter,  and  was  "  The  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines' Catechism."  The  first  Bible  ste- 
reotyped in  America,  was  by  the  Bruces 
in  1815. 

1813.  The  first  cloth  weaving  by 
power  looms  in  America,  was  at  a  fac- 
tory built  at  Waltham,  Mass.,  by  Francis 


438 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES .    ' 


C.  Lowell  and  Patrick  T.  Jackson,  of 
Boston.  There  was  probably  at  the  time 
no  other  mill  in  the  world  which  could 
convert  the  raw  cotton  into  finished 
fabric  in  the  same  factory.  The  power 
looms  set  up  were  the  invention  of  the 
proprietors.  The  machine  cost  about 
$300,  and  was  constructed  by  Paul 
Moody  of  Amesbury.  The  English 
power  loom  had  been  kept  secret.  No 
drawings  of  it  had  ever  been  seen.  All 
weaving  in  America  had  previously  been 
done  by  the  hand  loom. 

1813.     A    duel   was   fought  between 
Gen.    Andrew    Jackson     and     Senator. 
Thomas  H.  Benton. 

1813.  Chili  was  invaded  by  a  strong 
Spanish  force   under   Gen.  Paroja,  who 
was  twice  defeated  by  patriots,  but  after- 
ward, with  additional  troops,  gained  the 
supremacy,  and  again  reduced  the  prov- 
ince to  subjection. 

1814.  Feb.  13.     A  Mexican  patriot 
named    Mariano  Matamoros,  similar  to 
Hidalgo  in  ability  and    sympathy,  was 
executed  at  Valladolid.      His  memory  is 
highly  esteemed  in  Mexico. 

1814.  Feb.  14.  The  U.  S.  frigate 
Constitution,  under  Capt.  Charles  Stew- 
art, captured  the  British  brig  Pictou  off 
the  coast  of  Surinam,  and  returning 
north,  was  chased  by  two  British  men-of- 
war,  but  finally  found  refuge  in  the 
harbor  of  Marblehead,  Mass. 

1814.  March  .27.  Battle  of  Horse- 
Shoe  Bend.  The  death  blow  to  the 
Creek  Indians  was  given  by  Gen.  Jack- 
son in  the  battle  of  Horse-Shoe  Bend, 
on  the  Tallapoosa.  The  Indians  en- 
trenched themselves  on  the  peninsula, 
but  their  breastworks  were  carried,  and 
as  they  refused  to  surrender,  they  were 
shot  down  mercilessly,  until  nearly  six 
hundred  had  perished.  The  remnant 


that  escaped  soon  appeared  in  Fort 
Jackson,  dejected,  and  broken  in  spirit. 
Weatherford,  the  old  chief,  told  Jackson 
that  he  had  done  the  Americans  all  the 
harm  in  his  power,  and  had  his  support 
remained  firm,  he  would  have  done  more. 
Now,  however,  he  gave  himself  up  to  be 
treated  as  the  victors  pleased.  Jackson 
humanely  spared  his  life,  and  treated  him 
kindly. 

1814.  March  28.  A  desperate  naval 
battle  was  fought  between  the  U.  S. 
frigate  Essex  and  two  British  vessels,  in 
the  harbor  of  Valparaiso,  Chili.  The 
Essex  had  been  blockaded  for  nearly  a 
•year,  and  finally,  in  trying  to  run  the 
blockade,  was  disabled  by  a  squall,  and 
then  attacked  by  the  Phoabe  and  Cherub. 
With  his  vessel  almost  a  total  wreck,  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  of  his  men  lying 
dead  around  him,  Capt.  Porter  at  last 
drew  down  his  flag. 

1814.  April  29.  The  U.  S.  vessel 
Peacock,  under  Capt.  Warrington,  cap- 
tured the  British  vessel  Epervier,  which 
had  on  board  $i  18,000  in  specie. 

1814.  May  1.  The  first  steam 
ferry  between  New  York  and  Long 
Island  began  running.  It  was  the  in- 
vention of  Robert  Fulton,  and  cost 
$33,000.  It  was  named  the  "Nassau." 

1814.  May  5.  Oswego,  which  was 
guarded  by  a  small  garrison  of  three 
hundred  men,  was  taken  by  the  British, 
whose  object  was  to  seize  some  supplies 
at  the  falls  of  the  Oswego  River. 

1814.  June  28.  The  U.  S.  brig 
Wasp  captured  the  British  sloop  Rein- 
deer, and  Capt.  Blakely  ordered  her  to 
be  burned. 

1814.  «June.  Extensive  depreda- 
tions were  carried  on  along  the  New 
England  coast,  by  British  vessels.  Sea- 
port towns  were  destroyed,  together 


1800-1824.] 

with  much  valuable  property.  Eastern 
Maine  was  for  a  time  in  British  control. 

1814.  July  3.  Fort  Erie,  opposite 
Buffalo,  surrendered  to  an  American 
force  under  Gen.  Scott  and  Gen.  Ripley, 
who  had  crossed  the  river  in  the  night. 

1814.  July  5.  The  battle  of  Chip- 
pewa was  fought  between  Gen.  Riall 
of  the  British,  and  Gen.  Scott  of  the 
American  troops.  The  enemy  were 
entirely  cut  up  and  fled  precipitately, 
tearing  up  the  bridges  over  which  they 
passed.  The  British  lost  604  men,  and 
the  Americans  355. 

1814.  July  25.  The  battle  of  Lun- 
dy's  Lane,  or  Niagara  Falls,  resulted  in 
the  defeat  of  the  British.  After  the  vic- 
tory of  Chippewa,  which  chafed  the 
British,  Drummond  determined  to  drive 
the  Americans  from  Canada,  and  accord- 
ingly landed  at  Lewiston.  Gen.  Brown 
sent  out  Gen.  Scott  to  meet  him.  Sup- 
posing that  a  small  portion  only  of  thie 
British  army  was  near,  Gen.  Scott  found 
himself  confronted  with  a  larger  force 
than  at  Chippewa.  He  realized  the  peril 
of  his  men,  and  yet  determined  to  fight. 
Sending  a  small  detachment  to  the  rear 
of  the  British,  which  kept  back  some  re- 
inforcements, he  maintained  his  position 
till  Gen.  Brown  arrived,  with  the  whole 
American  army.  The  battery  on  the 
hill  was  taken,  and  after  the  enemy  were 
repulsed,  the  Americans  fell  back  to  Chip- 
pewa, under  Gen.  Ripley.  Generals 
Scott  and  Brown  were  each  severely 
wounded.  Had  Ripley  obeyed  orders 
and  been  on  the  battle  field  in  the  morn- 
ing, the  victory  would  have  remained 
undisputed.  He  failed  to  appear,  and 
the  British  retook  their  artillery.  The 
British  loss  was  878  men,  and  the  Amer- 
ican was  852. 

1814.   Aug.  9-12.   Stonington,  Conn., 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 


439 

was  bombarded  by  the  British.  Sir 
Thomas  Hardy  first  sent  the  inhabitants 
word  of  his  intentions,  and  gave  them  an 
hour  in  which  to  leave.  No  one  able 
to  bear  arms  left,  but  so  bravely  defended 
the  place  that  on  the  I2th  the  squadron 
retired. 

1814.  Aug.  15.  An  unsuccessful 
assault  upon  Fort  Erie  was  made  by  the 
British,  who  lost  962  men,  while  the 
Americans  lost  only  84. 

1814.  Aug.  24.  The  battle  of 
Bladensburg,  four  miles  from  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.,  between  an  English  force 
which  had  invaded  the  country  by  way 
of  the  seacoast,  and  an  American  force, 
resulted  in  the  retreat  of  the  latter,  after 
which  the  victors  pursued  their  way 
without  obstruction  toward  Washington. 

1814.  Aug.  24.  Burning  of  Wash- 
ington. In  the  evening  the  British 
troops  under  Gen.  Ross,  entered  Wash- 
ington, and  at  once  began  to  plunder  the 
city.  The  public  buildings  were  almost 
entirely  burned,  and  during  the  night  the 
conflagration  was  very  extensive.  The 
capitol  was  sacked,  and  the  library  which 
was  being  accumulated,  ruthlessly  de- 
stroyed. Mrs.  Madison,  wife  of  the 
President,  saved  in  her  flight  a  portrait  of 
Washington,  and  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence. This  wanton  destruction 
of  property  was  regretted  by  the  greater 
part  of  the  English  nation.  Late  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  25th,  a  terrible  tempest 
swept  over  the  place,  and  amid  the  roar 
of  the  fire  and  storm  the  British  left  the 
place.  The  national  loss  was  estimated 
at  $2,184,282.  Several  hundred  thou- 
sands of  dollars  worth  of  private  property 
were  also  destroyed. 

1814.  Aug.  27.  Alexandria  was 
assailed  by  a  part  of  the  British  fleet 
under  Commodore  Gordon.  The  city 


440 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


was  without  defence,  and  was  obliged  to 
submit  to  the  plundering  of  the  enemy. 

1814.  August.  Negotiations  of 
peace  were  begun,  but  were  interrupted 
during  the  autumn  by  the  demands  of 
England. 

1814.  Sept.  1.  The  U.  S.  vessel 
Wasp  captured  the  British  vessel  Avon, 
but  was  soon  compelled  to  give  it  up 
again  by  the  arrival  of  the  Avon's  con- 
voys. A  few  months  later  the  Wasp 
disappeared,  and  was  never  heard  from. 

1814.  Sept.  6.  The  battle  of  the 
stone  mill  near  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.,  re- 
sulted in  the  repulse  of  the  British  by  a 
small  company  of  musketmen  stationed 
in  the  mill. 

1814.  Sept.  11.  Macdonough's  Vic- 
tory. Macdonough,  who  was  anchored 
with  a  small  fleet  in  Plattsburg  Bay, 
gained  the  victory  over  the  British  squad- 
ron which  came  into  it  to  destroy  him. 
After  two  hours'  conflict  all  the  vessels 
were  so  shattered  that  Macdonough  said 
there  was  not  a  sound  mast  in  either 
squadron.  The  British  loss  much  ex- 
ceeded the  American.  At  the  same  time 
with  this  naval  action  the  land  forces 
were  struggling  together,  and  when  the 
news  of  the  surrender  of  the  British  fleet 
was  spread,  the  British  General  Prevost 
lost  all  courage,  and  hastily  organized  a 
retreat  which  soon  turned  into  a  flight. 
This  ended  military  movements  on  the 
north. 

1814.  Sept.  12.  Advance  on  Balti- 
more. The  British  vessels  appeared  off 
Patapsco  Bay,  prepared  for  the  capture 
of  Baltimore.  In  a  few  hours  the  troops 
under  Gen.  Ross  had  landed,  and  taken 
up  their  march  for  the  city.  At  the 
same  time  the  fleet  prepared  to  bombard 
Fort  McHenry.  Gen.  Strieker  was  sent 
out  to  meet  the  British  land  force,  and  a 


shot  from  one  of  his  men  killed  Ross  at 
the  head  of  his  troops.  A  severe  engage- 
ment followed,  when  Strieker  fell  back 
for  reinforcements.  The  British  were 
left  on  the  field. 

1814.  Sept.  13.  A  constant  bom- 
bardment of  Fort  McHenry  was  kept 
up  for  twenty-five  hours,  but  without  ef- 
fect. The  land  troops  were  also  foiled  in 
their  attempt  on  Baltimore,  and  on  the 
next  morning  the  firing  ceased. 

THE  STAR  SPANGLED  BANNER. 

1814.  Sept.  13.  Our  national  lyric 
had  its  birth  during  this  bombardment. 
Dr.  Beans  of  Upper  Marlborough,  had 
been  taken  prisoner  and  carried  on  ship- 
board by  the  British  when  their  troops 
had  finished  their  raid  upon  Washington. 
He  was  universally  esteemed,  and  there 
was  a  great  desire  to  obtain  his  release. 
It  was  finally  arranged  that  Mr.  Francis 
S.  Key  should  visit  the  British  vessels 
and  make  the  request.  Mr.  Skinner  of 
Baltimore,  accompanied  Mr.  Key.  The 
request  was  granted,  but  the  three  Amer- 
icans were  detained  on  board  because  of 
the  coming  attack  on  Baltimore.  It  can 
be  faintly  imagined  what  their  feelings 
were  during  the  furious  cannonade  of 
Fort  McHenry.  The  darkness  wore  on 
interminably.  The  roar  of  guns  made 
the  night  tremble,  and  the  flashes  at  their 
discharge  threw  a  lurid  gleam  across  the 
water.  The  fort  did  not  reply,  and  it 
could  not  be  told  whether  the  old  flag 
was  still  flying  in  its  place.  The  dawn 
was  anxiously  awaited.  Mr.  Key  walked 
up  and  down  the  vessel's  deck  and  com- 
posed the  song  which  has  had  a  national 
acceptance.  When  the  light  of  morning 
was  sufficient  it  revealed  to  his  eyes  the 
fact  that  "  our  flag  was  still  there."  The 
long  suspense  was  passed,  and  the  coun- 


1800-1824] 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 


441 


try  had  a  possession  of  great  value.  At 
the  close  of  the  ineffectual  bombardment 
the  three  friends  went  ashore,  and  the 
British  sailed  away.  Since  then,  every 
part  of  our  country  has  known  and  sung 
that 

"The  Star  Spangled  Banner  in  triumph  doth  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free,  and  the  home  of  the  brave." 


1814.  Sept.  15.  The  disappointed 
British  withdrew  from  Baltimore  by 
land  and  by  sea,  thwarted  in  what  they 
had  thought  to  be  an  easy  achievement. 
At  Montreal  the  proposed  rejoicing  over 
the  capture  of  Washington  had  been 
postponed  till  the  news  of  the  fall  of  Bal- 
timore should  also  reach  them. 

1814.  Sept.  15.  An  attack  on  Fort 
Bowyer  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Mobile 
Bay,  was  made  by  land  and  water.  The 
British  were  soon  repulsed,  with  quite  a 
serious  loss. 

1814.  Sept.  17.  A  battle  near  Fort 
Erie  was  fought,  and  resulted  in  the  de- 
feat of  the  British.  The  fort  for  which 
the  British  had  contended  so  long,  still 
remained  in  American  hands. 

FIRST  MEXICAN  CONSTITUTION. 

1814.  Oct.  22.  The  national  con- 
gress, which  had  been  summoned  in 
Mexico  by  Gen.  Morelos,  proclaimed  a 
Constitution  Apatzingan.  In  the  mean- 
time, military  movements  were  continued. 


1814.  Oct.  29.  The  first  steam  war- 
vessel  ever  built,  named  Fulton  the  First, 
was  launched  at  New  York,  and  was  the 
invention  of  Robert  Fulton.  It  was  156 
feet  long,  56  feet  wide,  and  had  an  engine 
of  60  inch  stroke. 

1814.  Nov.  5.  Fort  Erie  was  blown 
up  by  Gen.  Izard,  who  saw  that  further 
operations  in  Canada  would  be  useless. 


The  troops  were  withdrawn  into  New 
York. 

1814.  Nov.  7.  Gen.  Jackson  marched 
into  Pensacola,  Florida,  and  compelled 
its  surrender,  for  the  Spanish  government 
had  allowed  the  British  to  use  the  forts 
and  harbor.  When  the  surrender  took 
place,  the  latter  immediately  sailed  away. 

1814.  Nov.  13.  Elbridge  Gerry,  vice- 
president  of  the  United  States,  and  one 
of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence, died  in  his  carriage  on  his 
way  to  the  capitol,  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years.  He  was  born  at  Marblehead, 
Mass.,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College. 
He  was  connected  closely  with  revolution- 
ary movements  in  Massachusetts,  and  in 
1776  was  sent  to  the  continental  congress. 
He  did  important  service,  and  was  an 
honored  member  of  the  national  congress 
for  four  years.  In  1797  he  served  on  a 
mission  to  France  with  Pinckney  and 
Marshall.  His  character  and  ability 
were  every  way  honorable. 

1814.  Dec.  15.  The  Hartford  Con- 
vention, composed  of  twenty-six  dele- 
gates, assembled  in  secret-  council  at 
Hartford,  Conn.  The  peace  negotiations 
which  were  going  on  at  Ghent  were  far 
from  satisfactory.  The  raising  of  an 
army  by  conscription  was  proposed  by 
some  of  the  government  officers.  East- 
ern Maine  was  in  the  control  of  the 
British.  New  England  had  been  practi- 
cally ignored  by  the  general  government 
in  the  question  of  coast  defenses.  There 
was  also  a  great  financial  stress  in  New 
England.  The  legislature  of  Massa- 
chusetts requested  the  other  New  Eng- 
land States  to  join  in  a  convention  to  be 
held  at  Hartford,  "to  confer  upon  the 
subject  of  their  public  grievances."  The 
convention  met  according  to  invitation, 
and  was  composed  of  delegates  from 


442 


REVOLUTIONARY  STRUGGLES. 


Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connecti- 
cut, and  from  some  parts  of  New  Hamp* 
shire  and  Vermont.  The  session  contin- 
ued for  three  weeks,  and  resulted  in  a 
report  to  the  legislatures  of  the  several 
states  represented.  After  considering  the 
condition  of  affairs,  this  report  proposed 
several  amendments  to  the  U.  S.  consti- 
tution. It  also  suggested  that  if  these 
were  not  adopted  it  would  be  wise  to 
hold  another  convention  "to  decide  on 
the  course  which  a  crisis  so  momentous 
might  seem  to  demand."  Several  ex- 
pressions in  the  report,  taken  in  connec- 
tion with  the  secrecy  of  the  deliberations, 
were  attended  by  an  evil  impression,  on 
the  country  at  large.  The  convention 
had  its  origin  in  the  feelings  of  the  fed- 
eralists of  New  England,  and  their  party 
had  to  suffer  the  burden  of  suggested 
disruption  of  the  union.  Such  a  design 
has  been  since  disclaimed,  but  without 
ridding  the  public  mind  of  the  impression. 
The  Hartford  Convention  has  come 
down  with  an  unfortunate  reputation. 

1814.  Dec.  24.  A  treaty  of  peace  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  the  United  States 
was  signed  at  Ghent,  Belgium,  where  the 
commissioners  had  been  in  session  several 
months.  It  did  not  touch  upon  the  im- 
pressment of  seamen,  but  the  thing  was 
never  again  attempted.  It  stipulated  that 
each  nation  should  try  to  arrest  Indian 
hostilities  and  the  slave  trade.  The  Ireaty 
did  not  reach  America  till  Feb.  n. 

1814.  A  financial  panic  was  grow- 
ing upon  the  United  States.  The  U.  S. 
treasury  notes  were  seventeen  per  cent, 
below  par.  It  was  claimed  that  the  diffi- 
culty was  heightened  by  the  efforts  of 
the  peace  party,  the  leaders  of  which  in- 
duced the  Boston  banks  to  demand  that 
the  notes  on  southern  banks  then  in  their 
hands,  be  redeemed  in  specie.  They  also 


had  arrangements  with  Canadian  agents 
who  devised  means  to  buy  up  American 
specie. 

1814.  The  Columbiad,  a  long  gun 
for  throwing  shells,  was  invented  by  Col. 
Bomford  of  the  Ordnance  Department, 
and  received  universal  favor.  It  was 
afterward  improved  in  France,  with  the 
name  of  Paixhans. 

1814.  An  iron-clad  steam  vessel  was 
described  in  specifications  which  were 
patented  by  Thomas  Gregg  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

1814.  First  Steel  Engraving.  The 
process  of  decarbonizing  1814i  steam  car- 
steel  so  that  it  could  be  en-  ria"es  in  En#- 

.  •  land.    Streets  of 

graved,  was  introduced  to    London  lighted 
the   world  by  Jacob   Per-    wHhgas. 
kins  of  Newburyport,  Mass.,  who  went 
to  Philadelphia  to  perfect  the  new  art. 

1814.  The  Harmony  Society  of  But- 
ler county,  Penn.,  sold  out  isu.  Napoleon 
and  removed  to  Indiana,  «^'«'«* -»»«' 

'     of    Bourbon  re- 

where  they  settled  at  what    stored. 
they  called  New  Harmony,    %£?£% 
on     the     Wabash     River.    France. 
They  were  seeking  for  a  climate  more 
favorable  to  the  productions  which  they 
wished  to  cultivate.     They  erected  a  vil- 
lage including  manufactories,  but  withjn 
ten  years  found  that  the  climate  would 
not  permit  them  to  stay  there.     Another 
removal  was  made  to  Economy,  Penn. 

1814.  An  Isthmus  Canal.  A  decree 
was  passed  by  the  Spanish  Cortes,  au- 
thorizing a  canal  to  be  opened  across  the 
isthmus  of  Tehuantepec.  But  the  plan 
was  never  carried  out  because  of  the 
troubles  into  which  Spain  and  Mexico 
were  plunged. 

1814.  Dr.  Francia  became  sole  dic- 
tator of  Paraguay,  and  ruled  the  country 
by  his  own  word,  till  his  death  in  1840. 

1814.     French    Guiana,  S.   A.,   was 


1800-1824.] 

restored  to  the  French  government  by 
England.  Dutch  Guiana  was  given  up 
to  Holland,  although  certain  settlements 
were  retained  by  England.  About 
10,000  Maroons,  or  fugitive  slaves  from 
the  West  Indies,  live  in  this  province. 
Curagoa  was  also  restored  to  Holland, 
and  is  the  principal  Dutch  West  India 
island.  Martinique  was  given  up  to 
France.  St.  Croix  was  soon  restored  to 
the  Danes,  and  with  St.  Thomas  and  St. 
John  make  up  the  Danish  possessions  in 
the  West  Indies. 

1815.  Jan.  8.  Battle  of  New  Or- 
leans. A  great  battle  was  fought  at 
New  Orleans  between  the  British,  under 
Gen.  Packenham,  a  brother-in-law  of 
Wellington,  and  the  Americans,  under 
Gen.  Jackson.  The  former  were  making 
an  advance  on  the  city.  The  American 
troops  were  entrenched,  and  poured  a 
scathing  fire  upon  the  unprotected  British 
as  they  pressed  on  bravely  in  an  assault 
of  the  works.  Whole  platoons  were 
swept  away,  and  Gen.  Packenham  fell, 
mortally  wounded.  After  this  the  lines 
broke  into  confusion  and  fled,  losing  in 
dead,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  2600  men. 
The  American  loss  was  8  killed,  and  13 
wounded. 

1815.  Feb.  20.  Old  Ironsides.  The 
U.  S.  frigate  Constitution  captured  off 
Lisbon  two  British  war-sloops  named 
«  The  Cyane  "  and  «  The  Levant."  It 
then  sailed  for  Brazil,  and  her  commander 
first  heard  of  peace  at  Porto  Rico.  The 
Constitution  has  since  been  known  as 
"  Old  Ironsides." 

1815.  March  23.  The  U.  S.  vessel 
Hornet,  under  Capt.  Biddle,  captured  the 
British  sloop  Penguin  in  the  Southern 
Ocean,  after  a  short  but  most  desperate 
encounter. 

1815.    April  6.    A  barbarous  mas- 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 


443 


sacre  of  American  prisoners,  occurred  at 
Dartmoor  Prison,  England.  For  some 
reason  or  other  the  guards  deliberately 
shot  down  the  captives.  It  seems,  how- 
ever, to  have  been  the  result  of  some 
mistake. 

1815.  May.  The  North  African 
powers  had  again  been  capturing  Amer- 
ican vessels,  and  Com.  Decatur  was  sent 
to  the  Mediterranean  with  a  squadron. 

1815.  June  17.  Two  Algerine  ves- 
sels, one  of  them  a  frigate  1815.  BatUe  <$ 
of  forty-four  guns,  were  cap-  Waterloo.  NO- 

s^-i         poleon    banished 

tured  at  the  straits  of  Gib-    to  $t.  Helena. 
raltar  by  Com.  Decatur. 

1815.     June  28.     Com.  Decatur  hav- 
ing reached  Algiers,  made  a    1815.  Safeiy 
demand  for  the  immediate    lamp  in-vented  by 

,  .,   .  .  .          Sir  Humphrey 

surrender  of  American  pns-    £>aVj,. 
oners,    remuneration     for    all    property- 
taken,  and  renunciation  of  all  tribute  for 
the  future. 

1815.  June  30.  A  treaty  was  signed 
by  the  Dey  of  Algiers,  granting  the 
demands  of  Decatur,  who  then  sailed  to 
Tunis  and  Tripoli,  and  secured  similar 
humiliating  conditions.  The  United 
States  did  what  European  powers  had 
never  dared  to  undertake,  entirely  abol- 
ished these  piratical  enterprises. 

1815.  June  30.  The  last  shot  in  the 
war  with  England  was  fired  by  the  U.  S. 
vessel  Peacock,  under  Capt.  Warrington, 
who  captured  the  British  vessel  Nautilus 
in  the  Straits  of  Sunda.  The  next  day 
he  heard  of  the  conclusion  of  peace,  and 
gave  up  his  prize.  Sixteen  hundred  mer- 
chant vessels  belonging  to  Great  Britain 
were  taken  in  the  three  years*  The 
American  navy  had  gained  a  high  repu- 
tation, and  England  admitted  that  a  new 
power  had  appeared  on  the  seas.<  The 
American  government  expended  for  the 
war  $180,000,000. 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


1815.     Sept.  23.     A  tremendous  gale 

swept  along  the  New  England  coast. 
The  streets  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  other 
coast  cities  were  whirling  torrents  of 
water.  Houses  were  utterly  wrecked, 
shipping  was  destroyed,  cattle  killed, 
fruit  trees  rooted  up,  lives  lost,  and  gen- 
eral havoc  made.  About  eight  inches  of 
rain  fell  in  thirty-five  hours. 

1815.  An  anti-slavery  organization 
called  the  "Union  Humane  "  society,  was 
formed  at  St.  Clairsville,  Va.,  by  Ben- 
jamin Lundy. 

1815.  American  manufactures  were 
fought  by  English  traders  who  sent  over 
to  America  large  stocks  of  goods  to  be 
sold  at  auction,  for  any  price.  Lord 
Brougham  declared  in  Parliament  that 
« it  was  worth  the  while  to  incur  a  loss 
upon  the  first  exportations  in  order  to 
stifle  the  rising  manufactures  in  the  Unit- 
ed States,  which  the  war  had  forced  into 
existence,  contrary  to  the  usual  order  of 
things."  The  Americans  fell  into  the 
trap,  and  for  a  time  large  sales  of  Eng- 
lish auction  goods  were  made  in  some  of 
the  large  cities.  The  men  who  entered 
into  this  business  were  soon  met  by  re- 
verses. One  purchaser  lost  $80,000  by 
a  single  speculation. 

1815.  Brazil  was  raised  by  Portugal 
to  the  rank  of  a  kingdom.  John  VI.  be- 
came King  of  Portugal,  Algarve,  and 
Brazil. 

1815.  Dec.  22.  Gen.  Morelos,  the 
Mexican  patriot,  was  executed  in  the  City 
of  Mexico.  He  had  been  taken  in  battle 
after  almost  all  his  followers  had  fallen 
or  deserted.  For  a  time  the  Spaniards 
did  not  dare  to  advance  upon  him  to  cap- 
ture him,  such  was  his  personal  bravery. 
He  had  been  defeated  in  several  battles, 
but  clung  to  his  country's  cause.  His 
piety  was  marked,  and  entered  strongly 


into  his  patriotism.  At  his  execution  he 
offered  this  short  prayer,  "  Lord,  if  I  have 
done  well,  thou  knowest  it;  if  ill,  to  thy 
infinite  mercy  I  commend  my  soul."  He 
had  great  executive  ability,  and  there  was 
now  no  one  to  take  his  place.  For  the 
next  few  years  the  cause  of  Mexican  in- 
dependence did  not  prosper  much.  A 
mere  partisan  warfare  was  the  only  out- 
ward sign.  Victoria,  Guerrero,  Bravo, 
Rayon,  Teran,  were  disposed  of  by  de- 
feat which  drove  them  into  seclusion,  or 
by  execution.  The  cruel  Gen.  Calleja 
was  a  great  instrument  in  the  work  of 
subjection.  His  butcheries  were  very 
many.  He  was  greatly  honored  by  the 
Spanish  government.  By  1820  the  coun- 
try was  comparatively  quiet,  and  yet  in- 
dependence was  nearer  than  any  one 
dreamed. 

1816.  April.  A  second  United  States 
Bank  was  chartered.  Its  capital  was  to 
be  $35,000,000,  of  which  the  government 
was  to  take  $7,000,000.  The  charter 
was  to  run  twenty-five  years. 

1816.  July  9.  The  United  Prov- 
inces of  La  Plata,  S.  A.,  were  declared 
independent. 

1816.  November.  The  first  savings 
bank  in  America,  called  "  The  Philadel- 
phia Savings  Fund  Society,"  was  organ- 
ized. Andrew  Bayard  was  chosen  pres- 
ident of  it.  It  opened  for  business  Dec. 
2d.  Another  was  founded  in  Boston  also, 
which  was  incorporated  Dec.  13,  under 
the  name  "  The  Provident  Institution  for 
Savings."  The  latter  received  any  sum 
amounting  to  $  i  .00  or  more,  and  paid  in- 
terest on  $5.00  or  more.  Another  was 
soon  established  in  New  York,  and  in 
1818  one  was  founded  in  Baltimore. 

1816.  Dec.  11.  Indiana  was  the 
nineteenth  state  to  be  received  into  the 
union.  It  has  an  area  of  33,809  square 


1800-1824.] 

miles,  and  a  population  in  1880  of  1,978,- 
358  persons.  It  is  known  as  the  "  Hoo- 
sier  State." 

1816.  December.  The  American 
Colonization  Society  was  organized  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  by  southern  gentle- 
men. Its  object  was  to  colonize  the 
free  persons  of  color  residing  in  the 
United  States,  in  some  country  deemed 
expedient  by  congress.  The  society  was 
favored  by  all  pro-slavery  men,  and  at 
first  by  anti-slavery  men.  But  the  latter 
soon  found  that  the  question  of  the  moral 
character  of  slavery  was  not  to  be 
brought  up  for  consideration  at  any  time. 
Therefore,  they  fell  off.  The  churches 
largely  supported  it.  It  was  afterward 
greatly  condemned  by  abolitionists.  Libe- 
ria was  founded  on  the  west  coast  of 
Africa,  but  not  very  successfully  at  first. 

EIGHTH  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN. 

1816.  In  the  eighth  presidential  cam- 
paign during  the  autumn  of  this  year,  the 
democrat-republicans  nominated  by  a  con- 
gressional caucus,  James  Monroe  of  Vir- 
ginia, for  president,  and  Daniel  D.  Tomp- 
kins  of  New  York,  for  vice-president. 
The  federalists  nominated  Rufus  King 
of  New  York,  for  president,  and  John 
E.  Howard,  for  vice-president.  Out  of 
221  electoral  votes,  Monroe  and  Tomp- 
kins  received  183.  Of  the  opposition, 
King  received  34  votes,  and  Howard  22. 
The  remaining  votes  for  vice-president 
were  scattering.  The  Federal  party  had 
almost  ceased  to  exist. 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 


445 


1816.     A  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  was 

instituted  in  New  York  city,  under  the 
name  of  Prince  Regent  Lodge,  but  this, 
like  the  attempt  in  1806,  soon  failed. 

1816.     The   first  U.   S.   Ship-of-the- 
line  ever  launched,  was  buiit  at   Ports- 


mouth, N.  H.,  and  was  named  "  The 
Washington."  It  was  of  2,000  tons  bur- 
den, and  carried  74  guns. 

1816.  First  Remington  Rifle.  Mr. 
Eliphalet  Remington,  who  lived  on 
Steel's  Creek,  near  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
made  a  rifle  barrel  in  an  ordinary  black- 
smith's shop,  for  his  own  use.  A  gun- 
maker  in  Utica  was  engaged  to  finish  it, 
and  he  was  so  pleased  with  Mr.  Reming- 
ton's skill  and  success,  that  he  induced 
him  to  forge  more.  Very  soon  the 
blacksmith  shops  in  the  vicinity  were 
busy  making  rifle  barrels.  From  this  a 
business  grew  up.  In  1829  Mr.  Rem- 
ington erected  a  factory  at  Ilion,  and 
since  then  he  and  his  sons  have  greatly 
improved  the  firearms  of  the  country. 
The  Remington  Breechloader  is  one  of 
the  leading  rifles  of  the  world. 

1816.  Gas  was  introduced  into  several 
places  as  a  means  of  illumination.  A 
method  of  obtaining  it  from  stone  coal 
had  been  patented.  A  company  was 
chartered  in  Baltimore,  which  was  the 
first  to  put  the  new  method  into  practice. 
An  introduction  of  it  in  New  York  was 
made,  and  toward  the  close  of  the  year 
the  new  theater  at  Philadelphia  was 
lighted  with  it.  It  was  proposed  to  light 
the  streets  of  Cincinnati  with  it.  This 
was  not,  however,  the  beginning  of  suc- 
cessful use  of  gas.  The  great  start  in  it 
was  a  few  years  later. 

1816.  An  electric  telegraph  was 
proposed  by  Dr.  John  Rodman  Coxe, 
professor  of  chemistry  in  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  who  suggested  that 
signals  be  transmitted  "  by  the  decompo- 
sition of  water  and  metallic  salts,  where- 
by a  change  of  color  would  be  produced." 

1816.  The  Red  River  colonists  who 
had  settled  in  Manitoba  under  the  Hud- 
son Bay  Company,  were  broken  up  and 


446 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


driven  out,  by  the  Northwest  Company. 
Gov.  Semple  was  murdered.  The  hos- 
tility between  the  two  companies  was 
very  great.  This  was  only  one  quarrel 
out  of  many.  The  Northwest  Company 
ruled  the  entire  Rocky  Mountain  region. 

1816.  A  negro  insurrection  occurred 
in  Barbadoes. 

1816.  Montevideo,  the  capital  of 
Uruguay,  was  captured  by  the  Portu- 
guese. 

1816.  Simon  Bolivar  was  publicly 
proclaimed  commander-in-chief  of  the 
republics  of  Venezuela,  and  also  New 
Grenada. 

1816.  Guadeloupe,  the  most  impor- 
tant of  the  French  islands  in  the  Leeward 
group,  was  finally  restored  to  that  nation. 

1817.  Feb.    12.     Struggle  in   Chili. 
Gen.  San  Martin,  governor  of  a  province 
of  Buenos  Ayres,  having   marched  into 
Chili    with    an    army   which   had   been 
raised  in  La  Plata,  defeated  at  Chacabuco, 
the    royalists   who     had    governed     the 
country  since  1813.     An  elective  govern- 
ment was  organized,  and  Don  Bernardo 
O'Higgins   was   made   president.      The 
patriots  were  afterward  severely  defeated. 

1817.  Feb.  16.  A  severe  battle  was 
fought  at  Barcelona,  in  which  Bolivar, 
with  eleven  hundred  men,  defeated  the 
Spanish  forces  under  Gen.  Morillo,  after 
three  days'  fighting. 

1817.  March  4.  James  Monroe  of 
Virginia,  was  inaugurated  president  of 
the  United  States,  and  Daniel  D.  Tomp- 
kins  of  New  York,  vice-president. 
Monroe  soon  made  a  tour  through  the 
country,  and  what  has  since  been  known 
as  the  "  era  of  good  feeling  "  began. 

1817.  March  26.  A  provisional 
constitution  was  promulgated  in  the 
United  Provinces  of  La  Plata,  by  a  con- 
gress. Gen.  Puyerredon  was  named 


dictator.  Buenos  Ayres  was  made  the 
seat  of  government. 

1817.  April  15.  The  first  asylum 
for  deaf  mutes  in  America  was  opened  at 
Hartford,  Conn.,  under  the  direction  of 
Rev.  T.  H.  Gallandet,  who  had  traveled 
in  Europe  to  obtain  the  necessary  infor- 
mation. There  were  seven  pupils  at 
first,  but  the  number  soon  increased.  A 
charter  for  a  school  in  New  York  was 
given  on  this  same  day  of  the  opening  of 
the  Hartford  school.  Other  institutions 
were  started  in  several  states  before  many 
years. 

1817.  April  15.  Erie  Canal.  The 
legislature  of  New  York  passed  an  act 
making  an  appropriation  for  the  Erie 
canal.  On  July  4  work  was  begun  at 
Rome.  The  estimated  cost  was  $5,752,- 
738.  The  actual  cost  was  $8,401,394. 

1817.  Nov.  11.  Don  Xavier  Mina, 
a  famous  Spanish  guerilla  chief,  was 
executed  in  Mexico  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight  years.  He  had  landed  in^Mexico, 
and  with  about  two  hundred  men  had  sev- 
eral times  defeated  the  Spanish  troops  sent 
against  him.  Once  he  overcame  a  force 
of  two  thousand  men.  Pushing  on  into 
the  interior,  he  reached  Guanajuato  and 
took  it  by  storm,  but  at  a  critical  moment 
his  troops  refused  to  go  beyond.  In  a 
few  days  Mina  was  taken,  and  executed. 

1817.  Dec.  10.  Mississippi  was  the 
twentieth  state  to  be  received  into  the 
union.  It  has  an  area  of  47,156  square 

miles,  and  a  population  in  1880  of  1,145,- 
899  persons,  of  whom  about  fifty-six  per 

cent,  are  negroes. 

1817.  First  Seminole  War.  Indian 
troubles  began  upon  the  Florida  frontiers, 
with  the  Creeks  and  Seminoles  of  Geor- 
gia and  Alabama.  Generals  Gaines  and 
Jackson  led  troops  into  those  regions. 
The  Seminoles  made  a  practice  of  raid- 


1800-1824.] 

ing  on  U.  S.  property,  and  then  retreating 
to  their  hiding  places  in  Florida.  They 
had  killed  many  victims,  and  once  a  force 
of  U.  S.  troops  was  massacred.  It  was 
a  delicate  matter,  because  Florida  then 
belonged  to  Spain.  At  last  the  matter 
became  so  serious  that  the  government 
deemed  it  necessary  to  pursue  them. 

1817.  United  States  Coast  Survey. 
Mr.  F.  R.  Hassler  having  been  appointed 
to  superintend  the  coast  survey  which 
had  been  ordered  by  congress  ten  years 
before,  began  his  work  by  measuring  a 
base  line  on  the  Hudson  River,  near 
New  York  city,  for  use  in  triangulating 
New  York  harbor.  The  work  was  soon 
discontinued  for  various  reasons,  and 
nothing  more  was  done  until  1832. 

1817.  Slavery  was  to  be  abolished  in 
New  York  state  after  July  4,  1827,  ac- 
cording to  an  act  which  was  passed  by 
the  legislature. 

1817.  The  Columbian  Press,  the  first 
great  improvement  in  printing  presses, 
Ian.  Public  was  invented  by  George 
schools  estab-  Clymer  of  Philadelphia. 

2ts/ied  in  Russia.      T,  i_        j 

It  was  a  hand  press  upon 
the  combination  lever  principle,  and 
would  print  two  hundred  and  fifty  im- 
pressions an  hour. 

1817.  A  body  of  patriots,  under  Piar, 
a  man  of  colored  blood,  drove  the  Span- 
iards from  Guiana.     The  Spaniards  also 
evacuated  New  Grenada  and  Venezuela, 
but  the  provinces  were  not  yet  secure. 

1818.  March.    Gen.  Jackson  invaded 
Florida  because  it  was  thought  that  the 
Spanish  had  furnished  the  Indians  with 
supplies.      He     took     possession   of   St. 
Mark's  and  Pensacola.      This   was  the 
only  way  the   hostile  Indians  could  be 
reached.     Gen.  Jackson  seized  and  exe- 
cuted two  Englishmen,  named  Arbuth- 
not  and  Ambrister,  as  being  leaders  of 


THE  AWAKENED  CONTINENT. 


447 
The 


the  Indians  in  their  depredations. 
Indians  now  sued  for  peace. 

1818.  April  4.  The  United  States 
Flag.  A  bill  passed  congress  providing 
that  the  stripes  upon  the  U.  S.  flag  should 
be  permanently  reduced  to  thirteen,  and 
that  a  new  star  should  be  added  to  the 
field  at  the  admission  of  every  state. 

1818.  April  5.  Independence  of 
Chili.  The  battle  of  Maypu,  in  Chili, 
was  fought,  and  the  Spaniards  were  over- 
thrown by  the  patriots,  with  great  loss. 
The  independence  of  the  province  was 
obtained  by  this  contest,  after  several 
years'  severe  struggle.  This  battle  virtu- 
ally decided  the  independence  of  Buenos 
Ayres  and  Peru  likewise. 

1818.  Dec.  3.  Illinois  was  the  twen- 
ty-first state  to  be  received  into  the  union. 
It  has  an  area  of  55,410  square  miles. 
In  1880  it  had  a  population  of  3,078,736 
persons.  Its  motto  is,  "State  Sover- 
eignty and  National  Union."  It  is 
known  as  the  Sucker  State. 

1818.  Slavery  was  finally  and  fully 
abolished  in  Connecticut. 

1818.  The  slave  trade  was  declared 
to  be  piracy,  by  congress. 

1818.  The  instruction  of  idiot  chil- 
dren was  attempted  at  the  American 
asylum  for  the  deaf  and  dumb  at  Hart- 
ford, Conn. 

1818.  The  first  newspaper  for  the 
promotion  of  agriculture,  named  "  The 
American  Farmer,"  was  established  by 
John  S.  Skinner  of  Baltimore. 

1818.  The  first  steamer  for  trade  on 
the  great  lakes,  was  "  The  Walk  in  the 
Water,"  of  360  tons,  built  at  Black  Rock, 
N.  Y.  It  was  lost  in  a  gale  in  1822.  It 
was  the  first  steamer  to  enter  Lake 
Michigan. 

1818.  Arctic  Voyage.  Two  vessels 
were  sent  out  by  the  English  govern- 


448 


REVOLUTIONARY  STRUGGLES. 


ment  to  search  for  the  Northwest  passage. 
The  Isabella  was  commanded  by  Capt. 
John  Ross,  and  the  Alexander  by  Lieut. 
William  E.  Parry.  They  were  ordered 
to  go  up  Davis'  Straits,  and  sail  west  in 
the  hope  of  reaching  Behring's  Strait. 
The  proposed  course  was  followed,  but 
at  a  certain  point  on  Lancaster  Sound, 
Capt.  Ross  was  deceived  by  an  appar- 
ent range  of  mountains  closing  up  the 
passage  in  the  far  off  distance  ahead,  and 
ordered  a  return,  much  to  the  displeasure 
of  some  of  his  officers,  who  felt  sure  that 
it  was  what  it  has  since  been  proved  to 
have  been,  an  atmospheric  delusion. 
They  were  upon  the  right  track,  and  if 
they  had  gone  on,  they  might  perhaps 
have  solved  the  problem,  even  at  that 
early  day. 

1818.  The  shoe  peg  was  invented  by 
Joseph  Walker  of  Hopkinton,  Mass.  Its 
IBIS.  Percussion  use  nad  not  been  known  be- 
lock  invented.  fore  this  date,  and  the  intro- 
duction of  it  gave  a  great  impulse  to  the 
manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes.  Noth- 
ing but  sewed  work  had  been  previously 
made.  The  price  and  quantity  were  both 
much  affected  by  this  little  thing.  Pegs 
were  at  first  made  by  hand,  and  after- 
ward by  machinery,  except  in  the  case 
of  country  shoemakers,  who  followed  up 
the  former  practice  till  within  recent 
years.  It  may  be  that  some  still  do  it. 
There  is  a  tradition  in  New  England  that 
designing  speculators  tried  to  sell  pegs  to 
the  farmers  as  a  new  kind  of  oats  for  seed. 
This  will  do  to  put  with  the  story  about 
the  fortunes  which  peddlers  have  made 
from  the  sale  of  the  Connecticut  wooden 
nutmeg.  The  invention  of  the  peg  has 
been  followed  by  the  invention  of  the 
"  Peggmg  machine." 

1818.  An  improved  organ  was  pat- 
ented by  A.  M.  Peasley.  This  is  the 


foundation  of  American  invention  in  that 
direction.  It  did  not  at  first  make  the  in- 
strument popular.  It  was  about  a  third 
of  a  century  before  the  art  of  voicing  reeds 
was  discovered  by  Mr.  Emmons  Hamlin, 
who  was  at  work  in  the  organ  factory  of 
Prince  &  Co.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Ham- 
lin afterward  formed  a  partnership  with 
Henry  Mason,  son  of  Dr.  Lowell  Mason, 
and  founded  the  house  of  Mason  & 
Hamlin. 

1818.  The  first  public  horse-race  in 
America  was  trotted  as  the  result  of  an 
assertion  in  New  York  that  there  was  no 
horse  which  could  trot  a  mile  in  three 
minutes.  The  opposite  was  maintained 
by  Major  William  Jones  of  Long  Island, 
and  Col.  Bond  of  Maryland,  and  they 
brought  forward  a  horse  which  did  it,  and 
became  widely  known  as  "  Boston  Blue." 
Races  and  trotting  courses  soon  multi- 
plied. Most  of  the  horses  put  forward 
were  those  which  had  been  noted  in  their 
ordinary  work  for  superior  qualities.  The 
practice  of  breeding  for  speed  is  of  more 
recent  date. 

1818.  Foreign  trade  was  for  the  first 
time  allowed  to  Cuba,  and  opened  to  her 
a  new  prosperity. 

1819.  Feb.  15.    Simon  Bolivar  called 
a  congress  at  Angostura,  and  soon  found 
himself  at  the  head  of  an  army  of  14,000 
men,  with  aid  and  soldiers  from  England, 
France,  Germany,  and  Poland. 

FLORIDA  PURCHASE. 

1819.  Feb.  22.  Florida  and  the  ad- 
jacent islands  were  ceded  by  Spain  to  the 
United  States  for  the  sum  of  $5,000,000. 
The  United  States  agreed  to  abandon  all 
territory  beyond  the  Sabine  River,  now 
the  state  of  Texas,  and  Spain  agreed  to 
relinquish  all  territory  north  of  latitude 
42°,  from  the  source  of  the  Arkansas  to 


1800-1824] 

the  Pacific.  This  purchase  added  nom- 
inally 66,900  square  miles  to  the  1,720,- 
259  already  secured,  making  1,787,159 
square  miles  in  all.  The  abandonment  of 
Texas,  which  had  been  in  the  Louisiana 
Purchase  from  France,  diminished  the 
total  somewhat. 

1819.  Feb.  24.  Bolivar  began  his 
great  march  across  the  Andes,  after  which 
he  gained  the  supremacy  in  New  Gre- 
nada, and  secured  the  independence  of  that 
province. 

1819.  April  26.  The  first  perma- 
nent lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  in  the  United 
States  was  formed  at  Baltimore,  Mel.,  by 
Thomas  Wildey  and  four  friends,  who 
had  been  members  in  England.  The 
organization  was  called  Washington 
Lodge,  No.  i. 

1819.  June  26.  A  velocipede  was 
patented  by  William  K.  Clarkson,  Jr.,  of 
New  York.  It  was  propelled  by  push- 
ing the  feet  against  the  ground. 

1819.  July.  The  first  lithographic 
printing  in  America  was  exhibited  in  the 
Analectic  Magazine,  and  was  the  work 
of  a  Mr.  Otis  of  Philadelphia.  The  stone 
used  was  from  Munich,  where  the  art 
originated. 

1819.  Aug.  30.  A  great  land  trip 
was  undertaken  through  the  northern  por- 
tions of  the  American  continent,  by  Lieut. 
Franklin  and  Dr.  Richardson,  accom- 
panied by  some  Canadians  and  Indians. 
The  object  was  to  explore  the  shores  of 
the  Polar  Sea.  The  first  winter  was 
spent  at  Fort  Cumberland,  and  the  next 
at  Fort  Enterprise,  seven  hundred  miles 
beyond.  In  the  summer  of  1821  the 
party  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Copper- 
mine River,  and  in  boats  explored  several 
hundred  miles  of  the  coast  to  the  east. 
Their  provisions  and  canoes  at  last  failed, 


THE  AWAKENED  CONTINENT. 


449 


and  they  were  obliged  to  return  over- 
land. During  the  horrors  of  this  journey 
they  ate  the  bones  of  animals  which  had 
been  left  by  the  wolves,  and  even  old 
shoes.  From  the  Coppermine  they  pushed 
on  to  Fort  Enterprise,  where  they  ex- 
pected to  meet  some  supplies.  In  this  they 
were  disappointed,  and  it  was  not  till 
after  several  weeks  of  suffering  and 
famine,  during  which  some  of  the  party 
died,  that  they  obtained  relief  at  last. 
The  next  year  they  returned  to  England. 

1819.  Dec.  17.  The  republic  of 
Colombia,  S.  A.,  was  formed  by  the 
union  of  Venezuela,  Ecuador,  and  New 
Grenada.  Bolivar,  who  had  secured  the 
independence  of  these  provinces,  was 
now  made  president. 

1819.  Dec.  14.  Alabama  was  the 
twenty-second  state  to  be  admitted  into 
the  union.  It  lies  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexi- 
co with  a  territory  of  50,722  square  miles, 
and  a  population  in  1880  of  1,262,344  per- 
sons. The  name  signifies  "  Here  we 
rest." 

1819.  A  polar  expedition,  composed 
of  the  Hecla,  under  the  command  of 
William  E.  Parry,  and  the  Griper,  under 
Lieut.  Matthew  Liddon,  was  directed  to 
explore  Lancaster  Sound.  They  passed 
along  where  Ross  thought  the  mountains 
were,  discovered  Wellington  channel, 
and  by  reaching  110°  west  longitude, 
were  entitled  to  the  royal  bounty  of 
£5,000,  offered  to  any  one  who  would 
penetrate  that  distance.  They  settled 
down  for  cold  weather  at  Winter  Harbor, 
and  housed  themselves  so  that  they  lived 
very  comfortably.  They  suffered  some- 
what, however,  from  the  intense  cold 
during  the  ten  months  while  they  were 
imprisoned.  They  held  a  school,  and 
Parry  established  a  "North  Georgian 
theater"  and  'a  "North  Georgian  Ga- 


450 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  S  TR  UGGLES . 


zette,"  each  of  which  gave  much  life  to 
their  efforts  at  entertainment,  and  helped 
everybody  to  retain  healthful  spirits.  In 
the  spring,  their  attempts  to  go  west 
were  prevented  by  the  ice,  and  they 
therefore  sailed  for  England,  where  they 
arrived  in  November,  1820.  They  were 
highly  honored  in  England,  for  this  was 
the  first  really  brilliant  voyage  in  Arctic 
discovery.  Parry  afterward  made  two 
voyages  to  the  same  region,  but  without 
finding  the  long-sought  passage. 

1819.  The  first  foot-path  to  the  sum- 
mit of  Mt.  Washington,  was  cut  through 
by  Abel  Crawford  and  his  son  Ethan. 
The  latter  was  the  first  to  build  after- 
ward a  little  hut  on  the  summit,  in  which 
visitors  could  be  sheltered.  It  was  made 
of  stones,  and  was  supplied  with  moss 
and  hemlock  boughs  upon  which  to 
sleep,  a  small  stove  to  warm  the  place, 
and  a  sheet  of  lead  on  which  visitors 
could  inscribe  their  names.  These  were 
all  swept  away  in  the  terrible  Willey 
storm  of  1826. 

1819.  First  Steam  Voyage  Across 
the  Atlantic.  The  Savannah,  an  Amer- 
ican vessel  built  at  Corlear's  Hook, 
N.  Y.,  by  Crocker  and  Fickitt,  of  380 
tons  burden,  with  side  wheels,  made  the 
first  trip  by  steam  across  the  Atlantic, 
sailing  from  the  United  States  to  Eng- 
land, and  thence  to  St.  Petersburgh.  She 
started  from  New  York,  and  went  to 
Savannah,  Ga.  At  Liverpool  she  made 
a  great  sensation,  being  mistaken  at  one 
time  for  a  vessel  on  fire.  Canvas  was 
used  during  the  last  part  of  the  voyage, 
because  the  engine  had  consumed  all 
the  coal  which  could  be  carried,  in  about 
twelve  days  out.  There  was  no  room 
for  cargo  when  she  was  stored  with  coal. 
She  was  sent  across  to  be  sold  to  the 
Czar  of  Russia,  but  it  was  not  accom- 


plished. $50,000  were  lost  on  this  voy- 
age. Capt.  Moses  Rogers,  who  had 
commanded  the  Clermont,  was  in  charge 
of  her.  Lord  Lyndock  gave  Capt. 
Rogers  an  inscribed  silver  tea-kettle. 
The  Savannah  was  afterward  turned  into 
a  sailing  vessel. 

1819.  The  first  apprentice's  library 
in  America  was  founded  in  Philadelphia 
by  voluntary  contribution. 

1819.  An  improved  plow  was  pat- 
ented by  Jethro  Wood,  whose  invention 
was  so  valuable  that  it  rapidly  came  into 
use,  and  has  served  as  the  basis  of  mod- 
ern plows.  Mr.  Wood  had  patented  an 
improvement  five  years  before,  and  is  in 
fact  the  one  to  whom  the  world  is  in- 
debted for  modern  plows. 

1819.  A  duel  was  fought  on  an  island 
in  Boston  harbor,  between  Lieut.  Fran- 
cis B.  White  of  the  marine  corps,  and 
Lieut.  William  B.  Finch  of  the  U.  S. 
navy.  Lieut.  White  was  killed,  and  Lieut. 
Finch  afterward  assumed  the  name  of 
Bolton. 

1819.  A  duel  was  fought  near  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  between  Gen.  Armistead 
T.  Mason,  U.  S.  senator  from  Virginia, 
and  John  M.  McCarty.  The  dispute 
was  a  political  one.  Muskets  were  used 
in  the  encounter.  Gen.  Mason  was 
killed,  and  Mr.  McCarty's  arm  was 
broken. 

1819.  Com.  Perry  was  sent  into 
West  India  waters  to  break,  up  the  expe- 
ditions of  pirates.  The  death  of  Perry 
prevented  success. 

1819.  The  island  of  Cape  Breton 
was  re-annexed  to  the  government  of 
Nova  Scotia. 

1819.  The  financial  distress  of  the 
country  was  now  very  great.  It  resulted 
from  various  causes.  Money  was  taken 
out  of  the  country  by  the  excess  of  im- 


1800-1824.] 

portations  over  exportations.  The  paper 
currency  had  depreciated  in  value  fifty- 
nine  per  cent.  American  staples  began 
to  decline  in  foreign  markets.  Cot- 
ton and  breadstuff's  declined  fifty  per 
cent.  A  general  business  stagnation 
followed,  bearing  very  heavily  upon  man- 
ufactures in  Rhode  Island,  New  York, 
and  Pennsylvania.  Rents  and  real  es- 
tate suffered  enormously.  Persons  were 
thrown  out  of  employment,  and  had  little 
to  live  upon.  Congress  began  to  be  pe- 
titioned and  memorialized  very  exten- 
sively in  regard  to  tariffand  trade  matters. 
1820.  Jan.  20.  Irregular  Form 
Lathe.  Thomas  Blanchard  patented  his 
celebrated  lathe  for  turning  irregular 
forms  of  any  kind,  such  as  shoe-lasts, 
spokes,  and  mould  blocks  of  all  kinds. 
This  is  one  of  the  great  inventions  of 
the  century. 

MISSOURI  COMPROMISE. 

1820.  The  slavery  question  of  recent 
years  had  been  brought  up  in  congress 
by  the  application  of  Missouri  during 
1818  to  be  made  a  state.  The  petition 
was  then  refused  by  the  vote  of  the  free 
states  against  the  slave  states,  on  an 
amendment  forbidding  slavery  within  it. 
During  this  year  the  application  was  re- 
newed, and  was  at  once  connected  with 
a  similar  application  made  by  Maine,  in 
order  that  both  might  stand  or  fall  to- 
gether. This  was  especially  so  in  the 
senate.  The  house  had  voted  to  admit 
Maine  and  Missouri,  with  a  prohibition 
of  slavery.  The  house  rejected  the 
senate  bill  which  admitted  Maine  and 
Missouri  with  slavery.  Then  came  the 
famous  tug  of  war  in  which  Henry  Clay 
and  others  used  all  their  power  to  secure 
the  compromise  which  was  adopted.  It 
was  determined  that  Maine  and  Mis- 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT.  ' 


451 


souri  should  be  voted  on  separately;  also 
that  slavery  should  be  permitted  in  Mis- 
souri, but  forever  prohibited  in  all  U.  S. 
territory  north  of  latitude  36°,  30'.  Both 
states  were  then  admitted.  This  was 
the  first  great  legislative  struggle  over 
slavery. 

1820.  Doughfaces.  This  name  was  ap- 
plied by  Edmund  Randolph  of  Virginia, 
to  those  slavery  supporters  who  voted  for 
the  Missouri  Compromise.  Thirty-five 
southerners  voted  against  it,  claiming 
that  congress  had  no  power  to  prohibit 
slavery  in  the  territories.  The  term  has 
since  been  applied  to  northern  men  with 
southern  principles. 

1820.  March  15.  Maine  was  the 
twenty-third  state  to  be  admitted  to  the 
union.  It  has  an  area  of  31,766  square 
miles,  and  a  population  in  1880  of  648,- 
945  persons.  It  is  known  as  the  Pine 
Tree  State,  and  its  motto  is  "  Dirigo," 
"  I  direct." 

1820.  March  22.  Stephen  Decatur, 
Jr.,  an  American  naval  officer  of  great 
repute,  because  of  his  gallantry  in  the 
operations  against  the  North  African 
states,  was  killed  in  a  duel  at  Bladens- 
burg,  Md.,  by  Com.  James  Barren.  He 
was  born  Jan.  5,  1779,  and  was  conse- 
quently forty-one  years  of  age.  The 
terrible  crime  of  dueling,  upheld  by  a 
false  sense  of  honor,  received  in  him 
another  shining  victim.  Decatur  had  a 
splendid  mansion  in  Washington,  within 
whose  walls  he  had  begun  to  live  in 
great  happiness  since  his  naval  life 
closed.  The  swords  which  had  been 
bestowed  upon  him  by  congress,  by  the 
states  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  and 
by  the  city  of  Philadelphia ;  the  services 
of  plate  from  the  citizens  of  Baltimore 
and  Philadelphia;  the  medal  received 


452 


REVOLUTIONARY  STRUGGLES. 


from  congress;  the  box  containing  the 
freedom  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
the  medal  of  the  Order  of  the  Cincin- 
nati, were  all  there  to  attest  his  bravery. 
Yet  he  must  fall  in  a  duel,  else  that 
bravery  would  be  forever  doubted  by 
many.  The  night  before  the  duel  a 
brilliant  gathering  took  place  at  his 
home,  in  which  Mrs.  Decatur,  all  uncon- 
scious of  her  coming  woe,  delighted  the 
guests  by  her  playing  on  the  harp.  De- 
catur himself  joined  in  the  festivities  with 
great  apparent  joy.  The  next  morning 
he  was  brought  back  to  his  devoted  wife 
mortally  wounded,  and  died  at  night. 
Com.  Barren  was  severely,  but  not 
fatally  wounded.  The  duel  had  its  ori- 
gin in  a  discussion  about  the  Chesapeake 
and  Leopard  affair,  Barron  having  been 
commander  of  the  former  at  the  time 
when  she  was  fired  upon  by  the  Leopard. 

DtiXIEL    BOONS. 

1820.  Sept.  26.  Daniel  Boone,  the 
noted  explorer,  hunter  and  pioneer,  died 
at  Charette,  Mo.,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  years.  He  was  born  in  Bucks 
county,  Pennsylvania,  Feb.  1 1, 1735,  and 
lived  a  life  full  of  romantic  adventure. 
His  parents  came  from  England  and 
settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  Daniel 
received  only  the  skeleton  of  an  educa- 
tion. They  then  removed  to  the  province 
of  North  Carolina,  where  they  settled 
near  the  Yadkin.  Little  was  then  known 
of  the  "  Dark  and  Bloody  Ground." 
Some  years  afterward  Boone,  with  his 
comrades,  penetrated  the  eastern  part  of 
Kentucky,  and  in  1 769  he  made  a  three 
years'  adventure  into  the  western  wilder- 
ness. It  was  indeed  an  adventure,  as  he 
and  his  companions,  among  whom  was  his 
brother,  were  captured  several  times  by 
the  Indians.  At  one  time  Boone  was 


left  in  the  forest  with  only  his  rifle  as  a 
means  of  support.  But  his  rifle  was  his 
delight.  In  1773  he  attempted  a  settle- 
ment on  the  Kentucky  River,  but  was 
compelled  to  abandon  it,  on  account  of 
the  hostility  of  the  Indians.  In  1775, 
just  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution,  he 
took  his  family  and  a  few  friends,  and 
went  forward  to  found  Boonesboroughu 
the  first  settlement  in  Kentucky.  He 
had  been  engaged  by  the  Transylvania 
company  to  lay  out  lands  in  Kentucky. 
In  a  mission  for  the  settlement  he  was 
captured  by  the  Indians,  and  carried  to 
Detroit.  Thence  he  escaped  after  a  time, 
and  by  a  rapid  journey  reached  Boones- 
borough  in  time  to  warn  them  of  an  in- 
tended Indian  attack.  During  this  cap- 
tivity he  was  given  up  for  dead  by  his 
family.  Within  twenty  years  from  the 
founding  of  Boonesborough,  Kentucky 
was  admitted  to  the  union  as  a  state.  His 
neglect  to  conform  to  the  laws  concerning 
titles  in  some  sections  of  the  new  common- 
wealth, caused  him  to  forfeit  his  beautiful 
estate.  With  some  of  his  old  followers  he 
again  started  out  for  the  west,  and  removed 
beyond  the  Mississippi.  In  Missouri  he 
failed  also  to  make  his  title  good  to  the 
land  he  had  been  appointed.  He  ex- 
plored the  Arkansas,  and  in  1814,  at  about 
eighty  years  of  age,  trapped  beavers  on 
the  Great  Osage.  Congress  now  con- 
firmed his  claim  to  a  tract  of  land,  because 
of  his  great  value  as  an  explorer.  His 
remains  now  lie  at  Frankfort,  Ky., 
whither  they  were  publicly  removed  in 
1845.  His  name  is  that  of  the  represent- 
ative pioneer  of  his  time. 


1820.  Nov.  13.  The  whaleship  Essex 
of  Nantucket  was  lost  by  a  collision  with 
an  immense  whale.  A  young  whale  had 
been  killed  by  the  boats  of  the  ship,  and 


1800-1824] 

a  large  one,  apparently  its  dam,  soon 
made  an  entrance  on  the  scene.  At  first 
it  dashed  for  the  ship  and  rushed  against 
it,  breaking  off  a  portion  of  the  false  keel. 
After  endeavoring  to  grip  the  ship  in  its 
jaws  it  swam  off  a  great  distance,  and 
then  turning,  dashed  with  wonderful 
power  and  velocity  against  the  bows  of 
the  Essex.  Every  man  on  board  was 
knocked  down,  the  ship  was  pushed 
astern,  the  bows  was  stove  in,  and  the 
vessel  soon  filled  and  keeled  over. 

NINTH  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN. 

1820.  In  the  ninth  presidential  cam- 
paign, during  the  autumn  of  this  year, 
there  were  nq  nominations  made.  No 
opposition  was  made  to  the  election  of 
Monroe  and  Tompkins,  except  in  a  very 
mo-mo.  slight  way.  They  carried 

every  state.  The  readjust- 
tnent  or  parties  was  now  on 
the  point  of  taking  place.  Out  of  235 
electoral  votes  Monroe  received  231. 
One  elector  refused  to  vote  for  him,  but 
threw  his  ballot  for  John  Q.  Adams,  and 
three  electors  had  died.  Tompkins  re- 
ceived for  vice-president  218  votes.  The 
other  fourteen  were  scattering. 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 


453 


King  of  Eng- 


1820.      The    fourth    census    of   the 

United  States  gave  a  population  of  9,633,- 
822  persons,  and  was  taken  at  a  cost  of 
$208,525.99.  There  was  an  attempt  to 
obtain  some  industrial  statistics,  but  with- 
out much  success.  There  had  been  an 
increase  in  the  population  since  1810  of 
33.06  per  cent. 

182O.  William  Bennett  was  hung  in 
Illinois  for  having  shot  Alphonso  Stewart 
in  a  duel  in  Belleville,  St.  Clair  county. 
"  The  seconds  agreed  to  make  it  up  as  a 
sham  affair,  and  leave  balls  out  of  the 
weapons  to  be  used.  They  did  so. 


Stewart  was  supposed  to  be  in -the  secret, 
but  Bennett  thought  it  to  be  a  reality. 
When  Bennett  took  his  gun  he  rolled  a 
real  ball  into  it,  and  when  he  fired 
Stewart  fell,  mortally  wounded.  Bennett 
was  convicted  of  murder.  Great  effort 
was  made  to  procure  a  pardon,  but  Gov. 
Bond  would  not  listen  to  it.  This  case 
made  dueling  forever  discreditable  in 
Illinois."  It  is  the  only  case  in  the  coun- 
try where  a  man  has  been  hung  for  kill- 
ing another  in  a  duel. 

182O.  Frances  Wright,  a  Scotch 
woman,  visited  the  U  nited  States  and  lec- 
tured extensively  upon  political  questions, 
slavery,  and  woman. 

1820.  Petroleum  was  discovered  by 
men  who  were  boring  for  salt  in  Ohio. 
They  made  no  use  of  it  except  in  a  small 
way,  although  it  was  known  to  burn 
well. 

1820.  Improved  Eotary  Sawing 
Machine.  A  patent  for  a  circular  saw 
which  would  cut  clapboards  out  of  the 
log,  was  given  to  Robert  Eastman  and 
J.  Jaquith  of  Brunswick,  Me.  The  in- 
vention soon  came  into  general  use.  "It 
was  the  first  application  of  the  circular 
saw  to  the  dressing  of  large  sized  timber, 
and  the  cutting  of  clapboards,  shingles, 
etc." 

1820.  Ice  began  to  be  sent  to  New 
Orleans  by  Frederick  Tudor  of  Boston, 
and  it  is  said  that  the  inhabitants  were  so 
alarmed  by  the  strange  material  that  a 
mob  collected  and  threw  one  entire  cargo 
into  the  water.  Yellow  fever  was  raging 
at  the  time. 

1820.  The  Chilians  defeated  the 
Spaniards  in  a  naval  battle  in  the  harbor 
of  Callao. 

1820.  The  port  of  Valdivia,   Chili, 
was  surrendered  by  the  Spaniards. 

1821.  Feb.    24.     Second    Mexican 


454 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR UGGLES. 


Revolution.  Under  the  influence  of  af- 
fairs in  Spain,  Don  Augustin  Iturbide,  a 
native  Mexican  officer,  having  made 
efforts  to  begin  a  revolution,  proclaimed 
Mexico  independent,  with  a  plan  of  gov- 
ernment which  would  make  it  a  constitu- 
tional monarchy.  His  work  was  success- 
ful in  arousing  the  people,  and  he  shortly 
had  the  whole  country  at  his  command. 
The  plan  contemplated  the  offer  of  the 
throne  to  a  Spaniard,  and  has  been  known 
as  the  "  Plan  of  Iguala." 

1821.  Feb.  26.  A  constitution  for 
Brazil  was  proclaimed  by  John  VI. 

1821.  March  4.  James  Monroe  of 
Virginia,  was  inaugurated  president  of 
the  United  States,  and  Daniel  D.  Tomp- 
kins  of  New  York,  vice-president. 

1821.  April.  A  revolution  in  Brazil 
began  after  the  departure  of  the  King  of 
Portugal  for  Europe. 

1821.  May.  Troy  Female  Institute. 
Mrs.  Emma  Willard  removed  the  school 
which  she  had  opened  two  years  before 
for  girls,  at  Waterford,  N.  Y.,  to  Troy, 
where  she  could  have  the  free  use  of  a 
building.  The  institution  afterward  be- 
came very  successful. 

1821.  July  19.  All  slaves  bearing 
arms  in  the  war  for  the  freedom  of  the 
province,  were  emancipated  by  Colom- 
bia, S.  A.,  and  steps  were  taken  to  pro- 
vide for  the  liberation  of  the  others, 
amounting  to  280,000. 

1821.  July  21.  Peru  was  declared 
independent,  as  the  result  of  an  invasion 
by  Gen.  San  Martin,  with  a  force  from 
Chili  and  the  Argentine  Republic.  He 
had  liberated  Chili,  and  was  now  made 
dictator  of  Peru. 

1821.  Aug.  10.  Missouri  was  the 
twenty-fourth  state  to  be  received  into 
the  union.  It  has  an  area  of  65,350 
square  miles,  and  a  population  in  1 880,  of 


2,169,091  inhabitants.  The  motto  of  the 
state  is  "  Salus  populi  suprema  lex  esto." 
"Let  the  safety  of  the  people  be  the 
supreme  law." 

1821.  Aug.  24.  Treaty  of  Cordova. 
A  treaty  was  concluded  by  Iturbide  with 
the  new  Spanish  viceroy,  by  which  the 
indepenJence  of  Mexico  was  to  be  ac- 
knowledged by  Spain. 

1821.  Sept.  27.  The  City  of  Mexico 
was  received  by  Iturbide  from  the  Span- 
ish viceroy  in  accordance  with  the  treaty, 
and  a  regency  was  established  with  Itur- 
bide at  its  head,  and  the  viceroy,  Don 
Juan  O'Donoju,  a  member  of  it.  Itur- 
bide had  gained  considerable  power,  but 
without  really  harmonizing  the  different 
elements.  He  was  elected  generalissimo,, 
with  a  salary  of  $120,000. 

1821.  Nov.  30.  Spanish  authority 
was  again  thrown  off  by  the  eastern  half 
of  Hayti. 

1821.  November.  The  provinces  of 
Central  America  threw  off  the  authority 
of  Spain,  and  were  annexed  to  Mexico, 
except  San  Salvador  and  a  part  of  Nica- 
ragua, which  resisted  Mexican  authority. 
In  a  great  part  of  Central  America  the 
revolution  was  effected  without  much 
bloodshed.  The  greatest  convulsion  was 
in  Nicaragua.  Leon  was  nearly  de- 
stroyed. 

1821.  Uruguay  was  seized  by  the 
Portuguese  this  year,  and  annexed  to 
Brazil. 

1821.  A  democratic  form  of  govern- 
ment was  instituted  in  Buenos  Ayres, 
upon  the  ruins  of  the  directory,  which 
had  been  overthrown. 

1821.  An  anti-slavery  periodical 
called  the  "  Genius  of  Universal  Eman- 
cipation," was  issued  as  a  monthly  at 
Mt.  Pleasant,  Ohio,  by  Benjamin  Lundy, 
who,  about  this  time,  began  his  long 


1800-1824.] 

course    of     Opposition    to    slave-holding. 

1821.     Napoleon      He      isSUed      his      PaPer      at 

/.  died  at  st.  Jonesboro,  Tenn.,  and  at 
Baltimore,  Md.,  at  different 
times.  At  one  time  he  edited  it  as  he 
traveled  through  the  north  to  lecture, 
and  hired  printers  in  the  towns  where  he 
happened  to  be  stopping,  to  strike  off  his 
edition.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in 
issuing  anti-slavery  periodicals,  and  in 
lecturing  against  slavery.  The  doctrine 
of  immediate  and  unconditional  emanci- 
pation began  now  to  be  proclaimed  far 
and  wide.  The  prevalent  idea  among 
all  thinkers  previous  to  this,  was  that 
emancipation  must  be  gradual. 

1821.  The  remains  of  Major  Andre 
were  removed  from  the  United  States  to 
Westminster  Abbey,  and  an  elegant 
monument  was  erected  to  his  memory. 

1821.  A  duel  occurred  between  Geo. 
L.  Wetmore  and  George  F.  Street,  in 
New  Brunswick,  near  Fredericton,  the 
capital.  Both  were  lawyers,  and  had  had 
some  difficulty  in  court.  Wetmore  was 
killed,  and  Street  was  afterward  tried  for 
murder,  but  was  acquitted. 

1821.  Union  of  Rival  Fur  Compa- 
nies. After  much  competition  and  a 
great  many  quarrels,  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company  and  the  Northwest  Company 
of  Canada,  were  united  under  the  former 
name.  They  had  been  unable  to  pay 
dividends  for  several  years,  and  therefore 
were  obliged  to  give  up  their  warfare. 
In  a  few  years  they  now  began  payments 
again. 

1821.  A  grass  which  grew  in  the 
Connecticut  valley  was  first  used  for  hats 
and  bonnets  by  Miss  Sophia  Woodhouse 
of  Wethersfield,  Conn.  She  sent  speci- 
mens of  the  grass  to  the  Society  of  Arts 
at  London,  where  it  was  received  with 
great  favor  on  account  of  its  similarity  to 


THE  AWAKENED  CONTINENT. 


455 


leghorn.     The  society    advised   the    cul- 
ture of  the  grass. 

1821.  Morgan  Horses.  Justin  Mor- 
gan, the  ancestor  of  the  celebrated  breed 
of  Morgan  horses  in  America,  died  from 
a  kick  received  from  another  horse  in  a 
barnyard.  He  was  twenty-nine  years 
old. 

1821.  An  improvement  in  railways 
was  patented  by  Charles  Williams  of 
Boston.  This  was  the  first  of  the  kind. 
Mr.  Williams  published  an  article  in 
1845,  claiming  that  in  J8i7  he  had  in- 
vented a  railway  for  removing  dirt,  and 
about  the  same  time  had  "planned  a  small 
engine  in  Boston  to  use  steam,  and  there- 
fore to  have  been  the  first  to  apply  steam 
to  railroads,  the  first  locomotive  of 
Stephenson  having  been  copied  from  his 
invention." 

1821.  The  great  financial  distress 
prevailed  very  severely,  west  of  the  Alle- 
gheny Mountains.  Banks  had  suspended 
or  failed,  and  all  kinds  of  business  were 
suffering.  Farmers  were  unable  to  pay 
their  debts.  They  were  mostly  indebted 
to  the  U.  S.  government  under  the  land 
laws  of  1800.  The  farmers  had  been 
unable  to  make  ready  money  beyond 
their  family  expenses,  to  secure  their  title. 
The  debts  from  these  men  and  from  spec- 
ulators who  had  bought  large  tracts  of 
land  and  been  unable  to  pay  for  them, 
had  been  increasing  for  twenty  years. 
Money  was  not  to  be  had,  even  by  sale. 
The  debt  due  the  government  at  western 
land  offices  in  1820  was  over  $2 2, 000,000. 
Relief  was  granted  by  an  action  on  the 
part  of  congress  allowing  portions  of 
land  to  be  given  up,  and  the  money  paid 
over  to  be  applied  on  the  remainder  to 
save  it.  The  price  of  land  was  also  re- 
duced to  $1.25,  and  lots  of  eighty  acres 
were  offered,  which  still  further  brought 


456 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR T  STR  UGGLES . 


relief.  The  whole  season  was  one  of 
great  distress,  and  threatened  bankruptcy. 
1822.  February.  A  Mexican  con- 
gress assembled  in  the  City  "of  Mexico  to 
consider  the  national  affairs.  But  differ- 
ences were  at  once  apparent,  and  trouble 
resulted,  especially  because  the  plan  of 
Iguala  had  not  met  with  favor  in  Spain. 

JOHN  STARK. 

1822.  May  8.  John  Stark,  who  is 
most  popularly  known  as  the  hero  of 
the  battle  of  Bennington,  which  set  a 
very  stern  limit  to  Burgoyne's  invasion, 
died  at  Manchester,  N.  H.,  aged  ninety- 
three  years.  He  was  born  at  London- 
derry, N.  H.,  Aug.  28,  1728.  His 
younger  years  were  spent  in  pursuits 
which  toughened  him  to  hardships. 
Hunting  and  Indian  warfare  were  his 
educators.  In  1756  he  was  made  captain 
of  a  band  of  rangers,  under  Maj.  Rogers. 
In  this  capacity  his  great  physical  strength 
and  untiring  spirit  made  him  a  great  bur- 
den to  the  Indians.  He  walked  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  miles  with  messages 
which  he  would  not  trust  to  his  men. 
He  fought  two  battles  within  thirty-six 
hours,  in  snow  four  feet  deep. 

Within  ten  minutes  after  he  heard  of 
the  battle  of  Lexington  and  Concord,  he 
was  starting  off  from  his  New  Hamp- 
shire saw-mill,  on  horseback,  for  Boston. 
In  1776  and  1777  he  did  good  service 
with  his  regiment  around  New  York, 
and  in  the  New  Jersey  campaign.  He 
then  returned  to  New  Hampshire  to  raise 
a  new  regiment,  but  in  the  meantime 
congress  made  some  promotions  with 
seeming  neglect  of  him,  and  he  withdrew 
from  the  continental  service.  But  he 
had  a  nobler  heart  than  Arnold,  and  sent 
all  his  sons  off  to  battle  for  the  right.  At 
Benninston  he  took  the  field  himself. 


Men  fought  that  day  with  a  desperation 
seldom  seen.  Gen.  Stark  was  subse- 
quently put  in  command  of  the  northern 
department,  and  afterward  served  in 
Rhode  Island  and  New  Jersey.  He  did 
not  have  a  particle  of  cowardice  in  his 
heart,  or  of  impurity  in  his  character. 


1822.  May  19.  Empire  of  Mexico. 
On  account  of  the  reaction  from  the  idea 
of  a  foreign  sovereign  to  that  of  a  native 
on  the  throne,  the  adherents  of  Iturbide 
proclaimed  him  emperor,  with  great  ex- 
citement, under  the  title  of  Augustin  I. 
He  soon  began  the  exercise  of  arbitrary 
power,  and  excited  great  opposition. 

1822.  May  22.  The  province  of 
Ecuador,  S.  A.,  after  years  of  appar- 
ently useless  effort,  obtained  indepen- 
dence by  the  decisive  battle  of  Pichincha. 
The  territory  became  a  part  of  the  re- 
public of  Colombia  till  1831. 

1822.  Oct.  12.  Brazil  was  declared 
an  independent  empire. 

1822.  Dec.  1.  Dom  Pedro,  son  of 
King  John  of  Portugal,  was  crowned 
Emperor  of  Brazil. 

1822.  Dec.  2.  Republic  of  Mexico. 
On  account  of  the  usurpa- 

•  f  T        i  •  i  • 

tion  of  Iturbide,  the  patriots 

who  had  been  in  retirement    1832-  Greek  Rev- 

,  olution. 

gathered  together  and  pro- 

claimed the  Republic  of  Mexico  at  Vera 

Cruz,    under    the    leadership    of    Santa 

Anna.    Bravo,  Guerrero  and  others,  came 

forward   to    renew   the   struggle.      The 

followers  of  Iturbide  began  to  grow  dis- 

affected. 

1822.  Dec.  2.  The  congress  of  San 
Salvador,  one  of  the  provinces  of  Central 
America,  formally  decreed  that  province 
annexed  to  the  United  States.  But  Itur- 
bide, the  Mexican  emperor,  fell  before 
the  U.  S.  congress  could  act  on  it,  and  al- 


William 


1800-1824.] 

most  immediately  the  Central  American 
confederation  was  formed,  with  the  city  of 
San  Salvador  as  capital.  Hence  the 
other  plan  came  to  nothing. 

1822.  The  independence  of  Mexico 
and  the  South  American  republics  was 
formally  recognized  by  the  United  States. 

1822.  The  whole  of  Hayti,  W.  I., 
was  now  united  under  one  government 
by  Boyer,  a  chieftain  of  the  western 
portion. 

1822.  A  destructive  earthquake 
visited  Chili,  permanently  elevating  a 
hundred  thousand  square  miles  of  land 
from  two  to  seven  feet  above  its  old  level. 

1822.  A  public  library  was  founded 
in  Lima,  Peru,  under  the  independent 
government. 

1822.  The  process  of  lithography 
was  for  the  first  time  carried  on  as  a  busi- 
ness in  the  United  States  by  Barnet  and 
Doolittle,  in  New  York.  They  did  not 
accomplish  much  for  several  years,  owing 
to  the  lack  of  competent  artists. 

1822.  The  introduction  of  gas  which 
was  first  permanently  successful  for  light- 
ing purposes,  was  made  at  Boston. 

1822.  The  Champlain  canal  was 
finished,  and  connected  the  Hudson  at 
Albany  with  Lake  Champlain. 

1822.  The  east  coast  of  Greenland 
was    examined     quite     thoroughly     by 
Scoresby.     The  rugged  surface  seemed 
to  him  to  be  majestic,  and  he  named  the 
mountains  Roscoe.      He     found    a     few 
species  of  small  plants  among  the  rocks. 
Insects  were  also  discovered,  but  no  birds 
on  the  land. 

1823.  Feb.    1.     Act  of  Casa   Mata. 
Iturbide  signed  an  agreement  to  call  to- 
gether the  old  Mexican  national  repre- 
sentative congress  which  he  had  dispersed 
since  his  assumption  of  extreme  power. 

1823.     March  19.    Iturbide  abdicated 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 


457 


the  position  of  emperor  of  Mesico  be- 
cause he  saw  that  unless  he  did  so,  there 
would  be  a  terrible  civil  war.  The  old 
congress  was  now  in  session,  and  would 
not  allow  him  to  have  any  right  in  the 
government.  They  intimated,  however, 
that  he  would  be  allowed  to  depart  from 
the  country,  and  he  soon  left  for  Europe. 
Congress  appointed  an  executive  power 
of  four  generals. 

1823.  June  7.  The  Bunker  Hill 
Monument  Association  was  established 
by  an  act  of  the  Massachusetts  legislature. 
It  was  composed  of  celebrated  citizens  of 
Boston,  and  other  places,  who  thought 
that  some  enduring  memorial  should  be 
erected.  The  idea  originated  chiefly 
with  William  Tudor.  Twenty-six  per- 
sons composed  the  society  at  its  organiza- 
tion. 

1823.  October.  A  mahogany  tree 
was  cut  in  British  Honduras,  weighing 
over  seven  tons.  It  was  sent  to  Liverpool 
and  had  cost  when  landed,  -£375.  It  sold 
for  .£525,  and  cost  for  sawing,  £750  more. 
Its  total  cost  to  last  owner  was  £1,275. 

MONROE  DOCTRINE. 

1823.  December.  President  Monroe 
enunciated  the  famous  doctrine  since 
known  by  his  name.  The  United  States 
had  now  recognized  the  independence  of 
South  American  states,  and  did  not  wish 
to  have  European  powers  longer  attempt- 
ing to  subdue  portions  of  the  American 
continent.  The  doctrine  is  as  follows: 
"  That  we  should  consider  any  attempt 
on  the  pari  of  European  powers  to  extend 
their  system  to  any  portion  of  this  hemi- 
sphere as  dangerous  to  our  peace  and 
safety,"  and  "  that  we  could  not  view  any 
interposition  for  the  purpose  of  oppress- 
ing or  controlling  American  governments 
or  provinces  in  any  other  light  than  as  a 


458 


REVOLUTION  ART  STRUGGLES. 


manifestation  by  European  powers  of  an 
unfriendly  disposition  toward  the  United 
States."  This  doctrine  immediately  af- 
fected the  course  of  foreign  governments, 
and  has  become  the  approved  sentiment 
of  the  United  States. 


1823.  A  federal  union  was  formed 
by  the  provinces  of  Central  America. 
The  confederation  was  not  completed 
for  some  months,  during  which  a  consti- 
tution very  similar  to  that  of  the  United 
States,  was  adopted.  The  title  taken  was 
"  The  United  Provinces  of  Central 
lass.  First  man-  America."  But  two  parties 
^factory  in  speedily  appeared,  as  in  the 

'  experience  of  the  United 
States,  the  one  in  favor  of  a  centralized 
government,  and  the  other  in  favor  of 
delegating  no  power  to  the  central  gov- 
ernment. Difficulties,  collisions,  and 
even  bloodshed,  began  to  appear.  The 
five  Central  American  states,  Honduras, 
Nicaragua,  Guatemala,  San  Salvador 
and  .Costa  Rica,  have  never  yet  been 
able  to  form  any  permanently  united 
government. 

1823.  The  independence  of  Colom- 
bia, S.  A.,  was  recognized  by  Spain. 

1823.  Gen.  O'Higgins,  dictator  of 
Chili,  resigned  because  of  popular  move- 
ments which  seemed  to  threaten  the 
peace  of  the  country. 

1823.  Great  Conspiracy  in  Cuba. 
An  attempt  was  made  to  organize  an 
uprising  in  Cuba,  under  the  name  Soles 
de  Bolivar,  from  the  fact  that  Bolivar  had 
agreed  to  engage  in  it.  It  failed  through 
the  treachery  of  a  leader.  Arrests  were 
speedily  made,  and  many  banishments 
and  imprisonments  took  place. 

1823.  The  West  India  pirates  were 
successfully  overwhelmed  by  a  fleet 
under  Com.  Perry.  This  was  a  work 


which  was  done  once  for  all.  The 
United  States  added  greatly  by  it  to  their 
naval  renown. 

1823.  The  first  teachers'  seminary 
in  the  United  States  was  opened  at  Con- 
cord, Vt.,  by  Rev.  S.  R.  Hill. 

1823.  The  "  Society  for  the  Refor- 
mation of  Juvenile  Delinquents,"  the  first 
of  the  kind  in  America,  was  incorporated 
by  the  state  of  New  York. 

1824.  Jan.  8.     «  Mrs.  Adams'  Ball " 
was    given    in    Washington,  D.    C.,   by 
Mrs.  John  Q.  Adams,  whose  husband  was 
secretary  of  state,  in   commemoration  of 
Gen.  Jackson's  victory  at   New   Orleans, 
The  occasion  is  said  to  have  had  a  bear- 
ing on  the  political  fortunes  of  candidates 
for  the  presidency.     It  was  long  remem- 
bered in  Washington. 

1824.  Feb.  10.  Bolivar  was  made 
dictator  of  Peru  in  place  of  Gen.  San 
Martin,  who  had  resigned. 

1824.  July  13.  The  importation  of 
slaves  was  forbidden  by  the  Mexican 
congress,  and  all  who  should  land  in  the 
republic  were  declared  free. 

1824.  July  19.  Execution  of  Itur- 
bide.  Iturbide,  having  returned  to  Mex- 
ico in  disguise,  was  detected,  arrested, 
and  shot  this  day  at  Padilla.  His  end  was 
speedier  than  he  had  ventured  to  think. 
His  widow  resided  for  a  long  time  in 
Philadelphia,  and  one  of  his  sons  was 
adopted  as  heir  to  the  throne  by  Max- 
imilian during  the  latter's  sad  and  foolish 
attempt  to  establish  a  monarchy  in 
Mexico. 

1824.  Aug.  6.  The  Spaniards  were 
defeated  at  Junin,  in  Peru,  by  Generals, 
Bolivar  and  Sucre. 

1824.  Aug.  15.  Marquis  de  Lafay- 
ette arrived  in  New  York  on  a  visit  to 
the  United  States,  at  the  request  of  con- 
gress. He  spent  about  one  year  in  the 


1800-1824.] 

country,  and  was  everywhere  received 
with  great  demonstrations  of  respect  and 
affection.  He  visited  and  entered  the 
tomb  of  Washington,  where  he  was 
overcome  with  emotion.  He  passed 
hastily  through  all  the  states  of  the  union, 
and  visited  the  largest  cities. 

1824.  Aug.  16.  Charles  Thomson, 
LL.  D.,  of  Philadelphia,  who  served  as 
secretary  of  the  continental  congress 
from  its  organization  in  1774  till  its  expi- 
ration in  1 789,  died  at  Lower  Merion  at 
the  age  of  ninety-five  years.  He  came 
to  America  from  Ireland  when  a  mere 
1824-1830  boy,  and  acquired  a  good 

Charles  x.  King    education.     His  heart  beat 

*f    France.  .  j         .,,      ,,  •  , 

in  accord  with  the  resist- 
ance to  parliamentary  power,  and  by  his 
influential  efforts  in  behalf  of  liberty,  he 
has  been  called  the  "  Samuel  Adams  of 
Philadelphia."  He  was  an  efficient  sec- 
retary, and  was  the  only  one  which  the 
continental  congress  appointed  during  its 
fifteen  years  of  existence.  He  also  had 
literary  tendencies  and  ability,  being 
widely  known  as  the  author  of  several 
works. 

1824.  Oct.  4.  First  Real  Mexican 
Constitution.  The  Mexican  congress 
promulgated  a  constitution  very  similar 
to  that  of  the  United  States,  establishing 
the  republic  of  Mexico,  which  was  to 
consist  of  nineteen  states  and  five  terri- 
tories. This  was  the  first  constitution 
adopted  by  the  whole  country.  The 
constitution  of  Morelos,  in  1814,  was  re- 
ceived by  only  a  part.  The  constitution 
of  1824  was  in  substance  re-adopted  in 
1857.  The  eminent  patriot,  Guadeloupe 
Victoria,  was  chosen  president,  and  Gen. 
Bravo  vice-president. 

1824.  Nov.  18.  The  fortress  of 
San  Juan  de  Ulloa,  in  the  harbor  of  Vera 
Cruz,  Mexico,  surrendered  to  the  repub- 


THE  A  WAKENED  CONTINENT. 


459 


lie.    It  was  the  last  spot  in  Mexico  where 
the  Spanish  flag  waved. 

SOUTH  AMERICAN  INDEPENDENCE. 

1824.  Dec.  9.  The  battle  of  Aya- 
cucho  was  fought  in  Peru,  between  a 
Spanish  force  of  9,310,  under  Gen.  La~ 
serna,  and  a  patriot  force  of  5,780,  under 
Gen.  Sucre.  The  former  were  totally 
routed,  and  lost  2,600  men.  The  Ameri- 
can loss  was  1,000.  This  was  the  deci- 
sive battle  in  all  the  contest  of  South 
American  republics  with  Spain,  and  vir- 
tually secured  them  in  their  independence. 


1824.  December.  Gift  to  Lafayette. 
Congress  voted  Lafayette  $200,000  and 
a  township  of  land  as  some  slight  return 
for  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  American 
liberty. 

1824.  The  first  manufacture  of  pins 
by  machinery  was  begun  in  England 
under  a  patent  obtained  by  Wellman 
Wright  of  the  United  States. 

TENTH  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN. 

1824.  The  famous  scrub  race  for  the 
presidency  has  made  the  tenth  presiden- 
tial campaign  of  the  United  States  a 
marked  event  in  political  history.  Divis- 
ions appeared  among  the  people,  and 
the  unity  of  the  last  election  was  no 
longer  apparent.  A  congressional  caucus 
was  called  by  the  friends  of  William  H. 
Crawford  of  Georgia.  Out  of  the  216 
democrat-republicans  in  congress,  only 
66  attended,  and  all  but  two  voted  for 
Mr.  Crawford.  The  other  members  of 
congress  refused  to  abide  by  this  nomina- 
tion, or  by  any  other  that  could  be  pre- 
sented. It  became  a  personal  contest. 
Four  candidates  for  president  were  in  the 
field :  William  H.  Crawford  of  Georgia, 
John  Quincy  Adams  of  Massachusetts, 


460 


REVOLUTIONARY  STRUGGLES. 


Henry  Clay  of  Kentucky,  and  Andrew 
Jackson  of  Tennessee.  These  were  all 
democrat-republicans.  The  result  was 
that  no  choice  was  made.  We  have  in 
this  campaign  our  first  recorded  popular 
vote,  which,  with  the  electoral  vote,  stood 
as  follows:  Andrew  Jackson,  155,872 
popular  votes,  and  99  electoral;  John  Q. 
Adams,  105,321  popular  votes,  and  84 
electoral;  William  H.  Crawford,  44,282 
popular  votes,  and  41  electoral;  Henry 
Clay,  46,587  popular  votes,  and  37 
electoral. 

The  House  of  Representatives,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  constitution,  elected 
John  Q.  Adams  president  upon  the  first 
ballot.  He  received  the  vote  of  13 
states,  Andrew  Jackson,  of  7  states,  and 
William  H.  Crawford,  of  4  states.  John 


C.  Calhoun  was  elected  vice-presi- 
dent by  the  electors,  he  having  received 
182  votes.  There  were  78  scattering 
votes  for  the  vice-president.  The  method 
of  nomination  by  congressional  caucus 
was  forever  dead. 


1824.  A  constitution  was  adopted  in 
Brazil. 

1824.  The  United  Provinces  of  the 
La  Plata  were  organized  as  a  republic 
under  Las  Heras. 

1824.  Russia  made  an  agreement 
with  the  United  States  by  which  she 
gave  up  all  claim  to  land  south  of  lat.  54° 
40',  and  afterward  made  the  same  treaty 
with  England,  leaving  the  United  States 
and  England  to  quarrel  over  the  settle- 
ment of  the  question. 


PART   V. 


DEVELOPMENT. 


1825-1859. 


461 


« '  Tis  as  easy  to  be  heroes  as  'to  sit  the  idle  slaves 
Of  a  legendary  virtue  carved  upon  our  fathers'*  graves, 
Worshippers  of  light  ancestral  make  the  present  light 

a  crime; 
Was  the  Mayflower  launched  by  cowards,  steered  by 

men  behind  their  time? 
Turn  those  tracks  toward  Past  or  Future,  that  make 

Plymouth  Rock  sublime  ? 

uJVew  occasions  teach  new  duties;  Time  makes  ancient 
good  uncouth  ; 

They  must  upward  still,  and  onward,  who  would  keep 
abreast  of  Truth; 

Lo,  before  us  gleam  her  camp-Jires  !  we  ourselves  must 
Pilgrims  be, 

Launch  our  Mayflower,  and  steer  boldly  through  the 
desperate  winter  sea, 

Nor  attempt  the  Future's  portal  with  the  Pasfs  blood- 
rusted  key?' 

-LOWELL. 


462 


SECTION  XVII. 
GftO  WTff  OF  TAftTItfS. 


CENES  of  war  give  place  to  scenes 
of  legislative  combat.  In  the  United 
YV  States  the  "  Era  of  Good  Feeling " 
JV  was  f°ll°wed  by  the  rise  of  ques- 
tions which  have  been  arbitrated  in  more 
recent  years  by  the  sword.  Great  debates 
between  the  giants  of  congress,  revealed 
the  character  of  opposing  ideas  of  national 
government.  In  the  meantime  several 
experimental  parties  were  formed,  the 
forerunners  of  the  great  Republican 
party  of  later  times.  The  tariff  was  an 
issue  which  caused  great  agitation.  In- 
ventions were  multiplying.  Some  of  our 
great  recent  improvements  originated  in 
this  period.  In  the  other  parts  of  Amer- 
ica the  lessons  of  self-government  had 
not  yet  been  learned,  and  there  was  more 
of  military  operation.  What  the  English 
colonists  had  learned  in  their  town-meet- 
ings, the  colonists  of  Spanish  America 
were  totally  ignorant  of.  Hence  their 
ascent  was  slower.  Great  obstacles  yet 
remained  within  the  body  politic  of  the 
southern  provinces  of  the  continent. 
Parties  resorted  to  arms  more  freely,  be- 
cause there  were  forces  opposed  to  them 
which  seemed  incapable  of  being  met  in 
any  other  way.  One  day  the  life  of  those 
sections  will  be  far  higher. 


1825.  January.  The  first  "  Reform 
School "  in  the  United  States  was  opened 
in  New  York  by  the  "  Society  for  the 
Reformation  of  Juvenile  Delinquents," 
upon  what  is  now  Madison  Square.  It  is 
now  situated  upon  Randall's  Island. 

1825.  March  4.  John  Quincy  Adams 
of  Massachusetts,  was  inaugurated  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  and  John  C. 
Calhoun  of  South  Carolina,  became  vice- 
president. 

1825.  April  27.  Owenism.  Robert 
Owen  instituted  a  provisional  government 
over  his  new  community  at  New  Har- 
mony, Ind.,  where  he  had  bought  the 
village  with  its  buildings  and  30,000 
acres  of  land  from  the  Rappites,  in  order- 
to  try  his  social  experiment.  Many 
changes  were  made  in  the  regulations  of 
the  community,  all  failing  to  secure 
success.  Nine  hundred  persons  started 
out  in  the  attempt.  Mr.  Owen  had  come 
from  England.  In  a  few  years  the 
community  broke  up,  and  relapsed  into 
individual  property.  The  reaction  was 
very  great.  Mr.  Owen  afterward  tried 
other  experiments  at  other  places,  but 
none  of  them  resulted  in  anything. 

1825.  June  17.  The  corner  stone 
of  Bunker  Hill  monument  was  laid  with 

463 


464 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT, 


imposing  ceremonies  in  the  presence  of  a 
large  concourse  of  people  to  whom  Dan- 
iel Webster  delivered  a  remarkable  ora- 
tion. Lafayette  added  honor  to  the 
occasion.  The  grand  tent  covered 
38,400  square  feet.  The  tables  were  set 
with  4,000  plates. 

1825.  Aug.  11.  Bolivia  was  formed 
from  the  upper  provinces  of  Peru,  and 
made  an  independent  state.  It  was 
named  in  honor  of  Simon  Bolivar,  who, 
more  than  any  other  man,  secured  South 
American  liberty.  Gen.  Sucre  was  made 
president  under  a  republican  form  of 
government.  Bolivia  has  an  area  of 
677,288  square  miles,  and  about  2,081,- 
585  inhabitants. 

1825.  Sept.  7.  The  independence 
of  the  Empire  of  Brazil  from  Portugal 
was  recognized  by  the  Portuguese  crown. 
Brazil  is  the  largest  country  in  South 
America,  and  the  only  empire  in  the  New 
World.  It  has  an  area  of  3,200,000 
square  miles,  and  a  population  of  9,913,- 
ooo  inhabitants. 

1825.  Sept.  7.  Lafayette  sailed  from 
Washington,  D.  C.,  for  France.  All 
business  was  suspended,  and  the  United 
States  authorities  bade  Lafayette  an 
affecting  farewell  in  the  president's  house. 
A  vast  multitude  watched  the  embarka- 
tion, and  lingered  to  catch  a  last  glimpse 
of  the  now  aged  hero. 

1825.  Dec.  ~12.  War  was  declared 
upon  the  Argentine  Republic  by  the 
emperor  of  Brazil,  who  immediately 
proclaimed  the  port  of  Buenos  Ayres  to 
be  in  a  state  of  blockade. 

1825.  A  canal  association  was  formed 
in  London,  for  the  object  of  constructing 
a  ship  canal  across  the  isthmus  between 
North  and  South  America. 

1825.  The  Erie  Canal,  the  largest 
in  America,  being  363  miles  long,  was 


completed  after  several  years  of  labor, 
and  an  expense  of  about  J825.  Maapostg 

$8,OOO,OOO.     It  Was  Opened      in  Prussia. 
•,i  •  .  Steam  on  the 

with  imposing  ceremonies,    Rlline     Finan. 
during  which  Gov.  Clinton,    cial panic  in 
who    had    been    conveyed  England. 

over  the  route  by  the  first  boat,  poured  a 
keg  of  water  which  was  brought  from 
Lake  Erie,  into  the  ocean  at  New  York 
city. 

1825.  The  first  railway  charter  in 
America  was  given  to  the  Mohawk  and 
Hudson  Company,  New  York. 

1825.  The  first  iron  boat  in  Amer- 
ica was  built  at  York,  Penn.,  ana 
was  named  "  The  Codorus."  It  had  a 
wooden  frame,  and  drew  twelve  inches 
of  water,  but  not  being  able  to  ply  on  the 
Susquehanna,  it  was  taken  south,  and 
used  a  long  time. 

1825.  "  Babbit  Metal."  The  manu- 
facture of  Brittania,  or  white  metal, 
which  has  since  been  extensively  used  as 
a  base  for  silver  plated  goods,  was  begun 
by  Isaac  Babbit  at  Taunton,  Mass.  He 
introduced  it  as  a  substance  for  shaft  boxes, 
in  which  use  it  has  had  a  great  run. 

1825.  "The  WeU-Conducted  Farm," 
an  essay  issued  by  Dr.  Justin  Edwards, 
detailed  the  experiment  of  a  large  farm 
in   Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  and  the  great 
superiority     of    labor      without     stimu- 
lants in  the  shape  of  intoxicating  drink. 
It  made  a  profound  impression. 

1826.  January.    Callao,  the  last  foot- 
hold of  the  Spaniards  in  Peru,  was  sur- 
rendered. 

1826.  April  8.  A  duel  was  fought 
on  the  bank  of  the  Potomac,  near  Little 
Falls  bridge,  between  Henry  Clay  of 
Kentucky,  Secretary  of  State  in  the 
United  States,  and  John  Randolph  of 
Virginia,  United  States  senator.  The 
latter,  in  a  speech  upon  the  floor  of  the 


1825-1844.  j, 

senate,  had  grossly  insulted  Mr.  Clay, 
who,  after  demanding  satisfaction  and 
obtaining  none,  challenged  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph. The  parties  met  and  exchanged 
fire,  without  any  effect.  At  a  second  call 
Mr.  Clay  fired  without  hitting  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph, who  fired  into  the  air.  A  recon- 
ciliation immediately  took  place  between 
them. 

"NEW  HAVEN  BLUE  LAWS." 

1826.  April  19.  Samuel  A.  Peters, 
"the  author  of  a  "  History  of  Connecti- 
cut," and  an  Episcopalian  clergyman, 
died  in  New  York,  at  the  age  of  ninety 
years.  He  was  a  tory  at  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Revolution,  and  published  his 
history  in  England,  whither  he  had  fled 
in  1774  to  protect  himself.  His  work 
has  been  called  "  the  most  unscrupulous 
and  malicious  of  lying  narratives."  He 
gives  a  series  of  enactments  which  he 
says  were  made  in  the  "Dominion  of 
New  Haven."  These  so-called  laws 
have  been  thought  by  many  to  have  been 
genuine,  but  they  were  very  largely  fab- 
ricated. They,  in  some  respects,  resem- 
ble enactments  actually  made  in  New 
England,  but  by  their  wording  are  full 
of  misrepresentations.  Among  them  are 
the  following:  "  No  one  shall  travel, cook 
victuals,  make  beds,  sweep  house,  cut 
hair,  or  shave,  on  the  Sabbath  day."  "  No 
woman  shall  kiss  her  children  on  the 
Sabbath,  or  fasting  day."  Mr.  Peters 
was  very  poor  during  his  last  days. 
Trumbull  in  his  "McFingall"  makes 
him  stand  for  "Parson  Peter." 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


4(55 


1826.     June   22.      A   convention   of 

delegates  from  the  South  American  states 
was  held  at  Panama,  to  which  the  United 
States  sent  commissioners.  No  impor- 
tant results  followed. 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 

1826.  July  4.  The  fiftieth  anniver- 
sary of  the  independence  of  the  United 
States  was  hailed  with  joy  throughout 
the  nation;  yet,  before  the  close  of  that 
day  two  of  the  most  illustrious  men  of 
the  Revolution  had  passed  away. 
Thomas  Jefferson,  author  of  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence,  and  third  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  died  not  long 
after  noon.  He  was  born  April  2,  1 743,  on 
the  slope  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  in  Shadwell, 
Albemarle  Co.,  Va.  When  he  was  four- 
teen years  of  age  his  father  died.  He 
entered  an  advanced  class  in  William  and 
Mary  College  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
and  remained  two  years,  then  commenced 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Mr. 
Wythe,  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
lawyers  in  the  state.  For  five  years  he 
spent  fifteen  hours  each  day  in  study,  in- 
cluding three  hours  of  practice  on  the 
violin,  upon  which  he  became  a  skillful 
player. 

In  1769  he  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses,  where 
he  took  a  prominent  stand  against  parlia- 
mentary encroachments.  The  next  year 
he  removed  his  residence  from  Shadwell 
to  a  new  home  which  he  had  built  and 
named  Monticello,  where,  two  years  later, 
he  brought  his  bride,  formerly  a  Mrs. 
Martha  Skelton. 

In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the  continental 
congress,  where,  though  a  silent  man,  his 
abilities  as  a  writer  and  reasoner  soon 
became  known,  and  he  was  placed  on  a 
number  of  important  committees,  being 
made  chairman  of  that  for  drawing  up 
the  Declaration  of  Independence.  This, 
with  but  few  verbal  changes,  was  the 
work  of  his  pen. 

Jefferson  next  addressed  himself  to  the 
reform  of  the  organic  laws  of  his  own 


466 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


state,  in  order  for  which  he  declined  the 
appointment  of  commissioner  to  negotiate 
treaties  of  commerce  with  France.  In 
1779  he  was  made  governor  of  Virginia. 
While  occupying  this  position  he  gave 
his  hearty  support  to  Washington  in 
supplying  his  army,  though  it  left  his  own 
state  in  very  poor  condition  to  meet  the 
encroachments  of  the  British,  who  had 
about  this  time  commenced  their  ravages 
in  the  south.  His  own  estates  were  not 
exempt  from  these  depredations,  and  him- 
self barely  escaped  falling  into  their  hands. 
His  wife's  health,  never  very  good,  was 
much  injured  by  this  excitement,  and  in 
the  summer  of  1782  she  died.  During 
the  four  months  preceding  her  death  Mr. 
Jefferson  was  her  constant  and  tender 
nurse,  scarcely  ever  out  of  calling.  His 
grief  at  her  death  was  painful  to  witness, 
and  he  was  to  the  end  of  his  life  faithful 
to  her  memory,  treasuring  as  his  most 
sacred  relics,  locks  of  her  hair  and  other 
mementoes.  By  her  death  the  dream  of 
his  life  was  broken ;  having  intended  to 
live  in  retirement,  engaged  in  literary 
pursuits,  he  was  now  easily  persuaded 
again  to  enter  the  public  service. 

Elected  to  congress  in  1783,  Mr.  Jeffer- 
son secured  the  adoption  by  that  body  of 
the  present  system  of  currency.  Two' 
years  later  he  was  appointed  minister 
plenipotentiary  to  France,  to  succeed  Dr. 
Franklin,  who  had  resigned  on  account  of 
his  age.  Mr.  Jefferson's  affability  and 
polish  of  manner  soon  won  him  a  high 
position  in  the  esteem  of  the  French 
people,  whose  unvarying  politeness  was 
a  constant  source  of  pleasure  to  him. 
Returning  to  the  United  States  in  Sep- 
tember of  1789,  he  became  secretary  of 
state  in  Washington's  cabinet.  Wash- 
ington was  not  mistaken  in  Jefferson's  fit- 
ness for  that  position.  He  discharged  the 


duties  of  the  office  with  great  credit;  yet 
on  account  of  difference  of  opinion  in  re- 
gard to  several  important  political  and 
financial  measures  with  Mr.  Hamilton, 
Washington's  able  secretary  of  the  treas- 
ury, he  determined  to  resign.  He  accord- 
ingly sent  in  his  resignation  at  the  com- 
mencement of  Washington's  second  term, 
but  at  his  urgent  solicitation  was  induced 
to  remain  until  Jan.  I,  1794,  when  his 
final  resignation  was  accepted,  and  he  re- 
tired to  Monticello.  During  his  retire- 
ment, while  spending  the  greater  part  of 
his  time  in  setting  in  order  his  private  af- 
fairs which  had  become  greatly  deranged, 
his  occasional  communications  to  the 
papers,  and  political  leaders,  swayed  the 
party  whose  sentiments  he  represented, 
so  that  in  the  election  of  1797  he  was 
chosen  vice-president,  John  Adams  hav- 
ing received  a  small  majority  of  the 
votes,  being  president.  At  the  next  elec- 
tion, in  1 80 1,  Jefferson  was  chosen  presi- 
dent. His  two  terms  passed  smoothly, 
very  unlike  the  stormy  terms  of  his  pred- 
ecessors. Popular  at  the  beginning,  by 
his  simple  republican  dress  and  manners 
he  became  daily  more  popular,  while  in 
more  important  matters  his  administra- 
tion was  "  among  the  wisest  and  purest 
the  world  has  ever  seen." 

On  retiring  from  the  presidency  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  at  Monti- 
cello,  his  house  open  to  all  who  desired  to 
visit  him;  it  is  said  that  his  home  for 
years  resembled  a  fashionable  watering 
place.  Such  hospitality  would  in  a  short 
time  consume  a  much  larger  estate  than 
Mr.  Jefferson's,  and  the  last  years  of  his 
life  were  rendered  very  unhappy  by 
debts,  increased  by  an  indorsement  of 
twenty  thousand  dollars  for  a  friend. 
•  In  1826  he  applied  to  the  legislature  for 
permission  to  dispose  of  his  estates  by 


1825-1844.] 

lottery.  His  petition  was  granted,  and 
the  plan  commenced,  but,  interrupted  by 
his  death,  was  never  carried  out.  When 
his  embarrassments  became  known,  testi- 
monials of  esteem  and  gratitude  were 
sent  him,  amounting  in  all  to  about 
eighteen  thousand  dollars.  This  relieved 
his  immediate  need,  and  brightened  his 
closing  days.  After  his  death,  his  estates 
were  sold;  and  the  whole  amount  re- 
ceived from  them  did  not  cover  his 
indebtedness. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  a  democrat  from 
principle,  and  heartily  believed  in  a  gov- 
ernment by  the  people.  Believing  also 
that  all  men  are  created  equal,  he,  like 
Washington,  although  the  owner  of  many 
slaves,  could  not  countenance  the  institu- 
tion of  slavery.  While  belonging  to  the 
most  wealthy  class  of  Virginia  landhold- 
ers, he  never,  even  in  his  youth,  was  ad- 
dicted to  the  vices  so  common  to  young 
men  of  this  class ;  his  language  was  pure, 
and  free  from  oaths;  he  did  not  use  to- 
bacco ;  he  was  opposed  to  gambling ;  and, 
though  fond  of  horses,  and  a  fine  horse- 
man himself,  he  never  but  once  put  one 
on  the  course.  In  college  and  in  his 
after  studies  Mr.  Jefferson  became  both 
a  good  mathematician  and  a  fine  classical 
scholar.  He  was  not  a  public  speaker, 
but  was  a  clear  thinker,  a  fine  conversa- 
tionalist, and  a  ready  and  careful  writer. 
His  disposition  was  kind  and  affectionate, 
easily  winning  the  love,  not  only  of  his 
relatives  and  personal  friends,  but  of  all 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  His 
domestic  affections,  shown  in  his  tender 
care  of  his  wife  during  her  last  illness, 
were  bestowed  after  her  death  upon  his 
daughters,  over  whom  he  exercised  a 
mother's  care  and  watchfulness.  "His 
moral  character,"  says  his  nephew,  T.  J. 
Randolph,  "was. of  the  highest  order, 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


467 


founded  upon  the  purest  and  sternest 
models  of  antiquity,  softened,  chastened, 
and  developed  by  the  influence  of  the  all- 
pervading  benevolence  of  the  doctrines  of 
Christ,  which  he  had  earnestly  and  ad- 
miringly studied."  Yet  he  never  avowed 
any  religious  faith,  and  was  unwilling 
that  any  should  be  taught  in  the  univer- 
sity which  he  founded. 

We  see,  then,  in  Mr.  Jefferson  an 
original  thinker  and  reformer,  an  accom- 
plished scholar  and  gentleman,  a  tender 
husband  and  father,  and  a  warm  friend, 
with  the  added  charm  of  a  thoroughly 
pure  life  governed  by  Christian  principles. 

JOHN  ADAMS. 

1826.  July  4.  John  Adams,  the  sec- 
ond president  of  the  United  States,  died 
near  sunset,  a  few  hours  later  than 
Thomas  Jefferson.  He  was  born  at 
Braintree — that  part  now  called  Quincy 
— Massachusetts,  Oct.  19,  1735.  He  was 
fitted  for  college  in  his  native  town,  and 
graduated  at  Harvard,  in  1755.  His 
parents  had  hoped  that  he  might  study 
for  the  ministry,  but  not  being  able  to 
agree  with  the  orthodox  views  of  the 
time,  he  decided  for  the  law  instead,  and 
commenced  the  study  of  it  at  Worcester, 
teaching  at  the  same  time.  The  latter 
occupation  w^s  somewhat  irksome  to 
him,  and  he  was  glad  to  enter  for  the 
final  year  of  his  course,  the  office  of  Jer- 
emy Gridley.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1759,  and  commenced  practice  in 
his  native  town.  Mr.  Adams  was  mar- 
ried, in  1 764,  to  Abigail  Smith,  a  lady  of 
fine  "natural  endowments,  and  well  edu- 
cated. Four  years  later  he  removed  to 
Boston,  hoping  to  find  there  a  wider  field 
of  labor.  In  177°  ne  was  chosen  repre- 
sentative to  the  general  court,  being  at 
the  same  time  engaged  in  the  defense  of 


468 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


the  British  soldiers  under  Capt.  Preston, 
who  were  on  trial  for  the  disturbance 
known  as  the  Boston  Massacre.  In  this 
suit,  though  Mr.  Adams  was  engaged  on 
the  unpopular  side,  he  was  successful. 

Mr.  Adams  was  elected  one  of  the 
five  delegates  from  Massachusetts  to  the 
first  General  Congress  at  Philadelphia, 
and  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  ablest 
in  that  able  assembly.  In  the  important 
business  of  congress  for  1776,  Mr. 
Adams  took  an  active  part.  For  the 
work  of  reorganizing  state  governments, 
he  was,  by  his  early  reading  and  thinking, 
better  fitted  than  any  other  man  in  con- 
gress, and  to  him  the  leaders  of  move- 
ments for  reorganization  applied  for 
advice,  and  plans  of  constitutions.  It  is 
noticeable  that  those  which  followed  his 
plans,  most  nearly,  have  been  the  most 
satisfactory,  and  least  changed.  Mr. 
Adams  was  also  one  of  the  prime  movers 
in  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  He 
is  called  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  the  "  colossus 
of  independence."  As  Jefferson  wrote 
the  paper,  so  Adams,  in  the  three  days' 
debate  which  followed  its  presentation  to 
congress,  "fought  fearlessly  for  every 
word  of  it." 

After  serving  his  country  and  his  own 
state,  he  was  sent  by  congress  to  Europe, 
commissioned  with  authority  to  make  a 
treaty  of  peace  and  commerce  with  Great 
Britain,  when  the  opportunity  should 
present  itself.  With  his  two  sons  he 
arrived  at  Paris  after  a  perilous  voyage, 
on  the  5th  of  February,  1780.  During 
the  interval  between  this  time  and  the 
treaty  in  January,  1783,  Mr.  Adams'  oc- 
cupied himself  with  disseminating  in 
France  and  Holland,  information  con- 
cerning the  United  States,  and  in  the 
very  important  business  of  negotiating 
the  loans  with  Holland,  which  in  all 


probability  saved  our  nation  from  bank- 
ruptcy. The  latter,  accompanied  as  it 
was  by  the  recognition  of  the  indepen- 
dence of  the  United  States,  and  followed 
by  a  treaty  of  amity  and  commerce, 
being  exclusively  the  result  of  his  own 
labor,  Mr.  Adams  regarded  as  the  great- 
est triumph  of  his  life. 

Not  long  after  the  treaty  of  peace 
with  Great  Britain  was  signed,  Mr. 
Adams  was  advised  by  his  physician  on 
his  partial  recovery  from  a  very  severe 
illness,  to  go  to  England  and  try  the 
waters  of  Bath.  While  in  London  he 
had  the  gratification  of  hearing  George 
the  Third  announce  to  Parliament  and 
the  people  that  he  had  made  a  treaty  of 
peace  with  the  States  of  North  America. 
He  had  been  in  Bath  but  a  few  days 
when  he  received  very  urgent  dispatches 
from  home,  announcing  that  the  previous 
loans  had  been  exhausted,  and  new  bills 
presented,  which  made  it  of  the  greatest 
importance  that  he  make  attempts  for 
new  loans.  Though  a  journey  to  Hol- 
land in  the  winter  seemed  likely  to  prove 
disastrous  to  him  in  his  feeble  state  of 
health,  and  though  he  thought  it  doubt- 
ful if  he  should  succeed  in  procuring  the 
loan,  yet  he  determined  to  make  the 
attempt;  and  after  a  very  rough  journey 
by  boat,  on  foot,  in  ice  boats,  and  boors' 
wagons,  he  finally  reached  Amsterdam, 
and  succeeded  beyond  his  hopes. 

Finding  that,  by  a  new  commission,  he 
was  likely  to  remain  some  time  longer 
from  home,  Mr.  Adams,  in  1 784,  sent  for 
his  wife  and  daughter.  On  their  arrival 
he  engaged  a  house  at  Auteuil,  near 
Paris,  where,  for  a  year,  they  enjoyed  all 
the  benefits  of  the  most  refined,  brilliant, 
and  intellectual  society  in  the  world.  In 
May,  1 785,  having  been  appointed  envoy 
to  the  court  of  St.  James,  he  removed 


1825-1844.] 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


469 


with  his  family  to  England.  He  was  re- 
ceived coldly  by  George  the  Third  and 
his  court,  and  was  unable  to  accomplish 
the  object  of  his  mission;  he  therefore 
asked  to  be  recalled,  and  Jetters  of  recall 
being  sent,  on  the  2d  of  April,  1788, 
after  an  active  service  of  nearly  nine 
years  abroad,  Mr.  Adams  bade  farewell 
to  Europe. 

The  next  year  Mr.  Adams  was  chosen 
vice-president,  the  first  under  the  new 
constitution,  and  was  re-elected  in  1793- 

At  the  third  election  Mr.  Adams  was 
chosen  president  by  a  majority  of  but 
three  votes.  His  trials  in  this  position 
were  very  great.  Entering  upon  the 
office  immediately  after  Washington, 
who  himself,  though  so  popular,  did  not 
escape  the  calumny  of  the  party  leaders; 
taking  up  the  business  at  so  critical  a 
time  in  our  history,  with  party  feeling 
never  more  bitter,  a  powerful  faction  of 
his  own  party  under  Mr.  Hamilton  op- 
posing him,  the  members  of  his  cabinet 
hostile  or  indifferent,  the  war  with  France 
pending,  it  is  not  strange  that  his  presi- 
dential career  should  have  been  under  a. 
ban,  until  more  careful  investigations 
have  brought  it  out  in  its  .true  light.  It 
is  beginning  to  be  considered  that  he  did 
indeed  redeem  the  pledge  with  which  he 
entered  upon  the  administration,  to  "  act 
a  fearless,  intrepid,  undaunted  part,"  not 
forgetting  "  likewise  to  act  a  prudent, 
cautious,  and  considerate  part." 

At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office 
he  retired  at  once  to  his  farm  at  Quincy, 
spending  there  the  remaining  years  of 
his  life  in  pursuits  which,  according  to 
Cicero,  are  the  most  agreeable  to  old  age. 
During  these  years  he  wrote  much,  both 
letters  to  his  friends,  and  articles  for  pub- 
lication. As  a  writer  Mr.  Adams  always 
paid  more  attention  to  the  sentiment  than 


to  the  style,  and  disliked  that  finishing 
labor  whjch  makes  an  article  readable 
when  the  sentiment  is  no  longer  felt. 
He  was  much  greater  as  a  thinker,  and 
reasoner,  and  talker,  than  as  a  writer. 

During  these  years  his  former  friendly 
relations  with  Thomas  Jefferson,  inter- 
rupted for  a  time  by  politics,  were  re- 
newed through  the  interposition  of  a 
mutual  friend,  and  a  correspondence 
commenced,  which  was  kept  up  through- 
out the  remainder  of  their  lives. 

In  1818  Mr.  Adams  lost  his  wife,  who 
had  been  a  sympathizer,  comforter,  and 
counsellor,  in  all  vicissitudes. 

His  last  years  were  passed  serenely. 
Once  a  year  he  was  visited  by  his  son, 
John  Quincy,  daily  becoming  more  pop- 
ular. In  1825,  as  if  to  recompense  him 
for  his  previous  trials,  he  was  permitted 
to  be  congratulated  on  the  election  of  his 
son  to  the  highest  seat  of  honor  in  the 
nation. 

It  was  his  to  witness  the  dawn  of  the 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  American  Inde- 
pendence, and  his  spirit,  with  its  passing, 
also  passed  away.  Having  lived  into 
his  ninety-first  year,  he  could  not  be 
mourned  as  those  who  pass  in  the  ma- 
turity of  their  powers.  The  nation  could 
but  say:  How  fitting  that  he,  who  had 
done  so  much  to  secure  national  inde- 
pendence, should  depart  on  the  day  com- 
memorating the  event,  giving  with 
almost  his  last  words,  that  sentiment  to 
which  he  had  devoted  his  life,  "  Inde- 
pendence Forever." 

THE  WILLED  DISASTER. 

1826.  Aug.  28.  Samuel  Willey,  Jr., 
had  moved  into  the  recesses  of  Crawford 
Notch,  in  the  White  Mountains,  to  keep 
a  little  inn  for  teamsters.  The  road 
through  the  Notch  was  beginning  to  be 


470 


POLITICAL  DE  VEL  OPMENT, 


used  considerably  by  Vermont  and  New 
Hampshire  men  in  making  their  way  to 
the  coast.  Mr.  Willey's  family  had  one 
or  two  frights  from  falling  avalanches, 
but  had  so  far  escaped  harm.  On  this 
occasion  a  fearful  storm  came  on.  The 
earth  was  dry  as  powder.  By  evening 
the  tempest  was  raging  in  power.  The 
whole  region  was  black  and  terrible. 
The  Saco  rose  to  a  rushing  torrent.  The 
earth  shook.  The  mountains  seemed  to 
tremble.  There  was  great  destruction  in 
every  blast.  The  Notch  was  torn  and 
rent  in  every  direction.  The  Willey 
family  apparently  heard  the  sound  of  an 
avalanche  far  up  in  the  rear  of  the  house, 
and  left  in  haste,  to  escape  destruction. 
The  house  was  found  safe  with  open 
doors,  a  few  days  afterward,  and  a  Bible 
open  at  the  eighteenth  Psalm  was  found 
lying  on  the  table.  The  avalanche  had 
been  split  by  a  large  outstanding  ledge 
or  boulder  in  the  rear  of  the  house,  one 
portion  going  one  side,  and  the  other  the 
other  side,  of  the  frail  dwelling.  The 
remains  of  the  family  were  found  be- 
neath the  sand  and  debris  on  the  bank  of 
the  Saco,  where  they  were  suddenly 
overwhelmed.  In  the  house  they  would 
have  been  safe  from  harm.  The  spot  is 
now  visited  by  hundreds  of  tourists. 


1826.  Temperance  Reformation.  The 
American  Temperance  Union  was  or- 
ganized at  Boston,  on  the  principles  of 
Micajah  Pendleton's  Pledge.  It  per- 
mitted the  use  of  cider,  wines,  and  malt 
liquors  in  moderation,  but  required  total 
abstinence  from  distilled  liquors.  In  six 
years  over  4,000  societies  were  organized, 
and  distillation  ceased  to  a  great  extent, 
for  merchants  gave  up  the  trade. 
Twenty  thousand  families  became  con- 
nected with  the  society.  This  was  the 


beginning  of  the  modern  movements  in 
favor  of  temperance. 

1826.  Eclectic  Medical  School.  Dr. 
Wooster  Beach  of  New  York,  founded  a 
college  for  teaching  the  principles  of  the 
American  Eclectic,  or  New  School  of 
Medicine.  Institutions  have  since  grown 
up  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  and  the 
Eclectic  School  is  now  thoroughly  or- 
ganized, and  numbers  thousands  of 
members. 

POLITICAL  ANTI-MASONRJ. 

1826.  Abduction  of  William  Mor- 
gan. A  great  excitement  arose  this  fall 
over  the  supposed  abduction  of  William 
Morgan,  a  Freemason  who  was  preparing 
a  book  revealing  the  secrets  of  the  order. 
Morgan  lived  in  Batavia,  N.  Y.  An  in- 
vestigation was  held  which  established  in 
the  minds  of  those  who  had  conducted  it, 
the  conviction  that  Morgan  had  been 
taken  out  into  Lake  Ontario,  and 
drowned.  Long  trials  were  held,  but  no 
one  was  ever  condemned.  The  excite- 
ment gave  rise  to  the  Anti-Mason  party 
which  controlled  over  30,000  votes  in  New 
York,  and  obtained  the  electoral  votes  of 
Vermont  in  1832.  The  party  subse- 
quently faded  away.  It  may  be  interest- 
ing to  give  the  reminiscences  of  Thurlow 
Weed,  who  served  upon  the  committee  of 
investigation,  and  who  wrote  the  follow- 
ing in  the  N.  Y.  Herald,  Aug.  6, 1875 : 

"I  did  not  personally  know  Wm. 
Morgan,  who  was  for  more  than  two 
months  writing  his  book  in  a  house  ad- 
joining my  residence,  in  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
When  applied  to  by  Mr.  Dyer — my 
next  door  neighbor,  where  Morgan 
boarded — to  print  the  book,  purporting 
to  disclose  the  secrets  of  Masonry,  I  de- 
clined to  do  so,  believing  that  a  man  who 
had  taken  an  oath  to  keep  a  secret,  had 
no  risfht  to  disclose  it.  Although  not  a 


1825-1844.] 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


471 


Freemason  I  had  favorable  opinions  of 
an  institution  to  which  Washington, 
Franklin,  and  Lafayette,  belonged.  On 
my  refusal  to  print  the  book  Morgan  re- 
moved to  Batavia,  where  he  made  the 
acquaintance  of  David  C.  Miller,  'editor 
of  the  Advocate,  also  a  Mason,  who  be- 
came his  publisher.  I  pass  briefly  over  a 
series  of  facts  which  were  judicially  es- 
tablished, embracing  the  arrest  of  Mor- 
gan, his  conveyance  to  and  confinement 
in  the  county  jail  at  Canandaigua,  from 
which  he  was  released  and  conveyed  by 
night,  in  close  carriages,  through  Roches- 
ter, Clarkson,  and  along  the  Ridge  Road 
to  Fort  Niagara,  in  the  magazine  of 
which  he  was  confined.  While  thus  con- 
fined a  Knight  Templar  Encampment 
was  installed  at  Lewiston;  when  at  sup- 
per, the  zeal  and  enthusiasm  of  the 
Templars  having  been  aroused  by  the 
speeches  and  wine,  Col.  Wm.  King  of 
Lockport,  invited  four  men  (Whitney, 
Howard,  Chubbuck  and  Garside)  from 
the  seats  at  the  banqueting  table,  into  an 
adjoining  room,  where  he  informed  them 
that  he  had  an  order  from  the  Grand 
Master,  De  Witt  Clinton,  the  execution 
of  which  required  their  assistance.  This 
party  was  then  driven  to  Niagara,  reach- 
ing the  fart  a  little  before  12  o'clock. 
Upon  entering  the  magazine,  Col.  King 
informed  Morgan  that  his  friends  had 
completed  their  arrangements  for  his  re- 
moval to,  and  residence  upon,  a  farm  in 
Canada.  Morgan  walked  with  them  to 
the  wharf  where  a  boat  was  held  in  readi- 
ness for  them  by  Elisha  Adams,  an  inva- 
lid soldier,  into  which  the  party  passed, 
and  rowed  away,  Adams  remaining  to 
warn  the  boat  off  by  signal,  if  on  its  re- 
turn, any  alarm  had  been  given.  It  was 
nearly  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  when 
the  boat  returned,  having,  as  Adams  ex- 


pressed it,  lost  one  man,  only  five  of  the 
six  being  on  board  when  the  boat  re- 
turned. When  the  boat  reached  the 
point  where  the  Niagara  River  empties 
into  Lake  Ontario,  a  rope  being  wound 
around  Morgan's  body,  to  either  end  of 
which  a  sinker  was  attached,  he  was 
thrown  overboard.  It  is  due  to  the  mem- 
ory of  Gov.  Clinton  to  say  that  Col. 
King  had  no  such  order,  and  no  authori- 
ty to  make  use  of  his  name.  It  is  proper, 
also,  to  add,  that  none  of  these  men  sur- 
vive. John  Whitney  of  Rochester,  whom 
I  knew  so  well,  related  all  the  circum- 
stances connected  with  the  last  act  in  the 
tragedy,  to  me  at  Albany,  in  1831,  in 
the  presence  of  Simeon  B.  Jewett  of 
Clarkson,  and  Samuel  Barton  of 
Lewiston. " 

A  body  was  found  a  year  later,  but, 
though  it  was  identified  at  one  time  as 
Morgan,  at  another  it  was  identified  as 
the  body  of  Timothy  Monroe. 


1826.  An  improved  Paris  fire-proof 
safe  was  patented  by  Jesse  Deland  of 
New  York.  This  was  the  first  safe  in 
the  country  intended  to  withstand  fire. 
Previous  strong  boxes  were  strapped 
with  iron.  This  safe  was  also  plated  with 
iron. 

1826.  The  manufacture  of  axes  and 
other  edge  tools  was  begun  in  America 
by  Samuel  W.  and  D.  C.  Collins,  at 
Collinsville,  Conn.  They  turned  out  at 
first  eight  broad  axes  a  day.  The  Collins 
company  is  now  one  of  the  largest  in  the 
world,  and  uses  600  tons  of  grindstones 
every  year.  This  was  the  first  company 
organized  for  the  purpose,  although  pre- 
viously axes  had  been  made  by  black- 
smiths from  before  the  Revolution. 

1826.  Dom  Pedro,  Emperor  of  Bra- 
zil, became  King  of  Portugal  by  the 


472 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


death  of  his  father,  but  bestowed  the  Por- 
tuguese crown  upon  his  infant  daughter. 

1826.  Uruguay  was  declared  an  inde- 
pendent republic,  and  in  a  couple  of  years 
was  recognized  as  such,  with  a  guaran- 
tee from  Great  Britain,  Brazil,  and  the 
Argentine  Republic.     It    has   a  popula- 
tion of  454,478  persons,  and  an  area  of 
63,300  square  miles. 

1827.  July   30.      The   "protection- 
ists "  of  the  country  held  a  national  con- 
vention at  Harrisburg,  Penn.,  which  was 
filled  with  discussions.     A  tariff  not  only 
for    revenue,   but     for    protection,    was 
strongly  urged  by  this  assembly. 

1827.  Slavery  was  finally  abolished 
in  New  York,  under  the  statute  of  1817. 
Nearly  10,000  slaves  were  freed  without 
compensation  to  their  owners. 

1827.  First  Railway  in  America.  A 
railway  was  completed  at  Quincy,  Mass., 
1745-1827.  by  Gridley  Bryant  and  T. 

for   th 


Volta,  discoverer 

of  Voltaic  bat-    portation  of  the  granite  of 

'1770-1327  which  Bunker  Hil1  Monu- 

Beethoven.    ment  was  to  be  built.     This 

was  the  first  in  the  United  States,  and 
was  operated  by  horse  power.  The 
switch  was  invented  by  Mr.  Bryant; 
also  the  first  eight-wheeled  car.  The 
wooden  rails  of  the  track  were  plated 
with  iron  to  make  them  more  durable. 

1827.  A  daring  expedition  to  reach 
the  North  Pole  over  the  ice  was  under- 
taken by  Parry,  in  boats  which  had  a 
runner  on  each  side  of  the  keel,  so  as  to 
be  suited  for  either  mode  of  traveling. 
The  ice-fields  north  of  Spitzbergen  were 
rough  and  jagged,  with  pools  of  water,  so 
that  they  were  obliged  to  constantly  un- 
load and  load  the  boats.  After  thirty-five 
days  of  travel,  sometimes  through  deep, 
half-melted  snow,  and  sometimes  over 
sharp  ice,  they  found  that  the  whole  field 


was  floating  south,  and  their  toil  was  in 
vain.  They  had  reached  a  higher  lati- 
tude than  any  previous  expedition,  82° 
40^'.  This  was  the  last  Arctic  voyage 
that  Parry  made.  He  was  a  daring 
navigator,  and  when  twenty-eight  years 
old,  discovered  Melville's  Island.  He 
was  born  in  1790,  and  died  in  1855  at 
Erns. 

1827.  A  telegraph  two  miles  in 
length  was  operated  on  the  race  course 
on  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  by  Harrison  Dyar, 
and  transmitted  signals  by  means  of  the 
chemical  action  of  electricity  on  litmus 
paper. 

1827.  Peru  adopted  a  new  constitu- 
tion  similar   to   the    constitution   of  the 
United  States.     Its  area  is  computed  at 
500,000  square  miles,  and  the  population 
is  about  3,000,000  persons. 

1828.  July  4.     The  corner  stone  of 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  was  set 
by  Charles  Carroll  of  Carrollton,  the  last 
surviving  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence, at  more  than  ninety  years  of 
age.     This   road   at  the   beginning  was 
planned  for  horse  cars  only.     The  steam 
engine  made  by  Peter  Cooper  in  1830, 
was  run  upon  this  road. 

1828.  Nov.  1.  The  ruins  of  Uxmal 
were  discovered  by  Don  Pancho  Yegros, 
a  Yucatan  planter,  and  Dr.  Lewis 
•Mitchell,  a  Scotch  surgeon,  who  had 
been  off  hunting  together  and  were  forced 
by  a  rainstorm  to  take  shelter  for  the 
night  in  an  old  ruin  to  which  their  Indian 
guide  took  them.  He  told  them  of  other 
and  greater  ruins,  and  afterward  took 
them  where  the  extensive  and  amazing 

ruins  of  Uxmal  were   revealed    to  their 

« 

view,  hidden  already  for  generations  and 
but  for  this  accident,  still  longer. 

1828.  Dec.  10.  The  first  patent  for 
a  locomotive  steam  engine,  recorded  in 


1825-1844.] 

the     United    States,    was    to     William 
Howard  of  Baltimore. 

1828.  Webster's  Dictionary  was 
first  issued  in  two  quarto  volumes. 

1828.  The  first  advertising  agency 
in  America,  was  established  by  Mr. 
Orlando  Bourne,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  it  was  the  only  one  in  the  United 
States. 

1828.  The  first  successful  planing 
machine  was  invented  and  patented  by 
William  Woodworth  of  New  York. 

1828.  The  first  locomotive  trip  made 
in  America  was  upon  the  Carbondale  and 
Honesdale  R.  R.,  by  Mr.  Horatio  Allen 
of  New  York,  engineer,  in  an  engine 
brought  from  England.  It  was  named 
"  Lion,"  and  was  built  by  Foster,  Rastick 
&  Co.,  England.  The  road  ran  from 
the  Lackawaxen  Canal  to  the  Lacka- 
wanna  River,  thus  affording  transporta- 
tion for  the  coal  from  Luzerne  County, 
Penn.  The  engine  was  afterward  found 
to  be  heavier  than  the  road  needed. 

1828.  "  Bill  of  Abominations."  A 
tariff  bill  which  was  quite  strongly  pro- 
tective, passed  congress,  and  pleased  i  the 
manufacturing,  but  displeased  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  the  country.  Some 
called  it  the  "  Bill  of  Abominations."  It 
helped  bring  nullification  to  the  front  a 
few  years  later. 

ELEVENTH  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN. 

1828.  In  the  eleventh  presidential 
campaign  Andrew  Jackson,  who  had 
been  nominated  by  the  legislature  of 
Tennessee  soon  after  the  last  election, 
was  supported  by  the  democrat-republi- 
cans, or  democrats  as  they  now  began  to 
be  called,  for  president,  and  John  C.  Cal- 
houn  of  South  Carolina,  for  vice-presi- 
dent. This  party  was  also  known  at 
times  as  "Jackson  men,"  because,  since 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


473 


the  election  of  1824,  the  Clay  and  Adams 
factions  had  separated  from  the  old  party, 
and  now  took  public  stand  as  the  national 
republicans.  They  were  in  some  sense 
the  successors  of  the  federalists,  and  after- 
ward became  the  great  Whig  party. 
They  are  known  by  their  advocacy  of  a 
protective  tariff,  and  internal  improve- 
ments at  national  expense.  In  this  elec- 
tion they  supported  John  Q.  Adams  of 
Massachusetts,  for  president,  and  Richard 
Rush  of  Pennsylvania,  for  vice-president. 
Out  of  261  electoral  votes,  Gen.  Jackson 
received  178  for  president,  and  Calhoun 
171  for  vice-president.  Adams  and  Rush 
received  each  83  votes.  Seven  votes 
were  cast  for  William  Smith  for  vice- 
president.  The  popular  vote  for  Gen. 
Jackson  was  647,231.  That  for  Adams 
was  509,097.  

1828.     The   "Prohibition   of    Peru" 

shut  out  of  that  country  all  articles  which 
paid  ninety  per  cent,  duties,  such  as 
American  cottons,  hats,  shoes,  soaps,  to- 
bacco, etc.  The  next  year,  however,  it 
was  annulled. 

1828.  A  constitution  was  adopted  in 
Chili. 

1828.  Gen.  Sucre  was   driven    from 
Bolivia  by  Gamarra,  and  was  afterward 
assassinated. 

1829.  Jan.  4.     Gen.   Pedraza,   who 
had  been  elected  president  of  Mexico  to 
succeed    Victoria,  was    overthrown,   and 
compelled  to  flee  the  country.     Guerrero 
was  placed  in  power  by  the  congress. 

1829.  March  4.  Gen.  Andrew  Jack- 
son of  Tennessee,  was  inaugurated  pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  with  John  C. 
Calhoun  of  South  Carolina,  as  vice-pres- 
ident. It  was  a  stormy  administration  in 
foreign  and  home  relations.  The  diffi- 
culties with  England  over  the  line  be- 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


tween  Maine  and  British  America  were 
settled,  as  were  also  the  spoliation  claims 
of  France. 

1829.  May  17.  John  Jay,  LL.  D., 
of  New  York,  an  eminent  jurist,  and  the 
first  chief-justice  of  the  supreme  court  of 
the  United  States,  died  at  Bedford,  West- 
chester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  his  eighty-fourth 
year.  He  was  born  in  New  York,  of 
Huguenot  parentage,  Dec.  12,  1745,  and 
graduated  at  Columbia  College  in  1764. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  entered 
into  practice  *as  a  partner  of  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  When  the  agitation  over 
colonial  affairs  increased,  the  mind  of 
Jay  became  deeply  interested,  and  he 
was  prominent  at  the  very  first  in  the 
organizations  of  effort  in  his  native  state. 
Though  thoroughly  patriotic  in  senti- 
ment, he  yet  ranked  with  the  conserva- 
tive element  in  the  colonies,  which  dep- 
recated any  undue  haste,  and  especially 
any  precipitation  of  the  question  of  inde- 
pendence. He  drew  up  the  address  to 
the  people  of  Great  Britain,  which  was 
adopted  by  the  first  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  the  address  to  the  people  of 
Canada,  adopted  by  the  second  Congress. 
He  became  president  of  congress,  Dec. 
10,  1778,  and  in  1780  became  minister  to 
Spain.  With  Franklin  and  Adams  he 
negotiated  peace  with  Great  Britain,  in 
1782,  and  became  secretary  for  foreign 
affairs  in  the  United  States  government. 
He  contributed  largely  to  the  "  Federal- 
ist," with  Hamilton  and  Madison,  in  de- 
fence of  the  Constitution.  In  1789,  under 
the  new  constitution,  he  was  appointed 
chief-justice,  and  held  the  position  till 
1795.  In  1800  he  was  re-appointed 
chief-justice,  but  declined  the  position, 
and  retired  from  public  life.  In  1794  he 
negotiated  what  is  known  as  "Jay's 
treaty  "  with  Great  Britain,  which  warded 


off  war.  The  eastern  boundary  of  Maine 
was  fixed,  and  $10,000,000  were  paid 
American  citizens  because  of  illegal  cap- 
tures by  British  cruisers.  He  served  six 
years  as  governor  of  New  York.  He 
was  deeply  interested  in  the  abolition  of 
slavery,  and  in  the  support  of  all  humane 
movements.  His  mind  was  one  of  great 
ability,  and  his  life  one  of  great  purity 
and  integrity.  The  record  of  his  deeds 
and  service  to  the  country,  is  one  of  which 
any  land  might  be  proud.  His  nature 
was  deeply  religious.  The  Bible  was  a 
constant  study  with  him.  Among  secu- 
lar authors  Cicero  was  his  favorite. 

1829.  July.  Four  thousand  Span- 
ish troops,  under  Gen.  Barradas,  landed 
in  Mexico  near  Tampico,  in  an  attempt 
to  regain  the  government  of  that  country 
for  Spain. 

1829.  Sept.  11.  Barradas  surren- 
dered, and  his  troops  were  sent  to  Cuba, 
His  surrender  was  brought  about  by 
Santa  Anna. 

1829.  Sept.  15.  Mexico  proclaimed 
the  complete  and  immediate  abolition  of 
slavery  by  emancipation. 

1829.  The  Postmaster- General  of 
the  United  States  became  a  member  of 
the  president's  cabinet  for  the  first  time. 
William  T.  Barry  of  Kentucky,  was  ap- 
pointed to  that  position  by  President 
Jackson,  and  invited  to  a  seat  in  the 
cabinet.  Each  Postmaster-General  has 
since  retained  the  seat. 

1829.  Eotation  in  Office.  Gen.  Jack- 
son was  the  first  to  remove  office-holders 
for  political  reasons,  to  any  great  extent. 
William  L.  Marcy's  statement  now  came 
into  extensive  application.  Nearly  five 
hundred  postmasters  were  removed  in 
Jackson's  first  year  of  service. 

1829.  The  first  Horticultural  Society 
in  the  United  States  was  founded. 


1825-1844.] 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


475 


1829.  Chicago  was  laid  out,  and  the 
first  building  lots  were  sold. 

1829.  Silk  Mania.  The  "  Mansfield 
Silk  Company  "  was  formed  in  Mans- 
field, Conn.,  and  an  excitement  in  silk 
culture  began.  Reports  were  published 
to  show  that  the  silkworms  were  more 
profitable  in  America  than  in  any  other 
country,  and  that  suitable  machinery  was 
the  only  thing  needed  to  produce  silk 
fabrics  of  the  first  quality.  Many  ex- 
periments were  tried,  and  for  the  next 
ten  or  twelve  years,  speculation  was  rife. 

1829.  The  first  tin  found  in  America 
was  a  crystal  of  the  oxide  of  tin  found 
in  granite  at  Goshen,  Conn.,  by  Prof. 
Hitchcock,  of  Amherst  College. 

1829.  The  first  institution  for  the 
blind  arranged  for  in  America,  was  the 
Perkins  Institute,  of  Boston.  It  was  in- 
corporated as  the  "  New  England  Asy- 
lum for  the  Blind."  For  certain  reasons 
it  was  not  opened  till  1832.  In  1831  an 
institution  was  founded  in  New  York. 
These  are  the  oldest  in  the  country. 

1829.  The  first  power  looms  in  the 
world  for  the  manufacture  of  diaper 
linen  were  made  and  run  at  Canterbury, 
Conn.,  by  William  Mason,  since  of 
Taunton,  the  great  inventor  and  manu- 
facturer. 

1829.  A  boating  expedition  by  Capt. 
W.  A.  Graah,  of  the  Danish  Royal 
Navy,  proved  that  the  eastern  side  of 
Greenland  had  never  been  colonized. 
Attempts  had  been  made  before  to  learn 
about  it,  in  the  hope  that  the  eastern  set- 
tlements, if  made,  had  survived  the 
calamities  of  the  western. 

1829.  Arctic  Expedition.  Capt. 
John  Ross,  with  his  nephew,  Commander 
James  Ross,  set  out  in  the  small  steamer 
u  Victory,"  on  an  Arctic  expedition, 
which  was  protracted  through  five  years. 


In  August  they  reached  the  place  where 
Parry  had  abandoned  the  "  Fury."  All 
the  stores  and  provisions  which  were  left 
on  land  were  found  in  good  condition 
after  the  four  years.  The  tin  cases  pre- 
served them.  The  second  spring  Ross 
planted  the  flag  of  his  nation  on  the 
Northern  Magnetic  Pole.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1832  the  "  Victory  "  was  aban- 
doned, it  being  impossible  to  extricate  her 
from  the  ice.  It  was  the  first  vessel  in 
forty-two  years  of  sea-life  that  Ross  had 
been  obliged  to  leave.  At  Fury  Beach 
they  found  some  boats,  and  by  using 
every  effort  to  advance  a  little  in  the 
summers,  and  bravely  enduring  the 
hardships  of  the  long,  dreary  winters,  in 
August,  1833,  they  entered  Navy  Broad 
Inlet,  and  the  next  day  were  taken  on 
board  the  "  Isabella,"  the  same  in  which 
Ross  had  made  his  first  Arctic  voyage. 
Here  the  officers  of  the  "  Isabella  "  told 
him  that  he  was  dead,  and  could  scarcely 
believe  his  assertions  to  the  contrary. 
After  finishing  her  fishing,  the  "  Isa- 
bella" took  them  to  England,  where 
they  were  received  with  joy  and  surprise. 

1829.  The  Welland  Ship  Canal  was 
opened,  it  being  five  years  since  work 
upon  it  was  commenced.  Two  schooners 
ascended  the  entire  length  of  it,  from 
Lake  Ontario  to  the  Welland  River. 
Subsequently  the  distance  was  increased. 

1829.  "The  Loyal  Orange  Institu- 
tion "  of  Irishmen,  which  is  exclusively 
and  tenaciously  Protestant,  was  intro* 
duced  into  British  America. 

1829.  Venezuela,  S.  A.,  withdrew 
from  the  republic  of  Colombia,  and 
adopted  a  constitution.  .  Its  area  is  about 
400,000  square  miles,  and  its  population 
1,784,194  persons. 

1829.  The  independence  of  Mexico 
was  recognized  by  the  United  States. 


476 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENJ\ 


1830.  Jan.  11.  Gen.  Bustamente 
having  deposed  Guerrero,  was  himself 
elected  president  of  Mexico.  The  coun- 
try was  now  deeply  agitated  over  politi- 
cal matters. 

1830.  Jan.  26.  Great  Debate  in  the 
Senate.  Daniel  Webster  made  his  great 
reply  to  Robert  Y.  Hayne  of  South  Caro- 
lina, who,  during  two  days  in  the  senate, 
had  been  supporting  the  doctrine  that  the 
states  had  power  to  suspend  the  United 
States  constitution,  and  had  in  his  speech 
directed  his  eloquence  chiefly  against  Mr. 
Webster.  The  crowds  which  gathered 
during  these  days  in  the  senate  chamber 
were  immense,  and  on  the  morning  when 
it  was  expected  that  Mr.  Webster  would 
reply,  scarcely  room  for  breathing  could 
be  found.  The  great  contest  has  never 
been  equalled  in  brilliance  and  power 
upon  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  Two  rep- 
resentative ideas  of  government  met  in 
solid  collision,  and  the  shock  was  terrible. 
The  traditions  of  it  will  linger  in  the  na- 
tion for  many  years.  Two  extracts  are 
given  from  Mr.  Webster's  oration,  the 
first  from  near  the  beginning,  the  last  . 
from  the  very  close  of  it. 

"Matches  and  over-matches!  Those 
terms  are  more  applicable  elsewhere  than 
here,  and  fitter  for  other  assemblies  than 
this.  Sir,  the  gentleman  seems  to  forget 
where  and  what  we  are.  This  is  a 
Senate,  a  Senate  of  equals,  of  men  of  in- 
dividual honor  and  personal  character, 
and  of  absolute  independence.  We  know 
no  masters,  we  acknowledge  no  dictators. 
This  is  a  hall  for  mutual  consultation  and 
discussion;  not  an  arena  forthe  exhibition 
of  champions.  I  offer  myself,  sir,  as  a 
match  for  no  man;  I  throw  the  challenge 
of  debate  at  no  man's  feet.  But  then, 
sir,  since  the  honorable  member  has  put 
the  question  in  a  manner  that  calls  for  an 
answer,  I  will  give  him  an  answer;  and 
I  tell  him,  that,  holding  myself  to  be  the 
humblest  of  the  members  here,  I  yet  know 


nothing  in  the  arm  of  his  friend  from 
Missouri,  either  alone,  or  when  aided  by 
the  arm  of  his  friend  from  South  Caro- 
lina, that  need  deter  even  me  frorri  espous- 
ing whatever  opinions  I  may  choose  to 
espouse,  from  debating  whatever  I  may 
choose  to  debate,  or  from  speaking  what- 
ever I  may  see  fit  to  say,  on  the  floor  of 
the  Senate.  Sir,  when  uttered  as  matter 
of  commendation  or  compliment,  I  should 
dissent  from  nothing  which  the  honor- 
able member  might  say  of  his  friend. 
Still  less  do  I  put  forth  any  pretensions  of 
my  own.  But  when  put  to  me  as 
matter  of  taunt,  I  throw  it  back,  and  say 
to  the  gentleman  that  he  could  possibly 
say  nothing  less  likely  than  such  a  com- 
parison to  wound  my  pride  of  personal 
character.  The  anger  of  its  tone  rescued 
the  remark  from  intentional  irony,  which 
otherwise  probably  would  have  been  its 
general  acceptation.  But,  sir,  if  it  be 
imagined  that  by  this  mutual  quotation 
and  commendation  ;  if  it  be  supposed  that, 
by  casting  the  characters  of  the  drama, 
assigning  to  each  his  part,  to  one  the  at- 
tack ;  to  another  the  cry  of  onset ;  or  if  it 
be  thought  that  by  a  loud  and  empty  vaunt 
of  anticipated  victory,  any  laurels  are  to  be 
won  here;  if  it  be  imagined,  especially, 
that  any  or  all  these  things  will  shake  any 
purpose  of  mine,  I  can  tell  the  honorable 
member,  once  for  all,  that  he  is  greatly 
mistaken,  and  that  he  is  dealing  with  one 
of  whose  temper  and  character  he  has 
much  yet  to  learn.  Sir,  I  shall  not  allow 
myself,  on  this  occasion,  I  hope  on  no 
occasion,  to  be  betrayed  into  any  loss  of 
temper;  but  if  provoked,  as  I  trust  I  never 
shall  be,  into  crimination  and  recrimina- 
tion, the  honorable  member  may  perhaps 
find  that  in  that  contest,  there  will  be 
blows  to  take  as  well  as  blows  to  give; 
that  others  can  state  comparisons  as  signif- 
icant at  least  as  his  own,  and  that  his  im- 
punity may  possibly  demand  of  him 
whatever  powers  of  taunt  and  sarcasm  he 
may  possess.  I  commend  him  to  a  pru- 
dent husbandry  of  his  resources."  *  * 
"I  have  not  allowed  myself,  sir,  to  look 
beyond  the  Union,  to  see  what  might  lie 
hidden  in  the  dark  recess  behind.  I  have 
not  coolly  weighed  the  chances  of  pre- 


1825-1844.] 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


477 


serving  liberty  when  the  bonds  that  unite 
us  together  shall  be  broken  asunder.  I 
have  not  accustomed  myself  to  hang  over 
the  precipice  of  disunion  to  see  whether, 
with  my  short  sight,  I  can  fathom  the 
depth  of  the  abyss  below ;  nor  could  I  re- 
gard him  as  a  safe  counsellor  in  the  af- 
fairs of  this  government,  whose  thoughts 
should  be  mainly  bent  on  considering  not 
how  the  Union  may  be  best  preserved, 
but  how  tolerable  might  be  the  condition 
of  the  people  when  it  should  be  broken 
up  and  destroyed.  While  the  Union 
lasts  we  have  high,  exciting,  gratifying, 
prospects  spread  out  before  us,  for  us  and 
for  our  children.  Beyond  that  I  seek  not 
to  penetrate  the  veil.  God  grant  that,  in 
my  day  at  least,  that  curtain  may  not 


afterwards';  but  everywhere,  spread  all 
over  in  characters  of  living  light,  blazing 
on  all  its  ample  folds,  as  they  float  over 
the  sea  and  over  the  land,  and  in  every 
wind  under  the  whole  heavens,  that  other 
sentiment,  dear  to  every  true  American 
heart, — Liberty  and  Union,  now  and  for- 
ever, one  and  inseparable !" 

183O.  April  6.  The  first  regular 
Mormon  church  was  organized  at  Man- 
chester, N.  Y.  Joseph  Smith  became 
the  leading  spirit  in  this  new  and  terrible 
evil  which  has  blotted  the  United  States 
so  long.  He  claimed  to  have  found  the 
Book  of  Mormon,  an  appendix  to  the 
New  Testament,  in  a  place  described  to 


c  L 


MORMON   CHARACTERS. 


rise.  God  grant  that  on  my  vision  never 
may  be  opened  what  lies  behind !  When 
my  eyes  shall  be  turned  to  behold  for  the 
last  time  the  sun  in  heaven,  may  I  not 
see  him  shining  on  the  broken  and  dis- 
honored fragments  of  a  once  glorious 
Union;  on  States  dissevered,  discordant, 
belligerent;  on  a  land  rent  with  civil 
feuds,  or  drenched,  it  may  be,  in  fraternal 
blood!  Let  their  last  feeble  and  linger- 
ing glance  rather  behold  the  gorgeous 
ensign  of  the  republic,  now  known  and 
honored  throughout  the  earth,  still  full 
high  advanced,  its  arms  and  trophies 
streaming  in  their  original  luster,  not  a 
stripe  erased  or  polluted,  nor  a  single  star 
obscured,  bearing  for  its  motto,  no  such 
miserable  interrogatory  as,  '  What  is  all 
this  worth  ?'  nor  those  other  words  of  de- 
lusion and  folly,  '  Liberty  first,  and  Union 


him  by  an  angel  who  appeared  one 
night  when  he  was  religiously  exercised. 
Upon  searching  the  place  he  found  a 
stone  box  containing  a  series  of  gold 
plates,  eight  inches  long  and  seven  inches 
wide,  fastened  to  one  another  by  three 
gold  rings.  He  also  found  the  "  Urim 
and  Thummim "  by  looking  through 
which  he  was  enabled  to  read  the  un-. 
known  tongues  upon  the  plates  in  Eng- 
lish. In  order  that  this  book  might  be 

O 

published,  he  sat  behind  a  curtain  and 
dictated  the  translation  to  Oliver  Cow- 
dery,  because  no  other  human  eye  was  to 
be  permitted  to  gaze  upon  the  gold  plates. 
It  has  since  been  proved  that  the  Book 
of  Mormon  is  a  plagiarism  from  an  un- 


478 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


published  manuscript  written  by  Solomon 
Spalding,  and  lost  in  a  printing  house  in 
Pittsburg,  in  which  Sidney  Rigdon  was 
an  apprentice.  When  the  Mormon 
church  was  founded,  Rigdon  was  a  friend 
of  Smith,  and  upon  the  publication  of 
the  Book  of  Mormon,  the  true  origin  of 
it  was  recognized  by  Mrs.  Spalding  and 
others.  It  contained  a  pretended  history 
of  America  from  the  dispersion  of  the 
nations  at  the  tower  of  Babel.  With 
such  a  foundation  did  the  impostor  Smith 
originate  the  great  movement  which  is 
such  a  problem  at  the  present  time.  Im- 
moral and  low,  he  soon  gained  followers, 
and  began  that  career  which  afterward 
ended  in  a  violent  death. 

1830.  May  31.  Pocket  Veto.  Sev- 
eral bills  were  passed  by  congress  and 
sent  to  President  Jackson,  and  as  he  could 
keep  them  ten  days  legally,  he  did  so. 
The  time  of  adjournment  came  within 
ten  days,  and  the  bills  were  practically 
vetoed.  It  made  some  politicians  angry, 
but  it  was  a  new  and  real' method,  which 
they  could  not  dispute. 

1830.  September.  The  first  political 
national  convention  in  the  country, 
with  the  exception  of  the  one  held  by 
the  federalists  in  New  York  in  1812  for 
the  nomination  of  DeWitt  Clinton,  was 
held  in  Philadelphia,  and  was  styled  the 
United  States  Anti-Masonic  Convention. 
Ninety-six  delegates  were  present,  and 
Francis  Granger  of  New  York,  was 
presiding  officer.  The  'convention  ad- 
journed after  having  decided  to  hold 
another,  one  year  from  that  time,  for  the 
purpose  of  nominating  presidential  can-' 
didates. 

1830.  Dec.  9.  The  first  steam  loco- 
motive made  in  America  was  success- 
fully tried  on  the  South  Carolina  Rail- 
road, which  was  the  first  road  in  the 


country  built  for  exclusive  use  with  loco- 
motives. The  engine  was  designed  by 
E.  L.  Miller,  Esq.  of  Charleston,  and 
was  built  at  the  West  Point  foundry,  on 
the  Hudson.  It  was  named  at  first  "  The 
Best  Friend,"  but  afterward  became 
known  as  the  "  Phoenix."  It  ran  suc- 
cessfully until,  within  a  couple  of  years, 
an  explosion  was  caused  by  the  closing 
of  the  safety  valve  by  the  fireman.  At 
nearly  this  same  time  a  locomotive  was 
constructed  by  Peter  Cooper,  the  eminent 
philanthropist  of  New  York,  at  his  iron 
works  at  Canton,  Md.  It  was  tried 
successfully  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
R.  R.  It  was  now  only  a  few  years  be- 
fore Mr.  M.  W.  Baldwin  and  other 
makers  attained  considerable  success  in 
their  efforts  at  developing  the  steam 
locomotive. 

1830.  Dec.  17.  Simon  Bolivar,  the 
South  American  patriot,  died  at  San 
Pedro,  at  the  age  of  forty-seven  years. 
He  was  a  native  of  Caraccas,  where  he 
was  born  July  24,  1783.  His  family 
was  among  the  better  class,  and  therefore 
his  education  was  provided  for  by  sending 
him  to  Madrid.  His  whole  active  life 
was  spent  in  the  effort  to  free  his  country. 
To  him  is  to  be  ascribed  much  of  the 
success  of  the  attempt.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  enemies  all  his  life,  but  he  sac- 
rificed himself  and  his  property  willingly. 
He  had  defects  which  were  noticeable, 
but  he  stands  high  in  the  list  of  Ameri- 
can worthies. 

1830.  The  fifth  census  of  the  United- 
States  gave  a  population  of  12,866,020. 
It  was  taken  at  a  cost  of  $378,543.13. 
The  fruit  crop  of  the  country  was  for  the 
first  time  taken  notice  of  in  this  census. 
The  increase  in  population  from  1820 
had  been  32.51  per  cent. 

1830.       Geological  Surveys.       Mas- 


revolution  in 
France.   Charles 
X.  abdicated. 
1830-1848.    Louis 
Philippe  1.  King 
of  France. 


1830-1837. 
William  IV. 

Hand. 

1830.  Liverpool 
and  Manchester 
Railroad  opened. 


1825-1844.] 

sachusetts  was  the  first  state  in  the  union 
isso.  Three  days'  to  appoint  a  complete  sur- 
vey of  its  territory.  Dr. 
Edward  Hitchcock  was  put 
in  charge  of  the  work,  and 
made  his  first  report  in 
1831.  Since  then  numerous  similar  sur- 
veys have  been  instituted  to  make  known 
the  mineral,  forest,  and  zoological  re- 
sources of  different  states.  Measures 
were  introduced  into  congress  within  a 
few  years,  looking  forward  to  the  United 
States  surveys  for  a  geological  and 
mineralogical  map  of  the  United  States. 
1830.  Hand  Labor  against  Machin- 
ery. The  fancied  opposition  between 
inventions  and  hand  labor 

..  ,     ,  , 

was  illustrated  by  the  at- 
tempt  of  the  hand  weavei's 
of  Manayunk,  Penn.,  to 
destroy  a  power  loom  for 
•weaving  checks,  invented  this  year  by 
Mr.  Alfred  Jenks. '  The  meditated  as- 
sault was  prevented  by  an  armed  force. 

1830.  The  first  omnibus  in  America 
was  built  and  used  in  New  York.  Car- 
riage manufacture  had  not  previously 
extended  to  this  branch. 

1830.  The  first  cylinder  printing 
press  in  America  was  made  by  Richard 
M.  Hoe. 

1830.  "  Baffin's  Fair."  A  great  dis- 
aster occurred  to  a  whaling  fleet  in  Mel- 
ville Bay.  A  number  of  ships  were 
broken  to  pieces,  and  cast  away.  Some 
were  ground  to  atoms.  The  crews  only 
had  time  to  leap  out  of  some  of  them 
while  they  were  being  crushed.  The 
-wind  drove  the  ice  very  powerfully 
against  them.  Afterward  a  thousand 
men  were  left  on  the  ice  in  tents.  In 
spite  of  all  the  difficulties,  it  was  a  jolly 
scene. 

1830.     Ecuador  withdrew  from  the  re- 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


479 


public  of  Colombia,  and  became  a  state 
by  itself.  It  has  a  population  of  about 
2,000,000  inhabitants,  and  an  area  of 
250,000  square  miles. 

1831.  January.  The  provinces  of 
Buenos  Ayres,  Corrientes,  Entre  Rios, 
and  Santa  Fe,  formed  a  confederation  or 
voluntary  alliance  for  government.  But 
it  did  not  last  long,  as  the  elements  of 
weakness  were  too  many. 

1831.  January.  The  Mormons,  un- 
der Joseph  Smith,  settled  in  Kirtland, 
Ohio,  where  they  lived  about  seven  years. 
At  the  same  time  some  of  them  began 
to  settle  in  Missouri,  but  difficulties  and 
bloodshed  occurred  in  both  states  before 
very  long,  between  the  Mormons  and  the 
citizens. 

1831.  January.  The  "Liberator," 
devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  slave,  was 
established  in  Boston  by  William  Lloyd 
Garrison. 

1831.  Feb.  14.  Gen.  Guerrero,  one 
of  the  patriot  leaders  of  Mexico,  was  ex- 
ecuted *by  his  opponents. 

1831.  April  7.  Dom  Pedro  I.,  em- 
peror of  Brazil,  abdicated  in  favor  of  his 
son,  five  years  old,  who  became  Dom 
Pedro  II.  A  regency  was  instituted  till 
1841. 

1831.  April  11.  Waterproof.  The 
first  patent  for  fluid  caoutchouc  to  render 
articles  waterproof,  was  given  to  Geo.  H. 
Richards,  Washington,  D.  C. 

1831.  April  31.  "  Scourge  of  the 
Ocean."  Charles  Gibbs,  the  pirate,  to- 
gether with  Wansley,  one  of  his  associ- 
ates, was  executed  by  the  United  States 
government.  For  about  18  years  he  had 
been  a  terror  to  the  world,  and  had  com- 
mitted many  of  the  most  cruel  seizures 
and  murders  ever  known  in  ocean  annals. 
He  was  truly  represented  as  the  "  Scourge 
of  the  Ocean." 


480 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


1831.  June  13.  Fairbanks'  Scales. 
E.  and  T.  Fairbanks  of  St.  Johnsbury, 
Vermont,  patented  their  scales  for  weigh- 
ing heavy  bodies.  This  was  the  origin 
of  their  vast  works  at  the  present  day. 
These  scales  have  sold  in  all  parts  of  the 
world.  Thaddeus  Fairbanks  was  the 
inventor  by  whom  the  manner  of  weigh- 
ing was  revolutionized. 

J&ME8  MONROE. 

1831.  July  4.  James  Monroe,  the 
fifth  president  of  the  United  States,  died 
in  New  York,  whither  he  had  gone  to 
live  with  a  daughter  since  the  death  of 
his  wife,  the  previous  year.  He  was  born 
in  Westmoreland  county,  Va.,  April  28, 
1758,  and  was  therefore  seventy-three 
years  of  age.  His  ancestors,  who  emi- 
grated to  America  in  the  preceding  cen- 
tury, were  people  of  influence  in  Eng- 
land, and  from  them  he  inherited  the 
integrity  and  honesty  of  purpose 
which  caused  Thomas  Jefferson  to  say 
years  later,  "James  Monroe  •  is  so 
honest  that  if  his  soul  were  turned  inside 
out,  not  a  spot  would  be  found  upon  it." 
His  early  education  was  cut  short  by  the 
Revolution,  for  when  but  eighteen  years 
old  he  left  William  and  Mary  College, 
and  enlisted  among  the  patriots.  He  was 
noticeable  in  the  battles  along  the  Hud- 
son, and  for  his  bravery  at  Trenton  was 
raised  to  the  rank  of  captain.  In  the 
campaigns  of  1777  and  1778  he  was 
prominent,  serving  as  aid  to  Lord  Stirling. 
But  the  acceptance  of  this  position  caused 
the  forfeiture  of  his  rank  in  the  regular 
army,  and  at  the  close  of  1778,  failing  in 
his  attempts  to  regain  his  commission,  he 
returned  to  his  native  state  and  entered 
the  law  office  of  Thomas  Jefferson.  At 
twenty-three  years  of  age  he  was  elected 
to  the  Virginia  assembly,  and  the  next 


year  was  sent  to  the  continental  congress, 
where  he  remained  till  1786.  He  soon 
desired  a  change  in  the  Articles  of  Con- 
federation, and  was  a  delegate  to  the 
national  convention  in  1787.  Here  his 
influence  was  thrown  against  the  Federal 
party,  and  being  unwilling  to  adopt  the 
new  constitution  without  amendment,  his 
vote  was  "nay."  In  1790  Mr.  Monroe 
was  elected  to  the  U.  S.  senate,  of  which 
he  was  a  member  for  four  years.  From 
this  time  till  his  election  to  the  presidency, 
he  filled  many  important  places.  As 
envoy  extraordinary  to  France  he  partici- 
pated in  the  negotiations  for  the  purchase 
of  Louisiana.  He  was  afterward  sent  to 
England  to  attempt  the  adjustment  of 
the  increasing  unfriendliness  of  that  na- 
tion. We  find  him  again  in  Madrid' 
under  orders  from  his  government  to 
settle  with  Spain  the  boundaries  of  the 
recently  acquired  territory  of  Louisiana. 
After  his  return  he  filled  various  positions 
in  his  own  country,  and  in  1811  was  ap- 
pointed secretary  of  state  by  President 
Madison.  Two  years  later  the  war  de- 
partment was  also  given  him,  and  by  his 
patriotism  and  energy  he  helped  largely  to 
overcome  the  financial  difficulties  of  the 
time.  He  even  pledged  his  own  credit 
for  the  supplies  needed  at  New  Orleans 
in  1814.  In  1817  Mr.  Monroe  was 
elected  president,  and  four  years  later  was 
re-elected  for  a  second  term.  His  admin- 
istration is  known  as  the  "  era  of  good 
feeling."  The  old  federal  party  was 
dead,  and  the  new  parties  which  grew 
out  of  the  national  issues  had  not  yet  taken 
shape.  Among  the  important  measures 
of  his  presidency  were  the  cession  of 
Florida  to  the  United  States;  the  Mis- 
souri Compromise,  and  the  "  Monroe 
doctrine."  He  made  a  tour  of  the  states, 
and  bestowed  personal  attention  upon  the 


1825-1844.] 

defences  of  the  country.  Enthusiasm 
everywhere  attended  his  journey.  At 
the  end  of  his  second  term  he  retired  fo 
his  home  in.  Virginia,  where  he  lived  till 
1830.  His  wife,  whom  he  married  early 
in  his  career,  was  a  Miss  Kortwright  of 
New  York,  a  lady  of  great  attractions. 
Mr.  Monroe  was  a  tall  man,  but  well 
proportioned.  His  complexion  was  light, 
and  his  eyes  blue.  He  was  thoroughly 
genuine  in  all  his  characteristics,  and  able 
in  all  his  judgments.  His  service  to  the 
country  has  been  equaled  by  few 
presidents. 

1831.    Aug.  11.    A  fearful  hurricane 

in  Barbadoes  destroyed  several  thousand 
lives,  and  £1,602,800  property.  The 
island  was  completely  desolated. 

1831.  Aug.  21.  A  slave  insurrection 
numbering  about  sixty  persons,  broke 
out  in  Southampton,  Va.,  under  Nat. 
Turner,  who  had  served  as  a  Baptist 
preacher.  It  was  soon  quelled  by  United 
States  troops,  although  not  before  con- 
siderable  blood  had  been  shed.  The 
blacks  finally  were  subdued,  or  fled. 
They  started  on  their  work  of  destruction 
in  the  night.  Nat.  Turner  had  arranged 
with  only  five  other  slaves  to  meet  him 
and  begin  their  depredations.  But  find- 
ing at  the  place  of  waiting  a  sixth,  he 
asked  with  surprise  what  he  was  there 
for.  The  man  said,  "  My  life  is  worth 
no  more  than  that  of  others,  and  my 
liberty  is  dear  to  me."  By  morning  a 
regular  massacre  was  in  progress.  This 
affair  frightened  the  South,  and  agitated 
the  whole  slave  question. 

1831.  Sept.  8.  Color  Prejudice.  A 
mass  meeting  was  held  in  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  to  resist  the  establishment  of  a 
school  for  the  education  of  colored  peo- 
ple, which  a  convention  of  colored  people 
31 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


481 


at  Philadelphia  a  short  time  before  had 
decided  to  establish,  and  for  which  they 
had  appealed  for  funds.  Great  excite- 
ment prevailed.  Rev.  S.  S.  Jocelyn  was 
the  only  one  who  protested  against  a  re- 
fusal to  allow  the  school  to  be  established. 
The  meeting  was  summoned  by  the 
mayor  of  the  city. 

1831.  The  National  Anti- Masonic 
Convention  was  held  at  Baltimore,  as  had 
been  decided  at  the  convention  the  pre- 
vious year.  William  Wirt  of  Maryland, 
was  nominated  for  president,  and  Amos 
Ellmaker  of  Pennsylvania,  for  vice-pres- 
ident. This  party  had  arisen  since  the 
abduction  of  Morgan  in  1826.  Its  prin- 
cipal tenet  was  to  oppose  every  man  who 
was  a  Mason.  It  was  strong  for  a  time 
in  a  few  sections,  but  never  spread  over 
the  country. 

1831.  Nov.  21.  The  Republic  of 
New  Grenada,  S.  A.,  was  formally  or- 
ganized after  the  withdrawal  of  Vene- 
zuela and  Ecuador.  In  later  years  it  has 
adopted  the  title,  United  States  of  Colom- 
bia. It  has  an  area  of  about  500,000 
square  miles,  and  a  population  of  2,880,- 
633  inhabitants. 

1831.  Dec.  12.  The  national  re- 
publicans held  a  nominating  convention 
at  Baltimore,  at  which  1831.  First  ney>s. 
Henry  Clay  of  Kentucky,  paper  in  Con- 

i  ,     j      stantinople. 

was  unanimously  presented 
to  the  country  as  candidate  for  president. 
John    Sergeant    of     Pennsylvania,  was 
nominated  for  vice-president. 

1831.  Dec.  26.  Rewards  for  Seiz- 
izres  of  Abolitionists.  Five  thousand 
dollars  were  offered  by  Gov.  Lumpkin  of 
Georgia,  to  any  one  who  could  arrest 
and  bring  to  trial  under  the  laws  of 
Georgia,  William  L.  Garrison,  editor  of 
the  Boston  Liberator.  This  was  one  of 
the  earliest  attempts  to  secure  the  abduc- 


482 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


tion  of  prominent  northern  abolitionists,, 
The  example  was  followed  at  a  later 
day  when  Arthur  Tappan  was  put  up  at 
a  reward  of  $20,000 ;  and  Rev.  Amos  A. 
Phelps  of  $10,000.  The  offering  of 
these  sums  became  at  one  time  quite  a 
common  matter. 

1831.  Dec.  27.  Charles  Darwin  saMed 
from  England  in  the  ship  Beagle,  to  ac- 
company Capt.  Fitzroy  in  his  trip  around 
the  world,  as  naturalist.  The  voyage 
extended  over  five  years.  Among  the 
explorations  of  the  expedition  was  that 
of  the  South  American  coast,  which  was 
very  extensively  examined.  The  records 
of  this  trip  have  been  a  great  source  of 
scientific  knowledge. 

1831.  December.  Mt.  Chimborazo 
was  ascended  by  J.  B.  Boussingault  to  an 
elevation  of  19,695  feet,  a  higher  point 
than  Humboldt  had  reached. 

1831.  «'  Kitchen  Cabinet."  There 
had  arisen  a  division  of  feeling  in  the 
cabinet  of  President  Jackson,  who, 
through  his  distrust  of  Calhoun,  had 
come  to  confer  with  Van  Buren,  Secretary 
of  State,  and  several  private  fiiends. 
The  cabinet  soon  after  broke  up  by  the 
resignation  of  Van  Buren  and  others. 
It  has  been  said  that  the  families  of  mem- 
bers were  in  trouble  with  one  another, 
and  thus  precipitated  the  dissolution. 

1831.  Duel.  Mr.  Thomas  Biddle  and 
Mr.  Spencer  Pettis  fought  a  duel  in 
Missouri,  in  which  both  were  killed. 
They  fought  with  pistols  at  a  distance  of 
five  feet,  which  was  chosen  by  Mr.  Bid- 
die  on  account  of  near-sightedness.  Their 
pistols,  when  in  position,  overlapped  one 
another.  The  quarrel  was  political. 
Pettis  lived  one  day,  and  Biddle  three 
days. 

1831.  Friction  matches  were  first 
introduced  into  America. 


1831.  The  only  successful  type- 
casting machine  ever  invented  was 
patented  by  David  Bruce,  Jr.  It  hag 
since  been  improved  in  speed,  and  has 
gone  into  very  general  use.  It  was  the 
result  of  much  thought  on  the  part  of 
Mr.  Bruce. 

1831.  The  slave  trade  was  prohibited 
by  a  law  passed  in  Brazil. 

1831.  The  Dutch  colonies  in  Guiana, 
S.  A.,  which  had  been  retained  by  the 
English  at  the  peace  of  1814,  were  erected 
into  one  province  as  British  Guiana.  Its 
area  is  99,925  square  miles,  and  its  popu- 
lation is  193,491  persons. 

1831.  A  treaty  with  Prance  was  ef- 
fected by  the  United  States  minister, 
Wm.  C.  Rives,  by  which  25,000,000 
francs  were  to  be  paid  the  American  gov- 
ernment in  installments  for  spoliation  oa 
American  commerce  while  Napoleon  I. 
was  reigning.  There  were  some  diffi- 
culties over  this  treaty  afterward,  but  they 
were  adjusted  amicably,  though  at  one 
time  President  Jackson  seemed  inclined  to 
push  the  country  into  war. 

1831.  The  Neapolitan  government 
agreed  to  pay  the  United  States  $1,720,- 
ooo  for  sequestration  of  American  prop- 
erty during  the  reign  of  Joachim  Murat. 
The  result  which  that  government  had 
the  year  before  refused  to  consider,  was 
brought  about  by  the  presence  of  United 
States  war  vessels. 

1831.  Morazan  was  elected  president 
of  Central  America,  and  during  his  two 
terms  of  four  years  each,  great  quiet  pre- 
vailed ;  but  after  a  while  at  the  end  of  his 
second  term,  factions  appeared. 

1832.  Jan.  30.     The  New  England 
Anti-slavery  Society  was  organized  in 
Boston,  but  did  not  have  great  resources. 
William    L.   Garrison,   Arnold    Buffum, 
the  Quaker,  and  others,  joined  in  it.     It 


VIEW   OF   THE   CITY   OF   MEXICO. 


PLAZA   OF   GUADALAJARA. 


483 


18*5-1844.] 

•was  the  first  society  in  America  organized 
on  the  basis  of  immediate  emancipation. 
1832,  Feb.  6.  Quallah  Batoo,  a 
town  in  Sumatra,  was  destroyed  by  Com- 
modore John  Downes  in  the  United 
States  frigate  Potomac.  He  landed 
nearly  300  men  and  reduced  the  Malayan 
forts  with  considerable  slaughter.  The 
reason  for  this  severity  was  that  the 
natives  had  seized  the  ship  Friendship,  of 
Salem,  Mass.,  massacred  her  crew  and 
appropriated  her  property  to  themselves, 
and  denied  all  knowledge  of  the  transac- 
tion. The  Friendship  was  accustomed 
to  trade  on  the  coast. 

1832.  May.  A  Democratic  conven- 
tion met  at  Baltimore  to  nominate  a 
candidate  for  vice-president.  There  was 
a  unanimous  desire  among  the  democrats 
to  have  Gen.  Jackson  serve  a  second  term 
as  president,  hence  no  vote  was  taken  in 
convention  upon  that  office.  There  was 
dissatisfaction  with  Mr.  Calhoun,  how- 
ever, and  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  nominated 
in  his  place. 

1832.  June  27.  The  Asiatic  cholera 
•made  its  first  appearance  in  New  York 
city,  where  there  were  nearly  3,500  deaths 
in  two  months.  It  attacked  Albany,  Phila- 
delphia, Baltimore,  Wash- 
ington, Cincinnati,  the  cities 
along  the  great  lakes,  and 
the  great  southern  cities, 
where  it  worked  with  awful 
power.  Business  was  pros- 
trated, and  universal  gloom  covered  the 
land.  Days  of  fasting  were  appointed 
through  the  country.  It  was  a  terrible 
scourge.  The  expedition  under  Gen. 
Scott  against  Black  Hawk  was  broken 
up.  The  soldiers  died  in  great  numbers. 
The  disease  was  brought  to  Quebec  in 
the  first  of  the  month  by  some  emigrants, 
and  spread  with  great  rapidity. 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


1771-1832.    Sir 
Waller  Scott. 
1832.     Insurrec- 
tion in  Poland 
crushed.    Five 
thousand 
Jamilies  exiled  to 
Siberia. 


485 

1832.    June.    A  new  protective  tariff 

upon  imported  cloths  was  voted  by  con- 
gress and  greatly  enraged  the  cotton - 
growers  of  the  South,  who  said  it  was 
hostile  to  their  interests.  The  excitement 
took  the  most  violent  form  in  South 
Carolina. 

1832.  Sept.  9.  Mrs.  Marcia  Van 
Ness,  wife  of  D.  P.  Van  Ness  mayor  of 
Washington,  and  daughter  of  David 
Burns,  the  proprietor  of  most  of  the  land 
upon  which  Washington  stands,  at  the 
time  the  government  selected  it  as  the 
site  of  the  National  Capital,  died  in  that 
city  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  Born  and 
brought  up  in  the  little  "  Burns  "  cottage 
till  she  was  nearly  fifteen  years  of  age, 
she  was  then  sent  to  Baltimore,  where, 
in  the  family  of  the  distinguished  Luther 
Martin,  she  was  educated  in  the  best 
methods  of  the  time.  Returning  to  the 
home  of  her  father,  who  was  now  the 
millionaire  of  Washington,  she  met  under 
his  roof  all  the  most  noted  men  of  the 
day,  and  was  sought  in  marriage  by  many 
senators.  She  married  Mr.  Van  Ness, 
and  well  did  she  show  her  worth  in  the 
position  of  wife  and  mother.  She  lost  a 
young  married  daughter  in  November, 
1822.  Her  heart,  which  had  always  been 
full  of  love  for  the  poor,  now  overflowed 
still  more  with  works  of  benevolence. 
She  founded  the  City  Orphan  Asylum 
of  Washington,  and  sought  out  many  of 
the  children  who  were  placed  within  it. 
No  other  American  woman  had  been  at 
that  time  buried  with  public  honors.  The 
costly  mausoleum  which  the  wealth  of 
her  husband  had  reared,  received  her  re- 
mains. She  was  one  of  the  noblest 
women  of  her  time. 

1832.  November.  Nullification.  A 
state  convention  was  held  in  South 
Carolina  which  pronounced  the  tariffs  of 


486 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


1828  and  1832  null  and  void,  and  declared 
that  no  duties  could  be  collected  in  the 
port  of  Charleston.  The  state  legislature 
soon  afterward  took  the  same  steps,  and 
proclaimed  that  the  law  would  be  re- 
sisted forcibly,  if  necessaiy.  The  Ordi- 
nance of  Nullification  was  to  take  effect 
Feb.  i,  !833. 

1832.  Nov.  14.  Charles  Carroll  of 
Carrollton,  Md.,  the  last  surviving  signer 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  died 
at  the  age  of  ninety-five  years.  He  was 
born  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  Sept.  20,  1737, 
was  educated  abroad  from  1745  until 
1764,  when  he  returned  to  America.  He 
•  became  very  rich  by  inher- 

1832.    Suffrage  J  J 

t* tended in  Eng-  itance,  and  was  thought  at 
land  under  Re-  th  breaking  out  of  the 

form  Bill.  & 

1852.    Kingdom    Revolution    to    be    worth 

of  Greece  found-  $2,OOO,OOO.  He  became 
td  under  Otho  I.  ,  •  •  •  i  r 

prominent  in  provincial  at- 
fairs  in  Maryland,  and  was  afterward 
elected  to  the  colonial  congress.  He 
remained  in  public  affairs  till  1810,  after 
which  time  he  devoted  himself  to  his 
estate.  In  signing  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  he  affixed  "  of  Carrollton  " 
to  his  name,  to  remedy  the  jocose  suggest- 
ion of  some  member  near  him  that 
«*  there  were  many  Charles  Carrolls,  and 
that  the  British  would  not  know  which 
one  it  was."  His  last  years  were  passed 
in  quiet  pursuits. 

1832.  Dec.  16.  Nullification  Crushed. 
A  proclamation,  declaring  that  military 
power  would  be  used  by  the  United 
States  in  enforcing  the  laws,  and  that  no 
state  could  make  any  law  null,  was  issued 
by  President  Jackson.  He  also  wrote  to 
the  collector  of  the  port  at  Charleston  to 
use  the  revenue  cutters  and  other  means 
in  enforcing  the  tariff.  These  energetic 
measures  crushed  what  is  known  in  his- 
tory as  the  "  Nullification  Scheme,"  in 


advocating  which,  John  C.  Calhoun  took 
the  prominent  part. 

TWELFTH  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN. 

1832.  In  the  twelfth  presidential  cam- 
paign the  democrats  supported  Andrevr 
Jackson  of  Tennessee,  and  Martin  Van 
Buren  of  New  York.  A  small  demo- 
cratic element,  chiefly  in  South  Carolina, 
supported  John  Floyd  of  Virginia,  and 
Henry  Lee  of  Massachusetts.  The  na- 
tional republicans  supported  Henry  Clay 
of  Kentucky,  and  John  Sergeant  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  Anti-Masons  sup- 
ported William  Wirt  of  Maryland,  and 
Amos  Ellmaker  of  ^Pennsylvania.  The 
result  of  the  election  was  as  follows:  Out 
of  288  electoral  votes,  Jackson  had  219, 
and  Van  Buren  189.  Their  popular 
vote  was  687,502.  Clay  and  Sergeant 
had  49  electoral  votes  each,  and  a  popu- 
lar vote  of  530,189.  The  anti-masonic 
vote  was  1 1  electoral  votes  for  Floyd  and 
Lee,  and  7  for  Wirt  and  Ellmaker,  with 
a  combined  popular  vote  of  33,108. 
Vermont  was  the  only  state  choosing 
regular  anti-masonic  electors.  William 
Wilkins  received  30  electoral  votes  for 
vice-president. 

1832.      The  discovery  of  chloroform 

as  an  anaesthetic  agent  was  first  announced 
by  Dr.  Samuel  Guthrie  of  Sackett's 
Harbor,  N.  Y. 

1832.  The  idea  of  the  electric  re- 
cording telegraph  was  originated  accord- 
ing to  the  claim  of  Prof.  S.  F.  B.  Morse, 
upon  a  voyage  home  from  Europe  in  the 
steamer  Sully,  during  conversations  with 
some  of  the  passengers  upon  electro- 
magnetic experiments. 

1832.  The  Locomotive  Advertise- 
ment. A  queer  notice  appeared  in  a 
Philadelphia  paper  about  the  steam  loco- 


1825-1844.] 

motive  "  Ironsides,"  built  by  Mr.  Bald- 
win, which  was  running  on  the  German- 
town  road.  The  advertisement  said : 
"The  locomotive-engine  will  leave  the 
station  daily  with  passenger  cars  attached, 
when  it  is  pleasant.  When  the  day  is 
rainy,  horses  will  be  attached."  It  shows 
the  uncertainty  attaching  to  their  use. 

1832.  A  flood  did  great  damage  at 
Pittsburg,  Penn. 

1832.  Brigham  Young  was  converted, 
and  joined  the  Mormons. 

1832.  The  great  silver  mines  of 
Charnacillo,  a  northern  province  of  Chili, 
S.  A.,  were  discovered  by  a  shepherd 
named  Juan  Godoy. 

1832.  New  Grenada,  S.  A.,  adopted 
and  proclaimed  a  constitution,  which 
served  it  a  long  time.  The  country  was 
chiefly  quiet  till  1860. 

1832.  A  great  slave  insurrection  oc- 
curred in  Jamaica,  with  a  destruction  of 
£1,154,583  worth  of  property'. 

1832.  The  cholera  destroyed  one- 
fourth  of  the  population  in  Mexican  cities, 
and  $100,000,000  worth  of  slaves  in 
Cuba,  within  ninety  days.  The  coffee 
planters  were  the  most  free  from  the 
scourge. 

1832.  The     revolution     in     Texas 
against  the  Mexican  government   began 
to  be  organized. 

1833.  March   4.     Andrew    Jackson 
of  Tennessee,  was  inaugurated  President 
of  the  United  States  for  a  second   term, 
with  Martin  Van  Buren  of  New  York, 
vice-president. 

1833.  March.  Compromise  Tariff. 
Henry  Clay's  bill  for  the  gradual  reduc- 
tion of  the  tariff  duties  till  1842,  after 
which,  duties  were  to  be  20  per  cent., 
became  a  law,  and  served  as  a  compro- 
mise measure.  The  anti-tariff  excite- 
ment has  never  since  been  great. 


THE  GRO  WTH  OF  PARTIES. 


487 


1833.  April  1.  Santa  Anna  was 
elected  president  of  Mexico.  He  had 
deposed  Pedraza,  who  had  been  recalled 
by  Bustamente  and  elevated  to  the  presi- 
dency. Pedraza  had  occupied  that  office 
three  months. 

1833.  May  25.  A  revised  constitu- 
tion was  adopted  in  Chili,  by  a  conven- 
tion, and  is  still  in  force.  The  area  of 
Chili  is  133,000  square  miles,  and  the  pop- 
ulation 1,972,438  persons. 

1833.  May.  A  national  temperance 
convention  of  the  United  States  was 
held  at  Philadelphia.  Four  hundred 
delegates  were  present,  from  twenty-one 
states.  After  long  discussion  a  resolution 
was  passed  declaring  the  trade  in  ardent 
spirits  to  be  morally  wrong,  and  that  it 
ought  to  be  universally  abandoned. 

1833.  The  American  congressional 
temperance  society  was  formed  at 
Washington  with  Lewis  Cass,  then  sec- 
retary of  war,  as  president.  Ardent 
spirits  were  about  this  time  prohibited  in 
the  army. 

1833.  July  2.  The  first  public  trial 
was  given  to  a  reaping  machine,  patented 
by  Mr.  Obed  Hussey  of  Cincinnati.  It 
grew  immediately  into  favor, superseding 
the  other  comparatively  unsuccessful  ma- 
chines, and  seems  to  have  been  the  first 
successful  American  reaper. 

1833.  Aug.  28.  The  emancipation  of 
slaves  in  the  British  West  Indies  and 
British  Guiana,  was  decreed  by  parlia- 
ment. The  act  was  to  take  effect  on 
Aug.  i,  1834. 

1833.  Sept.  3.  "  The  Sun,"  the  pio- 
neer penny  newspaper  of  America,  was 
issued  in  New  York  by  Benjamin  H. 
Day,  and  the  first  newsboys  ever  seen  in 
America  were  employed  in  selling  it. 
The  paper  was  ten  inches  square,  and 
soon  had  60,000  circulation. 


488 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


1833.  Oct.  2.  The  New  York  City 
Anti- Slavery  Society  was  organized  in 
Chatham  St.  Chapel,  New  York,  where 
the  meeting  was  suddenly  convened  be- 
cause of  the  calling  of  an  opposition 
ms-1870.  /«»-  southern  meeting  at  Clinton 

belia,  Queen  of  , 

Sfatn.  Hall,  at  which  place  the 
Anti-Slavery  Society  was  first  to  meet. 
The  opposers  found  out  where  they  were 
and  rushed  into  the  chapel  at  the  close, 
but  were  not  able  to  do  any  personal 
violence. 

1833.  October.  The  funds  of  the 
government  were  withdrawn  from  the 
U.  S.  Bank  by  the  order  of  President 
Jackson,  in  opposition  to  a  large  number 
of  statesmen.  Thomas  H.  Benton  of 
Missouri,  and  John  Forsyth  of  Georgia, 
were  Mr.  Jackson's  chief  supporters  in 
the  senate.  Webster,  Clay  and  Calhoun 
were  opposed  to  the  administration.  The 
life  of  the  president  was  twice  attempted. 
This  affair  led  to  the  existence  of  the 
Whig  party,  by  which  the  opposition 
came  to  be  designated,  and  which  played 
an  important  part  in  the  politics  of  the 
United  States  till  1854.  One  reason  al- 
leged was  that  the  funds  ought  not  to  be 
in  a  bank  whose  charter  would  so  soon 
expire.  The  deposits  of  the  United 
States  began  to  be  made  in  certain  State 
Banks  which  became  known  as  "  Pet 
Banks."  The  Bank  of  the  United  States 
afterward  expired  by  limitation  in  1836. 
It  was  subsequently  chartered  by  Penn- 
sylvania as  a  state  bank. 

1833.  Nov.  13.  A  grand  shower  of 
meteors,  or  "  shooting  stars,"  occurred  in 
America  for  several  hours  before  day.  It 
1759-1833.  caused  great  fear,  especially 

Wiiberforce.  among  the  negroes  in  the 
southern  states,  who  thought  the  world 
was  burning  up,  and  cried  out  in  extreme 
terror.  It  was  the  greatest  display  of 


meteors  on  record,  no  other  such  having 
ever  been  known. 

1833.  Dec.  4.  A  National  Anti-Sla- 
very Convention  was  held  at  Philadel- 
phia. There  were  sixty  or  more  dele- 
gates from  ten  states.  John  G.  Whittier 
and  Lewis  Tappan  were  secretaries,  and 
Beziah  Green  was  president.  It  was  at 
this  convention  that  immediate  and  un- 
conditional emancipation  seems  to  have 
first  been  publicly  and  freely  declared 
safe.  The  American  Anti-Slavery  Soci- 
ety was  formed,  with  Arthur  Tappan  as 
president.  Auxiliary  state  societies  were 
organized,  tracts  circulated,  and  lecturers 
employed  over  the  country.  Great  agi- 
tation now  began,  and  anti-slavery  writ- 
ings were  pronounced  treasonable  by 
the  pro-slavery  element. 

1833.  The  Connecticut  Black  Act. 
A  school  for  colored  children  having  been 
opened  at  Canterbury,  Conn.,  a  law  was 
passed  by  the  state  legislature  against 
such  schools,  and  Miss  Prudence  Cran- 
dall,  who  had  opened  it,  was  thrown  into 
prison.  In  the  following  year  the  school 
was  entirely  broken  up  by  the  opposition 
of  the  citizens. 

1833.  The  "Bloody  Bill."  A  bill 
for  enforcing  the  tariff  was  passed,  and 
signed  the  first  of  this  year.  Southern 
members,  except  John  Tyler  of  Virginia, 
refused  to  vote  against  it.  It  drew  out 
much  angry  discussion. 

1833.  The  principle  of  "  total  absti- 
nence from  all  that  may  intoxicate  "  was 
voted  down  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
American  Temperance  Union.  The 
original  tenets  of  the  society  allowed 
the  moderate  use  of  wines,  cider,  and 
malt  liquors. 

1833.  The  Yellow  Fever  raged  in 
New  York  with  still  greater  mortality 
than  in  1822. 


1825-1844.] 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


489 


1833.  A  constitutional  convention 
was  held  in  Texas. 

1833.  An  explosion  of  the  steamboat 
*<  Lioness  "  on  the  Mississippi,  occurred 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Red  River.  Sena- 
tor Johnson  of  Louisiana,  and  fourteen 
others  were  killed.  It  was  due  to  the 
careless  disposition  of  gunpowder  on 
board  the  boat. 

1833.  The  first  steam  plow  in  the 
United  States  was  patented  by  E.  C. 
Bellinger  of  South  Carolina. 

1833.  The  hot-air  blast  which  had 
been  put  into  operation  in  England  a  few 
years  before  in  iron  furnaces  with  a  great 
saving  of  fuel,  was  for  the  first  time  in 
the  world  applied  to  the  burning  of  an- 
thracite coal  in  iron  furnaces  by  Dr. 
Geissenheimer  of  New  York.  His  oper- 
ation was  patented. 

1833.  The  first  water-proof  clothing 
company  was  chartered  at  Roxbury, 
Mass.,  and  a  good  deal  of  excitement  was 
created,  the  shares  going  up  to  two  and 
three  hundred  dollars.  Competition  fol- 
lowed, and  six  companies  were  in  a  short 
time  formed  in  Massachusetts. 

1833.  A    land    expedition   led    by 
Capt.    Back,  started    from    Montreal    in 
search  of  Ross.     When  the  news  of  his 
arrival   in    England  reached    them  they 
still  kept  on,  with  the  intention  of  explor- 
ing the  Great  Fish  River.     They  were 
successful  after  many  hardships,  in  reach- 
ing its  estuary  on  the  shores  of  the  Polar 
Sea.     The  return  voyage  was  more  tedi- 
ous, if  possible,  than  the  descent  of  the 
river,  and  with  all  other  discomforts,  they 
found    that    the"   wolves   had   destroyed 
their  provisions,  deposited   on    the   way 
down.     Finally,  however,  they    arrived 
at  Fort  Reliance.     Fish  River  was  after- 
ward changed  to  Back's  River. 

1834.  March  28.     The  senate  of  the 


United  States  passed  a  resolution  censur- 
ing the  act  of  President  Jackson  in  re- 
moving the  government  funds  from  the 
United  States  Bank,  as  unconstitutional 
and  illegal. 

1834.  April.  Election  Mob.  At  an 
election  in  New  York  city  a  great  mob 
formed,  seized  all  the  weapons  they  could 
get  from  gunshops,  and  tried  to  take  the 
Arsenal.  The  streets  wei'e  scenes  of 
bloodshed,  and  the  place  was  nearly  at 
the  mercy  of  the  rioters. 

1834.  June  21.  McCormick's  Reaper. 
Mr.  Cyrus  H.  McCormick  of  Rockbridge 
County,  Va.,  took  out  the  first  patent  on 
his  reaper,  though  he  had  been  experi- 
menting on  it  since  1831.  This  reaper 
at  once  showed  great  superiority,  and 
would  cut  very  rapidly.  It  took  the 
great  medal  at  the  World's  Fair  in  1851. 
The  patentee  received  from  the  machine 
between  one  and  two  million  dollars.  It 
is  one  of  the  great  triumphs  of  American 
skill. 

1834.  July  4.  The  great  Anti- 
Abolition  Mob  in  New  York.  The  ex- 
citement which  had  been  steadily  grow- 
ing in  hatred  of  the  abolitionists,  at  last 
broke  out  in  New  York,  1834-  '«?«**- 

11-1,  _  _  tion  abolished  in 

and  ruled  the  city  for  a  few  spain. 
days,  in  spite  of  law  and  order.  The 
houses  of  well-known  abolitionists  were 
broken  into  and  injured.  Churches  were 
also  broken  into.  The  violence  at  times 
was  severe,  and  the  rioters  seemed  to 
have  put  all  opposition  under  foot.  They 
were  apparently  countenanced  by  men  of 
wealth  and  family.  Mobs  followed  in 
other  cities,  and  in  some  cases  lives  were 
taken.  Especially  were  colored  people 
put  in  danger.  These  were  among  the 
first  anti-slavery  mobs. 

1834.  Aug.  1.  -Emancipation  in 
British  West  Indies.  This  liberated 


490 


POLITICAL  DE  VEL  OPMENT. 


something  over  800,000  slaves  where  there 
were  about  131 ,000  whites.  The  negroes, 
especially  in  Jamaica,  who  were  now  for 
the  first  time  obliged  to  pay  rent  for  their 
cabins  and  little  pieces  of  land,  were 
alienated  from  the  planters,  and  revolts 
began  to  make  their  appearance.  The 
trouble,  which  lasted  with  more  or  less 
constancy  till  the  great  revolt  of  1865, 
originated  in  the  act  of  this  year.  Over 
a  thousand  sugar  and  coffee  estates  in 
Jamaica  were  abandoned  during  the  next 
few  years.  In  other  islands  the  results 
were  very  excellent. 

1834.  August.  Stone-masons'  Mob. 
The  convicts  who  had  been  employed  as 
stone-masons  in  New  York  city,  were 
attacked  by  an  excited  mob  of  marble- 
cutters  and  others,  who  vented  them- 
selves in  deeds  of  violence  upon  the 
houses  of  men  interested  in  the,  labor. 
For  four  days  the  troops  were  on  duty 
constantly. 

1834.  Teetotalism.  Teetotalism  first 
arose  in  England  from  the  remark  of  a 
member  of  a  Lancashire  society  which 
advocated  the  old  pledge  against  distilled 
liquors,  permitting  the  use  of  wine,  cider, 
and  malt  liquors.  "  Tee  "  is  a  provincial- 
ism for  "  going  the  whole  figure."  He 
said,  "We  must  have  a  teetotal  absti- 
nence from  every  kind  of  drink  that  will 
produce  drunkenness,  if  we  wish  to  get 
rid  of  drunkenness  itself."  This  saying 
gave  the  temperance  cause  a  new  watch- 
word. The  idea  was  adopted  this  year 
by  many  American  societies  which 
changed  the  words,  "ardent  spirits"  in 
their  former  pledges,  to  "  intoxicating 
1772-1834.  liquors."  Much  opposition 

cohridge.  at  ^&i  arrayed  itself  against 
this  principle.  But  it  was  adopted  in  1835 
by  the  American  .Temperance  Society, 
and  in  1836  the  American  Temperance 


Union  was  organized  on  this  basis. 
Since  then  "  total  abstinence  "  has  become 
the  great  temperance  basis  of  all  such 
efforts. 

1834.  The  lottery  enterprises  of  the 
United  States  had  become  so  numerous 
that  an  effort  was  made  in  many  states  to 
break  them  up.  Popular  sympathy  in 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania  was  aroused 
in  favor  of  the  business,  and  there  was 
considerable  agitation.  Wholesome  laws 
were  passed  against  it,  however,  in  several 
quarters. 

1834.  A  canal  riot  broke  out  in  New 
Orleans,  La.,  on  account  of  some  differ- 
ence between  different  parties  of  Irish 
laborers.  Troops  were  called  out  and 
quelled  the  mob,  but  only  with  consider- 
able bloodshed. 

1834.  The  Ursuline  Convent,  near 
Boston,  was  destroyed  by  a  mob  gathered 
from  Boston  and  neighboring  places. 
The  buildings  were  burned  to  the 
ground.  A  nun,  named  Sister  Mary 
St.  Henry,  did  not  get  the  alarm  until 
the  work  had  begun,  and  she  fled  hastily 
with  insufficient  clothing,  through  low 
lands  near  by.  She  at  last,  after  severe 
exposure,  found  a  cottage,  and  was  then 
removed  with  the  other  nuns  to  Rox- 
bury  to  Gen.  Dearborn's  mansion,  where 
she  died  in  a  few  weeks  as  a  result.  She 
was  very  beautiful  and  finely  educated, 
and  her  death  excited  the  sympathy  of 
all.  More  than  5,000  persons  formed  the 
line  of  her  funeral  procession.  The 
Lady  Abbess  was  thrown  into  hysterics 
during  the  destruction  and  confusion  of 
the  scene. 

1834.  The  first  gun  ever  rifled  in 
America  was  turned  out  at  the  South 
Boston  Iron  Works  of  Mr.  Cyrus  Alger, 
who  had  been  a  leading  inventor  in  the 
ordnance  line. 


1825-1844.]  THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 

FIEST  SEWIXG  MACHINE. 
1834.     A    sewing    machine    with    an 


491 


eye-pointed  needle  at  the  end  of  a  vibra- 
ting arm,  and  a  shuttle  for  making  a 
lock-stitch,  was  invented  by  Walter 
Hunt  of  New  York,  but  he  did  not 
patent  it  or  push  its  claims  at  all.  Mr. 
Hunt  applied  for  a  patent  in  1854,  when 
sewing  machines  began  to  be  made  in 
large  numbers,  but  it  was  too  late.  His 
claim  was  covered  by  the  patent  of  Elias 
Howe.  It  was  afterward  found  to  be 
doubtful  if  he  had  ever  got  it  to  sew  suc- 
cessfully. The  parts  were  found  in  an 
old  garret,  but  would  not  work.  Still,  it 
was  a  genuine  attempt  to  solve  the 
problem. 

1834.  "  Hovey's  Seedling,"  a  famous 
strawberry,  was  produced  by  Mr.  Hovey 
of  Boston.  It  was  the  first  of  the  recent 
successful  attempts  to  improve  strawberry 
culture,  which  had  not  been  much  devel- 
oped previous  to  this  time.  A  rapid 
growth  has  taken  place  since,  until  now 
it  is  a  very  great  part  of  the  fruit  culture 
of  the  United  States. 

1834.  A  famous  pear  tree  near  Vin- 
cennes,  111.,  bore  184  bushels  of  fruit.  In 
1840  it  bore  140.  The  trunk  was  10  feet 
in  circumference. 

1834.  "Moras  Multicaulis"  Mania. 
During  the  ten  years  from  1830  to  1840, 
while  the  culture  of  the  silkworm  was 
increasing,  a  great  excitement  grew  up 
over  the  Morus  Multicaulis  mulberry. 
The  first  specimen  of  it  was  brought  to 
the  United  States  from  near  Marseilles, 
France,  where  it  had  been  introduced  a 
few  years  before,  by  a  Mr.  Perottet.  It 
was  planted  in  the  Linnaean  Botanic 
Gardens  at  Flushing,  L.  I.,  but  it  was  not 
until  two  or  three  years  later  that  its 
qualities  became  well  known  through  the 


writings  of  Mr.  Gideon  B.  Smith  of 
Baltimore,  and  Dr.  Pascalis  of  New 
York.  It  was  supposed  to  be  a  much 
more  profitable  mulberry  than  any  other* 
for  the  feeding  of  silkworms.  It  was 
claimed  to  be  hardy,  very  prolific  in  foli- 
age, and  very  easy  of  propagation.  The 
young  plants  at  once  began  to  be  bought 
at  advanced  prices,  and  by  this  year  a 
great  speculation  was  raging.  Large 
mulberry  tree  plantations  were  set  out  in 
various  states.  Mr.  Whitmarsh  of  North- 
ampton, sold  for  $12,000  a  lot  which 
cost  him  only  $1,000.  The  plants  were 
sold  in  some  instances  as  high  as  $500  a 
hundred.  Everybody  was  crazy  over 
the  matter,  and  speculators  took  special 
pains  to  force  up  the  prices.  But  by  1839 
the  mania  began  to  subside.  A  man  who 
sent  $80,000  to  F  ranee  to  buy  young  plants 
was  ruined  by  the  depression  in  prices 
when  he  had  received  them.  Silk  com- 
panies began  to  fail,  and  the  plants  were 
sold  by  the  quantity  at  three  cents  or  less 
apiece.  A  great  deal  of  capital  was 
sunk,  and  a  series  of  difficulties  in  the 
silk  culture  put  back  this  branch  of  en- 
terprise very  far.  The  growth  since  this 
mania  has  been  more  stable,  and  every- 
where more  promising. 

1834.  Dr.  Charles  T.  Jackson  of 
Boston,  claimed  to  have  made  and  shown 
to  some  friends  a  telegraph  which  worked 
successfully  on  a  small  scale.  He  claimed 
that  Morse  got  the  idea  of  the  recording 
telegraph  from  him  on  board  the  Sully, 
in  1832.  He  also  claimed  to  have  dis- 
covered the  use  of  anaesthetics  for  the  re- 
lief of  pain.  He  had  a  long  controversy 
with  S.  F.  B.  Morse  over  the  first,  and 
with  Dr.  W.  T.  G.  Morton  over  the 
second.  The  French  Academy  of  Sci- 
ences bestowed  prizes  of  2,500  francs 
each  upon  Dr.  Jackson  and  Dr.  Morton. 


492 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


1834.  Hon.  Mr.  Bouldin  of  Virginia, 
dropped  dead  in  the  U.  S.  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives while  speaking  in  memory 
of  Randolph,  his  predecessor. 

1834.  Hon.  J.  Blair  of  South   Caro- 
lina, committed   suicide   at    Washington, 
in  insanity. 

1834-35.  An  extremely  severe  win- 
ter prevailed  throughout  the  United 
States.  The  streams  and  bays  of  the 
southern  states  were  frozen  over,  and 
snow,  one  foot  deep,  fell  there.  The 
severe  cold  killed  orange  trees  at  St. 
Augustine,  and  fig  trees  over  one  hundred 
years  old  in  Georgia. 

1835.  Jan.  30.     The  assassination  of 
President  Jackson  was  attempted  at  the 
U.  S.  Capitol  in  Washington,  by  Rich- 
ard Lawrence,  who  was  afterward  found 
to  be  insane. 

1835.  Jan.  30.  A  frightful  volcanic 
eruption  occurred  in  Nicaragua  from  Mt. 
Coseguina,  the  ashes  of  which  floated  to 
Jamaica,  W.  I.,  seven  hundred  miles 
away  to  the  northeast,  and  to  a  ship 
twelve  hundred  miles  west,  in  the  Pacific. 
Sand  and  ashes  fell  in  Mexico  and  Bo- 
gota. The  explosions  were  heard  800 
miles.  The  eruption  continued  four 
days,  and  then  ceased.  No  eruption  of 
this  volcano  has  since  occurred. 

1835.  Feb.  20.  An  earthquake  de- 
stroyed the  city  of  Concepcion,  Chili,  for 
the  fourth  time  in  its  history.  A  volcano 
broke  out  at  the  same  time  near  the  island 
of  Juan  Fernandez,  in  400  feet  of  water. 

1835.  May.  A  democratic  national 
convention  was  held  at  Baltimore,  and 
unanimously  nominated  Martin  Van  Bu- 
ren  for  president.  Richard  M.  Johnson 
of  Kentucky  was  put  in  the  field  as  can- 
didate for  vice-president.  The  two-thirds 
rule  was  for  the  first  time  adopted  in  this 
convention,  requiring  that  two-thirds  of 


the    whole    number  of    votes   should    be 
necessary  for  a  nomination. 

1835.  O'Connell  Guard  Mob.  A 
mob  attacked  some  Irishmen  in  New 
York  city,  who  had  organized  a  militia 
company,  fought  with  them  repeatedly 
through  Sunday  and  Monday,  killed  a 
prominent  physician,  injured  others,  de- 
stroyed some  property,  and  closed  their 
labors  on  Tuesday,  because  the  "  Guards" 
broke  up  their  organization. 

1835.  July  6.  John  Marshall,  chief- 
justice  'of  the  United  States  supreme 
court  since  1801,  died  in  Philadelphia,  at 
the  age  of  eighty  years.  His  father  was 
a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  young  John 
himself  served  with  honor  in  the  same 
strife.  He  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
law  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  at  once 
began  to  rise  in  influence.  In  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Federal  Government  his  in- 
fluence was  a  leading  one.  He  served  in 
places  of  trust  before  his  appointment  as 
chief-justice,  and  was  thereafter  the  lead- 
ing judicial  mind  in  the  country.  He 
wrote  a  "  Life  of  Washington,"  and  did 
other  literary  work.  His  personal  ap- 
pearance was  plain,  but  his  disposition 
very  winning.  The  last  days  of  his  life 
were  days  of  suffering,  but  Christian 
character  shone  conspicuous  through  it 
all. 

1835.  July  29.  Censorship  of  the 
Press.  A  mob  at  Charleston,  S.  C., 
broke  into  the  postoffice  and  seized  some 
pamphlets  which  the  New  York  Anti- 
Slavery  Society  had  sent  to  prominent 
Southern  gentlemen,  and  burned  them 
publicly.  An  attempt  was  1S3^  Plague  in 
made  through  congress,  to  Bgyp*- 
establish  a  censorship  of  the  press,  to  rule 
out  of  the  mails  what  the  South  consid- 
ered insurrectionary,  but  in  the  end  it 
failed.  Nothing  touching  the  subject  of 


1825-1844.] 

slavery  could  have  been  delivered  from 
any  Southern  postoffice  under  this  bill. 

1835.  Aug.  10.  An  academy  at 
Canaan,  N.  H.,  was  torn  down  and 
pulled  away  from  its  foundations  because 
negroes  were  received  for  education. 

1835.  Oct.  2.  The  first  fighting  in 
Texas  for  independence  occurred  at 
Gonzales,  resulting  in  the  defeat  of  Santa 
Anna,  with  a  Mexican  force. 

1835.  Oct.  21.  The  Boston  Female 
Anti-Slavery  Society  was  broken  up  by 
a  mob  of  5,000  persons.  Mr.  Garrison 
was  seized,  a  rope  tied  around  him,  and 
he  was  pulled  through  the  streets  by  it. 
He  was  severely  abused,  but  was  taken 
by  the  mayor  and  lodged  in  jail,  to  save 
him.  He  was  the  next  day  released 
upon  examination,  but  left  Boston  for  a 
time,  at  the  request  of  the  city  officers. 
A  mob  took  place  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  the 
same  day.  The  meeting  of  the  New 
York  Anti-Slavery  Society  was  broken 
up.  It  adjourned  to  the  residence  of 
Gerritt  Smith  at  Petersboro,  and  was 
assailed  on  the  way  thither. 

1835.  Nov.  12.  Texas  organized  a 
provisional  government,  and  chose  Henry 
Smith  provisional  governor. 

1835.  Dec.  16.  A  great  fire  broke 
out  in  New  York,  and  raged  fourteen 
hours.  It  burned  over  forty-five  acres, 
and  destroyed  $20,000,000  worth  of 
property.  The  cold  was  intense,  the 
thermometer  being  at  zero,  which  made 
it  difficult  to  work  the  engines.  Gun- 
powder was  used  in  blowing  up  the  build- 
ings, to  arrest  the  flames.  A  single  fire- 
proof building  was  left  at  No.  83  Water 
Street.  This  fire  destroyed  twenty-three 
fire  insurance  companies  in  New  York. 
It  was  a  great  blow  to  insurance,  and 
tended  to  shake  faith  in  the  joint  stock 
system.  Mutual  companies  began  to 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


493 


arise.  Much  attention  was  drawn  by 
this  fire  to  the  means  of  combating  con- 
flagrations. There  had  been  no  organ- 
ized fire  force  up  to  this  time.  The 
companies  were  composed  of  volunteers. 

1835.  Dec.  28.  The  Seminole  Indians 
massacred  Major  Dade  and  more  than 
100  men  who  had  been  sent  into  the  in- 
terior of  Florida  to  the  relief  of  Gen. 
Clinch.  Gen.  Thompson  and  five  friends 
were  murdered  the  same  day  by  Osceola, 
at  Fort  King,  while  they  were  at  dinner. 
This  was  the  breaking  out  of  the  Semi- 
nole war  under  the  lead  of  Osceola, 
which  lasted  seven  years,  because  of  the 
proposed  removal  of  this  tribe  from 
Florida. 

1835.  Harriot  K.  Hunt,  M.  D., 
opened  a  medical  office  in  Boston,  un- 
doubtedly the  first  opened  by  a  female 
physician  in  the  United  States.  She  had 
studied  with  Dr.  Mott,  and  afterward  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  M.  D.  from  the 
Woman's  Medical  College  of  Philadel- 
phia. She  died  Jan.  2,  1875. 

1835.  The  public  debt  of  the  United 
States  was  practically  extinguished.  It 
stood  on  the  books  at  about  $35,000, 
which  was  covered  by  cash  in  the  treas- 
ury. Some  surplus  funds  were  distrib- 
uted among  the  states. 

1835.  A  Maryland  slaveholder  ar- 
rested a  young  woman  named  Mary 
Gilmore,  in  Philadelphia,  as  his  fugitive 
slave.  It  was  conclusively  proved  on 
trial  that  she  was  a  child  of  poor  Irish 
parents,  and  did  not  have  a  drop  of  negro 
blood  in  her  veins. 

1835.  The  manufacture  of  gold 
pens  was  attempted  for  the  first  time  in 
America  by  Levi  Brown  of  Detroit, 
Mich.,  who  made  them  by  hand  under  a 
right  purchased  by  Rev.  Mr.  Cleveland, 
an  American  clergyman,  of  Mr.  John 


494 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


Isaac  Hawkins,  an  American  living  in 
England,  who  had  accidentally  used  an 
alloy  of  iridium  and  osmium,  for  pointing 
such  pens. 

1835.  Morse's  Telegraph.  Prof.  S. 
F.  B.  Morse  first  exhibited  a  telegraph 
in  a  room  in  New  York,  upon  the  sides 
of  which  he  hung  a  half  mile  of  wire* 

1835.  The  making  of  horse-shoes 
was  for  the  first  time  carried  on  by 
machinery,  through  an  invention  of 
Henry  Burden  of  Troy,  N.  Y.  The 
machine  would  bend  and  crease  the 
metal,  make  the  holes,  and  countersink 
them,  leaving  the  shoe  complete. 

1835.  Plan  of  Tuluco.  Under  Santa 
Anna's  government,  a  plan  contrary  to 
the  constitution  of  1824  was  proclaimed, 
making  all  the  states  of  Mexico  one  cen- 
tralized republic,  and  abolishing  state 
authority.  All  consented  to  it  except 
what  is  now  Texas,  and  therefore  the 
Texan  invasion  occurred  under  Santa 
Anna,  who  was  taken  prisoner. 

1835.  Rosas   was    made   dictator   of. 
Buenos   Ayres,   and    held    power    over 
•what  is  now  the  Argentine  Republic,  till 
1852.     His  rule  has  been  called  tyranni- 
cal, but  the  country  prospered  under  his 
administration  of  affairs. 

1836.  Feb.    25.      Colt's    revolving 
firearms  received  their  first  patent.     The 
idea  of  these  weapons  occurred  to  Mr. 
Colt  before  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age, 
and  he  worked  it  out  "  with  a  chisel  on  a 
spun-yarn  with  a  common  jackknife  and 
a  little  iron  rod "   in  a  model   which  he 
made  on -a  voyage  to  India  at  the  latter 
age.      A  company  was  formed  at  Pater- 
son,    N.    J.,    under    this     patent,  ^ith 
a  capital  of  $300,000,  but  became  bank- 
rupt.    The  weapons  seem   first  to  have 
become    widely  used    in    and    after   the 
Mexican  war.     The  first  contract  of  Mr. 


Colt's  sxiccessful  business  was  made  by 
him  during  that  war,  to  furnish  the 
United  States  government  1,000  revolv- 
ers for  $24,000.  This  contract  was 
made  at  the  suggestion  of  Gen.  Taylor, 
who  had  proved  the  value  of  the  weapon 
in  previous  warfare. 

1836.  March  2.  Texas  declared  itself 
independent. 

1836.  March  4.  Abolitionism.  The 
Massachusetts  legislature  was  the  first 
body  of  the  kind  in  America,  to  give  the 
abolitionists  a  hearing  before  a  committee. 
It  was  held  under  many  difficulties,  and 
resulted  in  nothing  by  report.  An  agita- 
tion was  also  going  on  in  congress  during 
the  early  part  of  this  year  over  the  dis- 
tribution of  abolition  documents  at  the 
South,  through  the  mail.  President 
Jackson  called  the  attention  of  congress 
at  the  close  of  1835,  to  the  necessity  of 
passing  a  law  to  suppress  such  documents 
in  southern  mails,  because  of  the  trouble 
at  Charleston.  But  congress  refused,  bj 
a  committee  of  which  John  C.  Calhoun 
was  a  member,  to  pass  such  a  law,  and 
the  postoffice  department  was  so  injured 
in  credit  by  the  Charleston  affair,  that 
very  soon  the  president  signed  a  bill 
passed  by  congress  to  prevent  discrimi- 
nation in  mail  matters.  The  right  of  the 
abolitionists  to  the  mails  was  therefore 
established.  But  various  steps  were  taken 
by  southern  legislatures  to  induce  north- 
ern states  and  congress  to  suppress  the 
abolition  agitation.  The  great  plea  was 
that  such  agitation  excited  the  slaves  to 
insurrection.  This  was  afterward  shown 
to  be  false.  The  great  effort  was  to 
make  the  agitation  a  penal  offense.  But 
Mr.  Calhoun  admitted  in  congress  at 
this  time  that  the  methods  of  the  abo- 
litionists were  moral  and  suasive,  not 
revolutionary. 


1825-1844] 

1836.  March  6.  Fort  Alamo  Mas- 
sacre. Santa  Anna,  with  4000  men,  took 
Fort  Alamo,  Texas,  by  storm,  and  mas- 
sacred the  garrison  of  172  persons,  except 
a  servant,  a  child,  and  a  woman.  Such 
a  heroic  defence  was  made  that  the  loss 
of  the  Mexican  force  was  over  1600  men. 

DAVID  CROCKETT. 

1836.  David  Crockett,  an  American 
hunter,  and  member  of  congress,  was 
killed  with  five  companions  after  their  sur- 
render to  the  Mexicans  at  Fort  Alamo, 
Texas.  He  was  born  Aug.  17,  1786,  at 
Limestone,  Tenn.,  of  Irish  parentage,  and 
during  his  youth  did  little  except  wander 
about  with  drovers  and  backwoodsmen. 
He  learned  his  letters  when  seventeen 
years  old,  and  soon  took  up  his  resi- 
dence after  marriage  far  away  from 
settlements.  The  pleasures  of  a  hunter's 
life  drew  him  into  the  remote  parts  of 
the  state.  He  was  in  the  Creek  war 
of  1813  with  Gen.  Jackson,  and  was 
sent  several  times  to  the  legislature 
from  a  community  of  hunters  and 
drovers,  with  whom  he  electioneered  by 
his  popular  gifts  in  story  telling,  and  his 
skill  in  shooting.  In  1827  he  was  sent 
to  congress,  and  was  twice  re-elected. 
When  the  troubles  of  Texas  began  he 
entered  the  field  in  behalf  of  Texan  in- 
dependence, and  exhibited  his  bravery  on 
many  occasions.  The  defence  of  Fort 
Alamo  was  heroic,  but  in  vain.  Santa 
Anna  ordered  the  six  survivors  to  be 
killed,  and  the  brave  hunter  came  to  his 
death.  The  popular  saying,  "  First,  be 
sure  you're  right,  and  then  go  ahead,"  is 
ascribed  to  him.  He  was  undoubtedly  a 
man  of  great  native  force  of  character. 


THE  GRO  WTII  OF  PARTIES. 


495 


1836.     March  17.     A  convention  of 
Texans  elected   David  G.  Burnett   first 


president  of  the  Republic  of  Texas,  and 
adopted  a  constitution  establishing  slavery. 

1836.  March  27.  Santa  Anna  mas- 
sacred Col.  Farmin  and  357  Texans  who, 
after  a  hard  fought  battle,  had  surren- 
dered to  him. 

1836.  March.  Roger  Brook  Taney 
of  Maryland,  having  been  appointed  by 
the  president  as  chief-justice  1836  Decreeex- 
of  the  supreme  court  of  the  /w*V  British 

TT    .       ,      o  .  .  and  other  foreign 

United    States,   a   position    merchants  from 
made  vacant  by  the  death    China. 
of  John  Marshall  in  1835,  was  confirmed 
by  the  senate,  and  continued  to  hold  the 
place  till  his  death,  in  1864. 

1836.  April  9.  A  murder  of  Heleu 
Jewett,  a  noted  New  York  character, 
was  committed  by  Richard  P.  Robinson, 
through  jealousy.  Young  Robinson  was 
tried  but  was  not  condemned,  through  the 
failure  of  the  jury  to  agree. 

1836.  April  21.  "Remember  the 
Alamo."  The  battle  of  San  Jacinto  was 
fought  in  Texas  by  a  force  of  volunteers 
under  Gen.  Sam  Houston,  and  a  Mexican 
force  of  1600  regular  troops  under  Santa 
Anna,  president  of  Mexico.  The  former 
with  one  wild,  desperate  charge  utterly 
routed  the  Mexican  army,  which  lost  630 
killed  and  many  more  by  capture.  The 
cry  of  the  Texans  upon  the  charge  was, 
"  Remember  the  Alamo." 

1836.  April  22.  The  independence 
of  Texas  was  secured  by  a  treaty  made 
with  Santa  Anna,  who  was  this  day  taken 
in  disguise  and  protected  by  Gen.  Hous- 
ton from  the  fury  of  the  Texans,  who  re- 
membered his  massacre. 

SIMOJf  KEXTOJf. 

1836.  April  29.  Simon  Kenton,  the 
pioneer,  died  in  Logan  County,  Ohio,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  He  was 
born  in  Fauquier  County,  Va.,  April  3, 


496 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


I755*  While  yet  in  his  teens  he  left 
home  secretly  for  the  great  western  wil- 
derness, because  of  a  quarrel  which  he  had 
had  with  a  companion  over  a  love  affair, 
and  in  which  he  supposed  that  he  had 
killed  his  antagonist.  He  was  with 
Boone  for  a  time,  and  subsequently  be- 
came associated  with  the  hostilities  west 
of  the  Alleghanies.  He  learned  in  1782 
that  his  early  quarrel  was  not  fatal,  as  he 
had  supposed.  He  acquired  a  great 
knowledge  of  Indian  life  and  warfare,  and 
was  constantly  in  great  peril  in  border 
warfare.  His  personal  courage  and  en- 
durance were  very  remarkable.  Having 
taken  up  his  home  in  Kentucky,  he  was 
subjected  to  the  same  losses  which  befell 
Boone,  through  imperfect  titles  to  his 
lands.  At  last  he  was  left  without  a  cent. 
He  lived  in  comparative  obscurity,  but  at 
one  time  made  his  entry  into  Frankfort 
in  rags,  upon  a  message  to  the  legislature 
concerning  his  lands.  He  was  at  first 
followed  by  ridicule  as  being  a  vagabond, 
but  through  the  recognition  of  some  one 
his  reception  was  changed  to  one  of 
honor,  because  of  the  reputation  he  had 
in  all  the  region.  His  petition  was 
granted,  and  congress  soon  gave  him,  at 
the  solicitation  of  his  friends,  an  annuity 
of  $240  a  year.  Many  stories  are  told  of 
his  hair-breadth  escapes  and  remarkable 
feats.  The  most  notable  of  the  former 
was  in  being  lashed  to  a  horse  without 
saddle  or  bridle,  by  his  Indian  captors,  and 
left  to  plunge  through  the  forests  for 
several  days,  behind  the  party.  He  was 
bruised  and  bleeding,  and  some  of  his 
limbs  were  broken  when  they  reached 
their  destination,  but  being  vigorous,  he 
survived.  In  spite  of  all  he  had  suffered 
at  their  hands  he  never  allowed  himself 
to  treat  an  Indian  unkindly  out  of  battle. 
He  had  a  heart  as  tender  and  true  as  that 


of  a  child,  and  was  the  soul  of  honor. 
His  life  in  its  height  of  native  moral 
character  would  shame  many  an  educated 
one.  When  in  poverty,  he  said,  "  I  am 
blessed  with  health,  I  have  a  quiet  con- 
science, I  can  sleep  calmly,  and  am  con- 
tented." 

1836.  May  26.  Gag  Rule.  The 
House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States  adopted  Pinckney's  gag  rule  for  all 
petitions  relating  in  whatever  way  to 
slavery,  resolving  that  such  should  be 
laid  on  the  table  without  printing  or  ref- 
erence, and  never  be  acted  upon.  Others 
were  adopted  in  1837,  '3^»  '40,  and  '41, 
and  began  the  long  contest  which  cul- 
minated John  Q.  Adams'  great  effort  to 
secure  the  right  of  petition.  At  one 
time  the  rule  was  made  to  operate  against 
all  petitions,  and  thus  effectually  put  an 
end  to  the  presentation  of  all  future 
memorials. 

1836.  June  15.  Arkansas  was  the 
twenty-fifth  state  to  be  admitted  to  the 
union.  Its  motto  is  "  Regnant  populi." 
"  The  people  rule."  It  is  known  as  the 
"Bear  State."  It  has  an  area  of  52,198 
square  miles,  and  a  population  in  1880  of 
802,564  persons. 

JAXES  MADISON. 

1836.  June  28.  James  Madison,  the 
"father  of  the  constitution"  and  fourth 
president  of  the  United  States,  died  at 
his  home  in  Virginia,  aged  eighty-five 
years.  Mr.  Madison  was  born  March 
1 6, 1757,  at  King  George,  Orange  Co., 
Va.,  where  his  ancestors  had  settled  as 
early  as  1653.  His  boyhood  was  passed 
amid  the  refinements  of  his  home,  for 
until  he  was  eighteen  years  old  his  stud- 
ies were  pursued  under  the  direction  of  a 
tutor.  In  1771  he  was  graduated  from 


1825-1844.] 

Princeton  College,  N.  J.,  in  the  posses- 
sion   of   fine   scholarly   attainments,  but 
with  his  health  permanently  impaired  by 
his  zealous  application  during  the  course. 
After  a  year  of  post-graduate  study  with 
Dr.  Witherspoon,  president  of  the   col- 
lege, he  returned  to  Virginia,  and  began 
a  course  of  reading  in  law,  but  his  atten- 
tion was  soon  turned  to  theology,  and  he 
gave  to  that  subject  a  considerable  amount 
of  careful  study.     During    the    struggle 
which  followed  shortly  after  in  Virginia, 
against  the  intolerance  of  the  established 
church,  Madison  and  Jefferson  were  fore- 
most, and  their  efforts  aided  largely  the 
founding   of    religious    freedom    in   that 
state.     Our  first  glimpse  of  him  in  public 
life  is  in  177^?  "when  he  was  elected  to  the 
Virginia  convention.     The  next  year  he 
failed  to  be  reelected  because  he   refused 
to  treat  the  voters.     It  is  not  until   1 780 
that  we  see  him  in   a  position  of  promi- 
nence, he  having  been  chosen  a  member 
of  the  continental  congress.     Upon  the 
expiration  of  his  term   in    1784,   he   was 
elected  to  the  Virginia  assembly,  and  it 
was  through  him  that  that  body  invited 
In  1786  the  other  states  to  a    convention 
to  discuss  the  revision  of  the  Articles  of 
Confederation.     This  was  the  forerunner 
of   the   convention  of  1787   at   Philadel- 
phia, when  the  views   of    Mr.    Madison 
were  adopted   as  the  framework  of  the 
new  constitution.     He  represented    Vir- 
ginia in  the  National  Cong^ss  from  1 789 
to   1797,  and  found    that    his    republican 
principles  arrayed  him   against  many  of 
his  old   friends.      He   soon  became   the 
head  of  this  party,  and  after  serving  ac- 
ceptably as  secretary  of  state  during  Jef- 
ferson's  administration,   he   was   elected 
president  in  1809.     During  the  war  with 
Great  Britain,  his  wisdom  and  prudence 
were  severely  tried,  but  the  close  of  his 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


497 


administration  was  peaceful.  Upon  the 
close  of  his  second  term  Madison  re- 
tired to  his  estate,  named  Montpelier,  in 
Virginia.  Here  he  lived  for  nineteen 
years  a  quiet,  unassuming  life,  his  last  and 
only  appearance  in  public  being  in  1829, 
when  he  met  with  the  Virginia  conven- 
tion to  discuss  the  revision  of  the  state 
constitution.  Mr.  Madison  was  the  last 
survivor  of  the  founders  of  the  national 
constitution,  and  he  sustained  to  the  end 
the  character  for  purity  of  purpose  which 
he  had  always  borne.  His  wife,  a  Mrs. 
Todd,  whom  he  had  married  in  Phila- 
delphia, lived  several  years  after  his  death. 
Mr.  Madison  was  a  close  reasoner  in  all 
his  public  speeches,  and  possessed  a  fine 
command  of  language.  His  manners 
were  retiring  and  unobtrusive,  "an  exact 
index  of  the  inner  man. 


1836.    July  1.    The  bequest  of  James 

Smithson  of  England,  to  the  United 
States  government  for  the  "diffusion  of 
knowledge "  was  accepted  by  vote  of 
congress.  The  amount  first  paid  was 
$575,169.  With  this  money  and  others 
since  added,  the  Smithsonian  Institution 
was  founded  afterward  at  Washington, 

o  * 

D.  C. 

1836.  July  10.  Heavy  Grades.  M. 
W.  Baldwin,  one  of  the  first  successful 
locomotive  builders,  run  the  engine 
George  Washington,  which  he  had  just 
constructed,  up  a  heavy  grade  on  the 
Pennsylvania  R.  R.,  with  a  rise  of  one 
foot  in  fourteen  for  a  distance  of  2,800 
feet,  drawing  9,000  Ibs.  more  than  the 
engine,  at  the  rate  of  15  miles  an  hour. 
Thus  for  the  first  time  the  needlessness  of 
stationary  engines  and  ropes  was  demon- 
strated. It  made  a  great  change  in  rail- 
road building. 

1836.     July  12.     A  midnight  assault 


498 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


was  made  upon  Bailey's  anti-slavery  press 
at  Cincinnati. 

1836.  July.  A  new  Patent  Right 
law  was  passed  by  the  congress  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  office  of  commis- 
sioner created  for  the  first  time.  An  ex- 
tensive building  has  been  erected,  and  the 
American  system  is  now  the  best  in  the 
world. 

AAROJf  BURR. 

1836.  Sept.  14.  This  man  of  ability, 
and  in  his  younger  years,  of  great  prom- 
use,  at  one  time  vice-president  of  the 
United  States,  died  on  Staten  Island,  N. 
Y.,  aged  eighty  years.  His  father  had 
been 'at  one  time  president  of  Princeton 
College,  and  his  grandfather,  Rev.  Dr. ' 
Jonathan  Edwards,  was  installed  in  that 
position  upon  the  close  of  his  father's 
service.  Quite  an  amount  of  property 
was  left  to  the  little  Aaron  when  three 
years  old,  at  which  age  he  lost  both 
father  and  mother.  The  boy  was  b'orn 
Feb.  6,  1 756,  and  grew  up  to  be  a  very 
bright  scholar.  In  1772,  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  he  was  graduated  from  Princeton. 
The  army  held  out  immediate  attractions 
for  him,  and  his  name  was  soon  in  the 
list  of  private  soldiers  at  the  outbreak  of 
the  war,  three  or  four  years  later.  The 
famous  march  to  Quebec  found  him  im- 
petuous for  the  attack  on  Canada.  He 
did  all  that  could  be  done  to  aid  in  that 
disastrous  attempt,  and  carried  himself 
with  such  good  service  that  he  was  ap- 
pointed major  at  the  close  of  the  cam- 
paign. Burr  seems  at  this  point  to  have 
had  some  rupture  with  Washington,  and 
never  to  have  regained  a  place  in 
the  heart  of  the  commander-in-chief. 
Through  1777,  1778,  1779,  he  was  in 
active  service.  At  Monmouth  he  did 
excellent  work  for  the  American  army. 
In  the  intrigues  against  Washington, 


Burr  used  his  influence  for  the  supporters 
of  Gates.  He  left  the  army  in  the  spring 
of  1779.  After  the  study  of  law  he 
settled  down  for  its  practice  in  New  York 
city,  in  1783.  He  served  in  several  polit- 
ical stations,  finally  being  elected  U.  S. 
senator  in  1791.  Thus  far  he  had  been 
identified  with  the  democrat-republicans, 
and  in  1800  took  a  very  active  part  in  the 
canvass  for  president.  His  influence  was 
reaching  forth  widely,  and  his  efforts  se- 
cured the  choice  of  democrat-republican 
electors  in  New  York.  Mr.  Burr  was 
now  held  forward  prominently  for  the 
vice-presidency.  The  vote  of  the  elec- 
tors, being  a  tie  between  himself  and 
Mr.  Jefferson,  threw  the  choice  into  the 
House  of  Representatives,  and  here  the 
federalists  united  upon  Mr.  Burr,  in  order 
to  defeat  Jefferson  for  the  presidency. 
This  alienated  his  own  party  from  Mr.. 
Burr,  and  deprived  him  of  much  of  his 
power.  It  was  not  long  before  he  took 
the  life  of  Alexander  Hamilton  in  the 
duel  for  which  his  name  will  be  longest 
remembered.  At  the  close  of  his  term 
as  vice-president  he  visited  the  west,  and 
his  designs,  real  or  apparent,  resulted  in 
his  arrest  and  trial,  but  without  convic- 
tion. He  now  went  abroad,  but  finally 
returned  to  the  practice  of  law  in  New 
York  city.  The  circumstances  of  his 
life,  however,  went  against  him,  and  the 
bar  did  not  prove  to  be  a  place  of  power. 
His  last  years,  were  saddened  by  the  loss  at 
sea  in  1813,  of  his  only  legitimate  child, 
a  daughter,  named  Theodosia,  who  had 
married  Gov.  Allston  of  South  Carolina. 
Failure  is  written  upon  the  course  of 
Aaron  Burr. 

1836.  Oct.  22.  Gen.  Sam  Houston 
was  inaugurated  president  of  the  inde- 
pendent republic  of  Texas. 


1825-1844.] 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


499 


1836.  Nov.  20.  The  Bristol,  of 
Liverpool,  was  lost  on  Long  Island,  with 
^5  lives. 

1836.  Nov.  25.  A  severe  battle  was 
fought  in  Florida,  between  Gen.  Call  of 
Georgia,  with  500  men,  and  the  Semi- 
nole  Indians,  but  without  decisive  results. 
A  running  warfare  continued  for  the 
winter. 

1836.  Dec.  15.  A  great  fire  at 
Washington,  D.  CM  consumed  the  United 
States  Patent  Office  and  general  post- 
office,  with  the  valuable  records  and 
models  which  had  been  gathering  in  the 
former. 

1836.  Daniel  Webster's  Great  Plow. 
A  plow  for  working  to  the  depth  of  one 
foot  or  more,  was  invented  by  Daniel 
Webster.  It  was  put  into  operation 
upon  his  own  farm  at  Marshfield,  Mass., 
in  a  field  filled  with  roots,  and  turned  a 
furrow  twenty-four  inches  wide.  The 
plow  was  twelve  feet  long.  It  is  still  in 
existence.  Mr.  Webster  said,  "  When  I 
have  hold  of  the  handles  of  my  big  plow 
in  such  a  field,  with  four  pair  of  cattle  to 
pull  it  through,  and  hear  the  roots  crack, 
and  see  the  stumps  all  go  under  the  fur- 
row out  of  sight,  and  observe  the  clear, 
mellowed  surface  of  the  plowed  land,  I 
feel  more  enthusiasm  over  my  achieve- 
ment than  comes  from  my  encounters  in 
public  life  at  Washington." 

1836.  Dutchman  and  Awful  were 
two  horses  who  became  noted  in  the 
trotting  history  of  this  period.  Dutch- 
man made  three  miles  in  seven  minutes, 
thirty  and  one-half  seconds,  which  was 
his  best  record.  Awful  was  a  large, 
vicious  animal. 

1836.  The  Creek  Indians  committed 
depredations  through  Georgia  and  Ala- 
bama during  the  spring  of  this  year,  but 
were  soon  subdued  by  Gen.  Winfield 


Scott.  Many  of  these  Indians  were  at 
once  removed  to  new  lands  beyond  the 
Mississippi. 

1836.  Specie  Circular.  The  secretary 
of  the  treasury  ordered  the  United  States 
land  agents  to  take  only  specie,  instead 
of  state  bank  bills,  thereafter,  for  lands. 
This  action  helped  cause  the  panic  of 
1837.  The  reason  of  the  action  was  in 
the  fact  that  bank  bills  were  accumula- 
ting in  the  treasury. 

THIRTEENTH  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN. 

1836.  In  the  thirteenth  presidential 
campaign,  at  the  close  of  this  year,  the 
democrats  supported  Martin  Van  Buren 
of  New  York,  for  president,  and  Richard 
M.  Johnson  of  Kentucky,  for  vice-presi- 
dent. The  national  republicans  who 
now  became  known  as  whigs,  supported 
Gen.  William  H.  Harrison  of  Ohio,  for 
president,  and  Francis  •  Granger  of  New 
York,  for  vice-president,  both  of  whom 
had  been  nominated  by  a  whig  state  con- 
vention in  Pennsylvania,  in  1835.  Gen. 
Harrison  had  also  been  nominated  in 
some  other  states,  but  no  national  conven- " 
tion  had  been  held.  Whig  votes  were 
also  cast  for  Hugh  L.  White  of  Tennes- 
see, Daniel  Webster  of  Massachusetts, 
and  W.  P.  Mangum  of  North  Carolina, 
for  president,  and  for  John  Tyler  and 
William  Smith,  for  vice-president.  Out 
of  294  electoral  votes  Mr.  Van  Buren  had 
170,  and  Mr.  Johnson  147,  with  a  popular 
vote  of  761,549.  Gen.  Harrison  had  73 
electoral  votes,  and  Mr.  Granger  77.  Mr. 
White  26,  and  Mr.  Tyler  47.  Mr. 
Webster  14,  and  Mr.  Smith  23,  and  Mr. 
Mangum  n.  The  combined  popular 
vote  of  the  whigs  for  the  latter  candidates 
was  736,656.  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  there- 
fore elected,  but  no  candidate  for  vice- 
president  had  enough  electoral  votes,  and 


500 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT, 


the  choice   was   thrown  into  the  senate, 
which  elected  Mr.  Johnson. 


1836.  Popular  movements  in  Canada 
had  increased  in  volume.  The  "  Sons  of 
Liberty"  had  been  formed  in  many 
places,  including  Montreal.  Regiments 
were  ordered  by  government  into  Canada 
from  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick. 
Arrests  began  to  be  made,  and  two  popu- 
lar leaders  were  afterward  rescued  from 
the  hands  of  the  government. 

1836.  Santa  Cruz,  president  of  Bolivia, 
entered  Peru  with  an  army,  and  annexed 
it  to  Bolivia  as  a  part  of  a  confederation 
formed. 

1837.  Jan.  3.     The  Mexico  of  Liver- 
pool was  wrecked  on  Long  Island,  and  a 
hundred  and  eight  lives  lost. 

1837.  Jan.  16.  The  resolution  of 
censure  passed  against  President  Jackson 
in  1834,  f°r  ^e  removal  °f  United  States 
money  from  the  national  bank,  was  ex- 
punged from  the  records  of  the  senate  of 
the  United  States,  very  largely  through 
the  efforts  of  Thomas  H.  Benton,  of 
Missouri. 

1837.  Jan.  26.  Michigan  was  the 
twenty-sixth  state  to  be  admitted  to  the 
Union.  It  has  an  area  of  56,451  square 
miles,  and  a  population  in  1880  of  1,636,- 
396  persons.  Its  motto  is  "  Tuebor,"  and 
"  Si  quaeris  peninsulam  amoenam,  circum- 
spice."  "  I  will  defend."  "  If  you  seek 
a  pleasant  peninsula,  look  around  you." 
It  is  often  called  the  "  Wolverine  State." 

1837.  February.  Flour  Mob.  The 
crop  in  New  York  had  been  poor,  and 
flour  was  high.  A  mob  of  6,000  persons 
in  New  York  city  emptied  several  flour 
stores  into  the  street,  and  defied  all  au- 
thority for  a  time. 

1837.  March  4.  Martin  Van  Buren 
of  New  York  was  inaugurated  president 


of  the  United  States,  with  Richard  M, 
Johnson  of  Kentucky,  as  vice-president. 
1837.  April  19.  Gen.  Bustamente 
was  elected  president  of  Mexico,  but 
Santa  Anna  returned  from  issr.  Shieen 
the  United  States  this  year  v*ct° ™ \,asce nd' 

J  ea  tlie  throne  of 

in  a  United  States  ship  of   England. 
war,  and  regained  power  as  a  revolution- 
ary president.    The  country  entered  upon 
a  scene  of  tumult. 

1837.  May  9.  The  Ben  Sherrod  of 
New  Orleans,  was  lost  on  the  Missis- 
sippi at  Natchez,  and  175  persons  were 

destroyed. 

PANIC  OF  '37. 

1837.  May  10.  The  New  York 
banks  suspended,  and  thus  precipitated 
the  crash  which  had  been  impending  for 
months.  Other  failures  now  followed  in 
rapid  succession.  Many  corporations 
closed  their  works,  hundreds  of  business 
houses  found  themselves  ruined,  and  even 
states  became  bankrupt.  The  govern- 
ment was  forced  to  an  irredeemable  paper 
currency.  Farm  products  declined  enor- 
mously in  value.  Credit  was  nearly 
annihilated.  At  last  the  president  of  the 
United  States  could  not  always  get  his 
salary  when  due,  from  the  United  States 
treasury.  This  panic  was  immediately 
due  to  a  fever  of  speculation  which  had 
been  running  at  great  height  for  two 
years.  There  had  also  been  large  impor- 
tations of  foreign  goods  under  the  com- 
promise tariff  act,  and  much  American 
capital  had  been  driven  out  of  business. 
The  country  had  got  easy  because  its 
government  debt  had  been  practically 
abolished,  and  speculation  had  speedily 
crept  in. 

1837.  October.  Morse's  Telegraph. 
The  first  caveat  for  a  patent  upon  the 
American  electro-magnetic  telegraph  was 


1825-1844.] 

entered  by  S.  F.  B.  Morse.  This  had 
been  hastened  by  the  circular  of  the  secre- 
tary of  the  U.  S.  Treasury,  issued  on 
March  10  of  this  year,  requesting  infor- 
mation upon  the  subject  of  telegraphs, 
and  the  question  of  establishing  such  lines 
in  America. 

1837.  Oct.  9.  The  steamship  Home 
of  New  York  was  wrecked  in  Pamlico 
Sound,  N.  C.,  and  a  hundred  lives  lost. 
The  vessel  went  to  pieces  in  an  hour,  al- 
though it  was  new. 

1837.  Oct.  29.  The  Monmouth  was 
lost  on  the  Mississippi  River,  with  two 
hundred  and  thirty-four  lives. 

MURDER  OF  LOVE  JOT. 

1837.  Nov.  7.  An  anti-slavery  mob 
took  place  at  Alton,  111.,  which  originated 
in  the  fact  that  Rev.  Elijah  P.  Love- 
joy  had  established  at  that  place  an  abo- 
lition newspaper  called  the  Alton  Ob- 
server. A  new  press  had  been  brought 
to  town  to  put  in  the  place  of  one  al- 
ready destroyed.  It  was  lodged  in  a 
building,  and  guarded  by  Mr.  Lovejoy 
and  a  few  others.  During  the  assault 
upon  the  building,  Mr.  Lovejoy  ran  out 
to  prevent  the  building  being  set  afire, 
and  fell  dead,  with  four  balls  in  his  breast. 
Nobody  was  brought  to  justice  for  this 
deed.  Mr.  Lovejoy  was  a  native  of 
Maine,  and  graduated  in  1828  from  Wa- 
terville  College.  He  entered  on  the 
practice  of  the  law  in  St.  Louis,  and  af- 
terward studied  for  the  ministry  at  Prince- 
ton, N.  J.  He  soon  began  to  oppose  the 
persecution  of  those  who  opposed  the 
cruelties  of  slavery.  For  this  he  was 
obliged  to  leave  Missouri.  He  went  to 
Alton,  111.,  and  there  established  the  Ob- 
server. His  press  was  destroyed  three 
times.  The  press  he  was  defending  was 
his  fourth.  He  left  a  widow  and  children 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES.  5Q1 

to  mourn  his  sad  end.     One  of  Wendell 
Phillips'  burning  speeches  was  made  up- 


on this  event. 


1837.  Nov.  14.  A  brilliant  auroral 
display  was  witnessed  throughout  almost 
the  entire  United  States.  The  air  was 
filled  with  the  diffusion  of  a  wonderful 
light,  and  in  the  heavens  brilliant  stream- 
ers played  toward  the  zenith.  The  re- 
markable exhibition  was  noted  by  many 
scientific  observers  as  one  of  the  most 
striking  auroras  ever  witnessed. 

1837.  November.  A  riot  occurred 
in  Montreal,  and  several  severe  engage- 
ments took  place  at  different  places. 
There  was  considerable  loss  of  life. 

1837.  Dec.  25.  The  Seminole  Indi- 
ans were  defeated  in  a  severe  battle  on 
the  Okechobee  River  by  Col.  Zachary 
Taylor. 

1837.  December.  Canadian  Strug- 
gle for  Independence.  An  attempt,  by 
William  Mackenzie,  to  make  an  inde- 
pendent nation  of  Upper  Canada,  was 
defeated.  He  had  arranged  his  plans, 
and  seemed  to  have  the  prospect  of 
making  quite  a  stir.  But  his  effort  broke 
down  after  a  short  struggle,  and  his  fel- 
lows were  scattered  or  arrested.  The 
civil  authorities  speedily  secured  their 
power  in  the  province. 

1837.  Burning  of  Steamer  Carolina. 
Some  malcontents  encamped  on  Navy 
Island  about  Niagara  Falls,  and  issued  a 
proclamation  asking  for  volunteers  from 
Canada  and  the  United  States.  The 
Carolina  was  put  on  to  run  between 
Navy  Island  and  Schlosser  Landing. 
But  in  a  night  or  two  the  steamer  was 
boarded,  the  crew  overpowered,  the 
steamer  set  on  fire,  and  left  to  drift  over 
Niagara.  It  was  the  occasion  of  some 
cross  words  at  one  or  two  times  between 

30 


502 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


the  English  and  the  United  States 
governments. 

1837.  Metal  wheeled  clocks  were 
first  made  by  Chauncey  Jerome.  They 
soon  attained  great  popularity,  and  were 
sent  nearly  over  the  whole  world.  Brass 
was  the  metal  at  first  used.  This  stopped 
the  sale  of  wooden  wheeled  clocks. 

1837.  The  ships  Bristol  and  Mexico 
were  wrecked  on  Far  Rockaway  and 
Hempstead  Beach.  One  hundred  and 
thirty-nine  lives  were  lost,  though  the 
vessels  were  not  over  a  cable's  length 
from  land.  When  the  Mexico  went 
ashore  the  weather  was  so  cold  that  the 
passengers  froze  to  death  before  drop- 
ping from  the  rigging. 

1837.  An  Arctic  expedition  by  land 
was  sent  out  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Co., 
under  Peter  Warren  Dease  and  Thomas 
Simpson.  The  first  season  they  explored 
the  north  coast  of  North  America  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Mackenzie  to  Cape 
Barron,  and  the  two  succeeding  seasons 
were  equally  successful  in  examining  that 
part  of  the  coast  left  unexplored  by 
Franklin.  Simpson  was  an  able  leader 
for  such  an  undertaking.  After  his  re- 
turn, while  descending  the  Mississippi  to 
embark  for  England,  one  of  his  Indian 
guides  assassinated  him. 

1837.  The  first  railroad  in  any  Span- 
ish speaking  country  was  opened  in  Cuba 
from  Havana  to  Guines. 

1837.  The  Republic  of  Texas  applied 
for  admission  to  the  United  States,  but 
was  deferred. 

1837.  The  insurrectionary  efforts 
in  Upper  Canada  continued  to  some  ex- 
tent, and  made  their  appearance  at  cer- 
tain points  in  Lower  Canada,  also.  But 
they  were  without  permanent  result,  ex- 
cept to  teach  the  government  some  lessons 
of  administration. 


OSCEOLA. 

1838.  Jan.  30.  This  half-breed  In- 
dian, the  leader  in  the  second  Seminole 
war,  died  at  Fort  Moultrie,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-four  years.  His  father  was  an 
Englishman  who  traded  among  the  In- 
dians, and  his  mother  was  the  daughter  of 
an  Indian  chief.  In  1835  OSC£ola  be- 
came angry  because  his  wife  was  car- 
ried off  from  him  as"  a  slave.  He  was 
put  in  confinement,  but  after  a  while  was 
set  at  liberty.  He  then  plotted  bloodshed, 
and  at  last  succeeded  in  killing  Gen. 
Thompson  and  four  companions.  He 
raised  a  force  and  massacred  Major  Dade 
and  no  men.  He  struggled  powerfully 
against  the  greater  forces  now  sent  upon 
him,  and  was  only  captured  by  strategy, 
in  1837.  He  was  a  bold,  wild  leader, 
and  roused  the  Indians  successfully  so 
long  as  he  was  with  them. 


1838.  January.  Prof.  Morse  made 
another  exhibition  of  a  telegraph  in  the 
University  of  New  York.  He  used  ten 
miles  of  wire. 

1838.  Teb.  24.  A  duel  was  fought 
near  Washington,  between  Jonathan 
Cilley,  congressman  from  Maine,  and 
William  J.  Graves,  congressman  from 
Kentucky.  The  affair  originated  in  the 
fact  that  Mr.  Cilley  would  not  receive  a 
note  from  J.  Watson  Webb,  which  was 
brought  him  by  Mr.  Graves,  whereupon 
the  latter  felt  insulted,  and  isss.  The  da- 
challenged  Mr.  Cilley.  ***"«**{*  >'»; 

J        Tented  at  Pans 

They  met,  and  fired  three  by  Daffuerre. 
times,  twice  without  effect.  At  the  close 
of  each  firing  an  effort  was  made  to 
satisfy  Mr.  Graves,  but  in  vain.  The 
third  time  Mr.  Cilley  fell,  mortally 
wounded,  and  expired  in  a  few  moments. 
It  came  out  afterward  that  Webb  was 
determined  to  have  the  life  of  Mr.  Cilley 


1825-1844.] 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


503 


in  some  way.  A  committee  of  congress 
was  appointed  to  investigate  the  matter. 
A  detailed  report  was  made  at  great 
length,  bringing  out  the  sadness  of  such 
ridiculous  affairs.  This  duel  gave  a 
great  shock  to  the  country. 

1838.  March  29.  The  great  defal- 
cation of  Samuel  Swartout,  collector  of 
New  York,  was  discovered  by  the  pass- 
ing of  his  books  over  to  his  successor. 
He  had  been  in  office  for  ten  years,  and 
no  suspicion  had  attached  to  him.  The 
deficit  was  $1,225,705,  and  small  returns 
were  ever  got  for  it.  It  was  lost  in  spec- 
ulation on  Wall  Street.  He  possessed 
little  land,  or  anything  which  could  be 
seized.  The  defalcation  had  been  grad- 
ual, having  begun  with  a  few  hundred 
dollars. 

1838.  April  6.  Bonifacio  Joze  d'An- 
drada  e  Sylva,  an  eminent  Brazilian, 
died  near  Rio  de  Janeiro,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three  years.  He  was  carefully 
educated  in  Europe,  and  took  a  great 
part  in  developing  the  science  and  scien- 
tific enterprises  of  his  country.  He  also 
was  an  able  statesman,  and  was  banished 
on  account  of  liberal  views. 

1838.  April  23.  The  Sirius  and  the 
Great  Western,  first  of  regular  steamer 
lines  across  the  Atlantic,  entered  New 
York  harbor. 

1838.  April  25.  The  burning  of  the 
steamer  Moselle,  near  the  wharf  at  Cin- 
cinnati, destroyed  131  lives. 

1838.  April  27.  A  great  fire  in 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  consumed  one-half  the 
city,  destroying  1158  buildings,  and 
$3,000,000  worth  of  property. 

1838.  April.  Fifteen  Gallon  Law. 
A  law  was  passed  by  the  Massachusetts 
legislature  by  more  than  a  majority  of 
two-thirds,  that  the  retailing  of  spirituous 
liquors  should  be  by  apothecaries  and 


physicians,  and  not  in  less  quantity  than 
fifteen  gallons.  A  comical  1754-1538. 

evasion      took      place      at      a  Talleyrand. 

militia  muster,  where  a  man  pitched  a 
tent  and  exhibited  a  "  striped  pig  "  at 
ten  cents  admission.  The  persons  who 
entered  found  a  pig  with  stripes  painted 
around  his  body,  and  also  found  a  free 
drink.  Nobody  could  prevent  a  man 
from  giving  away  liquor,  if  he  chose. 

1838.  May  17.  Pennsylvania  Hall, 
Philadelphia,  was  burned  by  a  mob, 
after  it  had  been  opened  to  the  public 
only  four  days,  because  an  anti-slavery 
meeting  had  been  held  in  it.  The  four 
days  were  days  of  great  mob  violence. 

1838.  May  29.  The  Earl  of  Dur- 
ham, who  had  been  appointed  governor- 
general  of  Canada,  arrived  at  Quebec, 
and  met  with  warm  expressions  of  confi- 
dence through  the  provinces.  But  he 
soon  returned  home,  because  the  Eng- 
lish government  would  not  indorse  his 
acts  toward  the  imprisoned  popular 
leaders.  The  government  afterward 
pursued  conciliatory  courses  under  other 
men,  and  the  troubles  slumbered  for 
awhile. 

1838.  May  30.  Buccaneer  of  the 
Lakes.  A  new  steamer  named  Robert 
Peel,  was  seized  and  robbed  and  burned 
upon  Lake  Ontario.  It  plied  between 
Kingston  and  Ogdensburg.  The  act 
was  done  by  a  noted  "  Bill  Johnson," 
who  claimed  the  above  title  in  opposing 
British  power. 

183d.  June  14.  The  explosion  of 
the  steam  packet  Pulaski  of  Savannah, 
off  the  North  Carolina  coast,  killed  one 
hundred  persons. 

1838.  Sept.  3.  Frederick  Douglass, 
the  celebrated  negro  orator  and  journal- 
ist, escaped  from  slavery  at  Baltimore, 
and  made  his  way  to  New  Bedford, 


504 


POLITICAL  DB  VELOPMENT. 


where  he  lived  for  several  years,  until  he 
began  to  enter  his  public  career. 

BLACK  HAWK. 

1838.  Oct.  3.  This  celebrated  Indi- 
an chieftain  died  at  his  home  in  Iowa, 
aged  about  seventy-one  years.  He  was 
by  birth  a  Pottawattamie.  From  his 
own  account  he  was  born  at  the  Sac 
village  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rock  River. 
His  father  through  his  bravery  had  be- 
come one  of  the  chiefs  of  the  Sac  tribe, 
and  among  these  Indians  Black  Hawk 
was  born  and  brought  up.  The  Sacs 
had  for  some  time  been  united  with  the 
Fox  tribe,  and  with  them  at  the  time  of 
the  Black  Hawk  war  numbered  about 
3,000  persons,  of  whom  one-fifth  were 
warriors.  Their  home  was  in  Illinois 
between  the  Illinois  and  the  Mississippi 
Rivers,  including  the  fertile  valley  of  the 
Rock  River.  Their  principal  village 
was  on  the  point  of  land  formed  by  the 
confluence  of  the  Rock  River  with  the 
Mississippi.  According  to  the  traditions 
of  the  tribe  a  village  had  existed  there 
for  one  hundred  and  fifty  years.  Black 
Hawk,  on  the  death  of  his  father,  took 
the  position  of  chief,  then  made  vacant. 
At  this  time  he  was  about  twenty  years 
of  age.  He  was  full  six  feet  in  height, 
possessed  of  a  splendid  physique,  and  a 
face  which  under  the  influence  of  civiliza- 
tion and  education,  would  have  been 
handsome.  Being  of  a  brave  and  daring 
disposition  he  was  already  a  noted  war- 
rior, and  soon  came  to  be  held  in  high 
esteem  also  for  his  wisdom.  He  was 
characterized  by  kindness  of  heart  to  an 
unwonted  degree.  In  the  war  of  1812 
he  fought  on  the  side  of  the  British. 

Bv  <i  treaty  made  at  Prairie  du  Chien 
on  July  15,  1832,  the  Sacs  and  Foxes, 
in  conjunction  with  several  other  tribes, 


yielded  up  their  lands  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River  to  the  government.  This 
arrangement  had  been  agreed  to  on  the 
part  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  by  one  of 
their  chiefs  named  Keokuk.  But  a  con- 
siderable part  of  the  tribe  were  dissatis- 
fied with  the  treaty,  and  refused  to  leave 
their  lands.  At  the  head  of  these  was 
Black  Hawk.  He  was  now  over  sixty 
years  of  age,  while  exposure  made  him 
look  still  older.  Having  a  deep  affection 
for  the  scenes  among  which  he  had  been 
born  and  had  so  long  lived,  he  wished  to 
spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  the 
same  place.  Outrages  committed  by  the 
whites  also  fed  the  flame.  The  Indian 
lands  were  sold  by  government,  and  set- 
tlers began  to  come  in.  Before  long 
bloodshed  occurred,  and  a  portion  of  the 
United  States  army  was  ordered  to  the 
field.  The  Indians  at  last  fled  across  the 
i-iver.  In  1832  Black  Hawk  recrossed 
the  river,  on  a  visit  as  he  said  to  the  Pot- 
tawattamies.  This  occasioned  great  fear 
among  white  settlers,  and  a  force  took 
the  field  against  him.  A  massacre  of 
the  whites  occurred  at  Sycamore  Creek, 
in  which  the  troops  made  little  or  no  de- 
fence. This  aroused  all  the  border,  both 
white  and  Indian.  An  Indian  warfare 
was  begun,  in  all  its  horror.  Black 
Hawk  was  now  forced  to  retreat  into  the 
valley  of  the  Wisconsin  and  at  last,  com- 
pletely surrounded  by  whites,  his  force 
was  cut  to  pieces  after  he  had  tried  to 
surrender  by  raising  flags  of  truce,  and 
showing  his  men  without  arms.  Black 
Hawk  himself  escaped,  but  was  after- 
ward taken  by  two  Winnebago  Indians 
who  had  been  sent  after  him.  At  this 
surrender  of  himself  he  made  a  speech 
which  in  pathos  stands  very  high  in  In- 
dian oratory.  Black  Hawk  was  kept  at 
St.  Louis  during  the  winter,  and  then 


1825-1844.] 

was  carried  to  Washington,  where  he  had 
an  interview  with  President  Jackson,  to 
whom  he  is  reported  to  have  said,  "I  am 
a  man,  and  you  are  another."  He  was 
visited  by  many  people,  all  anxious  to 
see  the  celebrated  warrior.  It  was 
thought  by  some  that  he  bore  a  strange 
resemblance  to  Walter  Scott,  by  others, 
Stephen  Girard,  and  by  still  others,  Pres- 
ident Monroe.  After  having  been  shown 
all  that  would  impress  him  with  a 
sense  of  the  power  of  the  government, 
he  with  his  companions  was  taken  back 
to  the  lands  assigned  him  in  Iowa,  where 
he  lived  peacefully  till  the  close  of  his 
life.  His  bones  were  at  one  time  stolen 
and  taken  to  Quincy,  111.,  to  be  wired  to- 
gether. Upon  the  discovery  of  this  they 
were  delivered  to  his  relatives  by  a  requi- 
sition issued  by  the  governor  of  Iowa. 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


505 


1838.  Nov.  3.  Hunters'  Lodges. 
The  Canadian  leaders  had  succeeded  in 
establishing  along  the  United  States 
frontier  bands  of  sympathizers,  and  now 
undertook  to  carry  war  into  Canada  by 
means  of  them.  The  forces  ci'ossed  to 
Prescott,  and  a  severe  engagement  took 
place.  The  insurrectionary  forces  were 
conquered.  The  leader,  a  Pole,  named 
Van  Schoultz,  thirty-one  years  old,  was 
hung.  Others  were  transported  to  Van 
Dieman's  Land.  This  virtually  ended 
the  rebellion. 

1838.  Dee.  12.  Gen.  Sam  Houston 
was  succeeded  by  M.  B.  Lamar  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Republic  of  Texas. 

1838.  The  improved  propeller  for 
steam  vessels  used  so  extensively  since 
on  all  waters,  was  patented  in  the  United 
States  by  John  Ericsson,  the  famous  in- 
ventor whose  name  is  so  closely  con- 
nected with  the  monitor  gunboats. 

1838.     Beet   Sugar.     Beet  sugar  was 


for  the  first  time  successfully  made  by 
David  L.  Child,  Northampton,  Mass., 
who  produced  1 ,300  pounds.  The  busi- 
ness did  not  increase  for  more  than  twenty 
years,  till  the  experiment  at  Chatsworth, 
111.,  in  1863.  Since  then  it  has  been  suc- 
cessful, and  several  establishments  have 
been  set  up  in  different  parts  of  the 
country. 

1838.  The  Cherokee  Indians  were 
removed  from  Georgia,  much  against 
their  wish,  as  many  of  them  had  begun 
to  cultivate  the  soil,  and  placed  west  of 
the  Mississippi.  At  first  they  threatened 
to  violently  resist  being  torn  from  their 
homes,  but  were  finally  removed  by 
several  thousand  troops  under  Gen.  Scott. 

1838.  A  fire  on  board  the  lake 
steamer  Washington,  destroyed  fifty  lives. 

1838.  A  survey   for   a   canal   across 
Central   America,   was   made   by    John 
Bailey,    under    the    Central    American 
government. 

1839.  Law    Against    Duelling.     A 
law  to  prohibit  the  giving  or  accepting 
within  the  District  of  Columbia,  a  chal- 
lenge   "to  fight  a  duel,  and  for  the  pun- 
ishment thereof,"  was  passed  by  congress. 
This  was  somewhat  the    result   of    the 
Cilley  and  Graves  duel. 

1839.  Feb.  24.  The  first  rubber 
patent  of  Charles  Goodyear  was  ob- 
tained, based  upon  the  use  of  sulphur  in 
drying  gum  elastic,  which  he  had  bought 
of  Nathaniel  Hayward  of  Woburn, 
Mass.  But  the  goods  made  under  this 
patent  were  not  durable,  and  Mr.  Good- 
year puzzled  over  the  question  of  render- 
ing them  so.  He  was  one  day  experiment- 
ing, when  he  touched  a  piece  of  India 
rubber  impregnated  with  sulphur,  to  the 
hot  stove,  and  found  that  instead  of  melt- 
ing, as  it  would  have  done  had  the  stove 
been  only  warm,  it  charred  or  hardened. 


506 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


From  this  he  got  the  idea  that  if  it  be 
possible  to  prevent  the  charring  by  a  less 
intense  heat,  he  would  succeed  in  making 
a  hard,  durable  rubber  substance.  Fol- 
lowing up  this  line,  he  came  on  the  great 
discovery  of  vulcanized  rubber. 

ORIGIN  OF  EXPRESS  BUSINESS. 

1839.  March  4.  William  F.  Harnden, 
who  was  in  search  of  some  occupation 
which  would  support  him,  began  this  day 
to  travel  between  New  York  and  Boston 
for  the  accommodation  of  business  men 
in  sending  small  packages  from  one  city 
to  another.  He  at  first  carried  simply  a 
satchel,  but  his  patrons  grew  in  number 
until  he  had  to  establish  an  office  in  each 
city,  with  a  daily  messenger  each  way. 
Previously  to  this,  such  packages  had 
been  sent  by  friends  or  by  special  messen- 
gers. Mr.  Harnden  named  his  business 
"The  Express,"  and  originated  in  this 
way,  the  whole  modern  express  traffic. 
It  was  in  the  following  year  that  Alvin 
Adams  began  running  in  the  same  way 
between  New  York  and  Boston,  by  way 
of  Norwich  and  Worcester.  He  also 
began  with  a  carpet  bag.  Mr.  Harnden 
died  a  poor  man  in  1845. 


1839.  May  27.  The  Massachusetts. 
Abolition  Society  was  organized  by  a 
secession  from  the  "  Anti-Slavery  So- 
ciety "  over  the  position  of  William  L. 
Garrison,  who  urged  views  in  the  Lib- 
erator opposing  political  action  under  the 
present  constitution  and  form  of  govern- 
ment. He  regarded  voting  as  a  sin,  be- 
cause of  the  legal  guards  thrown  around 
slavery. 

1839.  July  3.  The  first  Normal 
School  in  America  was  opened  at  Lex- 
ington, Mass.,  and  is  now  established  at 
Framingham.  For  twenty  years  there 


had  been  many  plans.  Other  schools 
were  now  soon  opened. 

1839.  July.  The  Merchant's  Maga- 
zine, which  has  since  been  such  an  influ- 
ential article  of  information  important  to 
the  merchant,  was  established  by  Free- 
man Hunt.  It  helped  to  mould  mercan- 
tile policy  and  life,  very  much,  and  had  a 
foreign,  as  well  as  domestic  sale. 

1839.  Sept.  6.  A  great  fire  in  New 
York  consumed  46  buildings  and  $10,- 
000,000  worth  of  property. 

1839.  Nov.  13.  Liberty  Party  Con- 
vention. A  national  convention  of  abo- 
litionists was  held  at  Warsaw,  N.  Y., 
and  nominated  James  G.  Birney  of  New 
York,  as  candidate  for  president,  and 
Francis  J.  Lemoyne  of  Pennsylvania,  for 
vice-president.  They  refused  the  nomi- 
nation, but  were  voted  for  in  the  cam- 
paign. 

1839.  Dec.  4.  The  whig  party  held 
their  first  national  nominating  convention 
at  Harrisburg,  Penn.,  and  chose  Gen. 
William  Henry  Harrison  of  Ohio,  and 
John  Tyler  of  Virginia,  as  candidates  for 
president  and  vice-president. 

1839.  Agricultural  Statistics.  One 
thousand  dollars  were  appropriated  by 
the  United  States  government  for  the 
collation  of  agricultural  statistics  under 
the  direction  of  the  commissioner  of 
patents.  Similar  appropriations  were 
made  in  after  years,  and  gradually  in- 
creased till  the  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture was  organized  in  1862.  In  1862 
$60,000  were  appropriated.  The  govern- 
ment was  led  to  its  first  appropriation  by 
the  large  importation  of  bread  stuffs  into- 
the  United  States  made  each  year. 

1839.  The  banks  in  the  United  States 
resumed  specie  payment. 

1839.  The  first  shipment  of  wheat 
from  Chicago  was  made  one  year  after 


1825-1844.] 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


507 


its  organization  as  a  city,  and  amounted 
to  78  bushels.  It  was  sent  eastward  by 
the  way  of  the  lakes. 

1839.  War  of  the  Epaulettes.  The 
medical  corps  of  the  United  States  army 
rebelled  against  the  assignment  to  them 
of  an  aiguilette  to  be  worn  on  the  shoulder 
instead  of  an  epaulette.  Much  discussion 
followed,  and  finally  the  matter  was  set- 
tled by  a  wise  letter  from  Surg.  Gen. 
Lawson,  which  secured  the  epaulettes. 

1839.  The  first  power  loom  for 
weaving  two-ply  or  ingrain  carpets  was 
invented  and  made  for  the  Lowell  Manu- 
facturing Company  of  Massachusetts,  by 
Mr.  E.  B.  Bigelow  of  Boston.  By  the 
hand-loom  eight  yards  a  day  had  been 
produced.  By  Mr.  Bigelow's  power 
loom  in  its  first  form,  ten  or  more  yards  a 
day  were  produced. 

1839.  A  spike  machine  was  patented 
by  Henry  Burden  of  Troy,  N.  Y.  It 
would  make  the  spikes  complete,  head 
and  point,  at  the  rate  of  fifty  a  minute. 
The  great  proportion  of  all  spikes  used  in 
railroad  construction  in  the  United  States 
has  been  made  by  these  machines. 
They  rank  among  the  ingenious  machines 
of  the  century. 

1839.  First  Electrotyping.  Joseph 
A.  Adams  for  the  first  time  made  use  of 
the  idea  now  embodied  in  the  art  of 
electrotyping,  by  reproducing  a  wood-cut. 
He  afterward  applied  it  more  extensively 
till,  in  all  fine  work,  it  has  taken  the  place 
of  stereotyping. 

1839.  The  Mormons  having  been 
driven  out  of  Missouri  because  of  their 
obnoxious  teachings,  settled  Nauvoo, 
111.,  and  soon  built  it  up  to  a  place  of 
several  thousand  inhabitants.  It  was 
here  that  Joseph  Smith  announced  the 
divine  revelation  approving  and  com- 
manding polygamy. 


1839.  The  Amistad  Captives.  A 
case  of  great  note  in  the  annals  of  slavery 
was  that  of  the  Amistad  captives.  Forty- 
nine  men  and  three  children  were  bought 
at  Havana  out  of  a  large  cargo,  and  sent 
on  the  Amistad  to  Puerto  Principe. 
On  the  way  thither  the  negroes  rebelled, 
and  took  possession  of  the  schooner.  The 
owners  on  board  were  compelled  to  steer 
by  day  toward  Africa,  but  in  the  night 
they  deceived  the  African  captors  and  ran 
toward  America.  At  last  they  reached 
Culloden  Point,  Long  Island.  They 
were  taken  into  charge  by  Lieut.  Gedney 
of  the  U.  S.  brig  Washington,  and  car- 
ried to  New  London,  Conn.  The  negroes 
were  kept  in  jail  eighteen  months,  during 
a  series  of  trials  which  ran  through  all  the 
courts,  till  at  last  the  supreme  court  of 
the  United  States  decided  that  they  must 
be  sent  back  to  Africa.  Several  died  in 
the  meantime.  Others  were  taught  while 
they  were  imprisoned,  by  sympathizing 
people.  This  case  hastened  much  of  the 
benevolent  work  which  has  in  recent 
years  been  carried  on  in  behalf  of  the 
African  race. 

1839.  The  federal  union  of  Central 
America  was  dissolved,  and  Honduras, 
Guatamala,  Costa  Rica,  Nicaragua,  and 
San  Salvador  became  separate  republics. 

1839.  The  confederation  of  Bolivia 
was  ended  by  the  defeat  and  overthrow 
of  Santa  Cruz. 

1839.  Holland  paid  the  United  States 
$62,692,  on  claims  for  spoliations  on 
American  commerce  during  the  war  of 
1812. 

1839.  Belgium  paid  a  small  amount 
for  American  property  damaged  during 
the  siege  of  Antwerp. 

1839.  A  treaty  with  Sardinia,  the 
first  which  that  power  had  made  with 
any  country,  was  arranged  by  the  United 


508 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


States.  Columbus,  if  a  native  of  Genoa, 
was  a  Sardinian. 

1840.  January.  The  steamer  Lex- 
ington was  burned  between  New  York 
and  Stonington  on  Long  Island  Sound. 
Two  hundred  lives  were  lost.  Passen- 
gers were  lost  by  hurrying  into  the  boats 
while  the  steamer  was  under  way.  The 
fire  originated  in  bales  of  cotton  near  the 
furnaces  and  smoke  pipe. 

1840.  January.  An  Antarctic  con- 
tinent was  discovered  by  Capt.  Charles 
Wilkes  of  the  United  States  navy,  who 
was  at  the  head  of  an  expedition  for  ex- 
ploration in  the  region  of  the  South  Pole. 

1840.  April  2.  The  Washington 
Society,  the  famous  temperance  society, 
originated  with  six  men  who  had  met  to 
drink  in  Chase's  tavern,  Baltimore. 
They  were  William  K.  Mitchell,  tailor, 
John  F.  Hoss,  carpenter,  David  Ander- 
son, blacksmith,  George  Steers,  wheel- 
wright, James  McCurly,  coachman,  and 
Archibald  Campbell,  silverplater.  It  had 
been  their  practice  to  drink  together. 
This  night  they  were  unusually  sober, 
and  seemed  to  delay  calling  for  liquors. 
At  last  they  found  that  each  was  dis- 
tressed about  his  habit  of  becoming  in- 
toxicated. In  a  short  time  they  agreed 
to  band  themselves  together  into  a 
"  Washington  Temperance  Society," 
whose  principle  should  be  teetotalism 
from  all  which  can  intoxicate.  They 
began  to  work  among  their  companions, 
and  by  simple  power  of  earnest  effort, 
soon  found  hundreds  joining  their  ranks. 
Thus  originated  one  of  the  most  wonder- 
ful temperance  movements  known  to  the 
world. 

1840.  May  5.  The  democrats  re- 
nominated  Martin  Van  Buren  for  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  in  a  convention 
held  at  Baltimore.  No  nomination  was 


made  for  vice-president,  but  it  was  left 
open  to  the  states. 

1840.  May.  The  American  and  For- 
eign Anti-Slavery  Society  was  formed 
by  a  secession  from  the  American  Anti- 
Slavery  Society  at  New  York,  in  a  simi- 
lar way  to  the  division  at  Boston,  in 
1839.  Arthur  Tappan  was  president  of 
the  new  society. 

1840.  June  30.  "  Independent  Treas- 
ury Scheme."  The  "  Sub-Treasury 
Bill,"  providing  for  the  keeping  of  United 
States  money  in  the  treasury  at  Wash- 
ington and  in  sub-treasuries  located  in 
several  of  the  larger  cities  of  the  country, 
was  passed  by  congress.  ISM.  Penny 
This  bill  had  been  intro-  ^ff.  fstem 

established  in 

duced  many  times  into  con-  England. 

gress  without  success.  It  marked  the 
entire  separation  of  the  government 
from  banking  schemes. 

1840.  Sept.  20.  Dr.  Francia,  dicta- 
tor of  Paraguay  since  it  achieved  its  in- 
dependence in  1811,  a  period  of  twenty- 
nine  years,  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-three 
years.  He  had  ruled  the  province  with 
the  utmost  rigor.  All  trade,  education, 
and  politics,  were  controlled  by  his  word. 
He  forbade  all  intercourse  with  other 
South  American  states,  and  allowed  no 
one  to  come  into  or  go  out  of  the 
country  without  his  permission.  The 
people  became  attached  to  him  because 
of  his  favor  to  the  poor,  and  his  summary 
punishment  of  the  fraudulent,  and  extor- 
tioners. His  character  was  dark  with 
cruelty,  but  also  relieved  by  certain  great 
benevolences.  The  country  at  his  death 
was  at  once  thrown  into  confusion. 

1840.  December.  David  G-.  Burnett 
began  to  serve  as  acting  president  of  the 
Republic  of  Texas,  for  one  year. 

1840.  The  sixth  census  of  the 
United  States  gave  a  population  of 


1825-1844.] 

17,069,453-  ^  was  taken  at  a  cost  of 
$833,370.95.  The  increase  in  popula- 
tion from  1830  to  1840  had  been  33.52 
per  cent. 

1840.  Slaves  in  the  Census.  The 
only  states  which,  by  the  census  of  this 
year  were  found  to  be  without  slaves, 
were  Maine,  Massachusetts,  Vermont, 
and  Michigan.  A  few  were  found  in 
each  of  the  other  northern  states.  This 
shows  that  even  under  legislative  enact- 
ments of  the  close  of  the  last  century 
and  first  of  the  present  century,  it  was 
hard  to  secure  the  entire  abolition  of 
slavery.  The  system  had  grown  into 
the  very  life  of  the  states.  According  to 
the  census  there  were  found  in  Ohio  3 

.    _,.  slaves,  in   Indiana  2,  in  Illi- 

1840.  Opium -war 

nois  331,  in  Wisconsin,  u, 
in  Iowa  16.  The  latter 
were  then  territories,  but 
were  a  part  of  that  great 
Northwest  Territory,  which,  according 
to  the  ordinance  of  1787,  was  to  have  no 
slavery  \vithin  it.  It  was  also  shown  ac- 
cording to  the  census,  that  the  non-slave- 
holding  states  had  in  1776,  46,099  slaves, 
in  1840,  1,129  s^ves.  But  the  slave- 
holding  states  had  in  1776, 456,000  slaves, 
and  in  1840,2,486,126  slaves. 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


opened  by  Eng- 
land to  make 
China     re-estab- 
lish the  opium 
trade . 


FOURTEENTH  PRESIDENTIAL 
PAIGN. 


CAM- 


1840.  In  the  fourteenth  presidential 
campaign  the  whigs  supported  Gen. 
William  H.  Harrison  of  Ohio,  for  presi- 
dent, and  John  Tyler  of  Virginia,  for 
vice-president.  The  democrats  supported 
Martin  Van  Buren  and  R.  M.  Johnson, 
for  a  second  term.  The  new  "  liberty 
party  "  supported  James  G.  Birney  and 
Francis  J.  Lemoyne.  This  campaign, 
more  than  any  preceding,  was  filled  with 
incidents  tending  to  make  it  a  great  pop- 


509 

ular  excitement.  Watchwords  abounded. 
The  whigs  shouted  for  "  Old  Tippecanoe 
and  Tyler  too."  The  campaign  became 
known  as  the  "  log-cabin  and  hard- 
cider  "  campaign,  because  the  opponents 
of  Gen.  Harrison  undertook  to  bring  up 
his  past  life  against  him.  But  the  sym- 
bols were  seized  upon  by  his  friends,  and 
made  of  great  use  in  swaying  the  people. 
The  result  was  that  out  of  294  electoral 
votes,  Gen.  Harrison  and  Mr.  Tyler  had 
234,  with  a  popular  vote  of  1,275,017. 
The  democratic  candidates  had  an  elec- 
toral vote  of  60  for  Mr.  Van  Buren,  and 
48  for  Mr.  Johnson,  with  a  popular  vote 
of  1,128,702.  The  «  liberty  party  "  cast 
a  popular  vote  of  7>°59-  The  whig 
party  had  swept  the  country. 


1840.     The  first  commercial  college 

in  America,  named  "  Comer's  Commer- 
cial College,"  was  established  at  Boston. 

184O.  The  Roman  Catholics  of  New 
York  entered  a  claim  for  a  part  of  the 
public  school  money,  but  were  refused. 
This  was  one  of  the  small  beginnings  of 
the  recent  controversy  over  the  Bible  in 
common  schools. 

1840.  The  first  horse  which  climbed 
Mt.  Washington  was  ridden  by  Abel 
Crawford,  the  famous  pioneer  of  the 
region,  who  was  at  this  time  seventy -five 
years  old,  and  died  10  years  later. 

1840.  "Landscape  Gardening,"  by 
Andrew  J.  Downing,  a  work  which 
greatly  stimulated  the  study  of  horticul- 
ture in  this  country,  was  first  issued. 

1840.  The  model  of  a  steam  fire  en- 
gine, constructed  by  Capt.  John  Ericsson, 
received  from  the  Mechanics'  Institute  of 
New  York  a  gold  medal. 

1840.  The  fall  of  a  drawbridge  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  caused  the  drowning  of 
twenty  persons. 


510 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


1840.  The  two  provinces  of  Canada 
were  reunited  in  their  government. 

1840.  Guano  was  first  sent  from  the 
Chincha  Islands  off  the  coast  of  Peru  to 
England,  where  it  was  found  to  be  very 
valuable  as  a  fertilizer,  and  the  trade  in  it 
began  to  develop. 

1840.  A  penal  colony  at  Port  Fam- 
ine, Magellan's  Strait,  was  established 
by  Chili,  but  a  mutiny  soon  destroyed  it. 

1840.  Peace  was  made  between  the 
confederation  of  Buenos  Ayres  and 
Montevideo.  Troubles  had  been  in  ex- 
istence, and  Rosas  had  attempted  to 
secure  the  latter. 

1840.  The  Imaum   of  Muscat  sent 
costly  presents  to  President  Van  Buren, 
which  were  sold,  and  the  price  put  into 
the    United    States   treasury.      Congress 
appropriated  $15,000  for  return  presents. 

1841.  Jan.  14.     Imprisonment  as  a 
penalty    for    unpaid    debts    due   to    the 
United  States,  was  abolished. 

1841.  Feb.  21.  The  Governor  Fen- 
ner  of  Liverpool  was  lost  in  the  Atlantic, 
with  122  lives. 

1841.  March  4.  Gen.  "William  Henry 
Harrison  of  OhiOj  was  inaugurated  pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  with  John 
Tyler  of  Virginia,  for  vice-president. 

1841.  March  13.  The  steamer  Pres- 
ident from  New  York  to  England,  was 
never  afterward  heard  from;  109  lives 
were  lost.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been 
sunk  by  an  iceberg. 

1841.  March  31.  Yucatan  had  at 
different  times  tried  to  be  free  of  Mexico, 
and  at  this  date  adopted  a  state  constitu- 
tion, but  it  is  still  Mexican. 

WILLIAM  HEXRY  HARRIS  OX. 

1841.  April  4.  William  Henry 
Harrison,  the  ninth  president  of  the 
United  States,  died  at  Washington  four 


weeks  after  his  inauguration,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-eight  years.  He  was  the  son  of 
Benjamin  Harrison,  a  signer  of  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence,  and  was  born  in 
Berkeley,  Va.,  Feb.  9,  1773.  His  early 
education  was  thorough,  and  after  his 
graduation  at  Hampden  Sidney  College, 
he  began  a  course  of  medical  study. 
Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles, 
however,  much  against  the  wishes  of  his 
friends,  he  entei'ed  the  ranks  of  Gen.  St. 
Clair,  with  a  commission  of  ensign.  He 
was  then  but  nineteen  years  old.  From 
this  time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in 
rank  until  he  became  aide  to  Gen. 
Wayne,  after  whose  death  he  resigned 
his  commission.  Until  1811  he  led  a 
citizen's  life  as  governor  of  Indiana,  which 
had  been  recently  formed  from  the 
Northwest  Territory.  Meantime  the 
Indians,  led  by  Tecumseh,  had  been 
growing  troublesome,  and  after  several 
attempts  at  a  peace  the  differences  cul- 
minated at  Tippecanoe,  where  the  bra- 
very and  skill  of  Harrison,  who  com- 
manded the  forces,  were  clearly  displayed. 
During  the  war  with  Great  Britain  he 
was  made  major-general,  but  he  resigned 
in  1814  because  of.  some  misunderstand- 
ing with  his  brother  officers.  In  1816  he 
was  representative  in  congress,  and  in 
1825  was  made  senator.  In  1828  he 
was  made  minister  to  the  Republic  of 
Colombia,  S.  A.,  but  on  the  accession  of 
Jackson  he  was  recalled.  From  this 
time  until  1841,  Gen.  Harrison  led  a 
comparatively  quiet  life  on  his  Ohio  farm. 
Hardly  had  he  formed  his  cabinet  after 
the  inauguration,  before  the  nation  was 
called  to  mourn  for  the  first  time,  a  dead 
president.  His  past  life  had  evidently 
worn  upon  his  frame,  and  he  was  taken 
away  after  an  illness  of  eight  days.  He 
was  a  popular  man,  and  it  was  expected 


1825-1844.J 

that  his  administration,  would  be  a  suc- 
cessful one. 

1841.  April  6.  John  Tyler  was  in- 
augurated president  of  the  United  States, 
according  to  the  constitution. 

1841.  April  10.  The  New  York 
Tribune  was  established  by  Horace 
Greeley.  It  started  with  500  subscribers. 

1841.  July  18.  Dom  Pedro  II.  hav- 
ing attained  his  majority,  was  crowned 
emperor  of  Brazil.  An  insurrection  of 
slaves,  and  a  war  with  Buenos  Ayres, 
took  place  in  the  first  part  of  his  reign. 

1841.  July.  False  Imprisonment. 
Alanson  Work,  James  E.  Burr,  and 
Geo.  Thompson,  were  arrested  upon 
crossing  the  river  from  Quincy,  111.,  into 
Missouri,  and  imprisoned  upon  the  charge 
of  assisting  slaves  to  escape.  They  were 
sentenced  for  twelve  years.  But  their 
conduct  under  their  misfortune  was  so 
winning  that  their  oppressors  thought 
best  in  four  or  five  years  to  pardon  and 
release  them. 

1841.  Aug.  9.  The  Sub-Treasury 
Bill  was  repealed. 

1841.  Aug.  9.  The  steamer  Erie  of 
Buffalo,  was  burned  upon  Lake  Erie, 
twenty  miles  from  land.  Out  of  200 
lives,  175  were  lost.  The  fire  originated 
in  a  barrel  of  turpentine. 

1841.  Sept.  2.  An  earthquake  de- 
stroyed the  city  of  Cartago  in  Costa 
Rica,  and  left  only  100  houses  out  of 
3,000.  Six  of  the  seven  churches  were 
ruined. 

1841.  September.  The  murder  of 
Samuel  Adams,  a  New  York  printer, 
was  committed  by  John  C.  Colt,  a 
brother  of  Samuel  Colt,  the  inventor  of 
the  revolver.  Colt  afterward  killed  him- 
self in  prison  on  the  day  set  for  his 
execution. 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


511 

1841.  Oct.  19.  Col.  John  C.  Fre- 
mont and  Jessie  Benton,  daughter  of 
Senator  Benton,  were  secretly  married. 

1841.  December.  Gen.  Sam  Hous- 
ton again  became  president  of  the  Re- 
public of  Texas. 

1841.  Fiscal  Bank  of  the  United 
States.  President  Tyler  twice  vetoed 
a  bill  for  a  United  States  Bank,  which 
was  passed  by  congress.  After  the 
second  veto  every  Cabinet  officer  except 
Daniel  Webster,  resigned  his  position. 
It  seems  that  the  resignation  was  because 
he  had  been  asked  what  kind  of  a  bill  he 
would  sign,  suggested  one,  which  was 
passed  by  both  houses,  and  then  vetoed  it. 

1841.  Whig  Addresses.  The  whigs 
renounced  all  political  connection  with 
President  Tyler,  henceforth.  A  few 
men  in  congress  supported  him,  and  be- 
came known  as  '•'•The  CorporaVs 
Guard" 

1841.  The  Bank  of  Pennsylvania 
suspended.  It  had  $35,000,000  capital, 
nearly  one-half  of  which  was  taken  in 
Europe,  and  some  of  it  was  held  by  the 
United  States  government.  The  funds 
had  been  used  in  speculation  by  the  old 
directors.  Little  could  be  done  to  restore 
credit.  This  was  the  old  United  States 
bank  of  Jackson's  time. 

1841.  A  thousand  reformed  drunk- 
ards marched  in  procession  at  the  first 
anniversary  of  the  Washingtonian  So- 
ciety. A  great  excitement  was  produced 
by  this  display. 

1841.  An  "  English  and  Continental 
Express  "  was  established  by  William  F. 
Harnden,  with  the  particular  object  of 
systematizing  emigration  from  Europe 
to  America.  Within  three  years  he  had 
brought  into  the  United  States  over 
100,000  laborers. 

1841.       Revolving     Turret     Model. 


512 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


Theodore  R.  Timby  of  Duchess  County, 
N.  Y.,  completed  a  model  for  a  metallic 
revolving  turret  to  be  used  in  "warfare, 
either  on  land  or  sea.  This  model  was 
the  fulfillment  of  an  idea  which  had  been 
in  Mr.  Timby's  mind  from  childhood. 
This  was  the  first  step  in  the  world  to- 
ward the  now  famous  "  Monitor  "  iron 
clads.  Mr.  Timby  afterward  improved, 
as  well  as  patented  it,  and  at  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  war  was  paid  for  the  use  of 
his  idea  in  the  monitors  which  were  con- 
structed. 

1841.  The  first  steam  fire  engine  in 
America  was  constructed  in  New  York 
by  a  Mr.  Hughes  after  a  model  made  by 
Capt.  John  Ericsson  which  he  had  in- 
vented. It  was  used  several  times  with 
success,  but  was  found  to  be  too  heavy. 
The  same  year  Capt.  Ericsson  fitted  the 
first  screw  propellor  in  this  country  to  the 
United  States  steamer  Princeton. 

1841.  An  explosion  of  twenty-eight 
kegs  of  gunpowder  during  a  conflagra- 
tion, in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  killed  thirty  per- 
sons and  wounded  fifty. 

1841.  An  excitement  occurred  in 
western  New  York,  over  Alexander 
McLeod,  who,  a  Canadian,  reported  that 
he  was  one  of  the  destroyers  of  the  Caro- 
lina. He  was  arrested,  and  held  for  trial. 
A  demand  was  made  by  the  English 
government  for  his  release.  It  was  re- 
fused by  the  United  States  government 
on  the  claim  that  the  affair  was  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  New  York.  The 
charge  was  tried,  and  not  proved. 

1841.  Santa  Anna  became  military 
dictator  of  Mexico,  and  retained  power 
for  a  few  years.  During  this  period  the 
constitution  was  suspended. 

1841.  Paraguay  elected  two  consuls 
named  Lopez  and  Alonzo. 

1842.  Jan.  22.    Charles  Dickens  and 


his  wife  arrived  in  Boston.  This  was 
their  first  visit  to  America,  and  the  peo- 
ple received  them  with  every  attention. 
After  -a  few  months  they  returned  to 
England. 

1842.  Feb.  9.  A  Total  Abstinence 
Temperance  Society  was  formed  in  con- 
gress, partly  through  the  exhibition  of 
the  anniversary  of  the  Washingtonians 
in  procession. 

1842.  Feb.  21.  First  Sewing  Ma- 
chine Patent.  John  J.  Greenough  of 
Washington,  D.  C.,  patented  a  sewing 
machine  which  would  make  the  "  shoe- 
maker's stitch."  The  eye  was  in  the 
center  of  the  needle,  which  was  pointed 
at  both  ends,  and  was  pushed  through 
the  material,  and  then  drawn  back  agrain. 

*  O 

Several  other  patents  were  taken  out  be- 
fore Howe  took  out  his,  in  1846.  But 
they  were  none  of  them  practicable. 

1842.  March  3O.  First  Use  of  Ether. 
Dr.  C.  W.  Long  of  Jefferson,  Ga.,  ether- 
ized a  patient  in  order  to  perform  an 
operation.  This  case  is  said  to  be  the 
first  instance  of  such  use  of  ether,  on 
record. 

1842.  May  2.  An  exploration  of  a 
part  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  was  un- 
dertaken by  John  C.  Fremont,  by  order 
of  the  United  States  government.  He 
examined  the  South  Pass,  planted  a  flag 
upon  the  summit  of  what  has  since  been 
known  as  Fremont's  Peak,  13,570  feet 
high,  and  returned  in  four  months  with  a 
mass  of  valuable  information,  which  was 
received  with  great  favor  at  home  and 
abroad.  This  was  Fremont's  first  ex- 
pedition to  these  regions. 

1842.  Aug.  1.  Great  Philadelphia 
Mob.  The  colored  people  of  Philadel- 
phia were  mobbed  for  two  days,  and 
many  of  their  houses  destroyed.  One 
church  and  one  hall  were  also  destroyed. 


1825-1844.] 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


513 


Many  negroes  were  seized  and  beaten. 
This  mob  was  the  worst  of  a  number. 
The  negroes  had  undertaken  to  celebrate 
the  anniversary  of  emancipation  in  the 
West  Indies,  by  a  public  procession. 
City  authorities  did  not  interfere.  Mobs 
prevailed  during  these  years  in  many 
quarters.  It  was  the  era  of  violence. 
But  reaction  took  place,  and  some  began 
to  turn  their  attention  more  to  legal  steps 
for  the  suppression  of  anti-slavery  socie- 
ties. In  a  few  instances  they  secured  a 
statement  by  grand  juries,  saying  that 
those  who  formed  an  abolition  society 
were  guilty  of  sedition.  Reviews  and 
periodicals  took  the  same  position. 

1842.  Aug.  9.  The  Ashburton 
Treaty  was  signed  at  Washington,  and 
established  the  northeastern  boundary  of 
the  United  States  between  Maine  and 
New  Brunswick,  which  had  caused  con- 
siderable trouble  with  Great  Britain. 
Daniel  Webster  acted  for  the  United 
States,  and  Lord  Ashburton  for  England. 

1842.  Aug.  30.  A  new  tariff  bill 
was  passed  by  congress.  It  greatly  re- 
duced the  number  of  free  importations, 
and  put  a  duty  of  .33  average  on  those 
things  dutiable.  It  originated  in  the  ter- 
rible financial  stress  of  the  last  five  years. 
The  tariff  was  followed  by  a  return  of 
prosperity. 

WILLIAM  E.  CHAINING. 

1842.  Oct.  2.  William  E.  Channing, 
D.  D.,  an  eminent  Unitarian  clergyman, 
died  at  Bennington,  Vt.,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two  years.  He  was  born  at  New- 
port, R.  I.,  April  7,  1 780.  The  record 
of  the  life  of  Dr.  Channing  is  of  more 
than  usual  interest,  for  he  attained  a  po- 
sition which  put  him  among  the  leaders 
of  his  generation.  His  early  life  was  one  > 
with  the  years  of  his  later  life  in  all  that 

33 


pertains  to  religious  emotion  and  char- 
acter. He  was  taught  when  very  young 
to  think  upon  questions  of  doctrine,  and 
being  of  a  quieter  disposition  than  many, 
he  was  more  ready  to  occupy  his  time  in 
quite  serious  reflection.  He  was  not 
strong  in  body,  though  capable  of  sus- 
taining considerable  fatigue.  It  was  very 
soon  noticed  that  a  keenness  of  spirit  to 
the  injustices  of  life  which  he  could  dis- 
cern, or  which  fell  in  his  way,  marked 
this  somewhat  precocious  lad.  The  in- 
fluence of  a  devout  mother  was  visible 
in  all  the  experiences  and  development 
of  the  37outh.  W  hen  twelve  years  old 
he  began  study  at  New  London,  Conn., 
in  fitting  for  college.  A  shadow  fell 
upon  his  life  at  this  point  in  the  death  of 
his  father.  It  was  not  long  before  a  defi- 
nite religious  experience  took  hold  upon 
him,  and  marked  his  future  days  with  its 
purposes.  He  was  graduated  at  Harvard 
College  in  1798.  While  a  member  of 
that  institution  his  preeminent  qualities, 
both  of  a  scholarly  and  -moral  character, 
made  him  noticeable  among  his  class- 
mates. His  mind  had  a  moral  tone  to  it, 
and  labored  to  perfect  its  own  moral 
apprehensions.  The  studies  of  his  college 
life  broadened  out  into  the  reading  of 
Shakspeare,  and  of  writers  upon  moral 
and  social  themes,  from  whence  a  stimu- 
lus was  gained,  never  afterward  to  be 
lost.  He  served  as  private  tutor  in  a 
family  at  Richmond,  Va.,  for  a  year  and 
a  half  after  graduation.  During  this  pe- 
riod he  began  to  mature  some  of  his 
religious  views,  perhaps  almost  uncon- 
sciously to  himself.  A  period  of  theo- 
logical study  then  ensued,  partly  at  New- 
port, where  he  went  for  health,  and 
partly  at  Cambridge.  In  1802  he  began 
preaching  under  license.  In  1803,  June 
i ,  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Federal 


514 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


Street  Society,  Boston,  and  at  once  began 
that  unremitting  zeal  in  preaching  and  in 
pastoral  labor,  which  threatened  to  con- 
sume him  before  the  natural  limit  of  his 
days.  Attention  was  soon  widely  at- 
tracted to  the  young  pastor,  and  it  was 
not  many  years  before  the  house  of 
worship  had  to  be  enlarged.  The  great 
controversy  within  the  Orthodox  church 
now  began  to  appear,  and  Dr.  Channing 
took  sides  at  once  in  the  liberal  party,  and 
became  a  leader  for  it.  Not  thoroughly 
and  logically  systematized  in  his  own 
views,  yet  by  his  eloquence  he  proved  a 
valuable  defender,  one  who  could  take 
hold  on  the  hearts  of  men  by  his  own 
qualities  of  heart.  He  early  became  as- 
sociated with  humanitarian  efforts,  and 
was  a  strenuous  thinker  upon  questions 
of  social  and  moral  reform,  to  the  end  of 
his  days.  An  English  and  continental 
tour  in  1822,  brought  him  into  dontact 
with  valuable  minds  abroad.  Literary 
labors  now  increased  upon  him.  Dr.  E. 
S.  Gannett  became  his  associate  pastor  in 
1824.  The  whole  country  was  begin- 
ning to  feel  his  power.  Published  arti- 
cles upon  Milton,  Bonaparte,  Fenelon, 
and  other  themes,  created  a  great  reputa- 
tion for  him.  At  a  later  day  he  wrote 
against  slavery,  and  brought  his  influence 
to  bear  upon  it,  by  lectures  and  otherwise. 
His  interest  in  humanity  was  perennial, 
and  his  ardor  of  thought  unabated.  But 
typhus  fever  took  him  for  its  victim,  and 
carried  him  off  in  the  midst  of  his  labors. 
His  is  a  record  of  love  and  wisdom 
toward  men  and  God.  His  mind  was 
poetical,  and  his  spirit  one  of  gentleness, 
rather  than  of  war. 


1842.  Oct.  18.  A  sub-marine  cable 
was  laid  by  Prof.  S.  F.  B.  Morse,  from 
Governor's  Island  to  the  Batterv  at  New 


York,  and  transmitted  signals,  until  on 
the  19th  the  anchor  of  a  vessel  tore  it 
up.  It  was  made  with  a  copper  wire 
surrounded  by  a  covering  of  hemp  filled 
with  tar,  pitch,  and  India  rubber. 

1842.  Nov.  24.  The  gradual  aboli- 
tion of  slavery  was  provided  for  in  Para- 
guay by  a  law  passed  this  year. 

1842.  A  great  forest  journey  in 
South  America,  was  made  by  Count  Bis- 
marck, since  Prince  Bismarck,  with 
Prince  Adalbert,  of  Prussia.  They  as- 
cended one  or  more  tributaries  of  the 
Amazon,  and  had  a  wild  experience. 

1842.  The  "Quebec  Journal"  was 
founded  by  Joseph  Canchon. 

1842.  A  great  contest  came  off  in 
the  U.  S.  House  of  Representatives  over 
the  presentations  of  petitions  by  John  Q. 
Adams.  For  a  series  of  years  there  had 
been  an  attempt  to  exclude  all  petitions 
which  related  to  slavery.  For  eleven 
days  Mr.  Adams  contended  almost  alone 
for  the  right  of  petition.  All  kinds  of 
threats  were  bestowed  upon  him,  but  he 
shrunk  not,  and  persevered  till  the  attack 
was  lain  down  at  last  by  his  opposers, 
who  were  unable  to  overwhelm  the  old 
man  eloquent. 

1842.  Dorr's  Rebellion  occurred  in 
Rhode  Island  in  opposition  to  the  charter 
government  of  the  state.  It  was  the 
effort  of  a  large  party  who  wished  to 
abolish  the  former  property  qualification 
for  voters,  and  to  get  possession  of  the 
state  government  under  a  popular  consti- 
tution. Thomas  W.  Dorr  was  elected 
governor  by  this  party,  and  made  some 
show  of  force  in  seizing  the  government, 
but  it  disappeared  when  energetic  meas- 
ures were  adopted  by  Gov.  King.  No 
violence  occurred.  The  ideas  advocated 
have  since  passed  into  the  state  constitu- 
tion. The  amusing  incident  is  told  that 


1825-1844.] 

Mr.  Dorr,  when  he  saw  the. state  troops 
advancing  toward  the  hill  upon  which 
his  men  were  stationed,  told  his  men  to 
fight  as  long  as  they  could  hold  out,  and 
if  obliged  to  give  way,  to  preserve  order 
and  retreat  with  their  faces  to  the  foe, 
adding  in  a  low  voice,  as  he  now  saw  the 
troops  within  a  short  distance,  "  As  I  am 
a  little  lame,  I  guess  I  will  go  now." 
Dorr  was  afterward  tried  and  sentenced 
to  imprisonment  for  life,  but  was  par- 
doned in  1847. 

1842.  An  impending  mutiny,  the 
first  regularly  organized  one  in  the 
United  States  navy,  was  discovered  on 
board  the  brig  of  war  Somers,  Capt. 
Alexander  S.  Mackenzie.  Philip  H. 
Spencer  headed  the  revolt.  By  the 
energy  of  Capt.  Mackenzie  it  was  re- 
pressed, but  finding  insubordination 
appearing  constantly,  he  ordered  the 
three  principal  leaders  hung.  This  event 
was  fully  investigated  upon  Capt.  Mac- 
kenzie's arrival  in  the  United  States,  by 
a  court  martial  and  a  naval  court  of 
inquiry,  and  his  conduct  thoroughly  ap- 
proved. Young  Spencer's  father,  John 
C,  Spencer,  was  at  this  time  secretary  of 
war. 

1842.  The  Seminole  war,  which  had 
lasted  seven  years,  was  ended  by  the 
almost  complete  capture  and  removal,  or 
death  of  the  tribe.  A  few  remained  in 
Florida.  Fifteen  hundred  whites  had 
been  killed,  and  $10,000,000  had  been 
expended. 

1842.  First  Corn  Starch.  Thomas 
Kingsford,  an  Englishman  who  had  come 
to  America  to  live,  after  experimenting 
for  some  months  upon  Indian  corn,  ob- 
tained a  fine  specimen  of  pure  white 
starch,  the  first  ever  made  from  maize. 
The  business  has  since  grown,  till  now  at 
Oswego,  N.  Y.,  millions  of  pounds  are 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


515 

It    is   the    largest 


annually    produced 
manufactory  in  the  world. 

1842.  Percussion  locks  were  intro- 
duced for  the  first  time  upon  the  firearms 
of  the  United  States  infantry. 

1842.  A  proposal  for  the  construc- 
tion of  iron  clad  steam  vessels  to  serve  as 
batteries  in  coast  ports,  was  made  to  the 
United  States  government  by  Mr.  Robert 
L.  Stevens  of  Hoboken,  N.  J.  The  gov- 
ernment decided  to  build  one  as  an  ex- 
periment, but  it  was  not  begun  till  1856. 
The  vessel  was  to  be  built  altogether  of 

O 

iron.  It  has  never  been  finished,  but  was 
sold  for  old  iron  in  the  fall  of  1880. 

1842.  Croton  water  was  introduced 
into  New  York.  The  aqueduct  had  been 
five  years  in  building,  and  stands  at  the 
head  of  modern  constructions  of  the  kind. 
Its  length  is  40^  miles,  with  a  capacity  of 
175,000,000  gallons  daily.  The  whole 
cost  was  $12,500,000. 

1842.  The  rapids  between  Kingston 
and  Montreal  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  were 
for  the  first  time  navigated  by  steam- 
boats. 

1842.  The  United  States  South  Sea 
Exploring  Expedition  returned  home, 
having  been  gone  four  years.  Capt. 
Wilkes,  in  his  vessel  Vincennes,  had 
sailed  7 1 ,000  miles,  and  had  had  no  special 
accident.  The  brig  Porpoise  had  sailed 
95,000  miles.  Other  vessels  made 
similar  distances.  Their  work  had  been 
great  in  visiting  ports,  correcting  charts, 
etc.  The  discoveries  in  the  Antarctic 
Ocean  were  made  before  the  English  and 
French  expeditions  to  the  same  waters. 
Experiments  in  the  Sandwich  Islands 
were  made,  and  explorations  of  craters 
conducted.  The  Oregon  Territory  was 
examined.  About  a  score  of  men  were 
lost  during  the  expedition,  fourteen  at 
Cape  Horn. 


516 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


1842.  The  famous  Santa  Fe  Expedi- 
tion was  set  on  foot  by  Texas.  This  ex- 
pedition was  for  the  capture  of  Santa  Fe 
from  Mexico.  It  started  very  poorly 
fitted  out  for  their  march.  The  members 
were  reduced  to  the  last  extremity  for 
food.  There  were  300  or  more  men 
under  Gen.  McLeod.  They  finally  sur- 
rendered to  Mexican  authorities,  and 
were  most  inhumanly  treated,  stripped  of 
everything,  and  made  to  march  2,000 
miles  barefooted,  to  the  City  of  Mexico; 
35  died  on  the  way,  4  were  shot  by  the 
guard,  and  the  rest  were  delivered.  A 
correspondence  took-  place  between  the 
United  States  and  Mexico  over  one  or 
two  Americans  who  had  accompanied  the 
expedition,  and  had  been  ill-treated  like 
the  rest.  They  were  liberated  after  a 
while,  and  finally  Santa  Anna  liberated 
all  the  rest  on  his  birthday. 

1842.  Queen  Victoria  sent  six  gold 
medals  for  six  American  captains,  each  of 
whom  during  1840  had  been  instrumental 
in  saving  a  British  vessel.  They  were, 
Captains  Depeyster,  Wotton,  Cropper, 
Thompson,  Palmer,  and  Stoddart,  all  of 
vessels  belonging  in  New  York. 

1842.  The  brig  Creole  sailed  from 
Richmond,  Va.,  for  New  Orleans,  with 
tobacco  and  135  slaves,  who  rose  and  got 
possession  of  the  brig,  and  took  her  into 
Nassau  in  the  Bahamas.  An  investiga- 
tion proved  19  to  have  had  a  part  in  the 
murder.  They  were  held  for  trial,  but 
the  English  authorities  refused  to  send 
them  to  America  for  trial,  and  pronounced 
the  rest,  numbering  114,  free,  because 
they  had  landed  on  English  soil. 

1842.  Boyer,  the  chieftain-president 
of  Hayti  since  1822,  was  forced  to  flee 
from  the  island,  by  a  rebellion.  The 
eastern  part  of  the  island  rose  against  the 
western. 


1842.  The  university  of  Havana  be- 
came a  Literary  University  of  the  gov- 
ernment, instead  of  a  Royal  and  Pontifi- 
cal University.  The  sciences  were  now 
first  introduced. 

1842.  The  explosion  of  the  Medora, 
at  Baltimore,  killed  26,  and  wounded  38 
persons. 

1842.  Civil  wars  began  in  Peru,  and 
raged  several  years. 

1842.  A  convention  was  called  to  re- 
construct  the    confederation    of    Central 
America,  but  failed  through  the  absence 
of  delegates  from  Guatamala  and  Costa 
Rica.     A  similar  experience  was  had  in 
1847. 

1843.  March  3.    Morse's  Telegraph. 
An  appropriation  of  $30,000  was  voted 
by  congress  to  Samuel  F.  B.  Morse,  for 
the   purpose   of  establishing   an   experi- 
mental   telegraph    line.      After    weary 
waiting  and   working,  the  appropriation 
was  made  on  the  last  night  of  session. 
Morse  had  gone  away  to  his  bed  disap- 
pointed and  sore.     But  fresh  faith   was 
given  by  the  news  of  the  morning. 

1843.  March.  The  "  Great  Comet " 
made  its  sudden  appearance,  and  was  for 
weeks  observed  by  scientists  throughout 
this  country  and  in  Europe.  It  could  be 
seen  by  day  as  well  as  by  night  a  portion 
of  the  time,  and  was  of  a  remarkable 
order. 

1843.  May.  A  second  expedition 
into  the  Rocky  Mountains  was  under- 
taken by  John  C.  Fremont.  With  39 
men  he  crossed  to  the  Great  Salt  Lake  of 
Utah,  concerning  which  he  gained  the 
first  real  information.  He  then  passed 
north  to  the  Columbia  River,  and  fol- 
lowed it  to  its  mouth.  The  1755-1S43. 

,,      •  Haknemann,  the 

party    upon     their    return   founderof 
were   obliged  to  cross  the    homeopathy. 
Sierra    Nevadas,   into    the    Sacramento- 


1825-1844.] 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


517 


valley  of  California,  which  they  did 
through  the  deep  snows,  with  extreme 
difficulty  and  suffering.  Passing  south- 
erly they  returned  into  Kansas  in  July, 
1844,  having  added  much  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  Great  West. 

1843.  June  17.  Bunker  HiU  Monu- 
ment was  dedicated,  and  Daniel  Webster 
3 gain  delivered  an  oration,  being  selected 
hy  common  consent  as  the  only  fit  Amer- 
ican to  serve  in  such  a  capacity,  at  the 
founding  and  completion  of  this  memo- 
rable shaft.  After  much  delay,  and  often- 
times discouragement,  in  raising  money, 
the  great  memorial  was  completed,  and 
stands  an  ever-enduring  symbol  of  the 
purpose  of  the  patriots  of  1775.  At  one 
time  in  the  work  $30,035.93  were  raised 
by  the  ladies  of  Boston  in  a  fair.  This 
virtually  insured  the  completion.  The 
obelisk  stands  220  feet  high,  and  cost 
$120,000.  Solomon  Willard,  who  drew 
the  plans,  was  superintendent  through 
the  whole  work.  The  task  of  raising  the 
stones  to  their  places  was  very  great. 
The  cap  or  apex  stone  at  the  summit  of 
all  weighed  2\  tons.  Daniel  Webster,  in 
his  address,  thus  spoke  of  this  memorial : 
"  It  is  a  plain  shaft.  It  bears  no  inscrip- 
tions fronting  to  the  rising  sun,  from 
which  the  future  antiquarian  shall  wipe 
the  dust.  Nor  does  the  rising  sun  cause 
tones  of  music  to  issue  from  its  summit. 
But  at  the  rising  of  the  sun  and  at  the 
setting  of  the  sun,  in  the  blaze  of  noon- 
day, and  beneath  the  milder  effulgence  of 
lunar  light  it  looks,  it  speaks,  it  acts,  to 
the  full  comprehension  of  every  Amer- 
ican mind,  and  the  awakening  of  enthu- 
siasm in  every  American  heart.  Its  silent, 
but  awful  utterance ;  its  deep  pathos  as  it 
brings  to  our  contemplation  the  iyth  of 
June,  i775»  and  the  consequences  which 
have  resulted  to  us,  to  our  country,  and  to 


the  world,  from  the  events  of  that  day ; 
and  which  we  know  must  continue  to 
rain  influence  on  the  destinies  of  mankind, 
to  the  end  of  time;  the  elevation  with 
which  it  raises  us  high  above  the  ordinary 
feelings  of  life,  surpass  all  that  the  study 
of  the  closet,  or  even  the  inspiration  of 
genius,  can  produce.  To-day  it  speaks  to 
us.  Its  future  auditories  will  be  the  suc- 
cessive generations  of  men,  as  they  rise 
up  before  it  and  gather  around  it.  Its 
.  speech  will  be  of  patriotism  and  courage ; 
of  civil  and  religious  liberty ;  of  free  gov- 
ernment; of  the  moral  improvement  and 
elevation  of  mankind;  and  of  the  im- 
mortal memory  of  those  who,  with  heroic 
devotion,  have  sacrificed  their  lives  for 
their  country." 

1843.  Aug.  30.  The  "Liberty 
Party,"  in  a  convention  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
nominated  James  G.  Birney  of  Michigan, 
for  president,  and  Thomas  Morris  of 
Ohio,  for  vice-president.  • 

1843.  November.  Mr.  Alexander 
Dallas  Bache  was  appointed  superin- 
tendent of  the  coast  survey  of  the  United 
States,  in  place  of  Mr.  Hassler,  who  had 
died.  Mr.  Bache  enlarged  the  work 
very  much,  and  gave  it  great  scientific 
value.  He  held  the  position  till  his  death 
in  1867. 

1843.  Patent  Lock.  Mr.  Linus  Yale 
of  Philadelphia,  patented  a  lock  which 
was  never  picked  till  it  was  done  years 
after  by  his  son,  Linus  Yale,  Jr.,  who  is 
connected  by  name  with  the  celebrated 
Yale  locks  of  the  present  day. 

1843.  Samuel  Colt,  the  manufacturer 
of  firearms,  laid  a  submarine  cable  of  his 
own  invention,  from  Coney  and  Fire 
Islands  to  New  York  city.  It  was 
worked  with  good  success  in  the  trans- 
mission of  signals. 

1843.     Pleuro-pneumonia,  the  cattle 


518 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


disease,  was  introduced  into  the  United 
States  by  a  cow  from  Germany.  It  ap- 
peared slightly  in  New  York  and  New 
Jersey,  but  did  no  great  harm  for  ten 
years.  Since  then  it  has  carried  off  many 
cattle. 

1843.  A  special  embassy  to  the 
Chinese  empire  was  voted  by  congress, 
and  an  appropriation  of  $40,000  made 
for  it.  The  object  was  to  improve  trade 
and  better  all  our  relations  with  that  em- 
pire, in  respects  to  which  there  had  been 
carelessness  heretofore. 

1843.  Millerism.  During  this  year 
a  form  of  religionism  which  has  since 
been  known  by  the  name  of  the  plain, 
uneducated  farmer  who  preached  it,  came 
to  its  head  in  the  awaiting  of  the  de- 
struction of  the  earth  at  the  second 
coming  of  Christ,  by  a. large  number  of 
persons  who  adopted  the  views  given. 
For  ten  years  Mr.  Miller  had  advocated 
his  "opinions  until  nearly  50,000  disciples 
were  ready  to  believe  his  word.  A  great 
deal  of  excitement  attended  the  diffusion 
of  these  views.  From  1842  the  expec- 
tations of  the  Millerites  reached  in  many 
cases  almost  fever  height.  The  passing 
of  the  year  1843  without  the  end  of  the 
world  shook  the  faith  of  some,  but  drove 
others  back  to  a  belief  in  some  error  of 
reckoning.  But  other  dates  were  speedily 
set,  and  the  hopes  of  the  faithful  endured 
repeated  failures.  At  times,  excesses  at- 
tended the  spread  of  these  views,  and 
sometimes  almost  insane  rites  were 
entered  upon.  But  large  numbers  of  the 
believers  in  these  views  were  very  sin- 
cerely affected,  and  waited  for  their  Lord 
in  great  simplicity  of  faith.  Mr.  Miller 
died  in  1849,  and  divisions  took  place 
among  his  followers  very  widely.  Some 
still  clung  to  the  notion  of  setting  a  time 
for  Christ's  coming,  while  others  aban- 


doned that  idea,  and  merely  emphasized 
the  necessity  of  expecting  the  Lord 
speedily.  A  large  number  have  adopted 
the  seventh  day  of  the  week  as  sabbath, 
and  hence  are  called  Seventh  Day  Ad- 
ventists. 

1844.  Feb.  28.  "  The  Peacemaker," 
a  large  cannon  which  was  being  tried  on 
board  the  United  States  steamship 
Princeton,  lying  in  the  Potomac  River, 
exploded,  killing  the  Secretary  of  State, 
Abel  P.  Upshur,  and  the  Secretary  of 
the  Navy,  Thomas  W.  Gilmer,  besides 
doing  injury  to  others.  Twenty  persons 
in  all  were  harmed. 

1844.  February.  Eastern  Hayti 
formed  itself  into  a  government  called 
the  Dominican  Republic. 

1844.  May  1.  The  whig  party  in  a 
convention  at  Baltimore,  nominated 
Henry  Clay  of  Kentucky,  for  president, 
and  Theodore  Frelinghuysen  of  New 
Jersey,  for  vice-president. 

1844.  May  27.  The  democratic 
party  in  a  convention  at  Baltimore,  nom- 
inated James  K.  Polk  of  Tennessee,  for 
president,  and  Silas  Wright  of  Ne-vr 
York,  for  vice-president,  but  as  Mr. 
Wright  declined,  George  M.  Dallas  of 
Pennsylvania  was  put  in  his  place. 

SUCCESS  WITH  THE  TELEGRAPH. 

1844.  May  27.  In  accordance  with 
the  appropriation  made  by  congress,  a  lin& 
of  telegraph  was  erected  by  Prof.  Morse 
between  Washington  and  Baltimore.  At 
the  dictation  of  Miss  Anna  Ellsworth, 
the  first  message  sent  over  the  silent 
wire  was,  "  What  hath  God  wrought?'* 
The  announcement  of  the  nomination 
of  James  K.  Polk  for  president  by 
the  democratic  convention,  was  the  next, 
and  the  first  general,  message  sent.  The 
attempt  was  first  made  to  lay  the  wire  in 


1825-1844.] 

the  earth  in  pipes.  This  was  Morse's 
original  idea.  Ezra  Cornell  invented  a 
machine  which  would  dig  the  trench,  lay 
and  cover  the  pipe,  at  one  operation. 
It  was  set  at  work,  and  quite  an  amount 
of  wire  was  laid.  But  upon  trial  the  line 
would  not  operate,  and  Mr.  Cornell,  to 
save  the  reputation  of  Mr.  Morse,  ran 
the  team  upon  a  stone  and  smashed  it 
up.  Mr.  Cornell  then  erected  the  wire 
on  poles,  which  was  his  own  idea,  and 
has  proved  the  successful  method. 


THE  GROWTH  OF  PARTIES. 


519 


1844.  May.  "  Know  Nothing  Riot." 
A  political  meeting  was  held  by  the 
"  Know  Nothings,"  or  Native  Ameri- 
cans, who  began  to  greatly  oppose  for- 
eign immigration,  in  Kensington,  a  dis- 
trict of  Philadelphia,  in  the  open  air.  It 
was  obliged  to  adjourn  because  of  a 
shower,  to  a  market  directly  opposite  a 
large  house  filled  with  foreigners.  From 
this  house  a  gun  was  fired  into  the  crowd, 
which  became  excited,  and  for  several 
days  the  two  elements  raged  in  conflict. 
A  Romanist  female  seminary  was  de- 
stroyed. The  city  was  overawed.  Peo- 
ple were  hung.  The  authorities  could 
do  nothing.  Thirty  buildings  were 
demolished,  including  two  elegant 
churches.  Fourteen  persons  were  killed, 
and  thirty -nine  wounded.  A  great  deal 
of  property  was  destroyed.  Martial  law 
was  proclaimed,  and  the  United  States 
troops  had  to  aid  in  restoring  order  to  the 
city. 

1844.  June  27.  Joseph  Smith,  the 
Mormon  leader,  having  been  arrested 
because  of  the  numerous  charges  against 
him,  was  shot  at  Carthage,  111.,  where 
he  was  to  be  put  into  jail,  by  a  mob. 
The  people  of  Illinois  had  become 
almost  exasperated  with  the  Mormons, 
and  actual  conflict  was  threatened.  Brisf- 


ham  Young  was  chosen  in  place  of 
Smith,  by  the  Mormons. 

1844.  Sept.  20.  Canalizo  was  made 
president  of  Mexico  at  the  banishment  of 
Santa  Anna. 

1844.  November.  A  small  schooner 
named  Midas,  propelled  by  a  double 
screw,  left  New  York,  and  was  the  first 
American  steam  vessel  to  pass  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope.  It  became  a  passenger 
vessel  on  the  internal  waters  of  China. 

1844.  December.  Laughing  Gas. 
Dr.  Horace  Wells  of  Hartford,  Conn., 
was  the  first  to  use  laughing  gas  success- 
fully in  the  extraction  of  teeth.  He  ex- 
perimented slightly  with  ether  at  the 
suggestion  of  Dr.  Marcy  of  Hartford, 
but  did  not  like  the  effects. 

1844.  December.  Anson  Jones  was 
the  last  president  of  the  Republic  of 
Texas  before  its  annexation  to  the  United 
States. 

1844.  December.  Herera  was  made 
president  of  Mexico,  to  succeed  the  de- 
posed Canalizo. 

1844.  The  first  treaty  concluded  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  China,  was 
negotiated  by  Caleb  Gushing.  It  was 
the  first  negotiated  with  that  government 
by  any  Christian  nation. 

1844.  The  American  Anti-Slavery 
Society  took  its  famous  position  of  oppo- 
sition to  the  Federal  Constitution,  which 
it  affirmed  was  pro-slavery,  "  a  covenant 
with  death,  and  an  agreement  with  hell." 
It  pronounced  voting  or  the  holding  of 
office  under  such  a  constitution  incon- 
sistent. The  motto  now  was,  "  No  union 
with  slaveholders."  Mr.  Garrison  and 
others  led  in  this  movement,  which  had 
been  preparing  some  time.  Many  mem- 
bers withdrew  from  the  society,  which 
now  was  in  antagonism  to  many  of  the 
best  workers  in  the  country. 


520 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


1844.  The  first  "  water-cure  "  estab- 
lishment in  America  was  opened  at  No. 
64  Barclay  Street,  New  York  city,  under 
David  Campbell  and  Dr.  Joel  Shew. 
Others  were  soon  founded. 

1844.  A  yacht  club,  the  first  in  the 
United  States,  was  formed  in  New  York. 
There  were  nine  members  at  the  origin, 
each  one  owning  a  yacht.  It  soon  in- 
creased its  membership  largely. 

1844.  An  agricultural  department 
was  opened  in  connection  with  Oberlin 
College,  Ohio,  and  continued  till  1855, 
when  the  funds  were  transferred  to  a 
separate  college  opened  at  Cleveland. 

FIFTEENTH  PRESIDENTIAL    CAMPAIGN. 

1844.  In  the  fifteenth  presidential 
campaign  the  all-exciting  question  was 
the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United 
States.  The  northwestern  boundary  was 
also  introduced  into  the  canvass.  The 
democratic  party  supported  James  K. 
Polk  and  George  M.  Dallas.  The  whigs 
supported  Henry  Clay  and  Theodore 
Freelinghuysen.  The  "  liberty  party  " 
supported  James  G.  Birney  and  Thomas 
Morris.  Out  of  275  electoral  votes, 
Polk  and  Dallas  received  170,  with  a 
popular  vote  of  1,337,243.  Clay  and 
Freelinghuysen  received  105  electoral 
votes,  and  a  popular  vote  of  1,299/368. 
The  "liberty  party""  threw  a  popular 
vote  of  62,300.  The  democratic  candi- 
dates were  therefore  victorious. 


1844.  An  insurrection  took  place  in 
Cuba  among  the  negroes,  but  was  sup- 
pressed with  some  effort. 


1844.       Lopez     became     dictator    of 
Paraguay. 

1844.  Fourierism.  A  new  form  of 
socialism  began  to  be  extended  very 
widely  in  the  United  States.  It  takes  its 
name  from  Fourier,  the  Frenchman,  who 
thought  that  his  views  would  remodel 
society  and  property.  After  these  ideas 
were  first  stated  in  the  United  States, 
many  people  were  attracted  to  them,  and 
advocates  sprang  up  for  them  in  several 
different  quarters.  Horace  Greeley  be- 
came prominent  in  the  diffusion  of  infor- 
mation concerning  Fourier's  views,  and  in 
the  making  of  appeals  for  the  adoption  of 
them  experimentally.  "Brook  Farm," 
the  enterprise  of  the  literary  and  social 
reformers  of  Massachusetts,  was  con- 
verted to  Fourierism.  c;  Phalanxes" 
were  now  established  in  a  large  number 
of  states,  and  for  a  time  the  growth  was 
very  rapid.  But  disintegration  took 
place,  and  the  efforts  began  to  lose  in 
power.  Cohesion  finally  ceased,  and 
communities  began  to  go  to  pieces.  The 
chief  measures  offered  by  Fourierism 
were  for  the  housing  and  feeding  of  the 
members  of  the  associations  upon  the 
co-operative  plan,  by  the  erection  of 
large  edifices,  one  in  each  "  phalanx," 
in  which  the  families  were  to  live  and 
board,  and  by  the  raising  of  large  crops 
in  common,  for  the  support  of  the  whole. 
The  mania  for  Fourierism  was  the  widest 
social  mania  this  country  has  experienced, 
but  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  many  of  its 
supporters  were  of  excellent  character 
and  ability,  it  finally  passed  by,  into 
silence. 


SECTION  XVIII. 
OF 


.    18&5-1859. 


MIDES  of  party  life  in  the  United 
States  during  this  period  rise 
higher.  The  interests  of  different 
sections  clash  more  vigorously,  and 
all  arrangements  for  harmonizing  them 
are  made  with  increasing  difficulty.  The 
shadow  of  the  future  is  deepening.  War 
"between  the  United  States  and  Mexico 
gives' a  military  character  once  more  to 
the  life  of  Noith  America.  In  South 
America  factions  still  appear  and  disap- 
pear. Personal  motives  enter  into  the 
solution  of  all  questions  in  that  half  of 
the  continent,  and  a  resort  to  arms  closes 
all  disputes.  The  whole  continent  is  yet 
in  a  crude  condition,  except  that  Amer- 
ican inventions  now  begin  to  lead  the 
world. 

1845.  March  1.  The  biU  for  the  an- 
nexation of  Texas  to  the  United  States 
was  signed  by  the  president. 

1845.  March  3.  Florida  was  the 
twenty-seventh  state  to  be  received  into 
the  Union.  It  has  an  area  of  59,268 
square  miles,  and  a  population  in  1880  of 
266,566  persons.  Its  motto  is  "  In 
God  we  trust." 

1845.  March  4.  James  K.  Polk  of 
Tennessee  was  inaugurated  president 


of  the  United  States,  and  George  M. 
Dallas  of  Pennsylvania,  vice-president. 

1845.  March  6.  General  Almonte, 
Mexican  minister  at  Washington,  closed 
his  diplomatic  relations  with  the  United 
States  government,  and  left  the  city. 
The  Mexican  government  was  vexed  be- 
cause of  the  proposed  annexation  of  Texas 
to  the  United  States. 

1845.  March  16.  Lopez  was  made 
president  of  Paraguay. 

1845.  April.  The  first  newspaper 
in  Paraguay  was  issued. 

1845.  April  10.  A  great  conflagra- 
tion destroyed  about  1800  buildings,  or 
one-third  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  Penn., 
burning  over  56  acres.  The  loss  was 
$6,000,000.  $30,000  were  received  from 
the  state  in  aid,  and  much  from  other 
places. 

FMJfKLItf'S  LtiST  VOYAGE. 

1845.  May  26.  Sir  John  Franklin 
sailed  from  England  with  Capt.  Crozier, 
in  the  "  Erebus "  and  "  Terror."  His 
last  dispatch  was  from  Whalefish  Islands, 
Baffin's  Bay. 

1845.  May  28.  A  great  conflagra- 
tion at  Quebec  burned  1050  houses,  and 


522 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


made  1 200  people  homeless.     Many  per- 
sons were  killed. 

ANDREW  JACKSON. 

1845.  June  8.  Andrew  Jackson,  the 
seventh  president  of  the  United  States, 
died  at  "  The  Hermitage,"  his  residence, 
a  few  miles  from  Nashville,  Tenn.,  at  the 


simplest  rudiments.  The  impetuosity 
and  fearlessness  of  the  man  were  early 
apparent  in  the  boy,  and  when  only  thir- 
teen years  old  he  joined  the  volunteers  of 
Carolina  against  the  British  invasion.  In 
1781  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were 
captured,  and  imprisoned  for  a  time  at 
Camden.  Upon  one  occasion  the  officer 


ANDREW  JACKSON. 


age  of  seventy-eight  years.  His  parents 
were  poor  emigrants  from  Ireland,  who 
took  up  their  abode  in  the  Waxhaw  set- 
tlement, N.  C.,  where  they  lived  in  the 
deepest  poverty.  Here  Andrew  was 
born  March  15,1 767,  a  few  days  after 
his  father's  death.  His  early  education 
was  very  limited,  consisting  only  of  the 


in  charge  insolently  ordered  the  Jackson 
brothers  to  clean  his  boots,  but  the  in- 
trepid boys  refused,  and  were  seriously 
wounded  by  the  sword-cuts  of  the  wi'ath- 
ful  tory.  They  suffered  much  from  ill- 
treatment,  and  were  finally  stricken  with 
small-pox.  Their  mother  was  successful 
in  obtaining  their  exchange,  and  took  her 


1845-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


523 


sick  boys  home,  when  Robert  soon  died. 
After  a  long  illness  Andrew  recovered, 
and  the  death  of  his  mother  soon  left  him 
entirely  friendless.  He  supported  himself 
in  various  ways,  until  in  1784  he  entered 
a  law  office  in  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He, 
however,  gave  more  attention  to  the  wild 
amusements  of  the  times  than  to  his 
studies.  In  1788  he  was  appointed  solici- 
tor for  the  western  district  of  North 
Carolina,  of  which  Tennessee  was  then  a 
part.  This  involved  many  long  tedious 
journeys  amid  dangers  of  every  kind,  but 
Andrew  Jackson  never  knew  fear,  and 
the  Indians  had  no  desire  to  repeat  a 
skirmish  with  the  Sharp  Knife.  In  1791 
Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  a  woman 
who  supposed  herself  divorced  from  her 
former  husband.  Great  was  the  surprise 
of  both  parties  two  years  later,  to  find 
that  the  conditions  of  the  divorce  had 
just  been  definitely  settled  by  the  first 
husband.  The  marriage  ceremony  was 
performed  a  second  time,  but  the  occur- 
rence was  often  used  by  his  enemies  to 
bring  Mr.  Jackson  into  disfavor.  During 
these  years  he  worked  hard  at  his  profes- 
sion, was  involved  in  many  quarrels,  and 
frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on 
hand.  In  1797  he  was  elected  United 
States  senator,  but  soon  resigned  the 
position,  and  returned  home.  'As  the 
trouble  with  England  came  on  the  old 
war  spirit  of  the  boy  showed  itself,  and 
he  led  an  expedition  against  the  Creek 
Indians,  whom  he  conquered  effectually. 
In  1814  he  received  a  commission  in  the 
army,  and  the  command  of  the  south- 
western forces  passed  into  his  hands. 
His  customary  energy  and  hardihood 
were  displayed,  and  the  victory  at  New 
Orleans  crowned  his  military  course. 
His  name  now  began  to  be  mentioned  in 
connection  with  the  presidency,  but  in 


1824  he  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Adams. 
He  was,  however,  successful  in  the  elec- 
tion of  1828,  and  was  re-elected  for  a 
second  term  in  1832.  Although  he  was 
neither  diplomat  nor  statesman,  his  ad- 
ministration was  successful  in  many  ways, 
and  his  hold  upon  the  hearts  of  the  peo- 
ple was  deep  and  strong.  Much  excite- 
ment was  aroused  by  his  attitude  in 
regard  to  the  United  States  bank,  but  at 
the  close  of  his  administration  he  was 
freed  from  censure  by  vote  of  the 
senate.  He  lived  quietly  at  "  The  Her- 
mitage," until  an  attack  of  dropsy  ended 
his  days.  He  was  quick-tempered,  but 
kindly  and  benevolent.  He  had  a  simple 
nature,  and  was  always  honest  in  hi& 
intentions.  He  was  a  vigorous  and  val- 
uable character  of  the  cruder  sort. 


1845.  Jane  28.  Another  great  con- 
flagration at  Quebec  burned  1*365 
houses,  covering  two-thirds  of  the  city. 

1845.  July  4.  The  legislature  of 
Texas  ratified  the  "  Annexation  Bill " 
passed  by  the  United  States  congress. 

1845.  July  17.  The  first  regular 
regatta  in  America  was  held  in  New 
York  harbor.  Seven  sloops  and  three 
schooners  contested.  The  winner's  name 
was  Cygnet. 

1845.  July  19.  A  great  fire  in  New 
York  destroyed  property  to  the  value  of 
$6,000,000.  Four  hundred  and  fifty 
buildings  were  destroyed. 

1845.  August.  Anti-Rent  Disturb- 
ance. A  disturbance  occurred  on  the 
Van  Rensselaer  estates  in  the  interior  of 
New  York,  near  Albany.  It  spread  to 
other  counties.  Tenants  be-  1945  j^,^ 
gan  .to  resist  the  collection  Rosses  telescope. 
of  rents.  They  were  led  by  a  few  mis- 
chief-makers. Armed  companies  assem- 
bled at  certain  places.  The  sheriff  was 


524 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT, 


murdered  in  one  instance.  In  Dela- 
ware county  strictness  took  the  place  of 
lenity,  and  many  arrests  were  made. 
Some  were  sentenced  for  life,  and  so 
peace  was  restored. 

1845.  August.  Gen.  Taylor  marched 
with  about  four  thousand  men  to  Corpus 
Christi,  Texas,  in  order  to  occupy  the 
soil  of  that  province  against  Mexico. 

1845.  September.  First  Base  Ball 
Club.  The  Knickerbocker  Base  Ball 
Club  of  New  York  was  the  first  club  to 
sustain  a  permanent  existence  in  America. 
Many  of  its  former  active  members  are 
now  the  leading  business  men  of  New 
York.  The  club  is  still  in  existence. 

1845.  Oct.  10.  The  naval  school 
of  the  United  States  was  opened  at 
Annapolis,  Md.,  under  the  direction  of 
Hon.  George  Bancroft,  secretary  of  the 
navy. 

1845.  Dec.  4.  Paraguay  and  Corri- 
entes  declared  war  upon  Buenos  Ayres. 

1845.  December.  Monarchical  Effort, 
Gen.  Paredes  succeeded  Herera  as  presi- 
dent of  Mexico.  Gen.  Paredes  had  been 

1845.  completion  Put  into  command  of  the 
of  the  Thames  army  by  Herera,  and  now 
pronounced  against  him. 
The  attempt  was  now  made  to  crush 
republican  principles  and  government. 
Paredes  assumed  sovereignty,  and  sub- 
verted the  constitution  of  1824. 

1845.  Dec.  29.  Texas  was  the  twenty- 
eighth  state  to  be  received  into  the  Union. 
It  has  an  area  of  247,356  square  miles, 
and  a  population  in  1880  of  i,59755°9Per" 
sons.  It  is  known  as  "  The  Lone  Star 
State."  It  brought  a  debt  of  $7,500,000, 
and  made  the  territory  of  the  United 
States  contain  upward  of  2,000,000  square 
miles. 

1845.  Ole  Bull,  the  noted  Norwegian 
violinist,  came  to  the  United  States  for 


the  first  time.  He  attempted  to  found  a 
colony  of  his  countrymen  in  Penn- 
sylvania, but  was  unsuccessful.  At  dif- 
ferent times  he  visited  Europe,  but  re- 
turned to  the  United  States  for  a  great 
portion  of  the  time,  to  delight  the  people 
with  his  skill  upon  the  violin. 

1845.  Copper  Fever.  The  Lake  Su- 
perior copper  mines,  which  had  been 
known  for  over  a  century,  now  began  to 
be  worked  with  some  energy  and  success. 
The  small  mines  of  the  country,  chiefly 
in  New  Jersey  and  Connec-  n98-is45. 
ticut,  had  been  worked  in  Thomas  Hood. 
the  previous  century.  As  the  extent  of 
the  Lake  Superior  copper  country  now 
became  known,  a  great  excitement  sprang 
up,  land  was  sold  at  great  prices,  leases 
were  taken  at  enormous  rates,  fictitious 
companies  sprang  into  being,  and  the 
whole  land  was  alive  with  the  agitation. 
For  two  years  this  continued,  until  in 
1847  the  bubble  burst,  and  the  excite- 
ment died  out.  Then  the  intelligent 
mining  of  that  rich  region  began,  and 
has  increased  steadily. 

1845.  A  Panama  canal  was  the  sub- 
ject of  a  learned  report  to  the  French 
government  by  M.  Napoleon  Gavella, 
chief  of  the  royal  corps  of  mining 
engineers.  It  was  made  up  from  actual 
examination,  and  was  accompanied  by 
maps  and  details.  It  was  published  the 
following  year. 

1845.  Mr.  E.  B.  Bigelow  of  Boston, 
patented  his  methods  of  matching  figures 
in  the  weaving  of  carpets,  and  applied  them 
to  the  automatic  power  loom,  so  that  the 
production  of  carpets  began  to  be  greatly 
increased.  The  factories  at  ned-ms. 
Lowell,  Mass.,  and  at  sev-  Sydney  Smith. 
eral  places  in  Connecticut,  adopted  •  this 
and  other  improvements  invented  by  Mr. 
Bigelow.  English  inventors  had  been 


1845-1859.] 

dismayed  at  this  problem.  Mr.  Bigelow's 
machine  did  it  better  than  it  could  be 
done  by  hand. 

1845.  Petroleum.  In  boring  for  salt 
above  Pittsburg,  Penn.,  on  the  Allegheny 
River,  a  spring  of  oil  was  struck,  and  for 
the  first  time  revealed  the  presence  of 
that  substance  in  the  earth  in  large  quan- 
tities. It  had  been  known  to  the  Indians 
as  floating  on  the  streams,  and  had 
been  used  by  them  upon  wounds 
and  bruises.  It  had  been  known  as 
"  Seneca  oil,"  or  «  Genesee  oil."  Efforts 
were  now  made  to  purify  it,  but  not 
much  was  done  until  the  direct  labors  of 
Bowditch  and  Drake  in  1 857^9,  in  boring 
for  it.  It  had  before  this  time  been  col- 
lected on  Oil  Creek,  Venango  Co.,  Penn., 
which  showed  so  much  of  oil  that  the 
first  settlers  gave  it  its  name.  It  had 
been  used  to  some  extent  in  workshops, 
and  for  illumination.  This  was  the  re- 
mote beginning  of  the  oil  fever  which 
has  added  materially  to  our  sources  of 
illumination. 

1845.  The  first  number  of  the  "  True 
American,"  a  weekly  anti-slavery  paper, 
was  issued  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  by  Cassius 
M.  Clay.  A  mob  afterward  seized  the 
press  and  sent  it  to  Cincinnati,  where  Mr. 
Clay  for  some  time  afterward  did  the 
printing  of  his  paper,  though  he  published 
it  in  Lexington. 

1845.  The  brig  "  Swallow  "  was  lost 
on  the  Hudson  River,  and  fourteen  lives 
were  lost. 

1845.  By  the  explosion  of  "Big 
Hatchee,"  on  the  Mississippi  River, 
twenty  or  thirty  persons  were  killed  and 
scalded. 

1845.  Great  Britain  and  France 
blockaded  Buenos  Ayres  in  agreement 
with  Brazil,  which  wished  to  gain  con- 
trol of  Uruguay.  The  combined  fleets 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


525 


opened  the  Parana  River,  and  overcame 
the  Argentine  forces  in  all  their  attempts 
to  resist. 

1845.  Gen.  Castilla  was  elected  pres- 
ident of  Peru,  after  having  overthrown 
the  previous  dictator. 

1845.  Ecuador  adopted  its  present 
constitution,  with  a  republican  form  of 
government. 

1845.  The   slave   trade  was    nearly 
suppressed  in  Cuba  during  the  next  two 
years  by  Capt.-Gen.  Valdez. 

1846.  January.     Canale  Napoleone 
de  Nicaragua.     Full  power  to  organize 
a  company  in  Europe  for  the  cutting  of  a 
ship  canal  across  the  Isthmus,  was  con- 
ferred by  the  government  of   Nicaragua 
upon  Louis   Napoleon,  afterward  Napo- 
leon III.,  Emperor  of  France.   Napoleon 
had  his  attention   turned  to  it   while  he 
was  a  prisoner  at  Ham,  and  made  such  a 
thorough   study    of    the   situation  as   to 
enable  him  to  prepare  a  work,  which  was 
the  fullest  and   most  scientific  up  to  that 
time  in  the  world,  upon  that  subject.  He 
was  visited  by  representatives  of  the  Cen- 
tral American    governments, 'and    after- 
ward in   England  endeavored  to  secure 
the  support  of  capitalists  for  his  project. 
He  advocated  the  route  by  the  river  San 
Juan  and  Lake  Nicaragua. 

1846.  March  28.  First  Blood  in 
Mexican  War.  Gen.  Taylor  arrived  at 
the  Rio  Grande  under  orders  from  the 
United  States,  and  constructed  Fort 
Brown,  opposite  Matamoras.  He  was 
ordered  by  Gen.  Ampudia,  in  command 
of  the  Mexican  forces,  "  to  retire  within 
twenty-four  hours,  or  arms  and  men  alone 
must  decide  the  question."  This  was  re- 
garded with  indifference  by  Gen.  Taylor. 
Col.  Cross,  an  American  officer,  riding 
beyond  the  lines,  was  shortly  afterward 
murdered  by  Mexican  cavalrymen,  who 


526 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


caught  him  alone  and  beat  out  his  brains 
with  a  pistol. 

1846.  April  24.  Sixty-three  men 
under  Capt.  Thornton,  sent  out  to  recon- 
noiter,  were  likewise  killed,  or  seized  as 
prisoners  by  the  Mexicans. 

1846.  May  8.  The  battle  of  Palo 
Alto,  on  the  Rio  Grande,  was  fought  be- 
tween two  thousand  American  troops 
under  Gen.  Taylor,  and  six  thousand 
Mexicans  under  Gen.  Arista.  The  latter 
were  driven  back  after  a  severe  conflict 
of  five  hours.  The  American  loss  was 
9  killed  and  47  wounded.  The  Mexican 
loss  was  about  100. 

1846.  May  9,  The  battle  of  Resaca 
de  la  Palma  was  fought  at  a  ravine  near 
Fort  Brown.  The  Mexicans  outnum- 
bered the  Americans,  three  to  one.  Gen. 
Taylor  wishing  to  decide  the  battle  by 
capturing  the  Mexican  guns,  said  to  Capt. 

1846.  Planet  May>  of  the  dragoons, 
Neptune,  pre-  « Capt.  May,  you  must 
%"2£j%  take  that  battery."  « I  will 
by  Dr.  Gaiie  of  do  it,  sir ! "  he  shouted  in  re- 
ply, and  off  his  men  dashed 
upon  a  resistless  charge  over  the  guns,  in 
the  face  of  a  deadly  fire.  The  Mexicans 
fled  across  the  Rio  Grande  with  a  loss  of 
600.  Gen.  Taylor's  loss  was  60. 

1846.  May  11.  War  was  declared 
against  Mexico  by  the  United  States. 

1846.  May  13.  Volunteers.  Con- 
gress provided  for  the  raising  of  not 
more  than  50,000  men  "  who  may  offer 
their  services  either  as  cavalry,  artillery, 
infantry,  or  riflemen."  This  was  the  first 
i84e.  300,000  systematic  action  of  the  U. 

emigrants  to  0  .  . 

United  states.  S.  government  m  regard  to 
volunteering,  and  is  very  greatly  the  idea 
of  William  L.  Marcy  of  New  York,  then 
secretary  of  war.  It  has  since  been 
proved  to  be  the  strength  of  this  free 
government.  Volunteers  have  been 


rapidly  raised,  and  accurately  trained. 
In  this  case  the  excitement  was  so  great 
that  the  president  had  offers  from  300,000 
men.  He  was  authorized  to  use  $10,- 
000,000. 

1846.  May  17.  Matamoras  was 
evacuated  by  the  Mexicans  under  Gen. 
Arista,  who  fell  back  toward  Monterey. 

1846.  May  18.  The  American  flag 
was  first  waved  over  Mexican  soil  by 
Gen.  Taylor  and  his  force,  who  had 
crossed  the  Rio  Grande. 

1846.  May  23.  War  was  declared 
upon  the  United  States  by  the  Mexican 
government. 

1846.  June  12.  A  great  fire  burned 
nearly  the  whole  of  St.  John's,  New- 
foundland, and  turned  out  6,000  people. 

1846.  June  15.  The  northwestern 
boundary  of  the  United  States  between 
Oregon  and  the  British  Possessions  was 
determined  by  a  treaty  signed  at  London. 
The  final  agreement  was  upon  latitude 
49°,  the  United  States  withdrawing  their 
claim  to  54°,  40' — "  fifty-four  forty,  or 
fight."  This  confirmed  308,052  square 
miles  to  the  United  States,  making  in  all 
2,413,211  square  miles. 

1846.  Sonoma  Pass,  Cal.,  with  a 
Mexican  garrison,  was  captured  by  Col. 
John  C.  Fremont. 

1846.  July  7.  Monterey  in  Cali- 
fornia, upon  the  coast,  was  taken  by  the 
U.  S.  navy  under  Com.  John  D.  Sloat, 
who  announced  himself  governor  of  the 
territory,  which  he  declared  to  be  a  part 
of  the  United  States. 

1846.  July  9.  San  Francisco  was 
occupied  by  Com.  Montgomery  of  the 
U.  S.  navy. 

1846.  July  9.  The  portion  of  the 
District  of  Columbia  originally  ceded  to 
the  United  States  by  Virginia,  was  re- 
ceded to  that  state. 


1845-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


527 


1846.  Aug.  4.  A  "  republican  mani- 
festo "  was  made  in  the  City  of  Mexico 
by  Gens.  Morales  and  Salas.  The  people 
and  army  for  the  most  part  supported  it. 
President  Paredes  fled.  Santa  Anna 
late.  Pope  Pius  was  invited  to  return,  which 
ix.  elected.  he  did.  He  was  made  com- 

mander-in-chief  of  the  national  army. 

1846.  Aug.  8.  An  appropriation  of 
$3,000,000  was  asked  for  by  President 
Polk,  to  enable  the  United  States  to  ne- 
gotiate a  treaty  with  Mexico. 

1846.  Aug.  17.  Los  Angelos,  Cal., 
was  taken  possession  of  by  Com.  R.  F. 
Stockton,  who  had  succeeded  Com. 
Sloat.  Col.  Fremont  was  with  him. 
He  renewed  the  proclamation  issued  by 
Com.  Sloat. 

1846.  Aug.  18.  Santa  Fe  was  taken 
by  Gen.  Stephen  W.  K*earney,  who  ar- 
rived with  i, 600  men  after  a  march  of 
900  miles  through  the  wilderness.  The 
Mexican  force  of  four  thousand  men  fled 
at  his  approach.  The  government  of  the 
United  States  was  proclaimed  in  New 
Mexico. 

1846.  August.  The  "  Wilmot  Pro- 
viso," taking  its  name  from  Mr.  Wilmot, 
a  democratic  member  from  Pennsylvania, 
who  offered  it,  was  introduced  into  con- 
gress, providing  that  there  should  be  no 
1846.  insurrec-  slavery  in  territory  there- 

tion  at  Cracow  n  _  T    . 

in  Poland.  after  annexed  to  the  United 

States.  The  "  proviso "  was  based  on 
the  celebrated  ordinance  of  1787.  It 
passed  the  house,  but  did  not  reach  the 
senate  before  the  close  of  the  session. 
The  whigs  and  many  northern  demo- 
crats united  in  supporting  it.  The  pro- 
viso was  afterward  attached  to  some  bills, 
but  failed  to  pass  with  them. . 

1846.  Sept.  10.  First  Practical 
Sewing  Machine.  Elias  Howe,  Jr.,  of 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  patented  the  sewing 


machine,  the  model  of  which  he  had 
completed  in  1842,  and  which  has  since 
been  known  by  his  name.  The  sewing 
machine  is  an  American  invention.  For 
years  Mr.  Howe  had  legal  controversies, 
but  died  with  a  vast  property  accumu- 
lated by  a  royalty  paid  him  on  the  manu- 
facture of  each  machine. 

1846.  Sept.  19.  A  memorable  gale 
swept  along  the  New  England  coast,  and 
destroyed  much  shipping  and  many  lives. 
From  Marblehead  alone  forty-five  hus- 
bands were  lost,  leaving  155  children 
fatherless. 

1846.  Sept.  21.  A  portion  of  Gen. 
Taylor's  army  which  had  now  advanced 
upon  Monterey,  captured  the  heights  in 
the  rear  of  that  city,  and  cut  off  all  further 
supplies. 

1846.  Sept.  24.  Monterey  surren- 
dered after  a  severe  assault  lasting  through 
portions  of  two  days.  About  ten  thou- 
sand Mexican  troops  had  defended  the 
city,  and  nearly  seven  thousand  American 
troops  had  assailed  it.  The  loss  of  the 
latter  was  about  five  hundred,  of  the 
former  twice  that  number. 

1846.  Oct.  16.  First  Public  Suc- 
cess with  Ether.  The  first  successful 
public  exhibition  of  the  use  of  ether  in 
surgical  operations,  was  given  in  the 
Massachusetts  General  Hospital  by  Dr. 
W.  G.  T.  Morton  and  Dr.  »*•  £<** 

/~iu      i         T>     T       l  T«u         Napoleon  es- 

Charles  T.Jackson.  The  caJ>e(1fromHam, 
introduction  of  ether  as  an  anaesthetic 
dates  from  this  time.  The  preparation 
was  patented  by  the  two  men  under  the 
name  of  Letheon. 

1846.  Oct.  30.  Gen.  John  E.  Wool, 
who  had  been  appointed  inspector-general 
of  the  American  army,  arrived  at  Mont- 
clova,  seventy  miles  from  Monterey,  with 
3,000  volunteers  whom  he  had  rapidly 
disciplined  in  military  drill  upon  the 


528 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT 


march  through  the  mountains  into 
Mexico. 

1846.  October.  Tabasco,  on  the 
coast  of  Mexico,  was  bombarded  by  Com. 
Perry,  and  the  shipping  in  the  harbor 
was  destroyed. 

1846.  Nov.  14.  Tampico,  upon  the 
coast  of  Mexico,  was  taken  by  Com. 
Conner. 

1846.  Nov.  15.  Saltillo  was  occu- 
pied by  Gen.  Taylor,  an  armistice  which 
had  been  in  existence  for  a  time,  having 
been  declared  at  an  end. 

1846.  Dec.  6.  The  Mexicans  were 
defeated  by  Gen.  Kearney,  at  San  Pas- 
qual. 

1846.  Dec.  25.  Battle  of  Braceti. 
Col.  Doniphan,  who  was  sent  back  with 
the  main  part  of  Kearney's  men,  and  had 
marched  to  join  Gen.  Wool,  defeated  a 
large  Mexican  force  at  Braceti  on  the 
Rio  del  Norte.  The  latter  fled  with  a 
loss  of  two  hundred  men.  The  Ameri- 
cans lost  seven  wounded,  and  none  killed. 

1846.  Dec.  28.  Iowa  was  the  twenty- 
ninth  state  to  be  admitted  into  the  Union. 
It  has  an  area  of  55,045  square  miles,  and 
a  population  in  1880  of  1,624,463  persons, 
Its  motto  is,  "  Our  liberties  we  prize,  our 
rights  we  will  maintain."  It  is  familiarly 
known  as  the  "  Hawkeye  State." 

1846.  December.  A  popular  rev- 
olution in  Mexico  restored  Santa  Anna, 
who  had  secretly  returned  to  the  country 
from  Havana,  to  power,  and  he  was 
elected  "  provisional  president." 

1846.  A  Universal  and  Critical  Dic- 
tionary of  the  English  language  was 
issued  by  Joseph  E.  Worcester. 

1846.  The  Palmer  Leg.  A  patent 
for  artificial  legs  and  feet  was  issued  to 
Benj.  F.  Palmer  of  Meredith,  N.  H.,  and 
has  since  become  of  world-wide  notoriety. 
Mr.  Palmer  having  lost  a  leg,  undertook 


to  supply  the  deficiency,  and  succeeded 
so  well  that  he  devoted  himself  to  the 
manufacture  of  limbs.  He  patented  an 
arm  and  hand  in  1857. 

1846.  Niagara  Suspension  Bridge 
was  erected  by  John  A.  Roebling,  an 
American  engineer,  who  was  chosen  from 
the  competitors  because  of  the  ability 
shown  in  his  plans. 

1846.  Quicksilver  mines  began  to  be 
worked  in  Santa  Clara  County,  Cali- 
fornia, by  Mexicans  who  had  learned  of 
them  through  Indians.  The  latter  had 
used  the  ore  in  making  vermillion  paint. 

1846.  The  name  "  Kerosene "  was 
first  used  by  Abraham  Gesner,  who  con- 
ferred it  upon  oil  which  he  made  from 
coal  on  Prince  Edward's  Island. 

1846.  A   great  fire   burned   a  large 
portion  of  Louisville,  Kentucky.     Several 
hundred  buildings  were  consumed. 

1847.  Jan.  8.      The  Mexican   con- 
gress voted  to  assess  the  property  of  the 
church  for  $15,000,000  for  the  support  of 
the  war. 

1847.  Jan.  8.  Com.  Stockton  de- 
feated the  Mexicans  under  Gen.  Flores, 
at  Rio  San  Gabriel,  Cal. 

1847.  Jan.  9.  Another  victory  was 
obtained  by  Com.  Stockton  at  the  plains 
of  Mesa,  Cal.,  and  the  Mexicans  fled  the 
country, 

1847.  Jan.  14.  A  conspiracy  against 
the  U.  S.  government  appeared  in  New 
Mexico,  and  Col.  Bent,  who  had  been 
appointed  governor  by  Gen.  Kearney, 
was  murdered.  The  trouble  was  soon 
quelled. 

1847.  Jan.  24.  The  New  Mexico 
insurgents  were  defeated  at  Canada  in 
that  territory  by  an  American  force  under 
Col.  Price. 

1847.  January.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott 
arrived  on  the  coast  of  Mexico  and  as- 


1845-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


529 


sumed  command  of  all  the  forces  of  the 
United  States  in  the  field  against  Mexico. 
He  drew  upon  Gen.  Taylor  for  large  re- 
inforcements for  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz. 

1847.  January.  John  C.  Fremont 
was  appointed  governor  of  California  by 
Com.  Stockton,  an  appointment  which 
afterward  gave  trouble,  because  of  Gen. 
Kearney's  senior  authority. 

1847.  Feb.  23.  Eight  hundred 
Mexicans  were  defeated  at  Saltillo  by  a 
company  of  American  troops  under  Capt. 
Webster. 

1847.  Feb.  23.  The  battle  of  Buena 
Vista  was  fought  between  Gen.  Taylor's 
force  of  five  thousand  men,  and  the 
Mexican  army  of  twenty  thousand  men, 
under  Santa  Anna.  The  contest  lasted 
all  day,  with  fearful  struggles  at  times. 
At  last  the  entire  Mexican  force  gave 
way  and  fled  in  the  night,  after  having 
lost  about  two  thousand  men.  Gen. 
Taylor  lost  seven  hundred  and  forty-six 
men. 

1847.  Feb.  28.  Battle  of  Sacra- 
mento. Col,  Doniphan  defeated  four 
thousand  Mexicans  in  the  battle  of  Sacra- 
mento, with  a  loss  of  eighteen  men,  and 
entered  the  city  of  Chihuahua.  The 
Mexican  loss  was  six  hundred.  Col. 
Doniphan  remained  here  six  weeks,  and 
then  proceeded  to  join  Gen.  Wool. 

1847.  March  1.  Gen.  Kearney  is- 
sued a  proclamation  assuming  the  gov- 
ernment of  California.  Col.  Fremont 
refused  to  obey  him,  and  thus  the  trouble 
originated  which  resulted  in  the  court- 
martial  of  Col.  Fremont  at  Washington. 

1847.  March  3.  First  Isthmus  Steam- 
ers. Congress  passed  an  act  establishing 
a  line  of  steamers  from  New  York  to 
Aspinwall,  and  from  Panama  to  Califor- 
nia. The  first  steamers  left  the  next  year, 
just  at  the  time  when  the  gold  fever 

34 


broke  out,  and  were  in  season  to  make  a 
great  success. 

1847.  March  3.  The  life-saving  ser- 
vice of  the  United  States  on  the  coast, 
was  originated  by  an  appropriation  from 
congress  to  provide  the  light-houses  with 
means  of  assisting  at  times  of  ship- 
wrecks. 

1847.  March  7.  A  body  of  Mexi- 
cans was  defeated  at  Ceralvo  by  Major 
Giddings. 

1847.  March  29.  Vera  Cruz  was 
taken  by  Gen.  Scott  and  Com.  Perry, 
after  a  successful  siege  of  one  week. 
The  city  was  considered  very  strong. 
Five  thousand  troops,  five  hundred  can- 
non, and  other  military  supplies,  were 
taken  in  the  city.  The  Mexicans  lost 
1,000;  the  Americans  80. 

1847.  March.  Col.  Stephenson's  Cal- 
ifornia volunteer  regiment,  raised  in  New 
York,  arrived  in  San  Francisco.  It  was 
sent  to  occupy  Monterey  and  Santa 
Barbara. 

1847.  March.  The  United  States 
war  vessel  Jamestown  was  sent  to  Ire- 
land with  a  cargo  of  provisions  for  the 
starving  population  of  that  island. 

1847.  April  18.  The  battle  of  Cerro 
Gordo  was  fought  between  Santa  Anna, 
with  his  army  of  12,000  men  strongly 
entrenched  upon  the  heights,  and  Gen. 
Scott's  army  of  8,500  men,  who  were 
obliged  to  gain  the  battle  by  storming 
the  enemy's  position,  which  they  did 
most  fearlessly.  A  complete  victory  was 
won.  Gen.  Scott  captured  three  thousand 
prisoners,  forty-three  cannon,  five  thou- 
sand stands  of  arms,  and  large  military 
supplies.  The  American  loss  was  431. 

1847.  April  22.  The  town  and  castle 
of  Perote  were  occupied  by  Gen.  Worth. 

1847.  May  15.  Pueblo  de  los  Angelos, 
the  "  city  of  the  angels,"  was  occupied 


530 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


by  the  American  army.  During  a  rest 
in  this  city,  peace  overtures  were  made  to 
the  Mexican  government,  and  were 
haughtily  rejected.  The  army  were  now 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  "  City  of 
Mexico,"  and  the  last  brilliant  victories 
of  the  war  soon  took  place. 

1847.  May  19.  The  Canadian  brig 
Carrick  was  wrecked  in  the  St»  Law- 
rence, with  a  loss  of  1 70  lives. 

1847.  June.  The  Liberty  League, 
a  branch  of  the  "  liberty  party,"  met  in 
convention  at  Macedon  Locke,  N.  Y., 
and  nominated  Gerritt  Smith  for  presi- 
dent. At  a  later  convention  at  Rochester, 
C.  C.  Foote  was  nominated  for  vice- 
president.  This  secession  was  on  the 
ground  that  abolition  of  slavery  was  not 
the  only  reform  which  the  "liberty 
party "  ought  to  propose  to  carry  out. 
Still  another  band  of  the  liberty  party 
who  did  not  like  the  nominations  made  at 
Buffalo,  met  in  convention  and  nominated 
the  liberty  league  candidates.  This  or- 
ganization was  afterward  merged  in 
other  organizations  which  followed  it. 

1847.  Aug.  20.  Contreras  was  taken 
by  a  fierce  assault  at  sunrise  by  the 
Americans,  and  7,000  Mexicans  were 
routed  or  captured.  Thirty-three  cannon 
were  taken.  The  battle  lasted  seventeen 
minutes.  In  a  short  time  Santa  Anna's 
army,  which  had  been  held  as  a  reserve, 
was  in  motion,  and  the  battle  of  Churu- 
busco  began.  A  series  of  heavy  attacks 
broke  the  Mexican  army  into  pieces,  and 
utterly  routed  it.  The  storming  of 
Churubusco  was  a  violent  assault  under 
Gen.  Worth. 

1847.  Sept.  8  The  citadel  of  Molino 
del  Bey  was  stormed  and  carried  by 
Gen.  Worth,  with  about  4,000  troops. 
1845-1847.  Fam-  The  Mexican  loss  was 
ine in  Ireland.  i,ooo;  the  American  8oo. 


The  immediate  defences  of   the  City  of 
Mexico  began  to  fall. 

1847.  Sept.  13.  The  citadel  of  Cha- 
pultepec,  which  was  on  the  site  of  the 
Hall  of  the  Montezumas,  was  stormed 
and  taken  with  great  slaughter.  This 
was  the  last  step  in  the  advance,  and 
bravely  did  the  Mexicans  resist  the  in- 
vaders, but  all  in  vain.  Santa  Anna's 
troops  finally  fled  in  panic,  and  afterward 
he  and  the  remnant  of  his  army  fled  from 
the  city. 

1847.  Sept.  14.  Gen.  Scott  entered 
the  City  of  Mexico  at  the  head  of  his 
escort,  and  formally  proclaimed  the  over- 
throw of  the  Mexican  power.  The  war 
had  been  one  constant  succession  of  vic- 
tories over  superior  numbers. 

1847.  Oct.  9.  The  Mexicans  were 
defeated  at  Huarnantla,  by  Gen.  Lane, 
who  marched  to  Pueblo  to  relieve  Col. 
Childs,  who  had  been  besieged  in  that 
city  forty  days,  by  a  portion  of  Santa 
Anna's  army. 

1847.  Oct.  18.  Gen.  Lane  defeated 
a  Mexican  force  at  Atlixco. 

1847.  Oct.  20.  Guaymas,  a  port  in 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  was  taken  by  a  part 
of  the  American  squadron. 

1847.  Nov.  19.  The  Talisman  of 
Pittsburg,  was  lost  on  the  Ohio  River, 
with  100  lives. 

1847.  Nov.  21.  The  Phoenix  was 
lost  on  Lake  Michigan,  with  240  lives. 

1847.     Dec.    12.     Gen.  Scott  issued  a 
pi-oclamation  against  guer-    j78o-i847. 
illas,   who   now    began    to    Thomas    chai- 

,         ,          ,  mers. 

rove   through    the   borders 
of  Mexico  and  New  Mexico. 

1847.  December.  The  British  seized 
the  only  Nicaraguan  port  lying  on  the 
Atlantic,  named  San  Juan  del  Norte. 
The  excuse  was  that  it  belonged  to  the 
Mosquito  King. 


1845-1859.] 

1847.  Prof.  Agassiz  received  an  invi- 
tation from  Prof.  Bache,  Supt.  of  the  U. 
•S.  Coast  Survey,  to  avail  himself  of  the 
vessels  of  the  Coast  Survey  Department 
for  making  scientific  exploration.  The 
liberty  to  do  this  was  the  chief  reason  for 
his  decision  to  remain  in  America  the 
rest  of  his  life.  . 

1847.  The  American  Association  for 
the  Advancement  of  Science  was  organ- 
ized. It  has  held  annual  meetings  with 
great  regularity,  and  is  now  a  strong, 
honored  body  of  scientists.  Its  annual 
reports  contain  a  full  statement  of  the 
progress  of  science  since  the  organization 
of  the  Association.  It  has  about  700 
members. 

1847.  The  Order  of  the  Good  Sa- 
maritans was  organized  in  New  York 
city.  Persons  of  color  and  ladies  were 
admitted  to  full  membership,  a  procedure 
at  that  time  not  known  in  any  other 
temperance  society. 

1847.  The  Mormons,  16,000  strong, 
having  spent  about  two  years  in  crossing 
the  Rocky  Mountains  under  Brigham 
Young,  their  new  leader,  settled  Salt 
Lake  City,  on  Great  Salt  Lake,  Utah. 

1847.  A  constitution  was  adopted  in 
Costa  Rica.  It  has  been  modified  at 
times  since,  but  not  completely  changed. 
Civil  wars  have  abounded. 

1847.  The  Oneida  Community,  near 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  was  founded  by  John 
H.  Noyes,  as  an  outcome  of  "perfec- 
tionism." 

1847.  The  Cuba  coolie  trade  began, 

o         / 

and  has  attained  great  proportions  since. 

1848.  January.    A  Nicaraguan  force 
recaptured    San  Juan.     But  two  British 
ships  of  war  were  at  once  sent,  and  the 
place   re-occupied.     A  battle   afterward 
took  place  inland,  and   the   Nicaraguan 
force  was  defeated.     Finally  the    British 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


531 

commander  obtained  an  agreement  that 
the  Nicaraguan  government  would  not 
touch  San  Juan. 

1848.  Feb.  2.  Treaty  of  Hidalgo. 
A  treaty  of  peace  between  the  United 
States  and  Mexico  was  signed  at  Guada- 
loupe,  Hidalgo.  The  United  States 
received  New  Mexico  and  California  for 
a  sum  of  $15,000,000,  and  the  Rio 
Grande  River  was  made  the  western 
boundary  of  Texas.  About  25,000  men 
were  lost  in  this  war,  which  cost  the 
United  States  $160,000,000.  New  Mex- 
ico and  California -added  522,955  square 
miles  to  the  United  States,  making 
2,936,166  square  miles  in  all. 

THE  CALIFORNIA  GOLD  FEVER. 

1848.  Feb.  9.  A  piece  of  gold  was 
picked  up  in  a  mill  race  on  a  branch  of 
the  Sacramento  River,  by  a  little  girl 
named  Marshall,  daughter  of  the  over- 
seer of  the  mill,  which  belonged  to  John 
A.  Sutter.  The  men  were  at  work  re- 
pairing the  race.  The  lump  was  known 
by  part  of  them  to  be  gold,  and  they 
tried  to  keep  it  secret,  but  in  some  way  it 
spread,  until  the  whole  country  was 
excited,  and  thousands  were  pouring 
toward  California.  For  the  next  few 
years  the  immigration  to  California  was 
very  great,  and  gold  was  washed  out  of 
the  streams  in  large  quantities.  That 
day  has  passed  by,  and  deep  mining  is 
now  the  main  business  of  the  great  region 
of  gold  and  silver.  Gold  was  noticed  in 
California  by  persons  with  Drake  i'n  his 
expedition  of  1577,  and  different  Spanish 
writers  subsequently  affirmed  the  richness 
of  the  region  in  minerals.  As  late  as 
1847  a  statement  of  it  was  made  in  the 
Merchant's  Magazine,  but  the  outburst 
did  not  take  place  till  the  little  girl  found 
her  piece  at  Suiter's  Mill. 


532 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


JOffJV  QUIXCY  ADAMS. 
1848.  Feb.  23.  John  Quincy  Adams, 
son  of  John  Adams,  and  sixth  president 
of  the  United  States,  died  in  Washington, 
aged  eighty-one  years.  He  was  born 
July  n,  1767,  at  Quincy,  Mass.,  and  as  a 
mere  child  was  a  witness  of  many  of  the 
Revolutionary  scenes  around  Boston. 
When  only  eleven  years  old  he  was  taken 
to  Paris  by  his  father,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed minister  from  the  United  States 
to  France.  Here  he  remained  at  school 
for  a  year  and  a  half,  and  then  returned 
home,  only  to  again  embark  for  France 
after  a  few  months.  He  now  went  to 
Amsterdam  to  study,  and  after  a  time 
entered  the  University  of  Leyden.  He 
pursued  his  course  until  1781,  when, 
although  he  was  but  fourteen  years  old, 
he  was  taken  to  Russia  by  Francis  Dana 
as  his  private  secretary.  At  the  end  of 
fourteen  months,  as  the  appointment  of 
Mr.  Dana  failed  to  be  recognized,  the 
young  secretary  left  for  Holland,  and 
once  again  began  his  regular  studies. 
He  remained  abroad  until  1 785,  when  he 
returned  to  America,  and  the  next  year 
entered  Harvard  College  in  advance,  so 
that  he  completed  the  course  in  two 
years.  The  next  three  years  were  spent 
in  the  law  office  of  Theophilus  Parsons, 
and  in  1791  Mr.  Adams  opened  his  own 
office  in  Boston.  His  writings  upon  the 
political  questions  of  the  times  now  be- 
1848.  Feb.  22.  gan  to  attract  the  public 
French  Revolu-  attention,  and  gained  for 
Philippe  "abdica-  him  such  confidence  that  in 
ted.  Louis  Na-  1704  he  was  appointed  by 

poleon  elected  *•.    . 

president,  Dec.  Washington  minister  to 
10-  the  Netherlands.  After  two 

years  in  this  position  he  was  transferred 
to  Lisbon,  but  before  his  arrival  in  that 
place  the  order  was  changed,  and  he  was 
sent  to  Berlin  instead.  As  this  appoint- 


ment was  made  by  President  John 
Adams,  the  son  felt  some  hesitancy  in 
accepting  itr  and1  his  scruples  were  only 
overcome  by  the  assurance  that  Gen. 
Washington  had  strongly  advised  the 
measure.  During  his  residence  at  the 
Prussian  court,  Mr.  Adams  wrote  ex- 
tensively, and  one  series  of  his  letters 
was  translated  into  French  and  German. 
In  1 801,  at  his  solicitation,  his  recall  was 
effected,  and  the  next  year  he  again 
opened  a  law  office  in  Boston.  Mr. 
Adams  was  a  supporter  of  the  federal 
party,  and  in  1803  took  his  seat  in  the 
United  States  senate  as  their  representa- 
tive. His  views  on  the  embargo  act  of 
President  Jefferson  caused  an  alienation, 
however,  and  in  1808,  finding  that  he 
would  fail  of  a  re-nomination,  he  re- 
signed before  the  close  of  his  term,  and 
returning  to  his  home,  gave  undivided 
attention  to  the  duties  of  professor  of 
rhetoric  and  belles-lettres,  which  position 
he  held  in  Harvard  College.  Soon  after 
President  Madison's  inauguration  he  was 
appointed  minister  to  Russia,  there 
having  been  no  ambassador  to  that 
country  since  the  return  of  Mr.  Dana. 
Mr.  Adams  became  the  personal  friend 
of  the  Emperor  Alexander,  and  it  was 
through  his  influence  that  Russia  felt  an 
interest  in  helping  to  adjust  the  unpleas- 
ant relations  of  England  and  the  United 
States.  In  1815  Mr.  Adams  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  English  court,  where  he 
remained  until  1817.  He  then  returned  to 
the  United  States  to  accept  the  position 
of  secretary  of  state  under  Mr.  Monroe. 
He  honorably  filled  this  place  for  the 
eight  years  that  President  Monroe  re- 
mained in  office,  and  then  passed  to  the 
more  arduous  duties  of  chief  magistrate. 
In  the  presidential  campaign  of  1825, 
party  spirit  ran  high,  and  no  choice  was 


1845  -1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


53S 


ertected  by  the  electors.  The  house, 
therefore,  elected  Mr.  Adams.  Although 
the  duties  of  his  office  were  conscien- 
tiously discharged,  his  opponents  com- 
bined against  him  in  such  numbers  that 
he  failed  of  a  re-election,  and  at  the  close 
of  his  term  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
Quincy,  Mass.  In  1831  he  was  sent  to 
the  House  of  Representatives,  where  he 
remained  until  his  death.  During  all 
these  years  he  occupied  a  commanding 
position,  and  once  quelled  a  riot  in  the 
House  which  had  lasted  for  three  days. 
From  his  readiness  and  great  facility  in 
debate,  he  was  called  "  The  Old  Man 
Eloquent."  He  died  in  the  midst  of  his 
duties,  being  stricken  by  paralysis  while 
occupying  his  seat  in  the  House.  He 
was  taken  to  an  adjoining  room,  and  died 
in  a  few  hours.  The  last  whisper  was, 
"  This  is  the  last  of  earth.  I  am  content." 
Mr.  Adams'  personal  bearing  was  very 
reserved  and  dignified,  and  perhaps  to 
this  may  be  attributed  the  fact  that  his 
opponents  sometimes  outnumbered  his 
friends. 

1848.  March.  Spirit-rappings.  The 
modern  phenomena  of  spirit-rappings 
began  in  the  family  of  John  D.  Fox, 
Hydeville,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fox  and  two  daughters  composed 
the  family  at  the  time  when  the  rappings 
were  first  heard  in  one  of  the  bedrooms 
at  night.  After  considerable  experiment- 
ing, the  Fox  girls  appeared  in  1849  in 
public,  and  exhibited  the  phenomena  to  a 
curious  audience.  Other  so-called  me- 
diums became  known,  and  the  excitement 
spread  through  the  country.  Many 
private  families  would  experiment  in  the 
matter.  Gradually  a  great  many  things 
besides  raps  were  added  to  the  list  of 
phenomena. 


1848.  May  22.  The  democratic  na- 
tional convention  met  in  Baltimore,  and 

9  ' 

nominated  Lewis  Cass  for  president. 
William  O.  Butler  was  supported  for 
vice-president.  To  this  convention  New 
York  sent  one  delegation  known  as 
"  Hunkers,"  who  did  not  wish  to  touch 
the  slavery  question,  and  another  known 
as  "  Barnburners,"  or  Free-Soil  demo- 
crats, who  opposed  further  extension  of 
slavery.  The  latter  afterward  withdrew 
from  the  party.  The  parties  began  now 
to  take  a  more  distinct  pro  and  anti- 
slavery  character. 

1848.  May  29.  Wisconsin  was  the 
thirtieth  state  to  be  received  into  the 
union.  It  has  53,924  square  miles,  and 
1,315,480  inhabitants  in  1880.  Its  motto 
is  "  Civilitas  successit  barbarum."  "  The 
civilized  man  succeeds  the  barbarous," 
and  it  is  called  the  "  Badger  State." 

1848.  May.  Astor  Library.  The 
trustees  of  the  library  to  be  founded  ac- 
cording to  the  will  of  John  Jacob  Astor, 
met  for  the  first  time  and  took  measures 
to  proceed  rapidly  in  fulfilling  the  be- 
quest. Dr.  Joseph  B.  Cogswell  was  ap- 
pointed superintendent,  and  was  sent  to 
Europe  with  $20,000  with  which  to 
purchase  books.  He  obtained  20,000 
volumes  in  four  months,  which  were  in- 
creased to  70,000  when  the  building  was 
opened  in  1854.  This  magnificent  be- 
quest is  proving  a  blessing  to  New  York. 

1848.  June  7.  The  whig  national 
convention  met  at  Philadelphia,  and 
nominated  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor  of 
Louisiana,  for  president,  and  Millard  Fill- 
more  of  New  York,  for  vice-president. 
The  business  of  the  session  was  done 
amid  considerable  agitation. 

1848.  June.  The  American  army 
left  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico,  and  arrived  at. 
New  Orleans. 


534 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


1848.  July  19.  The  first  "  Woman's 
Bights  "  Convention  was  called  at  Seneca 
Falls,  N.  Y.,  by  Lucretia  Mott,  Eliza- 
beth Cady  Stanton,  Martha  C.  Wright, 
and  Mary  Ann  McClintock.  An  inter- 
esting and  earnest  discussion  was  held  for 
two  days,  issuing  in  a  declaration  of 
rights  which  was  adopted  and  signed  by 
one  hundred  members.  The  convention 
drew  a  great  deal  of  criticism  and  ridicule 
upon  itself,  which  made  many  of  its  sup- 
porters shrink  from  the  stand  they  had 
taken.  But  similar  assemblies  were  soon 
held  in  other  states,  and  the  movement 
has  since  that  time  acquired  considerable 
momentum. 

1848.  July.  The  first  school  in 
America  for  idiot  children,  was  opened  at 
Barre,  Mass.,  by  Dr.  Hervey  B.  Williams. 

1848.  July.  England  removed  her 
forces  from  the  Argentine  waters,  and 
left  France  to  carry  on  the  hostilities  of 
Brazil,  which  she  did  six  months  longer. 

1848.  Aug.  9.  The  Free  Soil  party 
was  organized  in  a  convention  held  at 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  swallowed  up  the 
Liberty  party.  It  was  made  up  of  the 
Free  Soil  democracy,  or  "  Barnburners," 
who  were  opposed  to  the  extension  of 
slavery,  and  the  Liberty  party,  whose 
principal  force  was  spent  in  opposition  to 
slavery.  The  motto  of  this  new  party 
was  a  "  free  soil  for  a  free  people."  The 
convention  nominated  Martin  Van  Buren 
of  New  York,  for  president,  and  Charles 
Francis  Adams  of  Massachusetts,  for 
vice-president. 

1848.  Aug.  17.  A  great  fire  con- 
sumed one-third  of  Albany,  N.  Y.  Six 
hundred  houses  were  burned,  and  $3,000,- 
ooo  worth  of  property. 

1848.  Sept.  12.  An  improved 
breech-loading  rifle  was  patented  at  Cin- 
cinnati, by  Christian  Sharps.  It  was  the 


first  patent  of  the  kind  that  was  perfectly 
successful. 

1848.  Oct.  10.  The  American  Po- 
mological  Society  was  established  under 
the  name  of  "  The  American  Congress 
of  Fruit  Growers,"  by  a  im  a^ii^ar 
convention  held  at  New  *'«  Ireland. 
York,  under  a  call  from  several  horti-  • 
cultural  societies.  The  North  American 
Pomological  Convention  was  organized 
about  the  same  time  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
by  the  New  York  State  Agricultural  So- 
ciety, but  was  united  with  the  former  at 
the  annual  meeting  of  1849.  The  name 
was  changed  at  a  later  day  to  the  present 
form.  At  the  first  session,  in  1848,  fifty- 
four  varieties  of  fruits  were  recommended 
for  culture.  This  list  has  now  grown  to 
several  hundreds.  The  reports  of  the 
society  constitute  the  most  valuable  porno- 
logical  literature  in  the  world. 

1848.  October.  Trustee's  Twenty 
Mile  Race.  A  course  of  twenty  miles 
was  trotted  by  a  horse  named  Trustee, 
son  of  a  thoroughbred  imported  horse. 
The  time  of  the  whole  race  was  fifty-nine 
minutes,  thirty-five  seconds  and  a  half. 
Trustee  did  not  show  any  sign  of  injury 
ever  after  by  this  great  strain. 

1848.  October.  An  experimental 
school  for  idiots  was  opened  in  the 
Perkins'  Institution  for  the  blind,  at 
Boston.  Dr.  Seguin,  an  in-  ^49-  Kossmh 

C    -J-    i.      •        -D       •          appointed  dicta  - 
StrUCtOr     Of    idlOtS    in    Paris,      tor  of  Hungary. 

visited  the  United  States  this  year,  and 
began  to  assist  in  the  formation  of  schools 
for  such  persons. 

1848.  The  first  school  in  Canada  for 
deaf  mutes,  was  founded  at  Montreal,  by 
the  Roman  Catholics. 

1848.  The  automatic  regulation  of 
time  by  the  electro-magnetic  telegraph, 
was  first  accomplished  by  Dr.  John  Locke 
of  Cincinnati.  He  received  from  con- 


1845-1859.] 

gress  $10,000  as  a  gift  for  the  achieve- 
ment. 

1848.  The  Wheeling  Suspension 
Bridge  over  the  Ohio,  was  built  by  C. 
Ellet.  It  had  a  span  of  1,010  feet.  It 
stood  only  six  years,  being  blown  down 
in  1854. 

SIXTEENTH  PRESIDENTIAL    CAMPAIGN. 

1848.  In  the  sixteenth  presidential 
campaign  the  democratic  party  supported 
Lewis  Cass  of  Michigan,  for  president, 
and  William  O.  Butler  of  Kentucky,  for 
vice-president.  The  whig  party  sup- 
ported Gen.  Zachary  Taylor  of  Louisi- 
ana, for  president,  and  Millard  Fillmore 
of  New  York,  for  vice-president.  The 
"  free  soil  party  "  supported  Martin  Van 
Buren  of  New  York,  for  president,  and 
Charles  Francis  Adams  of  Massachusetts, 
for  vice-president.  The  whig  candidates 
were  elected.  Out  of  290  electoral  votes 
Gen.  Taylor,  or  "  old  Rough  and  Ready  " 
and  Fillmore  received  163,  with  a  popu- 
lar vote  of  1,360,101.  Cass  and  Butler 
received  127  electoral  votes,  with  a  popu- 
lar vote  of  1,220,544.  Van  Buren  and 
Adams  had  no  electoral  vote,  but  had  a 
popular  vote  of  291,263. 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


535 


1848.  Expeditions  in  search  of  Sir 
John  Franklin  began,  and  were  very 
numerous  for  many  years,  both  from 
England  and  America. 

1848.  A  great  uprising  of  Indian 
tribes  occurred  through  Yucatan.  Certain 
provinces  were  desolated,  and  towns 
taken,  but  the  trouble  afterward  faded 
away. 

1848.  A  great  insurrection  took 
place  in  Cuba,  and  more  than  10,000 
negroes  perished  in  the  suppression  of  it. 

1848.  Slavery  was  abolished  in  the 
French  West  Indies. 


1848.  Yellow  fever  depopulated  the 
district  of  Bahia,  in  Brazil,  and  ran  along 
the  coast  frightfully. 

1848.  Gen.  Monagas  became  dictator 
of  Venezuela  for  twelve  years,  but  was 
overthrown  by  a  revolution  in  1859. 

1849.  Jan.  1.      Bloomerism.      Mrs. 
Amelia  Bloomer  of  Seneca  Falls,  N.  Y., 
established  "  The  Lily,"  the  first  paper  in 
the   country  devoted   to  the  interests  of 
women.    Through  this  paper  the  peculiar 
female  costume  known  as  the  "  Bloomer 
dress"  was  first  presented  to  the  women 
of  America.      It  had  been  devised   and 
worn   by   a   daughter  of  Gerritt    Smith 
first  of  all,  and  was  adopted    from  her 
use  of  it,  by  Mrs.  Bloomer  and  others. 

1849.  January.  Elizabeth  Blackwell, 
a  native  of  Bristol,  England,  graduated 
from  the  medical  school  at  Geneva,  N. 
Y.,  having  been  refused  admittance  to 
other  schools,  because  she  was  a  woman. 
She  had  studied  medicine  considerably 
with  physicians. 

1849.  March  3.  The  Department  of 
the  Interior  in  the  United  States  govern- 
ment was  organized  by  act  of  congress. 
Thomas  Ewing  of  Ohio  was  the  first 
secretary.  Indian  affairs  were  transferred 
to  this  department  by  order  of  the  gov- 
ernment. 

1849.  March  4.  Zachary  Taylor  of 
Louisiana  was  inaugurated  president, 
and  Millard  Fillmore  of  New  York, 
vice-president. 

1849.  April  19.  British  American 
League.  An  association  formed  in  the 
Canadas  to  promote  popular  interests, 
met  at  Montreal  for  organization.  They 
issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  Can- 
ada, expressing  their  dissatisfaction  over 
the  distresses  of  the  country. 

1849.  April  25.  The  Rebellion 
Losses'  Bill  was  signed  in  Canada  by 


536 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


the  governor-general,  indemnifying  those 
who  had  suffered  loss  of  property  through 
the  insurrection  of  the  provinces  pre- 
viously. Among  these  were  some  popular 
leaders.  An  excitement  bi'oke  out  at 
once.  All  Montreal  was  in  commotion. 
Bells  were  rung.  Gov.  Lord  Elgin  in 
leaving  the  council  chamber  in  his  car- 
riage, was  pelted  with  stones.  The  mob 
grew.  The  assembly  was  in  session. 
Thousands  were  around  the  building. 
An  assault  was  made.  Members  of  the 
assembly  fled.  Armed  men  seized  the 
hall.  The  building  was  on  fire.  Every- 
thing was  consumed,  including  bills, 
records,  etc.  It  was  an  irreparable  loss 
to  the  community.  The  next  day  four 
leaders  of  the  mob  were  ai'rested,  and 
there  was  danger  of  another  outbreak, 
but  by  an  effort  the  populace  was  kept 
quiet.  The  issue,  however,  was  a  great 
one,  and  the  situation  critical.  Order 
was  restored  in  May. 

1849.  April.  The  Dominican  Re- 
public of  Hayti,  W.  I.,  successfully  de- 
feated an  attempt  to  subjugate  it  by  the 
western  government  of  the  island. 

1849.  May.  The  Astor  Place  Opera 
House  riots  occurred  in  New  York  upon 
the  evenings  of  the  yth  and  loth  of  this 
month.  They  were  excited  by  the  friends 
of  Edwin  Forrest,  the  American  tragedi- 
an, against  W.  C.  Macready,  the  eminent 
English  actor,  then  on  a  visit  to  this 
country.  The  reason  was  an  alleged 
opposition  on  the  part  of  Macready  to 
Forrest  when  the  latter  visited  the  old 
world.  At  the  first  riot  no  harm  was 
done,  though  the  play  was  given  up  be- 
cause of  the  great  confusion.  At  the 
second  the  military  were  called  out  and 
could  not  disperse  the  immense  mob 
which  was  stoning  the  Opera  House, 
save  by  firing  into  them.  Twenty-two 


persons  were  killed,  and  many  others 
wounded.  The  riot  was  finally  broken 
up. 

JAMES  K.  POLK. 

1849.  June  15.  James  Knox  Polk, 
the  eleventh  president  of  the  United 
States,  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  after  an 
illness  of  a  few  days.  He  was  born  in 
Mecklenburg  Co.,  North  Carolina,  Nov. 
2,  1795.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  the 
family  was  large,  and  the  future  president 
obtained  his  education  under  difficulties. 
He,  however,  graduated  in  1818  from  the 
University  of  North  Carolina,  and  in 
1820  opened  a  law  office.  At  the  end  of 
five  years  he  was  elected  to  congress  by 
the  democratic  party.  This  position 
remained  his  for  fourteen  years,  when 
he  refused  a  re-election,  and  returned  to 
his  home,  where  he  was  made  governor 
of  Tennessee.  In  1844  Mr.  Polk  was 
elected  president  of  the  United  States, 
over  Mr.  Clay.  During  his  administra- 
tion Texas  was  annexed.  This  caused 
the  war  with  Mexico,  to  settle  the 
question  of  boundary  lines.  At  the  close 
of  his  term  Mr.  Polk  declined  being 
re-riominated,  and  immediately  left  for 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  in  three  months 
he  died. 

1849.  The  Asiatic  cholera  raged 
through  the  United  States  and  Mexico 
this  summer,  almost  depopulating  some 
western  cities.  An  enormous  number  of 
victims  fell  befoi'e  it.  There  were  six 
thousand  deaths  in  St.  Louis,  and  the 
same  number  in  Cincinnati. 

1849.  Aug.  3.  A  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer  was  appointed  by  the  president  of 
the  United  States,  in  view  of  the  visita- 
tion of  the  cholera. 

1849.  Aug.  26.  Gen,  Faustin  So- 
lougue,  president  of  western  Hayti,  as- 


1845-1859.] 

sumed  by  the  aid  of  the  negroes,  the  title 
of  Emperor  Faustin  I. 

1849.  August.  A  submarine  tele- 
graph was  laid  across  the  Hudson  at  Fort 
Lee.  The  order  for  this  was  the  first 
ever  given  for  wire  coated  with  gutta 
perch  a. 

1849.  Sept.  1.  A  convention  met  at 
Monterey,  Cal.,  to  prepare  a  constitution. 

1849.  Nov.  13.  A  constitution  pro- 
hibiting slavery  was  finally  adopted  for 
California,  by  the  convention  at  Monterey. 

1849.  The  Woman's  Medical  Col- 
lege of  Pennsylvania,  was  founded. 

1849.  A  great  fire  destroyed  a  third 
of  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  and  did  great 
damage  to  the  shipping  on  the  river.  . 

1849.  The  first  railroad  land  grant 
from  the  United  States  was  to  the  Mobile 
and  Ohio  company,  of  1,000,000  acres 
lying  along  the  route  from  Mobile  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio  River. 

1849.  Squatter  Sovereignty.  It  was 
now  urged  by  pro-slavery  men  in  con- 
gress that  the  occupants  of  the  territories 
should  decide  for  themselves  whether 
they  would  have  slavery  or  not.  Cali- 
fornia was  the  first  application  of  this 
principle,  and  voted  against  slavery,  to 
the  great  surprise  of  its  advocates. 

1849.  The  American  Nautical  Al- 
manac was  authorized,  and  Admiral 
Charles  Henry  Davis  was  appointed  its 
first  superintendent.  There  was  no  issue 
till  1853. 

1849.  Nov.  23.  Dr.  George  Park- 
man  of  Boston,  was  murdered  by  Prof. 
John  W.  Webster,  of  the  Cambridge 
Medical  College,  in  a  heat  of  passion 
over  some  financial  engagements  between 
them.  Prof.  Webster  had  a  long  trial, 
and  on  being  pronounced  guilty,  he  con- 
fessed the  deed,  and  suffered  the  full 
penalty  of  the  law. 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


537 


1849.  The  life  car  for  use  in  saving 
persons  from  wrecks  upon  the  coast,  was 
introduced  into  the  United  States.  Capt. 
Ottinger  of  the  United  States  revenue 
marine  invented  it.  Passengers  can  be 
landed  through  the  surf  with  perfect 
safety,  and  with  entire  freedom  from 
water,  even.  The  car  is  slid  back  and 
forth  upon  a  rope  which  has  previously 
been  thrown  across  the  wreck  by  a  rocket 
or  mortar. 

1849.  Minot's  Ledge  light-house 
was  completed,  off  the  coast  of  Massa- 
chusetts. It  was  in  one  of  the  most  diffi- 
cult spots  of  the  world  to  build  upon. 

1849.  An  artesian  well  was  begun  at 
St.  Louis,  which  was  completed  in  1854, 
at  a  depth  of  2,199  ^eet-  ^  discharges  at 
the  rate  of  75  gallons  per  minute.  The 
cost  was  more  than  $10,000. 

1849.  Narciso  Lopez,  a  Cuban  rev- 
olutionist, led  his  first  expedition,  called 
the  "  Round  Island  Expedition,"  from 
the  United  States,  to  attempt  the  libera- 
tion of  Cuba  from  the  Spanish  authority. 
Lopez  was  born  in  Venezuela,  S.  A.,  but 
had  lived  in  Cuba  for  many  years,  where 
he  had  been  prominent  in  office.  He 
finally  became  dissatisfied  because  of  the 
illiberal  policy  of  Spain  toward  the 
colonies,  and  resolved  upon  overthrowing 
Spanish  power  in  Cuba.  His  expedition 
of  this  year  was  a  complete  failure. 

1849.  A  representative  assembly 
was  held  at  Leon  by  Honduras,  San 
Salvador,  and  Nicaragua,  and  a  union 
formed  -under  title  of  National  Repre- 
sentation of  Central  America.  It  was 
afterward  ratified  by  these  states. 

"APOSTLE OF  TEMPERANCE." 

1849.  Father  Matthew,  the  great  Irish 
temperance  reformer,  visited  America, 
and  traveled  extensively  in  the  states, 


538 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


speaking  everywhere  in  his  simple  way 
to  great  crowds,  and  administering  the 
pledge  to  thousands.  He  was  received 
in  all  places  with  great  enthusiasm,  and 
gave  the  pledge  in  America  to  600,000 
persons.  His  welcome  in  Washington, 
Philadelphia,  and  Boston,  was  universal. 
In  his  own  country  his  work  had  been 
very  great.  Directness  and  earnestness 
marked  all  his  procedures.  The  tem- 
perance cause  owes  very  much  to  this 
advocate  of  it. 

JOHN  0.  CALHOUN. 

1850.  March  31.  This  eminent  Amer- 
ican scholar  and  statesman  died  at  Wash- 
ington, at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years. 
A  remarkable  life  closed  when  John  C. 
Calhoun  passed  away.  He  was  one  of 
the  giants  of  the  political  period  in  our 
history. 

In  1733  an  Irish  Presbyterian,  named 
James  Calhoun,  camfe  to  America,  and 
after  having  lived  in  Pennsylvania  a 
while,  moved  to  Virginia  and  took  up 
his  abode  on  the  Kanawha  River. 
But  peace  was  not  possible  here,  inas- 
much as  the  Indians  of  the  region  were 
excited  over  the  English  attempts  to  es- 
tablish a  fort  in  western  Pennsylvania. 
The  family  found  a  refuge  in  South 
Carolina,  and  formed  a  Calhoun  settle- 
ment in  Abbeville  county.  Indian  troubles 
still  occurred  here,  and  the  members  of 
the  family  became  disciplined  in  Indian 
warfare.  James  Calhoun  had  a  son 
named  Patrick,  who  became  an  energetic 
citizen,  and  who  married  in  1770  a  young 
woman  named  Martha  Caldwell,  whose 
parents  were  likewise  Irish  Presbyterian 
emigrants.  On  March  18,  1782,  there 
was  born  to  this  young  couple  a  son,  the 
third  since  their  marriage,  whom  they 
named  John  Caldwell  Calhoun.  The 


predominance  of  mental  traits  showed 
itself  in  the  boy,  from  his  earliest  years. 
At  the  same  time  a  strong  character 
showed  itself  to  be  unfolding.  Religious 
training  of  a  careful  and  distinct  sort 
was  given  the  future  politician  by  his 
earnest  parents.  The  property  of  the 
household  was  not  very  large,  and  when 
Patrick  Calhoun  died,  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren inherited  not  much  beside  the  need 
of  self-support.  John  worked  on  the 
farm  in  a  diligent  and  thoughtful  way, 
lest  in  attempting  to  secure  the  great 
desire  of  his  heart,  a  good  education,  he 
should  embarrass  his  mother  financially. 
He  had  already  begun  to  read  with  great 
ardor  in  both  history  and  metaphysics. 
But  finally  an  agreement  was  made  with 
the  household  that  he  should  be  assisted 
for  seven  years  in  fitting  himself  for  the 
practice  of  law.  With  this  arrangement 
he  began  systematic  study  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  years.  In  1804  he  was  gradu- 
ated from  Yale  College,  and  was  pro- 
nounced at  the  close  of  his  course  a  young 
man  of  extreme  promise.  Having  studied 
law  for  a  time  at  Litchfield,  Conn.,  he 
once  more  went  to  his  old  home  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  law,  after 
having  been  admitted  to  the  bar.  The 
agitation  of  the  country  over  French  and 
English  encroachments  upon  American 
shipping  and  commerce,  took  hold  of  his 
earnest  spirit,  and  it  was  not  long  before 
the  attention  of  the  people  began  to  turn 
toward  him  as  a  strong  and  able  helper 
in  discussion  and  legislative  enactments. 
He  was  soon  chosen  to  the  state  legisla- 
ture, where  he  remained  until  he  was 
promoted  to  congress  in  1811.  Marriage 
and  the  establishment  of  a  new  home 
now  took  his  attention  for  a  time.  By 
his  wife,  Floride  Calhoun,  a  second 
cousin,  he  came  into  property  sufficient 


1845-1859.] 

for  all  ordinary  purposes.  They  settled 
at  Bath,  on  the  Savannah  River,  a  few 
miles  from  Abbeville  where  the  home- 
stead was.  War  with  Great  Britain  was 
now  the  decisive  question  in  the  politics 
of  the  day.  The  opponents  of  war  were 
losing  power.  The  fresh  indignities 
committed  by  English  shipping  at  last 
told  upon  large  numbers  of  those  who  at 
first  had  been  inclined  to  peace.  John  C. 
Calhoun  be- 
longed decidedly 
to  the  war  party. 
His  energy  and 
ability  helped 
very  largely  to 
shape  the  war 
legislation  which 
ensued  upon  his 
entrance  into  con- 
gress in  Novem- 
ber, 1811.  Cal- 
houn was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  com- 
mittee 011  For- 
eign Relations, 
and  with  his 
f  r  i  e  nd  s  fro  m 
South  Carolina, 
Cheves  and 
Lowndes,  took 
an  important 
place  in  the  dis- 
cussion of  naval  and  commercial  affairs  of 
all  kinds.  During  the  war  he  was  the 
champion  of  a  specie-paying  national 
bank,  and  fought  with  great  power  and 
success  the  opposing  schemes  of  Mr. 
Dallas  and  others,  who  regarded  Mr. 
Calhoun's  bill  as  inadequate.  After  a 
long  period  of  debate  and  of  tentative 
efforts,  a  bill  involving  many  of  Mr. 
Calhoun's  ideas  was  drawn  up  and 
passed,  but  vetoed  by  President  Madison. 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


539 


JOHN   C.   CALHOUN 


At  the  occurrence  of  peace,  which  came 
almost  immediately,  the  necessity  les- 
sened, and  the  bill  was  not  renewed.  But 
before  long*  the  financial  distress  of  the 
country  revived  the  project  in  another 
form,  and  through  the  efforts  of  Mr. 
Calhoun  a  United  States  Bank  was 
chartered.  At  the  beginning  of  Presi- 
dent Monroe's  term  of  service,  Mr.  Cal- 
houn was  made  secretary  of  war.  In 
this  position  he 
made  a  great  im- 
provement in  all 
the  existing  ar- 
rangements and 
•financial  condi- 
tion of  the  de- 
partment. In  the 
presidential  elec- 
tion at  the  close 
of  Monroe's  sec- 
ond term,  Mr. 
Calhoun  was 
chosen  vice-pres- 
ident. In  1828, 
through  the 
opposition  to 
Adams,  Gen. 
Jackson  was  elec- 
te'd  president, 
with  Mr.  Cal- 
houn chosen  to  a 
second  term  as 
vice-president.  The  tariff"  question  now 
came  to  the  front,  and  in  this  connection 
Mr.  Calhoun  erected  his  famous  structure 
of  nullification  through  wishing  to  abolish 
the  protective  duty  upon  imports.  This 
brought  on  the  famous  debate  in  congress 
between  Hayne  and  Webster,  which  has 
had  such  renown  in  legislative  annals. 
Difficulties  between  Jackson  and  Calhoun 
led  to  still  further  agitation,  and  before 
1832  was  over  the  crisis  had  come,  and 


540 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT, 


the  need  was  met  only  by  the  energy 
and  decision  of  Jackson.  South  Carolina 
could  not  go  out  of  the  Union  while  such 
a  man  was  at  the  head  of  affairs.  Mr. 
Calhoun  was  now  in  the  United  States 
senate,  where  he  remained  for  years  a 
strong  debater,  an  eloquent  reasoner,  a 
clear  speaker,  in  all  which  makes  up 
forensic  excellence.  He  was  always  ac- 
tive and  prominent  during  his  term  of 
service.  He  attempted  to  take  no  narrow 
view  of  national  questions,  and  did  what 
he  did  simply  to  preserve  the  position  of 
the  South  in  a  position  of  peace  and 
content.  The  development  of  the  slavery 
question  found  him  anxious  about  the 
Union,  and  constantly  devising  some- 
thing to  add  to  the  general  course  of 
thought  upon  it.  He  labored  in  the 
senate  till  pulmonary  disease  laid  its  hand 
so  severely  upon  him  that  he  sank  back 
at  last  from  a  speech  in  such  a  feeble  con- 
dition, as  to  take  his  bed  and  die.  His 
life  was  one  of  great  vigor.  A  remark- 
able power  in  conversation  added  a 
charm  to  his  private  life,  which  was  of 
great  worth.  He  lived,  after  his  service 
as  secretary  of  war,  in  Pickens  Co., 
South  Carolina,  where  his  estate,  known 
as  Fort  Hill,  testified  to  his  interest  and 
ability  in  agriculture.  Honor  marked  all 
his  actions  and  bearing  toward  others. 
The  striking  characteristic  in  his  personal 
appearance  was  found  in  his  eyes, 
although  his  whole  countenance  was  ex- 
pressive. The  life  of  John  C.  Calhoun 
presents  features  which  are  worthy  of 
study.  The  career  he  pursued  is  a 
marked  one  in  the  annals  of  our  nation. 


1850.  May  3.  A  great  fire  in  San 
Francisco  burned  $10,000,000  worth  of 
property,  including  custom  house,  hotels, 
nnd  some  of  the  finest  buildings  in  the 


city.  The  fire  broke  out  in  a  paint-shop- 
Destructive  fires  occurred  this  year  at 
Stockton  and  Nevada  City. 

1850.  May  19.  Lopez  landed  at 
Cardenas,  Cuba,  with  his  second  expedi- 
tion which  he  had  fitted  out  in  the  United 
States.  He  had  about  six  hundred  men, 
who  had  sailed  from  New  Orleans  as 
emigrants  for  the  Isthmus  of  Panama. 
They  captured  Cardenas,  but  were 
shortly  after  broken  up.  Some  were 
captured  and  executed,  but  Lopez  escaped. 

1850.  June  17.  The  Griffith  was 
lost  on  Lake  Erie,  with  300  lives. 

ZdCH&RY  TAYLOR. 

1850.  July  9.  Zachary  Taylor,  the 
twelfth  president  of  the  United  States, 
died  in  Washington  after  having  served 
in  his  office  but  a  little  over  a  year.  He 
was  born  in  Virginia  Sept.  24,  1 784,  but 
when  a  small  boy  his  father  moved  to 
Kentucky,  where  he  lived  until  he  was 
twenty-four  years  old.  At  that  time  he 
was  given  a  commission  in  the  army, 
made  vacant  by  the  death  of  his  brother. 
He  soon  rose  in  rank,  and  after  the  be- 
ginning of  hostilities  with  Great  Britain, 
the  command  of  Fort  Har-  1770-1350. 
rison  was  put  into  his  hands.  Words-tuorth. 
In  September,  1812,  this  post  was 
attacked  by  the  Indians,  and  it  was  only 
after  a  most  desperate  struggle  that  the 
little  band  of  fifty  repulsed  the  assailants. 
For  his  courage  on  this  occasion  Capt. 
Taylor  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
brevet-major.  From  this  time  he  was 
prominent  in  the  command  against  the 
Indians,  either  on  the  Northwestern  bor- 
der or  in  Florida,  until  1846,  when  he 
was  sent  to  guard  the  land  between 
the  Neuces  and  Rio  Grande,  the  latter 
river  being  the  boundary  for  Texas 
claimed  by  the  United  States.  His  bril- 


1845-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


541 


liant  victories  against  the  Mexicans 
caused  his  name  to  be  widely  known, 
and  when  in  1847  "Old  Rough  and 
Ready "  was  nominated  for  the  presi- 
dency, he  was  so  enthusiastically  sup- 
ported that  he  was  elected.  He  was  not 
destined,  however,  long  to  fill  this  posi- 
tion, and  the  nation  was  soon  called  to 
mourn  a  conscientious,  just,  and  cou- 
rageous, although  unstatesmanlike  pres- 
ident. He  died  at  the  executive  mansion 
after  an  illness  of  five  days. 


1850.      July   10.      Millard   Fillmore 

was  inaugurated  president  of  the  United 
States,  according  to  the  provisions  of  the 
Constitution. 

1850.  September.  The  Fugitive 
Slave  Law  was  passed  as  one  of  the 
parts  into  which  Henry  Clay's  '  "  Omni- 
bus Bill "  had  been  divided.  This  bill 
was  introduced  as  a  compromise,  and  the 
whole  matter  became  known  as  the 
"  Compromise  of  1850."  By  this  law 
an  escaped  slave  could  be  taken  wher- 
ever found,  and  no  one  could  aid  in  the 
escape  of  such  a  fugitive  except  upon  pain 
of  severe  penalties.  This  law,  obnoxious 
to  large  numbers  in  the  northern  states, 
led  to  the  famous  "  Underground  Rail- 
road "  for  running  fugitives  into  Canada. 
It  became  a  law  through  the  signature 
of  President  Millard  Fillmore.  The 
other  measures  of  the  "  Omnibus  Bill  " 
were  the  admission  of  California  as  a 
free  state,  the  erection  of  New  Mexico 
and  Utah  into  territories,  leaving  the 
question  of  slavery  to  be  decided  by  their 
inhabitants ;  and  the  abolition  of  the  slave- 
trade  within  the  District  of  Columbia. 

1850.  Sept.  9.  California  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  union  as  the  thirty-first 
state.  A  bitter  struggle  occurred  over 
its  admission  as  a  free  state,  but  it  was 


finally  accomplished  by  means  of  Henry  . 
Clay's  "  Omnibus  Bill."     California  has 
397,994  square  miles,  and  789,617  inhabi- 
tants in   1880.     Its  motto  is  "Eureka;" 
"  I  have  found  it." 

1850.  September.  Jenny  Lind  ar- 
rived in  the  United  States.  She  had 
engaged  with  P.  T.  Barnum  to  give  150 
concerts.  A  great  excitement  was  aroused 
during  the  sale  of  the  first  tickets  in  New 
York.  The  first  choice  of  seats  for  her 
first  concert  was  bought  at  a  premium  of 
several  hundred  dollars.  She  received 
t$  10,000  for  this  concert  alone,  but  gave 
it  all  away.  Her  reception  through  the 
country  was  very  enthusiastic. 

185O.  Oct.  10.  Three  hundred  lead- 
ing men  of  Montreal  within  five  hours 
signed  a  memorial  in  favor  of  annexing 
Canada  to  the  United  States. 

1850.  October.  An  alleged  fugitive 
slave  was  captured  in  Detroit.  Such  an 
excitement  arose  that  the  military  had  to 
be  called  out.  The  citizens  finally  raised 
$500,  and  bought  him  of  his  claimant. 

1850.  October.  William  and  Ellen 
Crafts,  living  in  Boston,  were  claimed  as 
fugitive  slaves  by  agents  from  Georgia, 
who  were  in  turn  arrested  for  kidnapping, 
and  put  under  bonds.  They  finally  left 
the  place.  The  two  alleged  fugitives 
were  sent  to  England. 

1850.  Dec.  23.  A  fugitive  slave 
named  Henry  Long  was  arrested  in  New 
York,  and  returned  to  his  claimant  by 
United  States  Judge  Judson. 

1850.  The  seventh  census  of  the 
United  States  gave  a  population  of  23,- 
191,876  persons.  It  was  taken  at  a  cost 
of  $1,329,027.53.  The  increase  since 
1840  had  been  35.83  per  cent. 

1850.  The  Clayton-Bulwer  treaty 
was  concluded  between  the  United  States 
and  England,  according  to  which  all  in- 


542 

ter-oceanic  communications  across  Nica- 
ragua or  the  Isthmus  should  be  mutual  in 
their  character,  and  should  be  encouraged 
by  both  nations. 

1850.  The  Donation  Law  was  passed 
by  congress,  giving  to  every  settler  in 
Oregon  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land,  and  an  equal  amount  to  his  wife, 
upon  condition  that  the  same  should  be 
occupied  before  Dec.  ist,  and  that  they 
-would  live  upon  it  four  years.  This  law 
stimulated  the  marriage  of  settlers,  and 
very  few  unmarried  daughters  could  be 
found  for  a  while  in  that  region.  Girls 
of  fourteen  years  of  age  in  many  instances 
became  wives. 

1850.  A  Society  of  Painters  in  water 
colors,  the  first  in  the  United  States,  was 
organized,  but  was  not  a  success.  A  long 
interval  ensued  till  1866. 

1850.  "Uncle  Tom's  Cabin,"  by 
Harriet  Beecher  Stowe,  first  appeared  as 
a  serial  in  the  "  National  Era,"  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  This  novel  began  at  once 
to  excite  an  interest,  and  has  sold  steadily 
from  that  time  to  this.  It  has  been  trans- 
lated into  many  different  languages,  and 
been  spread  broadcast  over  the  world. 
Much  of  the  anti-slavery  sentiment  of  re- 
cent years  has  been  moulded  or  strength- 
ened by  it.  The  moment  of  its  issue  was 
propitious  in  the  extreme.  Hundreds  of 
thousands  of  its  volumes  have  been  sold, 
in  this  and  other  lands.  It  hasfleen  criti- 
cised by  a  very  few  writers,  among  them 
Mary  Russell  Mitford,  as  grossly  untrue 
and  sensational. 

1850.  Boston  Watch  Company.  The 
manufacture  of  American  watches  began 
at  Roxbury,  Mass.,  by  Aaron  Dennison, 
Edward  Howard,  and  Samuel  Curtis. 
Mr.  Dennison  traveled  abroad  and  studied 
that  line  of  work.  He  and  Mr.  Howard 
invented  the  process  of  making  the 


parts  of  a  watch  by  machinery.  These 
men  erected  the  first  building  in  the 
world  for  such  a  purpose.  The  business 
was  continued  at  Roxbury  till  1854, 
when  it  was  moved  to  Waltham. 

1850.  An  Arctic  expedition  undei 
Lieut.  E.  J.  DeHaven,  fitted  up  by  Henry 
Grinnell  of  New  York,  sailed  in  search 
of  Sir  John  Franklin.  Dr.  Elisha  Kent 
Kane  was  naturalist  and  surgeon  to  the 
expedition.  This  was  the  first  United 
States  expedition  of  search. 

NORTHWEST  PASSAGE. 

1850.  The  long-sought  passage  was 
discovered  by  Capt.  McClure,  who,  in 
the  "  Investigator,"  had  passed  through 
Behring's  Strait,  and  spent  two  years  on 
the  north  shore  of  America,  returning 
home  through  Davis'  Straits.  In  1855 
Capt.  McClure  received  .£5,000  which 
had  been  offered  for  this  discovery,  and 
was  knighted. 

1850.  Gen.  Solouque  was  crowned 
Emperor  of  Hayti,  and  at  once  by  his 
oppressive  government  began  to  cause 
agitation  among  his  subjects. 

1850.  All  slave  traffic  was  finally 
abolished  in  Brazil. 

1850.  The  first  railroad  ever  built  in 
South  America  was  opened  between  the 
seaport  Caldera  and  the  mining  districts 
of  Copiapo.     It  was  one  hundred   and 
one  miles  long. 

1851.  Feb.  15.    The  Shadrach  Case. 
A  popular  tumult  was  caused  in  Boston 
by    the    arrest    of  Shadrach,    a    fugitive 
slave.     He  was  rescued  by  a  mob  from 
the  officers  in  the  court  room,  after  he  had 
been  held  over  for  trial. 

1851.  March.  The  steamer  Oregon 
exploded  and  burned  upon  the  Mississippi 
River,  with  a  loss  of  sixty  lives. 


1845-1859.] 

1851.    April  2.    A  severe  earthquake 

visited  the  region  of  Chili, 

MSI.    Caffrein-     aroun(i  Santiago.     A  large 

surrsction    in 

So.  Afnca.  amount  of  property  was 

destroyed. 

1851.  April  3.  The  Sims  Case.  The 
fugitive  Sims  was  arrested,  and  the  law 
was  successfully  enforced  in  his  return  to 
his  claimant. 

1851.  April  16.  Minot's  Ledge 
light-house  was  carried  away  in  a  ter- 
rible storm  which  raged  along  the  At- 
lantic coast.  Sixty  iron  piles,  each  ten 
inches  in  diameter,  were  twisted  off  by 
the  winds  and  the  waves.  The  piles 
were  covered  with  ice,  and  made  the  de- 
struction more  certain. 

1851.  May  3-5.  A  great  fire  raged 
in  San  Francisco,  destroying  2,500  build- 
ings and  many  lives.  It  burned  $3,500,- 
ooo  worth  of  property. 

1851.  May  4.  A  great  fire  in  St. 
Louis  destroyed  three-fourths  of  the  city. 
The  loss  was  estimated  at  $11,000,000. 

1851.  May  23.  Charles  L.  Brace, 
an  American,  was  arrested  in  Hungary 
on  the  charge  of  promoting  revolutionary 
movements. 

1851.  May  26.  A  riot  occurred  in 
Hoboken,  N.  J.,  between  Germans  and 
"  short-boy  "  roughs  from  New  York. 
Several  parties  were  killed. 

1851.  June  22.  Another  great  fire 
burned  500  buildings  in  San  Francisco, 
at  a  loss  of  $3,000,000. 

1851.  July  1.  The  reform  postage 
bill  went  into  effect,  making  postage 
very  nearly  what  it  is  at  present. 

1851.  Aug.  11.  Lopez  lauded  at 
Morillo,  Cuba,  with  nearly  500  men, 
whom  he  had  enlisted  in  the  United 
States,  but  his  force,  which  he  had 
divided  into  two  detachments,  was  speed- 
ily overcome,  the  expected  aid  from 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


543 


Cuba  not  being  realized.  Lopez  himself 
took  refuge  in  the  mountains,  but  was 
captured,  and  executed  by  garrote.  Fili- 
bustering efforts  upon  Cuba  caused  great 
agitation  in  the  United  States  this  year. 
A  great  riot  occurred  in  New  Orleans  in 
August,  and  Spanish  citizens  were  as- 
sailed. The  governor  of  Mississippi  was 
arrested  in  February  for  aiding  an 
expedition. 

1851.  Aug.  22.  The  yacht  America, 
of  one  hundred  and  seventy  tons,  built  in 
the  United  States  by  George  Steers  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  com- 

J  1851.  Large  gold 

manded  by  Com.  John  C.  fields  discovered 
Stevens,  carried  off  the  inA^alia- 
prize,  the  "  cup  of  all  nations,"  in  a  race 
at  Cowes,  England,  to  which  all  the 
world  had  been  invited.  The  America 
was  the  first  yacht  to  cross  the  ocean, 
and  excited  much  attention  on  the 
Thames.  She  was  built  after  the  cele- 
brated Baltimore  clipper  style.  This 
victory  greatly  changed  yacht-building 
abroad.  American  yachts  have  made  as 
much  as  eighteen  miles  an  hour. 

1851.  August.  A  volcano  burst  forth 
in  Martinique,  after  a  long  period  of 
inactivity. 

1851.  Sept.  11.  A  fugitive  slave 
was  attacked  in  Christiana,  Penn.,  by  an 
armed  force  under  a  deputy  marshal.  A 
conflict  occurred  in  which  the  Mary  lander, 
who  professed  to  own  the  slave,  was  shot 
dead.  A  crowd  had  collected,  and  many 
of  them  refused  to  aid  in  1851.  Submarine 
the  capture.  The  fugitive  telegraph  be- 

j      T<U     TT    "i.    J  Oi.  tween  Dover  and 

escaped.  The  United  States  Calais  put  into 
government  at  once  took  use> 
steps  to  have  the  whites  indicted. 
Seventy-eight  indictments  were  issued 
against  thirty-nine  persons.  The  first 
one,  Castner  Hanway,  was  brought  up 
for  trial  on  the  charge  "  of  wickedly  and 


544 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


traitorously  levying  war  against  the 
United  States."  He  was  simply  proved 
to  have  fceen  near  the  scene  on  horseback, 
and  to  have  refused  to  aid  in  the  capture, 
and  was  released  without  punishment. 
After  one  or  two  more  prosecutions  the 
government  dropped  their  task,  having 
spent  about  $70,000  on  it. 

1851.  September.  A  formidable  in- 
surrection occurred  in  Chili,  and  well- 
nigh  overthrew  the  government.  The 
mi.  World's  country  suffered  much  in 
Fair  opened  at  society  and  trade.  The  re- 

London.  ,.  c       ,,  , 

volt  was  finally  put  down 
with  great  loss  of  life.  Don  Manuel 
Montt  was  president  during  these  trying 
times.  He  was  a  very  able  man,  and 
his  administration  was  full  of  progress. 
No  revolution  has  since  taken  place  in 
Chili. 

1851.  Oct.  19.  A  constitution  was 
adopted  in  Guatamala,  which  bears  some 
resemblance  to  the  United  States  consti- 
tution. 

1851.  October.  A  line  of  soundings 
across  the  Atlantic  for  a  submarine  tele- 
graph was  begun  by  the  United  States 
brig  Dolphin. 

1851.  Nov.  20.  A  frightful  catas- 
trophe occurred  in  ward  school-house 
No.  26,  New  York  city,  containing  over 
i, 800  children.  An  alarm  spread  from 
a  call  for  water  for  a  fainting  teacher, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  whole  mass  of 
children  was  struggling  through  the  halls. 
About  fifty  were  killed  by  falling  or  by 
suffocation,  and  many  others  were 
injured. 

1851.  Dec.  5.  Louis  Kossuth,  the  great 
Hungarian  patriot,  arrived  in  the  United 
States  upon  the  war  steamer  Mississippi, 
which  had  been  sent  to  Europe  for  him 
by  the  United  States  government.  He 
came  as  a  guest  of  the  American  people, 


and  was  received  with  such  honor  as  is 
given  to  very  few.  The  1851_  ^^  Na. 
claims  of  Austria  and  Rus-  poieon  seizes  the 

,  .  ,.          ,  .  government  of 

sia  upon  him  after  his  es-  France  by  coup 
cape  from  Hungary  to  <Tttat. 
Turkey,  were  surrendered  at  the  solicita- 
tion of  England  and  the  United  States. 
He  spoke  in  behalf  of  European  liberty 
in  all  the  larger  cities  of  our  land,  and 
raised  sums  of  money  in  behalf  of  his 
own  people.  He  remained  in  the  United 
States  about  eight  months.  His  course 
through  the  land  was  one  continued 
ovation. 

1851.  David  Kinnison,  said  to  be 
the  last  survivor  of  the  men  who  threw 
the  tea  over  in  Boston  harbor  at  the  out- 
break of  the  Revolution,  died  in  Chicago, 

*  O       7 

aged  115  years. 

1851.  The  first  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association  in  America  was  organ- 

O 

ized  in  Montreal.  - 

1851.     Maine    Liquor    Law.     Maine 
was  the  first  state  to  prohibit  the  sale  of 
intoxicating  liquors,  and  her    nsg-issi. 
law  has  since  become  cele-  Daguerre. 

brated  in  this  and  other  lands.  Gen. 
Neal  Dow  was  the  prime  mover  in  such 
legislation. 

1851.  Dec.  24.  The  Library  of  the 
United  States,  in  the  capitol  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  was  very  largely  destroyed 
by  fire.  Thirty-five  thousand  volumes 
out  of  55,000  were  burned,  together  with 
many  valuable  paintings,  medals,  and 
statues,  some  of  them  incapable  of  being 
duplicated. 

1851.  The  Grinnell  Arctic  Expedi- 
tion returned  without  trace  of  Franklin. 
Dr.  Kane  published  a  narrative  of  the 
voyage,  which  attracted  much  attention. 

1851.  The  California  Vigilance  Com- 
mittee was  organized  in  San  Francisco, 
because  of  the  multiplication  of  thieves 


1845-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


545 


and  murderers,  who,  through  the  laxity 
of  the  laws,  overran  the  state  without  fear 
of  control  or  punishment.  The  commit- 
tee consisted  of  large  numbers  of  the  best 
citizens  of  the  city,  with  a  full  organiza- 
tion, and  rooms  for  meetings  and  trials. 
Several  executions  occurred,  when  life 
1775-1851.  an<3  property  began  to  be 

Turner,  more  secure.  The  same 
plan  was  adopted  in  Sacramento  and 
other  places. 

1851.  A  monster  sea  serpent  is  alleged 
to  have  been  seen  on  the  coast  of  New 
England  at  several  times  during  the  sum- 
mer by  different  parties,  who  claim  that 
they  could  not  have  been  mistaken  in  the 
nature  of  the  object.  Most  naturalists 
believe  the  accounts  to  be  fabulous, 
though  many  think  it  possible  for  such  a 
creature  to  exist.  The  testimony  places 
the  length  of  the  body  at  about  one  hun- 
dred feet,  with  a  proportionate  size. 
Persons  of  great  intelligence  and  integ- 
rity are  among  those  who  claim  to  have 
seen  this  object.  It  was  observed  by 
some  of  them  quite  near  the  shore  in 
several  cases. 

1851.  An  English  lock,  on  exhibition 
at  the  World's  Fair  in  London,  was 
1803-1851.  Doug-  picked  by  Mr.  Hobbs,  an 
las  jerroid.  American.  Messrs.  Bra- 
mah,  lockmakers,  had  offered  .£200  to 
any  one  who  would  do  it.  Mr.  Hobbs 
afterward  invented  a  lock  which  no 
English  locksmiths  could  pick,  but  finally 
yielded  to  Mr.  Linus  Yale,  Jr.,  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 

1851.  The  first  cheese  factory  in  the 
world  was  started  in  Oneida  county,  N. 
Y.,  by  Jesse  Williams.  Mr.  Williams 
first  made  cheese  from  his  own  dairy, 
then  from  his  son's,  and  gradually  from 
others',  till  he  had  a  large  business. 

1851.  Starvation  Beach.   Capt.  Gard- 

35 


ner  and  a  company  in  attempting  to 
settle  on  Fuego  for  the  benefit  of  the 
natives,  died  of  hunger  in  a  short  time. 

1851.  Revolutionary  movements  oc- 
curred in  Mexico,  Nicaragua,  Chili,  and 
Ecuador.     In    both   Ecuador  and  Nica- 
ragua   the  presidents  were  deposed  and 
imprisoned. 

1852.  Jan.  1.     Slavery  was  abolished 
in  the  republic  of  New  Granada,  accord- 
ing to  a  law  of  1851. 

1852.  Feb.  1.  A  great  fire  con- 
sumed the  Ohio  State  House,  with  a  great 
portion  of  the  records. 

1852.  Feb.  3.  Fall  of  Rosas.  Rosas, 
dictator  of  the  Argentine  Confederation, 
was  totally  defeated  by  the  army  of  the 
provinces  under  Gen.  Urquiza.  Rosas 
fled  to  England.  Vincente  Lopez  was 
made  provisional  governor  of  Buenos 
Ayres,  but  Urquiza  afterward  gained 
power,  much  to  the  discomfort  of  his  old 
supporters.  The  whole  year  was  one  of 
commotion. 

1852.  Feb.  16.  A  mob  assailed  and 
ruined  the  Homeopathic  College  at  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  because  of  the  taking  of  some 
remains  from  the  burial  ground  for  dis- 
section. 

1852.  May.  The  first  plenary  coun- 
cil of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  in  the 
United  States,  was  held  at  Baltimore. 
Archbishop  Francis  P.  Kenrick  presided. 

1852.  June  1.  The  democratic  party, 
in  a  convention  at  Baltimore,  nominated 
Franklin  Pierce  of  New  Hampshire,  for 
president,  and  William  R.  King  of  Ala- 
bama, for  vice-president.  It  1852-  Empire 

•     j  j    ,1        -r-r  i  ,      established  in 

indorsed  the  Kentucky  and  Francebyvoteof 
Virginia  resolutions  of  1 798,  people.  Napo- 

1    j        j  ,  lean  III.   em- 

pledged     support     to     the    peror 
Compromise  of  1850,  including  the  Fugi- 
tive Slave  Law. 

1852.      June    16.      The   whig   party 


546 


POLITICAL  DE  VEL  OPMENT. 


held  the  last  nominating-  convention  in 
its  history,  and  put  up  Gen.  Winfield 
Scott  of  Virginia,  for  president,  and 
William  A.  Graham  of  North  Carolina, 
for  vice-president.  It  likewise  indorsed 
the  Compromise  of  1850,  including  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law. 

1852.  June  24.  The  first  national 
agricultural  convention  was  held  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  Delegates  were  pres- 
ent from  twenty-two  states,  and  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia. 

HENRY  CLAY. 

1852.  June  29. 
Henry  Clay,  the 
able  political  lead- 
er and  thinker,  died 
in  Washington,  af- 
ter a  decline  of 
some  months,  at 
the  age  of  seventy- 
five  years.  His 
death  removed  one 
of  the  strong,  em- 
phatic minds  of 
the  period,  from  its 
place  among  our 
•statesmen.  His 
birthplace  was 
humble.  It  was  in 
the  region  known 
as  the  slashes  of  Virginia,  now  Hanover 
county,  near  Richmond.  Henry  was  the 
fifth  child  in  a  family  of  seven.  The 
father  was  a  Baptist  preacher,  and  died 
when  Henry  was  about  five  years  old. 
Small  advantages  for  education  could  be 
given  the  growing  children.  The 
mother's  influence  was  one  of  great  ex- 
tent and  worth,  but  through  her  second 
marriage  and  I'emoval  to  Kentucky, 
Henry  was  left  to  himself  at  the  age  of 
fifteen,  he  having  obtained  a  chance  to  re- 


HENRY   CLAY. 


main  in  Richmond  as  a  copyist  in  the 
office  of  the  clerk  of  chancery.  His 
mind  soon  took  on  that  strong,  ardent 
movement,  which  marked  it  all  his  life. 
At  nineteen  years  of  age  he  began  to 
study  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  November,  1797,  when  in  his  twenty- 
first  year.  Many  things  conspired  to 
make  him  successful  from  the  start.  But 
instead  of  settling  down  in  Virginia,  his 
mind  turned  toward  the  section  into 
which  emigration 
was  pouring  in  a 
constant  stream, 
and  he  finally  re- 
moved in  1 799,  to 
Lexington,  Ky. 
His  personal  bear- 
ing won  him  many 
friends  at  the  very 
first,  and  it  was 
soon  evident  that 
his  career  would  be 
a  public  one.  A 
state  convention 
was  held  in  1799, 
for  the  revision  of 
the  constitution. 
Slavery  had  made 
a  deep  impression 
upon  Mr.  Clay,  and 
he  bent  all  his  pow- 
ers to  the  securing  of  a  constitution  under 
which  slavery  could  not  exist.  He  labored 
with  great  earnestness  to  have  such  dele- 
gates as  would  favor  this,  elected  to  the 
convention.  He  believed  that  gradual 
emancipation  should  be  provided  for. 

He  entered  the  legislature  of  Kentucky 
in  1804,  and  the  United  States  senate  in 
1806,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  to  fill  out 
a  term  left  vacant  by  resignation.  Politi- 
cal life  either  in  his  own  state  or  in  the 
U.  S.  congress,  claimed  Mr.  Clay's  atten- 


CRYSTAL  LAKE,   CALIFORNIA. 


A   STREET  IN   SAN   FRANCISCO. 


547 


1845-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


549 


tion  from  this  time  on.  In  the  approach- 
ing hostilities  with  Great  Britain  he  stood 
with  the  war  party.  Upon  entering  the 
House  of  Representatives  in  181 i,  for  the 
first  time,  he  was  chosen  speaker  at  once, 
a  very  unusual  circumstance,  and  very 
complimentary  to  Mr.  Clay.  In  his 
official  position  he  tried  to  lead  the  body 
toward  a  declaration  of  war.  During 
these  years  he  was  a  vehement  speaker, 
and  in  some  instances  aroused  strong  feel- 
ings by  his  stinging  remarks.  Especially 
1769-1852.  Duke  severe  were  his  criticisms  of 
of  Wellington.  tne  federal  party.  Very 
soon  came  the  negotiations  for  peace. 
Mr.  Clay  was  made  a  member  of  the 
commission,  and  spent  several  months  in 
Europe  after  the  execution  of  the  treaty 
of  Ghent.  He  returned  by  reelection  to 
the  House  of  Representatives,  and  was 
both  a  member  and  speaker  of  that  body 
till  1825,  save  for  one  term.  During  this 
time  he  still  further  extended  his  reputa- 
tion as  a  friend  of  humanity  by  the  strong 
efforts  he  made  to  secure  a  recognition  of 
the  independence  of  the  South  American 
republics.  He  also  was  largely  instru- 
mental in  securing  a  recognition  of 
Greece.  Thirty-seven  electoral  votes  for 
Mr.  Clay  as  president  of  the  United 
States,  were  cast  in  the  famous  campaign 
of  1824.  Under  J.  Q.  Adams  he  was 
secretary  of  state.  In  the  Jackson  cam- 
paign of  1832  he  also  ran,  and  received 
electoral  votes  from  six  states.  Efforts 
were  made  to  obtain  the  nomination  of 
the  whig  party  for  him  in  1839,  but  his 
friends  were  overruled,  and  Gen.  Harrison 
was  nominated.  In  1844116  received  the 
nomination,  but  was  defeated  by  Mr. 
Polk,  the  democratic  candidate.  His 
chief  service  during  these  later  years  was 
in  the  U.  S.  senate.  Strong  feelings  and 
deep  convictions  marked  Mr.  Clay's 


career.  But  he  was  never  averse  to  a 
frank  declaration  of  a  change  of  views,  if 
such  had  occurred.  Immediate  emanci- 
pation never  obtained  favor  with  him. 
The  protection  of  American  industries  by 
a  tariff  seemed  to  him  of  paramount  im- 
portance. He  also  urged  and  defended 
internal  improvements  at  national  ex- 
pense. His  sympathies  were  very  broad, 
and  his  life  a  very  earnest  political  one, 
in  behalf  of  much  which  has  since  been 
accomplished.  But  physical  decline  set 
in  at  last,  and  the  great  whig  leader 
passed  away,  with  the  respect  of  all 
parties  for  his  great  powers. 


1852.  July  14.  The  independence 
of  Paraguay  was  acknowledged  by  the 
Argentine  Confederation  through  a  treaty 
with  Lopez. 

1852.  July  16.  Louis  Kossuth  left 
the  United  States  for  Europe  under  the 
name  of  Alexander  Smith,  and  resumed 
his  ineffectual  attempts  to  promote  the 
freedom  of  Hungary.  A  large  white 
soft  felt  hat  was  worn  by  Kossuth  in  this 
country,  and  for  years  afterward  Kossuth 
hats  were  the  rage. 

1852.  Aug.  3.  The  first  college 
boat-race  in  this  country  was  rowed  at 
Center  Harbor  on  Lake  Winnipiseogee, 
N.  H.,  between  Harvard  and  Yale  crews  in 
eight-oared  barges.  Harvard  led  the  race. 

1852.      Aug.  11.      The  « Free-Soil" 
party  nominated  John  P.  Hale  of  New 
Hampshire    for    president,    1352.    Stibma- 
and  George  W.   Julian  of    ri"e  Mfff™P* 

0  «  from  England  to 

Indiana  for   vice-president.    Ireland. 
It  declared   slavery  a  sin    against  God, 
and  a  crime  against  man,  denounced  the 
compromise   of    1850,   and    the    parties 
which  supported  it. 

1852.  Aug.  20.  The  Atlantic  was 
lost  upon  Lake  Erie,  with  250  lives. 


550 


POLITICAL  DE  VEL  OPMENT. 


DAXIEL  WEBSTER. 

1852.  Oct.  24.  This  great  American 
statesman  and  constitutional  lawyer  died 
at  his  home  at  Marshfield,  Mass.,  at  the 
age  of  seventy  years.  He  was  born  in 
Salisbury,  N.  H.,  Jan.  18,  1782.  His 
father  had  married  for  a  second  wife, 
Abigail  Eastman,  and  Daniel  was  born 
to  them  as  a  second  son. 

The  education  of  this  son  was  begun 
in  the  district  school  near  by,  but  was 
continued  at  Phil- 
lips' Exeter  Acad- 
emy at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years. 
Within  a  year  he 
was  placed  with 
Rev.  Sam'l  Wood 
at  Boscawen,  and 
almost  immediate- 
ly entered  Dart- 
mouth College. 
Great  industry  in 
study  and  reading 
marked  him  from 
the  very  first.  Plis 
mind  was  active, 
and  his  memory 
very  tenacious. 
His  winters  were 
spent  in  teaching 
school,  by  which  means  he  not  only  paid 
part  of  his  own  expense,  but  gave  some- 
thing to  the  support  of  Ezekiel,  his  older 
brother,  in  fitting  for  college.  Daniel's 
position  through  his  course  and  at  his 
graduation  in  1801,  was  that  of  a  leader 
in  influence  and  honor.  After  having 
studied  law  for  a  time  in  his  native  place, 
and  taught  school  at  Fryeburg,  Maine, 
in  the  Academy,  for  which  he  received 
$350  a  year,  he  began  further  study  with 
Mr.  Christopher  Gore  of  Boston,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  he  was  admitted 


DANIEL  WEBSTER. 


to  the  bar  in  1805.  During  this  latter 
course  of  reading  his  industry  was  very 
remarkable.  His  contact  with  courts 
and  legal  men,  and  general  affairs,  laid 
the  foundation  for  that  breadth  of  mind 
which  he  exhibited  in  later  years.  One 
year  was  now  spent  in  the  practice  of 
law  at  Boscawen,  after  which  a  perma- 
nent office  was  opened  at  Portsmouth, 
the  capital  of  New  Hampshire.  It  was 
here  that  the  abilities  of  Mr.  Webster 
began  to  be  seen 
by  the  people  at 
large.  Mr.  Gore, 
in  whose  office  he 
had  completed  his 
studies,  had  al- 
ready affirmed 
that  a  great  future 
was  before  his 
pupil.  There  were 
men  of  learning 
and  distinction  at 
the  Portsmouth 
bar,  but  in  the 
midst  of  them  all 
the  young  lawyer 
made  his  mark 
with  power.  He 
was  all  this  time 
deeply  engaged  in 
a  more  or  less  private  way  in  thinking^ 
upon  political  themes.  In  principle  he 
was  a  federalist.  In  1812,  at  the  age  of 
thirty,  he  was  elected  to  congress,  and  en- 
tered upon  his  duties  in  the  midst  of  the 
agitation  over  the  war  with  Great  Britain 
which  -was  now  filling  the  horizon.  His 
first  speech,  on  June  10,  1813,  astonished 
the  House,  and  assured  them  of  the  pres- 
ence of  an  accomplished  scholar  and  de- 
bater in  their  midst,  of  whom  few  of  them 
had  known.  At  the  close  of  this  year  Mr- 
Webster  met  with  a  great  loss  in  the  burn- 


1845-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


551 


ing  of  his  house  at  Portsmouth,  with  all 
his  library  and  gathered  records.  Hence- 
forth he  made  Boston  his  place  of  resi- 
dence, except  that  he  bought  and  carried 
on  his  estate  at  Marshfield,  where  he 
spent  considerable  of  his  time  when  freed 
from  professional  cares.  From  1816  to 
1822  he  spent  his  time  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  and  during  the  time  was 
brought  out  in  several  cases  of  extreme 
importance,  notably  the  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege case,  which,  upon  being  carried  to 
the  Supreme  Court  at  Washington,  drew 
out  from  Mr.  Webster  an  argument 
which  led  to  the  final  decision  given  by 
Chief  Justice  Marshall,  establishing  the 
charter  of  the  college.  In  certain  cases 
of  criminal  law  Mr.  Webster,  during  his 
after  life,  exhibited  marvelous  power. 
The  breadth  and  resource  of  his  legal 
abilities  were  simply  amazing.  In  1822 
he  was  again  elected  to  congress,  and  en- 
tered at  once  upon  active  legislative  work 
and  discussion.  He  entered  the  U.  S. 
senate  in  1827,  and  was  a  constant  mem- 
ber of  that  body  until  1841.  Here  he 
was  brought  into  that  memorable  debate 
in  January,  1830,  which  has  left  a  record 
unsurpassed  in  our  legislative  annals,  for 
logical  power  and  eloquent  statement. 
In  subsequent  debate  upon  congressional 
measures  he  was  always  an  important 
speaker,  and  aided  largely  in  shaping 
the  votes  of  the  senate.  At  the  election 
of  Gen.  Harrison  to  the  presidency,  Mr. 
Webster  was  made  secretary  of  state, 
from  which  position  he  retired  in  1843, 
after  Mr.  Tyler's  alienation  from  his  old 
party  friends  and  cabinet.  In  1845  Mr. 
Webster  again  entered  the  U.  S.  senate, 
and  remained  there  until  appointed  secre- 
tary of  state  by  President  Fillmore,  a 
short  time  before  his  death.  During:  this 

o 

period  Mr.  Webster  alienated  many  old 


friends  by  his  speech  in  favor  of  the  Fu- 
gitive Slave  Law.  Many  eminent  ad- 
dresses were  delivered  by  Mr.  Webster 
upon  public  occasions,  among  them  the 
two  Bunker  Hill  orations.  A  fall  from 
a  carriage  injured  him  in  the  last  year  of 
his  life.  His  physical  vigor  gradually 
gave  way,  and  he  declined  steadily  till 
his  death.  His  farm  was  a  place  of  great 
attraction  to  him.  He  personally  inter- 
ested himself  in  the  management  of  it, 
and  was  delighted  to  study  its  details. 
He  formed  an  affection  for  everything 
upon  it.  During  his  closing  days  he  re- 
quested to  have  his  cattle  driven  by  the 
window  of  his  room,  that  he  might  be 
able  to  see  them  once  more.  His  con- 
versational powers  were  very  fine.  His 
first  wife  was  Grace  Fletcher  of  Hopkin- 
ton,  N.  H.  Of  four  children  the  last  one, 
Col.  Fletcher  Webster,  was  killed  in  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run.  In  1828  Mr.  Web- 
ster married  Caroline  Bayard  Le  Roy, 
who  outlived  him.  Commanding  ora- 
tory met  with  a  great  loss  in  the  death  of 
this  public  man.  Personal  appearance 
in  all  its  features,  combined  to  make  him 
a  power  in  all  forensic  efforts.  His  con- 
duct has  been  very  severely  criticised  in 
certain  respects  ;  he  has  been  pronounced 
a  man  of  great  ambition,  especially  for 
the  presidency,  and  has  been  attacked  in 
his  personal  life,  but  an  eminent  spirit 
dwelt  within  him.  Strange,  had  it  been 
perfect. 

1852.      Nov.    26.      An    address    on 

slavery  to  the  women  of  America,  was 
signed  by  576,000  English  women. 

1852.  The  first  street  railway  ever 
known  in  America  was  opened  in  New 
York  city. 

1852.  Trouble  occurred  between 
Ecuador  and  Peru,  because  the  latter 

33 


552 


POLITIC  A  I.  DE  VEL  OPMENT. 


seemed  to  favor  the  revolutionary  designs 
of  Gen.  Flores  upon  the  former. 

1852.  A  constitutional  convention 
of  Central  America  met  in  Honduras, 
but  San  Salvador  and  Nicaragua  with- 
drew, leaving  Honduras  the  last  adherent 
to  the  idea  of  union.  The  states  have 
since  been  independent  republics. 

1852.  A  National  Agricultural  So- 
ciety  was  organized  in  the  United  States, 
and  remained  in  active  existence  till  1863, 
since  which  time  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  has  done  the  same  work. 

O 

1852.  The  first  telegraph  line  in 
Cuba  was  erected. 

1852.  The  first  steamer  on  the  Ama- 
zon was  established  by  the  Brazilian 
government. 

1852.  The  first  fire-alarm  telegraph 
in  America  was  erected  in  Boston. 

SEVENTEENTH  PRESIDENTIAL  CAM- 
PAIGN. 

1852.  In  the  campaign  of    this  year 
the   democratic   candidates,   Pierce    and 
King,  had  an  electoral  vote  of  254,  with 
a  popular  vote  of  1,601,474.     The  whig 
candidates,   Scott  and   Graham,  had  42 
electoral  votes,  and   a   popular   vote  of 
1,386,578.     The    "  free-soil  "  candidates 
1779-1852.  nad  a  popular  vote  of  156,- 

Thomas  Moore.  l^y.  During  this  and  the 
previous  years  numerous  conventions  had 
been  held  in  the  South,  and  had  discussed 
the  right  of  secession,  in  some  cases 
favorably. 

1853.  Jan.  1.     The  first  completely 
successful   illustrated  paper  in  America 
was  the    "  Illustrated  News,"  published 
by    P.    T.    Barnum    and    Beach    Bros. 
They    sold    150,000   copies   of  the   first 
issue. 

1853.     Feb.  16.     The  Independence, 


from  Central  America,  was  wrecked  off 
Lower  California,  and  140  lives  lost. 

1853.  March  4.  Franklin  Pierce  of 
New  Hampshire,  was  inaugurated  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  William  R. 
King  was  absent  in  Cuba,  and  was 
sworn  in  as  vice-president  at  Cumbre, 
Cuba,  March  24.  The  oath  was  admin- 
istered by  Mr.  Sharkey,  consul. 

1853.  March  21.  The  first  steamer 
fitted  out  by  the  "  United  States  and 
Paraguay  Navigation  Company,"  sailed 
from  New  York,  but  was  injured  by 
gales,  and  was  condemned  on  the  coast 
of  Brazil. 

1853.  May  1.  A  congress  of  the 
Argentine  Confederation  proclaimed  a 
constitution  and  took  steps  1853-  p0pePhts 
to  secure  the  return  of  Bue-  IX-  prohibits  the 

,  sale    of    "Uncle 

nos  Ayres  to  the  confedera-     Tom,s  CMir  ,-„ 
tion.     The  constitution  was    >^  dominions. 
like  that  of  the  United  States.     Urquiza 
was  made  president  for  six  years, 

1853.  May  6.  An  accident  occurred 
on  the  New  York  and  New  Haven 
Railroad,  by  the  running  of  a  train  into 
an  open  drawbridge.  Many  were  killed 
and  drowned.  Accidents  at  this  time 
were  very  numerous.  Modern  safeguards 
were  not  known. 

1853.  June  6-9.  Great  riots  occurred 
in  Montreal  and  Quebec,  occasioned  by 
the  lectures  of  Gavazzi  against  the 
church  and  pope  of  Rome.  They  were 
suppressed  by  the  military. 

1853.  July  14.  A  great  World's 
Fair  was  opened  in  New  York  in  a 
Crystal  Palace  built  specially  for  it, 
The  building  was  of  glass  and  iron  in 
the  form  of  a  Greek  cross,  365  feet  long 
each  way,  and  150  feet  1853_  Nap0ieon 
wide.  The  exhibition  was  HL  «ckn°-"jl- 

edged  by  Russia, 
Open     abOUt     lOUr       months.      Austria,  and 

Nearly     3,000      exhibitors    frusta. 


1845-1859.] 

came  from  abroad.  A  great  effect  was 
produced  on  American  industries.  Pres- 
ident Pierce  was  present  at  the  opening. 

1853.  July  14.  Com.  Perry  having 
arrived  at  Japan  with  his  expedition, 
landed,  and  eommitted  the  letter  sent  by 
the  president  of  the  United  States  to  the 
charge  of  the  Imperial  commissioners. 

1853.  July  15.  An  earthquake  de- 
stroyed 600  persons  at  Cumana,  Ven- 
ezuela. 

1853.  Aug.  8.  John  Fletcher  Boot, 
a  Cherokee  warrior  who  had  been  con- 
verted and  had  become  a  powerful 
preacher  in  his  own  tongue,  died  at  the 
age  of  sixty  years.  He  was  licensed  and 
ordained  by  the  Methodist  church. 

1853.  Aug.  11-14.  Great  heat  pre- 
vailed through  the  United  States.  In 
New  York  400  deaths  occurred  in  four 
days. 

1853.  Oct.  4.  The  largest  merchant- 
man in  the  world,  named  the  "  Great 
Republic,"  was  launched  at  East  Bos- 
ton, Mass.  It  was  of  4,000  tons  burden. 

1853.  Oct.  26.  A  massacre  of  Capt. 
Gunnison  and  his  party,  was  committed 
by  the  Indians  in  Utah. 

1853.  Dec.  9.  A  mob  destroyed  the 
2853.  War  be-  railroad  track  near  Erie, 
tween  Russia  and  Penn.  Both  men  and 

Turkey.  •    -        -,  ., 

women  joined  in  the  as- 
sault, which  they  again  carried  out  on 
Dec.  27. 

1853.  Dec.  30.  The  Staffordshire, 
from  Liverpool  for  Boston,  was  lost  near 
Cape  Sable,  with  iyy  lives. 

1853.  Dec.  30.  A  treaty  with  Mex- 
ico secured  to  the  United  States  an 
additional  part  of  Arizona,  adding  about 
30,000  square  miles  to  the  public  territory. 

1853.  Kansas-Nebraska  Bill.  This 
bill  was  introduced  into  congress,  and 
provided  for  two  new  territories,  declar- 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


553 


ing    that   the    old    compromise  of   1820 
was  rendered  void  by  the    1S53    Libertyof 

Compromise     of     1850,    and     press  curtailed  by 
.  .         .     .      ,  .  f     .          stringent  law. 

that  the  inhabitants  of  the 
territories  must  decide  the  question  of 
slavery.  This  bill  split  the  whig  party 
forever.  The  northern  whigs  became 
known  as  anti-Nebraska  men.  The 
passage  of  the  bill  brought  on  the  famous 
Kansas  struggle. 

1853.  Successful  Whaling.  The  re- 
ceipts of  two  whaling  vessels  from  New 
Bedford,  and  one  from  Fair  Haven,  were 
over  $400,000.  This  pur-  1853  Great 
suit  had  passed  into  the  strikes  in  Eng- 
hands  of  the  United  States, 
till  the  whalers  of  New  England  com- 
manded the  seas.  Since  1861,  however, 
the  discovery  of  petroleum  and  the  war, 
with  other  causes,  have  reduced  the 
profits  and  extent  of  this  line  of  shipping. 

1853.  Dr.  Kane  sailed  from  Boston 
in  the  "  Advance,"  with  a  company  of 
seventeen  men,  among  whom  was  Dr. 
Hayes.  After  many  hardships  and 
dangers  they  anchored  for  the  winter  in 
Rensselaer  Bay,  and  were  frozen  in. 
The  energy  of  Dr.  Kane  kept  the  men 
in  comparatively  comfortable  condition 
for  two  seasons.  In  the  third  they  escaped 
in  open  boats,  and  returned  to  Boston, 
where  they  arrived  Oct.  n,  1855. 

1853.  Kit  Carson  successfully  drove 
6,500  sheep  across  the  Rocky  Mountains 
into  California. 

1853.  Paper  collars  for  men's  wear, 
appeared  for  the  first  time  in  New  York. 
Their  use  spread  very  rapidly. 

1853.  The  present  fire  service  of  the 
United  States  was  first  put  on  an  efficient 
basis  at  Cincinnati.  A  1853_  cholera  in 
steam  fire  engine  was  built  Europe. 
by  A.  B.  Latta,  and  was  the  origin  of 
further  success  in  that  direction.  This 


554 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


1853.  Severe 
earthquakes  in 
Persia. 


first  one  weighed  twelve  tons,  and  was 
partly  propelled  by  its  own  steam. 

1853.  The  yellow  fever  broke  out  at 
New  Orleans,  and  destroyed  nearly 
1 5,000  lives  along  the  coast  cities. 

1853.  The  insurance  company  swin- 
dle was  at  its  height,  and  the  fruits  be- 
gan to  appear  in  the  numerous  failures. 
Scores  of  mutual  companies  went  down, 
and  by  1860  the  worst  of  it  was  over. 
But  it  had  a  great  run  until  people  learned 
wisdom.  The  business  was  done  in  a 
wild  manner,  without  any  secure  basis 
whatever. 

1853.  Santa  Anna  was  recalled  to 
Mexico,  and  made  president  once  more, 
in  spite  of  the  fact  that  he  had  shown 
himself  to  be  an  unwise 
man.  Enthusiasm  every- 
where marked  his  recep- 
tion. But  he  soon  showed  signs  of  es- 
tablishing himself  as  dictator,  and  thus 
alienated  the  sympathies  of  the  true 
republican  citizens  from  himself. 

1853.  The  Spanish  government 
pledged  itself  to  suppress  the  slave  trade 
in  Cuba. 

1853.  Paraguay  was  recognized  as 
independent  by  Great  Britain,  France, 
Sardinia,  and  the  United  States. 

1853.  An  exploration  of    Honduras 
was    made   by   an   expedition   from   the 
United  States,  with  reference  to  an  inter- 
oceanic  railway. 

1854.  Jan.    5.      The  steamer    San 
1854.  Great  fires    Francisco,  with  a  force  of 
in  Turkey.  United    States     troops    on 
board,  foundered  at  sea.     Two  hundred 
and  forty  perished.    Seven  hundred  were 
rescued. 

1854.  Jan.  9.  The  Astor  Library  in 
New  York  city  was  opened,  with  70,000 
volumes. 

1854.  Jan.  20.  The  steamer  Tayleure, 


.of  the  White  Star  Line,  was  wrecked  on 
the  Irish  coast  with  the  loss  of  370  lives. 

1854.  January.  Mobs  of  women  at 
different  times  this  month  renewed  the 
riots  along  the  Erie  railroad. 

1854.  Feb.  1.  A  great  fire  at  Quebec 
destroyed  the  Parliament  House,  which 
contained  the  library  and  the  philosophi- 
cal apparatus  of  the  government. 

1854.  Feb.  5.  The  lowest  tempera- 
ture ever  recorded  by  man  1854_  Thegreat 
was  felt  by  Dr.  Kane  while  Ganges  canal  /«. 

...  0      ., ,  ,    0  ,       India  opened. 

wintering  in  Smith  s  Sound. 
His  best  spirit  thermometer  showed  100° 
below  the  freezing  point  of  water.     He 
was  then  in  latitude  78°  37'  N. 

BIRTH  OF  REPUBLICAN  PtfXTY. 

1854.  Feb.  28.  The  first  movement 
for  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  in  the  United  States  took  place  in 
the  edifice  owned  and  occupied  by  the 
Congregational  Church  of  Ripon,  Wis., 
on  the  evening  of  this  day.  The  whig 
party  had  been  broken  up  by  its  defeat 
in  1852.  The  Nebraska  bill  was  about 
being  passed,  and  the  convictions  of 
whigs,  free-soilers,  and  democrats,  who 
were  opposed  to  the  extension  of  slavery, 
were  rapidly  increasing  in  clearness  and 
power.  Still  there  was  no  movement. 
In  this  state  of  affairs  Major  Alvan  E. 
Bovay,  of  Ripon,  Wis.,  anticipated  the 
passage  of  the  Nebraska  bill  by  a  can- , 
vass  of  his  neighbors  and  friends  to  secure, 
if  possible,  some  concert  of  action  among 
men  of  all  parties  in  the  formation  of  a 
new  party  based  upon  the  non-extension 
of  slavery.  It  can  be  proved  that  Major 
Bovay  had  as  early  as  the  spring  of  1852 
predicted  the  organization  of  such  a 
party,  and  proposed  the  name  of  "  Re- 
publican "  for  it,  as  having  associations 
which  would  universally  attract  men  to- 


1843-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


555 


it.  But  it  was  not  till  this  date  that  a 
meeting  was  held  to  bring  this  result  to 
pass.  Deacon  William  Dunham  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  was  made  mod- 
erator. There  was  a  very  free  expression 
of  sympathy  with  the  intended  move- 
ment, and  a  unanimous  adoption  of  the 
following  historic  resolutions: 

WHEREAS,  The  Senate  of  the  United  States 
is  entertaining,  and  from  present  indications  is 
likely  to  pass,  bills  organizing  governments  for 
the  territories  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  in  which 
is  embodied  a  clause  repealing  the  Missouri 
Compromise  Act,  and  so  admit  into  these  terri- 
tories the  slave  system  with  all  its  evils,  and 

WHEREAS,  We  deem  that  compact  irrepeala- 
ble  as  the  Constitution  itself:  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  of  all  outrages  hitherto  per- 
petrated or  attempted  upon  the  North  and 
freedom  by  the  slaveholders  and  their  natural 
allies,  not  one  compares  in  bold  and  impudent 
audacity,  treachery  and  meanness,  with  this,  the 
Nebraska  bill,  as,  to  the  sum  of  all  its  other  vil- 
lainies it  adds  the  repudiation  of  a  solemn  com- 
pact held  as  sacred  as  the  Constitution  itself  for 
a  period  of  thirty-four  years; 

Resolved,  That  the  Northern  njan  who  can  aid 
and  abet  in  the  commission  of  so  stupendous  a 
crime,  is  none  too  good  to  become  an  accom- 
plice in  renewing  the  African  slave  trade,  the 
service  which,  doubtless,  will  next  be  required 
of  him  by  his  Southern  masters,  should  the 
Nebraska  treason  succeed ; 

Resolved,  That  the  attempt  to  overthrow  the 
Missouri  Compromise,  whether  successful  or 
not,  admonishes  the  North  to  adopt  the  maxim 
for  all  time  to  come,  ' '  No  more  compromise 
with  slavery ; " 

Resolved,  That  the  passage  of  this  bill,  if  pass 
it  should,  will  be  the  call  to  arms  of  a  great 
Northern  party,  such  an  one  as  the  country  has 
not  hitherto  seen,  composed  of  Whigs,  Demo- 
crats and  Free-Soilers ;  every  man  with  a  heart 
in  him  united  under  the  single  banner  cry  of 
"Repeal  !  Repeal  !" 

Resolved,  That  the  small  but  compact  pha- 
lanx of  true  men,  who  oppose  the  mad  scheme 
upon  the  broadest  principle  of  humanity,  as 
well  as  their  unflinching  efforts  to  uphold  "pub- 
lic faith,  deserve  not  only  our  applause,  but  our 
profound  esteem ; 

Resolved,  That  the  heroic  attitude  of  Gen. 
Houston,  amidst  a  host  of  degenerate  men  in 
the  United  States  Senate,  is  worthy  of  honor 
and  applause. 

The  building  in  which  this  meeting 
was  held  is  now  occupied  by  a  German 
society,  the  Congregational  church  hav- 
ing erected  by  its  side,  a  larger  and 
costlier  stone  structure.  After  the  Ne- 


braska bill  had  passed  the  Senate,  but 
before  it  had  passed  the  House,  another 
meeting  was  held  in  the  school-house  at 
Ripon,  under  a  call  signed  by  fifty -four 
citizens.  The  whig  and  free-soil  town 
committees  were  dissolved  at  this  meet- 
ing, and  a  new  committee  of  five  chosen 
for  the  new  party.  They  were  A.  E. 
Bovay,  J.  Bowen,  Amos  Loper,  Abra- 
ham Thomas,  and  Jacob  Woodruff. 
Politically  three  had  been  whigs,  one  a 
free-soiler,  and  one  a  democrat.  This 
movement  within  a  very  few  months 
spread  in  the  surrounding  region  and 
state.  In  June  of  this  year  the  name 
Republican  was  adopted  in  Michigan  by 
the  state  convention,  and  soon  the  country 
was  alive  with  it. 

The  course  of  affairs  in  Ripon  is  given 
at  some  length  in  the  "  Rise  and  Fall  of 
the  Slave  Power  in  America,"  by  the 
late  Hon.  Henry  Wilson  of  Massachu- 
setts, who  says,  "  Thus  early  did  the  men 
of  that  frontier  town  inaugurate  a  move- 
ment which  was  destined  to  sweep  and 
control  the  nation,  and  which  did  sweep 
the  country,  and  change  entirely  the 
policy  of  the  government."  (Vol.  II. 
pps.  409-410.)  Major  Bovay,  Mr.  J. 
Bowen,  and  others,  who  attended  and 
carried  through  the  above  meetings,  are 
present  residents  of  Ripon,  still  in  the 
vigor  of  life. 

1854.  March  1.  The  City  of  Glas- 
gow, from  Liverpool  to  Philadelphia,  was 
lost  at  sea,  with  480  lives. 

1854.  March  23.  A  commercial 
treaty  between  the  United  States  and 
Japan  was  concluded. 

1854.  April  15.  The  Powhs-ton, 
from  Havre  to  the  United  States,  was 
lost  in  the  Atlantic,  with  311  lives. 

1854.     April  16.     An  earthquake  en- 


556 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


tirely  destroyed  the  city  of  San  Salvador, 
in  Central  America.  Two  hundred  lives 
were  lost,  and  $4,000,000  of  property, 
in  less  than  a  minute.  The  city  has 
been  rebuilt  on  the  same  site. 

1854.  April  25.  Slaves  were  emanci- 
pated in  Venezuela. 

1854.  April  30.  The  first  railroad 
in  Brazil  was  opened.  Great  ceremonies 
were  held,  both  the  emperor  and  empress 
being  present. 

1854.  May  1.  The  Mercedes,  a 
Peruvian  war  ship,  was  lost  off  Callao, 
with  700  lives. 

1854.  May  26.  A  riot  took  place  in 
Boston  at  the  attempt  to  arrest  a  fugitive 
slave.  Other  riots  occurred  through  the 
country  at  different  times  this  year,  for 
different  reasons. 

1854.  June  5.  A  reciprocity  treaty 
1354.  Eastern  between  Canada  and  the 

affairs  grow  ,,     .       .     -,  .  , 

Lrse.  Crimean  United  States  was  signed. 
•mar  opened.  It  opened  the  markets  of 
poff  °'  the  states  to  Canadian  farm- 

ers, and  gave  agriculture  and  its  associ- 
ated trades  a  new  impetus. 

1854.  June  12.  The  U.  S.  ship 
Cyane  bombarded  Greytowri,  Central 
America,  because  the  authorities  of  the 
place  refused  to  make  reparation  for 
United  States  property  which  had  been 
destroyed. 

1854.  June.  The  first  kerosene  oil 
company  in  this  country  began  operations 
at  Newtown  Creek,  L.  I.  The  manu- 
facture increased  rapidly.  Bituminous 
coal  was  used. 

1854.  July  13.  The  U.  S.  war-sloop 
Cyane  bombarded  and  burned  the  town 
of  San  Juan,  Nicaragua. 

1854.  July  13.  The  battle  of  Guay- 
mas  was  fought  between  the  Mexicans 
and  a  body  of  Frenchmen  under  Count 
Raousset  de  Boulbon.  The  latter  was 


taken  prisonef,  and  in  a  few  days  was 
shot. 

1854.  Sept.  17.  The  City  of  Phila- 
delphia, from  Liverpool,  was  lost  off 
Cape  Race,  with  an  unknown  loss  of  life. 

1854.  Sept.  27.  The  U.  S.  mail 
steamer  Arctic  was  run  down  by  the 
French  steamer  Vesta,  with  a  loss  of  360 
lives.  It  occurred  off  Newfoundland. 

1854.  Nov.  24.  The  Ocean,  of  Boston, 
was  burned  in  Boston  harbor,  with  a  loss 
of  35  lives. 

1854.  Dec.  20.  A  treaty  was  signed 
between  the  Argentine  Republic  and 
Buenos  Ayres,  by  which  the  latter  re- 
mained separate,  but  allied. 

1854.  An  American  exploring  party 
under  Lieut.  Isaac  C.  Strain,  crossed  the 
Isthmus  of  Darien.  They  i854>  Snccesl,ful 
took  but  ten  days'  food  be-  insurrection 

against  the  royal 

cause  01   to*  reported  ease    ministry  in 
of  the  journey.     But  their    Spain. 
trip  was  attended   by  the  most   terrible 
suffering.     The  route  was  found  imprac- 
ticable. 

1854.  Traces  of  Franklin  were  dis- 
covered not  far  from  Great  Fish  River. 
Bodies  were  found,  and  1S54-  "  immacu- 

.  '-111      l°tf     Conception 

some  articles  which  had  ,,/  ike  virgin," 
Sir  John  Franklin's  name  proclaimed  as  a 

dogma  by   Pope 

upon  them.      1  he  report  of    pius  ix. 
these  things  was  obtained  from  the  Es- 
quimaux by  Dr.  Rae. 

1854.  The  cholera  visited  the  United 
States  and  carried  off  2500  persons  in 
New  York  alone. 

1854.  Ostend  Manifesto.  A  paper 
was.  published  by  the  American  ministers 
to  England,  France,  and  Spain,  who  met 
at  Ostend  in  Belgium,  and  declared  that 
there  could  be  no  peace  for  the  United 
States  till  Cuba  was  acquired. 

1854.  Filibusters  under  Costa  in- 
vaded the  province  of  Buenos  Ayrec. 


1845-1859.] 

1854.  An  act  providing  a  government 
for  the  British  Virgin  Islands,  W.  I., 
passed  parliament.  There  are  50  of 
these  British  islands,  having  95  square 
miles  in  all. 

1854.  The   Newfoundland    colonial 
government   chartered  the   New  York, 
Newfoundland,  and   London  Telegraph 
Company. 

1855.  Jan.  28.    The  first  train  passed 
over  the  Panama  Railroad.     An  Amer- 
ican company  built  this  road  at  a  cost  of 
$7,500,000.     Its  length  is  47^  miles. 

1855.  The  Waterwitch,  a  United 
States  vessel  sent  out  to  make  explora- 
tions upon  the  Parana  River,  was  fired 
upon  by  a  Paraguayan  fort,  and  one  man 
lass.  Sebastopol  was  killed.  A  return  fire 
taken.  took  place.  The  United 

States  sent  out  a  large  fleet  and  demanded 
reparation.  Paraguay  finally  agreed  to 
pay  according  to  the  arbitration  of 
Urquiza,  of  the  Argentine  Confederation. 
The  surveys  of  Capt.  Page  were  com- 
pleted in  1860. 

1855.  Feb.  3.  The  Fugitive  Slave 
Law  was  pronounced  unconstitutional  by 
the  U.  S.  District  Court  of  Wisconsin. 

1855.  February.  A  financial  panic 
spread  throughout  California. 

1855.  March  14.  The  first  train 
passed  over  the  Suspension  Bridge  at 
Niagara.  This  bridge  has  a  span  of  821 
feet,  and  its  track  is  245  feet  above  the 
water.  Its  capacity  is  12,000  tons. 

1855.  April  7.  The  largest  steam- 
ship in  the  world,  named  the  Adriatic, 
was  launched  at  New  York. 

1855.  Aug.  6.  A  riot  occurred  in 
Louisville,  Ky.,  between  the  Americans 
and  some  foreigners  upon  election  ques- 
tions. 

1855.  August.  Plan  of  Ayutla.  The 
liberal  party  in  Mexico,  under  the  leader- 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


ship  of  Alvarez  and  Comonfort,  pro- 
claimed a  new  government,  including 
several  radical  reforms.  Reactionary 
movements  at  once  took  place  against 
Santa  Anna,  who  had  re-  1855.  Kars  taken 
turned  to  the  country  and  &  '*'  Russians. 
been  made  dictator  through  his  alliance 
with  the  church  party.  He  seemed  to  be 
trying  to  establish  himself  in  the  govern- 
ment for  life,  and  make  himself  an  em- 
peror. For  a  year  or  two  the  struggle 
had  been  going  on,  and  finally  triumphed 
completely.  Santa  Anna  fled,  and  steps 
were  at  once  taken  to  put  the  govern- 
ment on  a  firmer  democratic  basis.  A 
republican  assembly  chose  Alvarez  for 
president. 

1855.  «  Bleeding  Kansas."  Through 
the  spring  and  summer  of  this  year  the 
soil  of  Kansas  was  the  field  of  a  great  ex- 
citement. As  soon  as  the  action  of  con- 
gress was  apparent,  it  was  seen  that  the 
side  which  wished  to  hold  it  must  settle  it 
with  emigrants  who  could  control  it  at 
coming  elections.  Hence  a  stream  of 
settlers  began  pouring  in  from  the  North, 
and  another  from  Missouri  and  other 
Southern  states.  The  conflict  began  at 
once.  Depredations  were  of  frequent  oc- 
currence, and  bands  which  became  known 
as  "border-ruffians,"  raided  upon  the 
towns  and  villages  which  were  rapidly 
growing  up.  Murders  were  committed, 
and  property  destroyed  during  this  year, 
but  still  the  free  state  men  would  not  de- 
part from  the  field.  It  was  a  fearful 
struggle,  marked  by  blood  all  along  its 
trail.  It  was  only  decided  as  it  was  be- 
cause the  South  had  fewer  real  settlers  to 
send  into  the  new  state  than  the  North  had, 
hence  while  the  former  could  for  a  time 
cause  great  terror,  it  must  in  process  of 
time  be  necessarily  out  voted  whenever  a 
fair  expression  by  ballot  came.  It  was 


558 


PO  LI  TIC  A  L  DE  VE  L  OPMENT. 


one  of  those  fearful  struggles  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  United  States  which  have 
been  caused  by  the  opposite  feelings 
of  different  sections  toward  slavery, 
feelings  which  have  been  the  strongest 
in  their  hold  of  any  known  to  our 
government.  On  Nov.  29,  1854,  the 
bands  of  Missouri  voters  who  came 
across  the  border  just  to  deposit  their 
ballots,  carried  the  first  election  of  a 
delegate  to  congress  in  favor  of  the  pro- 
slavery  candidate.  They  likewise  took 
the  same  effectual  measures  for  the  elec- 
tion of  a  territorial  legislature  in  the 
spring  of  this  year.  Not  many  free  state 
settlers  were  yet  in  the  field.  This  legis- 
lature adopted  in  July,  1855,  the  laws  of 
Missouri  for  a  State  Constitution,  adding 
a  series  of  penalties  for  any  one  who  at- 
tempted to  interfere  with  slavery.  The 
heat  of  the  struggle  now  came  on.  In 
September  a  convention  was  held  at 
Topeka,  and  renounced  the  previous  elec- 
tions and  their  results.  A  new  delegate- 
was  sent  to  Washington,  but  congress 
admitted  the  pro-slavery  delegate.  In 
the  following  January  state  officers  were 
elected  by  the  Free  State  settlers  under  a 
constitution  adopted  at  Topeka.  Appli- 
cation was  made  for  admission  as  a  state 
under  this  free  constitution,  but  was  not 
granted.  The  U.  S.  government  fully 
committed  itself  now  to  the  maintenance 
of  the  pro-slavery  laws  of  Kansas,  the 
pi'esident  issuing  a  proclamation  to  that 
effect.  For  about  four  years  the  struggle 
continued  over  the  formation  of  a  constitu- 
•  tion  and  the  admission  of  Kansas  as  a 
state,  and  it  was  not  till  1861  that  the 
latter  result  was  effected. 

1855.  Oct.  11.  Dr.  E.  K.  Kane 
reached  New  York  on  his  return  from 
his  Ai'ctic  exploration.  He  had  now  been 
gone  two  and  one-half  years,  and  had 


experienced  all  the  difficulties  of  Arctic 
navigation.  An  enthusias-  1S55-  Nicholas i. 

...  Czar  of  Russia, 

tic  reception  was  given  mm  diedi 
wherever  he  went.  He  was  recognized 
on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  as  an  emi- 
nent explorer.  His  voyages  will  ever  re- 
main a  treasured  possession  of  the  country 
from  which  he  sailed.  The  long  expos- 
ure had  weakened  his  system,  and  his 
health  began  to  fail.  The  climate  of 
Cuba  was  tried,  but  in  vain.  In  less  than 
two  years  from  this  time  he  was  in  his 
grave.  He  died  Feb.  16,  1857,  aged 
thirty-six  years. 

FILIBUSTERISM. 

1855.  Oct.  15.  The  filibuster,  Wil- 
liam Walker,  who  had  been  led  to  enter 
Nicaragua  for  purposes  of  power,  took 
the  city  of  Grenada.  Only  sixty-two 
followers  were  with  him  when  he  landed 
in  June,  but  natives  had  joined  his  force. 
His  attempts  continued  for  a  little  less 
than  two  years,  during  which  time  he  put 
himself  into  the  presidency,  but  at  once 
excited  great  commotion  by  his  exercise 
of  arbitrary  power.  In  1857  he  was 
taken  into  custody  by  the  United  States. 
A  proclamation  against  filibustering  was 
issued  by  President  Pierce  in  December, 
1855.  Walker  had  in«i853  made  an  at- 
tempt to  conquer  Sonora,  but  had  failed. 
The  United  States  government  put  him 
on  trial  on  the  charge  of  breaking  the 
laws  of  neutrality,  but  he  was  acquitted. 
His  efforts  in  Nicaragua  were  brought  on 

o  o 

through  the  solicitation  of  some  wander- 
ing Americans,  who  had  private  ends  to 
serve  in  that  province.  At  first  he  was 
accepted  as  an  efficient  aid  to  the  support 
of  democratic  principles.  He  was  after- 
ward joined  by  adventurers  from  the 
United  States,  until  he  had  a  force  of 
1,200  men.  Then  came  the  steps  which 


A  VILLAGE   IN   GRKKNLAND. 

WMil^^SSSIiwiMUiM 


WINTER  QJJARTERS. 


559 


1845-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


561 


secured  his  downfall.  But  the  end  had 
not  yet  come.  With  seeming  rashness 
he  again,  after  his  release,  made  his  way 
to  Nicaragua,  and  was  arrested  by 
United  States  authorities  within  a  month. 
But  he  was  not  held,  and  set  out  from 
Mobile  for  a  new  attempt.  An  arrest 
now  took  place  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, but  without  any  other  result  than 
an  acquittal.  In  1860  he  managed  to 
start  out  into  Honduras  with  similar  de- 
signs, but  came  to  an  end  by  arrest  and 
execution.  The  career  of  this  filibuster 
is  an  instance  of  the  many  which  have 
marked  our  history  in  South  American 
states,  and  in  Cuba.  They  were  espe- 
cially numerous  after  the  war  between 
Mexico  and  the  United  States  had  closed. 
The  term  filibuster  comes  into  our  lan- 
guage from  the  Spanish  filibusteros,  a 
term  by  which  pirates  were  known.  In 
English,  however,  it  came  to  be  applied 
only  to  such  adventurers  as  tried  to  secure 
power  in  the  former  Spanish  American 
provinces  of  the  continent.  Of  all  these, 
William  Walker  was  by  far  the  most 
famous. 

1855.      Nov.  22.      Law    of   Juarez. 

President  Alvarez  of  Mexico  proclaimed 
this  statute,  and  for  the  first  time  in  Mex- 
ico established  the  equality  of  all  citizens 
before  the  law.  Class  legislation  was 
abolished.  The  great  mass  of  people 
were  pleased  with  the  new  enactment. 
A  great  step  was  taken  in  the  renewal 
of  Mexico. 

1855.     Dec.  23.      The  « Resolute,"  a 

British  vessel  which  had  been  sent  out  in 

search  of  Sir  John  Franklin,  and  had  been 

.  ,    abandoned    in  Arctic  seas, 

1855.    Industrial 

exhibition  at  was  brought  to  New  Lon- 
Paris  opened.  dorij  Conn.,  by  a  whaling 
vessel.  The  United  States  refitted  her 


and  sent  her  across  the  ocean  to  the  Eng- 
lish government.  Now  comes  a  pleasant 
part  of  the  story.  In  November,  1880, 
there  was  received  at  the  White  House, 
*  Washington,  as  a  present  to  President 
Hayes,  an  elaborate  and  beautiful  writing 
table  made  from  the  wood  of  which  the 
Resolute  had  been  composed. 

1855.  Dec.  24.  The  province  of 
Buenos  Ayres  was  invaded  by  Gen. 
Flores  and  a  band  of  Argentine  refugees. 
They  were  driven  off  by  Gen.  Mitre, 
who  pushed  on  into  the  province  of 
Santa  Fe.  This  complicated  troubles 
between  the  two  governments,  and  led  to 
the  annulling  of  all  the  former  treaties 
made. 

1855.  December.  President  Alva- 
rez of  Mexico,  who  had  succeeded  Santa 
Anna  in  August,  himself  resigned,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Comonfort. 

1855.  American  Reapers.  A  trial 
between  reaping  machines  of  all  nations 
was  instituted  at  Paris,  France.  Ma- 
chines were  present  from  England,  the 
United  States,  and  Algiers.  The  Amer- 
ican showed  entire  superiority,  cutting  an 
acre  of  oats  in  twenty-two  minutes,  while 
it  took  the  English  sixty-six  minutes,  and 
the  Algerine  seventy-two.  Enthusiasm 
on  the  part  of  witnesses  was  unbounded. 
A  trial  between  threshers  was  held  soon 
after  in  England,  and  again  in  France, 
with  similar  results.  The  American  ma- 
chine, to  those  looking  on,  seemed  to  de- 
vour the  sheaves. 

1855.  The  Associated  Press  was 
formed  in  New  York  by  the  daily  papers, 
in  order  to  distribute  the  telegraphic  news 
most  expeditiously. 

1855.  Castella  overthrew  the  presi- 
dency of  Echenique  in  Peru,  and  seized 
the  government,  in  which  he  served  by 
reelection  until  1862.  He  abolished 


562 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


slavery,  and  instituted  other  needed 
reforms. 

1855.  Cholera  morbus  raged  through- 
out  Brazil,  and  destroyed    thousands    of 
lives. 

1856.  Jan.    23.     The   Pacific   sailed 
from  Liverpool  for  New  York,  and  was 
never  heard  from.     There  was  a  loss  of 
1 86  persons. 

1856.  Jan.  30.  The  Chilian  war 
steamer  Cazador  was  lost,  with  318  lives. 

1856.  Feb.  2.  A  great  contest  oc- 
curred in  the  House  of  Representatives 
over  the  speakership.  After  a  close  battle 
for  nine  weeks,  N.  P.  Banks  was  elected 
this  day,  by  the  plurality  of  three  votes. 

1856.  Feb.  19.  The  John  Rutledge, 
from  Liverpool  for  New  York,  was  sunk 
by  an  iceberg,  with  an  unknown  loss  of 
life. 

1856.  Feb.  22.  "Know  Nothing" 
Convention.  A  new  party  had  arisen  in 
the  United  States  with  a  secret  organiza- 
tion, and  pledged  to  oppose  foreigners. 
It  had  been  growing  up  for  a  long  series 
of  years,  and  called  itself  the  American 
or  Native  American  party.  It  advocated 
naturalization  only  after  a  residence  of  21 
years  in  the  country,  as  in  the  case  of 
children,  and  advocated  the  election  to 
office  of  native  born  citizens.  Its  dele- 
gates were  elected  in  secret  conventions. 
isse.  July  12.  For  a  long  time  it  held  in 

The  Crimea  .  .     ,  - 

evacuated.  many  sections  a  balance  of 

power.  A  convention  was  held  at  this 
date,  from  which  one-fourth  of  the  dele- 
gates withdrew  upon  an  anti-slavery 
issue.  The  remainder  nominated  Millard 
Fillmore  of  New  York,  for  president,  and 
Andrew  J.  Donelson,  of  Tennessee,  for 
vice-president.  This  was  the  only  presi- 
dential campaign  in  which  the  party  pre- 
sented candidates. 

1856.    February.    Mormon  Troubles. 


An  armed  body  of  Mormons  forced 
Judge  Drummond,  of  the  U.  S.  district 
court,  in  Utah,  to  adjourn  his  session 
without  date.  The  officers  appointed  by 
the  United  States  all  fled  the  territory  be- 
cause Brigham  Young  so  excited  the 
people  against  them,  and  declared  that  he 
alone  would  be  governor.  For  five  years 
these  troubles  had  been  growing  up,  and 
Brigham  Young  had  openly  defied  the 
laws  of  the  United  States. 

1856.  March  15.  The  Camden  ferry- 
boat from  New  York,  was  wrecked,  and 
30  lives  lost. 

1856.  March  20.  The  invasion  of 
Costa  Rica,  headed  by  Schlessinger  and 
William  Walker,  was  defeated.  At  a 
later  day  the  latter  gained  some  slight 
advantage. 

1856.  April  15.  A  riot  occurred  on 
the  Panama  railroad,  and  thirty  passen- 
gers were  killed. 

ASSAULT  ON  SUMXER. 

1856.  May  22.  Charles  Sumner, 
U.  S.  senator  from  Massachusetts,  while 
writing  at  his  desk  in  the  senate  chamber, 
after  the  adjournment  of  that  body,  was 
approached  by  Preston  S.  Brooks,  United 
States  representative  from  South  Caro- 
lina, and  beaten  with  a  cane  before  he 
could  extricate  himself  from  his  seat, 
until  he  fell  senseless  upon  the  floor. 
Permanent  injuries  were  inflicted  in  this 
fearful  assault.  Although  Senator  Sum- 
ner was  abroad  for  some  years,  and  had 
the  treatment  of  skillful  physicians  in  the 
Old  and  New  World,  he  never  fully  re- 
covered from  the  effect  upon  his  system. 
The  reason  of  the  outrage  was  in  a  criti- 
cism which  Senator  Sumner  had  offered 
upon  Senator  Butler  of  South  Carolina, 
in  referring  to  Kansas  affairs.  Brooks 
was  a  relative  of  Butler.  The  House  of 


1845-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


565 


Representatives  censured  Brooks,  who 
resigned  his  seat,  and  was  unanimously 
reelected  by  his  constituents.  Anson 
Burlingame,  a  member  of  the  House, 
from  Massachusetts,  made  the  severest 
criticisms  of  any  upon  Brooks,  and  was 
challenged  therefor,  at  once  by  the  latter. 
Burlingame  immediately  accepted,  and 
named  Navy  Island,  above  Niagara  Falls, 
as  the  place  of  meeting,  and  rifles  as  the 
weapon.  Brooks  would  not  go  thither 
because  of  having  to  pass  through  an  ex- 
cited North.  The  meeting,  therefore, 
never  occurred.  Brooks,  upon  returning 
to  Columbia,  S.  C.,  Aug.  29,  was  granted 
a  public  reception  and  presented  with  a 
cane.  On  the  third  of  November  Sena- 
tor Sumaer  was  received  with  great 
public  acclamation  at  Boston. 


1856.  June  2.  The  democratic  con- 
vention met  at  Cincinnati  and  nominated 
James  Buchanan  of  Pennsylvania,  for 
president,  and  John  C.  Breckinridge  of 
Kentucky,  for  vice-president.  The  con- 
vention condemned  "  Know-nothingism." 

1856.  June  17.  The  republican 
convention  was  held  at  Philadelphia. 
me.  Alexander  it  declared  in  favor  of  in- 

II.  croivned  em- 

peror  of  Russia,  ternal  improvements,  and 
of  the  right  of  congress  to  prohibit  sla- 
very and  polygamy  in  the  territories;  also 
of  admitting  Kansas  as  a  free  state. 
John  C.  Fremont  of  California,  was 
nominated  for  president,  and  William  L. 
Dayton,  of  New  Jersey,  for  vice-president. 

1856.  July  12.  A  submarine  cable 
was  laid  between  Cape  Breton  and  New- 
foundland. 

1856.  July.  A  safe  belonging  to  the 
American  Express  Co.,  and  lost  on  the 
steamer  Atlantic  in  1852,  was  raised  by 
a  Buffalo  diver,  with  comparatively  un- 
injured contents. 


1857.  Aug.  10.  A  violent  storm 
completely  engulfed  Lost  Island,  a  sum- 
mer resort  on  the  coast  of  Louisiana,  for 
three  days,  with  a  loss  of  1 73  persons. 

1856.  Aug.  21.  The  Charter  Oak, 
Hartford,  Conn.,  was  blown  down  during 
a  heavy  gale. 

1856.  Oct.  8.  An  election  riot  oc- 
curred in  Baltimore,  and  nine  persons 
were  killed. 

1856.  Oct.  10.  The  ''sewing-machine 
war,"  in  which  numerous  suits  had 
arisen  between  Singer  on  the  one  side, 
and  Wheeler  and  Wilson  with  Grover 
and  Baker  on  the  other,  was  settled  by 
these  parties  agreeing  to  use  each  other's 
points  and  make  common  cause  against 
all  other  infringers  thereafter.  This  is 
sometimes  known  as  the  Albany  Agree- 
ment. 

1856.  Nov.  2.  The  Lyonnais,  from 
New  York,  was  lost  in  the  Atlantic,  with 
134  lives. 

EIGHTEENTH  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN. 

1856.  Nov.  4.  In  the  election  of 
this  year  Buchanan  and  Breckinridge, 
the  democratic  candidates,  had  174  elec- 
toral votes  and  1,838,169  popular  votes; 
Fremont  and  Dayton,  the  republican 
candidates,  had  114  electoral  votes,  and 
1,341,264  popular  votes.  Fill  more  and 
Donelson,  the  Know-Nothing  candidates, 
had  8  electoral  votes,  and  874,534  popu- 
lar votes.  The  latter  carried  Maryland 
alone.  The  republican  party  was  now 
growing  up  very  rapidly,  and  absorbing 
the  elements  which  were  opposed  to 
slavery.  Neither  candidate  had  a  major- 
ity of  the  popular  vote  at  this  election. 


1856.     Nov.  10.    The  New  York  and 
Newfoundland     Telegraph     line     was 

opened  to  St.  John's,  a  distance  of    1715 


566 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


miles.  A  submarine  cable  had  been  laid 
during  the  summer  between  Nova  Scotia 
and  Cape  Breton,  and  one  from  Cape 
Breton  to  Newfoundland.  These  are 
now  a  part  of  the  international  line. 

1856.  Dec.  6.  A  United  States 
squadron  fired  on  and  destroyed  Barrier 
Forts,  near  Canton,  China,  because  of  an 
attack  upon  an  American  boat. 

1856.  Dec.  24.  The  only  snow  that 
was  ever  known  in  Cuba,  fell  in  the  in- 
terior of  the  island.  The  weather  was 
the  coldest  ever  experienced. 

1856.  Kansas  War.  A  terrible  war 
raged  in  Kansas  this  year,  between  the 
slave  state  and  the  free  state  settlers. 
There  were  frequent  raids  made  by  the 
former.  Lawrence  and  Ossawattomie 
were  nearly  destroyed.  It  was  in  this 
year  that  John  Brown  acquired  a  reputa- 
tion for  fearless  partisan  warfare.  With 
small  bands  of  men  he  often  held  large 
numbers  at  bay.  Especially  did  he  prove 
successful  with  his  little  force  of  thirty 
men  at  the  attack  which  was  made  by 
500  upon  Ossawattomie.  He  was  always 
afterward  known  as  "  Ossawattomie 
i8se.  Great  Brown."  At  the  first  of 
earthquake  in  this  year  President  Pierce 
had  recognized  the  pro- 
slavery  legislature  of  Kansas.  United 
States  troops  were  ordered  to  obey  the 
governor  in  enforcing  the  laws  of  this 
legislature.  A  free  state  legislature  was 
broken  up  by  these  troops  on  July  4, 
at  Topeka.  In  September,  Geary  of 
Pennsylvania,  assumed  the  office  of 
governor,  and  quieted  the  affairs  of  the 
state  somewhat. 

1856.  A  type-setting  machine  was 
invented  by  Timothy  Alden. 

1856.  A  power-loom  for  weaving 
Axminster  carpets,  was  patented  by 
Alexander  Smith  and  Halcyon  Skinner. 


Their  establishment  was  set  up  at  Yon- 
kers,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  only  one  in  the 
country. 

1856.  The  Sorghum  Mania.  The 
sorghum  plant,  or  Chinese  sugar-cane, 
was  introduced  into  America  for  the  pro- 
duction of  molasses.  It  was  much  called 
for  during  the  next  fevv  years.  Many 
claimed  that  it  would  displace  sugar-cane, 
but  it  is  now  principally  used  for  syrup. 

1856.  The  California  Vigilance  Com- 
mittee again  took  the  law  into  their  own 
hands,  because  of  increasing  lawlessness. 
The  number  of  the  committee  was  en- 
larged to  several  thousands  of  the  leadin^ 

Q 

citizens,  and  executions  were  a<rain  held. 

7  O 

The  ground  alleged  for  such,  action, 
which  was  taken  in  an  entirely  deliber- 
ate manner,  and  with  considerable  oppo- 
sition from  local  authorities,  was  that  the 
administration  of  the  laws  provided  no 
security  for  society.  Crime  became 
once  more  abashed  by  this  uprising  of 
the  people. 

1856.  The  most  valuable  diamond 
ever  found  in  the  United  States  was 
picked  up  opposite  Richmond,  Va.,  at 
Manchester,  on  the  James  River.  It 
weighs  23.7  carats,  but  has  been  injured. 

1856.  The  first  Black  Hawk  horse 
died  at  Bridport,  Vt.,  aged  twenty- 
three  years.  He  had  been  sold  when  . 
four  years  old,  for  $150.  At  nine  years 
he  trotted  five  miles  in  sixteen  minutes, 
winning  $1,000.  The  secretary  of  the 
Massachusetts  State  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture has  the  skeleton  of  this  horse  hang- 
ing in  his  office  at  the  State  House, 
Boston. 

1856.  A  political  treaty  was  formed 
by  Peru,  Chili,  Ecuador, and  Costa  Rica, 
on  account  of  William  Walker's  filibus- 
tering expeditions.  Costa  Rica  declared 
war  upon  him. 


1845-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


567 


1856.  A  treaty  was  formed  between 
Honduras  and  Great  Britain  for  the 
guarantee  and  protection  of  the  Hondu- 
ras Inter-Oceanic  Railway. 

1856.  San  Salvador  took  the  title  of  a 
republic  later  than  all  the  other   Central 
American  states. 

1857.  Jan.  23.     The  Heaviest  Man. 
Miles    Darden,  a   man  weighing  at  his 
death  over  1,000  pounds,  died  in  Tennes-. 
see,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years.     He 
was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1 798,  and 
grew  to  be  7  ft.  6  in.  high.     At  the  age 
of  forty-seven  he  weighed  871    pounds. 
He  worked  until  he  was  fifty-five  years 
old,  and  was  probably  the  largest  man  of 
whom  there  is  any  record. 

1857.  Jan.  30.  A  mysterious  murder 
of  Dr.  Harvey  Burdell  of  New  York, 
took  place  in  his  own  residence.  A  Mrs. 
1857.  Eark/i-  Cunningham  was  tried  for 
*e  crime,  but  was  acquit- 
ted,  although  the  evidence 
was  very  strong  that  she  committed  the 
deed  in  order  to  secure  Dr.  Burdell's 
property,  through  a  pretended  private 
marriage  with  him. 

NEW  CONSTITUTION  OF  MEXICO. 

1857.  Feb.  3.  A  constitutional  con- 
vention which  had  been  in  existence  a 
year,  at  last  swore  to  a  constitution  which 
was  afterward  promulgated,  and  has  since 
been  the  law  of  the  land.  It  was  strictly 
republican  in  principle,  and  provided  for 
a  president  to  be  elected  for  four  years, 
his  term  to  begin  Dec.  I,  1857.  With 
the  adoption  of  this  by  the  "  advanced 
party "  of  the  country,  began  what  is 
known  as  the  "war  of  reform,"  brought 

O 

on    by    the    opposition    of  corrupt    men, 
1857.   December,    during  which  life  and  prop- 

FF?enck  captured    erty  wcre  scarcely  safe  any.- 
Canton,  china,      where     within     Mexican 


limits.  Mexico  has  every  variety  of 
temperature  and  soil,  and  much  mineral 
wealth.  Her  scenery  is  beautiful.  When 
her  full  liberation  comes,  she  will  be  a 
worthy  part  of  the  life  of  the  continent. 


1857.  Feb.  12.  George  Peabody 
gave  $300,000  to  establish  in  Baltimore 
a  free  Literary  and  Scientific  Institute. 

1857.  Feb.  19.  An  expulsion  of 
four  members  from  the  United  States 
House  of  Representatives  for  corrupt 
conduct  took  place.  They  were  from 
New  York  and  Connecticut. 

1857.  March  4.  James  Buchanan 
was  inaugurated  president  of  the  United 
States,  and  John  C.  Breckinridge,  vice- 
president. 

DRED  SCOTT  DECISION. 

1857.  March  6.  The  United  States 
Supreme  Court  gave  a  decision  which 
greatly  agitated  the  North,  and  widened 
the  gulf  between  North  and  South. 
Dred  Scott  was  a  slave  who  had  lived  for 
four  years  with  his  master  in  Illinois,  and 
afterward  for  a  while  in  Minnesota,  in 
both  which  states  slavery  was  illegal. 
He  was  then  carried  back  to  Missouri, 
and  was  whipped  at  some  time.  Scott 
entered  a  suit  against  his  master  for 
assault,  pleading  that  he  had  become 
free  by  having  lived  in  two  free  states. 
He  won  his  case  by  the  decision  of  the 
Missouri  Circuit  Court.  It  was  appealed, 
and  came  up  in  process  of  time  before 
the  bench  of  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court.  The  decision  of  this  1857  lfa  g 
court  affirmed  that  negroes  Rebellion  in  /«. 
were  things  or  chattels, 
"  had  no  rights  which  white  people  were 
bound  to  respect,"  could  be  carried  by  an 
owner  wherever  he  pleased,  and  had  no 
standing  in  court  which  enabled  them  to 


CYPRESS  GROVE  IN  MEXICO. 


[QC8] 


1845-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


569 


sue.  It  also  declared  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise unconstitutional  and  void.  A 
minority  of  the  justices  dissented  from 
this  view.  Roger  B.  Taney  was  chief- 
justice  at  the  time,  and  supported  the 
decision. 


1857.     June  26.     The  Montreal  was 

lost  near  Quebec,  with  250  lives. 

1857.     July  4.     «  Dead  Rabbit"  Riot. 

A  great  riot  occurred  in  New  York, 
which  originated  in  some  legal  proceed- 
ing concerning  the  police  force.  It  took 
its  name  from  the  "  roughs  "  and  rowdies 
of  "Five  Points,"  who  are  known  as 
"dead  rabbits."  The  riot  continued 
through  the  night  of  July  3,  and  until 
night  of  July  4.  Eleven  persons  were 
killed. 

1857.  Aug.  5.  The  first  attempt  to 
lay  a  submarine  cable  across  the  Atlantic 
began  at  Valentia,  Ireland,  by  means  of 
the  British  ships  Leopard  and  Agamem- 
non, with  the  American  ships  Niagara 
and  Susquehanna.  Only  a  few  miles 
«57.  Aug.  e.  nacl  been  laid,  when  a  break 
Napoleon  in.  occurred.  This  was  mend- 

and Eugenie vis-          ,  -.     , 

iled  Queen    Vic-      Ccl>  ancl  tne  Vessels  WCllt  Oil 

toria-  their   way    for    300  miles, 

when  another  break  occurred,  and  the 
enterprise  was  abandoned  till  the  next 
year. 

PANIC  OF  1857. 

1857.  Aug  24.  A  failure  of  the 
"  Ohio  Life  Insurance  and  Trust  Com- 
pany "  took  place,  and  proved  to  be  the 
first  act  in  the  panic  which  swept  through 
the  commercial  world  so  fiercely.  Many 
1857.  Sept.  u.  banks  were  everywhere 
DeM  in  India  SOon  forced  to  suspend.  The 

captured. 

cause  ot  the  disaster  was 
chiefly  in  the  rage  for  land  speculation, 
which  had  prevailed  like  a  fever  through 
the  country.  Paper  cities  abounded, 


and  unproductive  railroads  were  opened. 
At  last  the  crisis  came.  The  land  was 
convulsed  from  one  end  to  another. 


1857.  Sept.  8.  The  steamship  Cen- 
tral America,  from  Aspinwall  for  New 
York,  with  five  hundred  and  seventy-nine 
persons  on  board,  foundered  in  a  terrible 
gale  off  Cape  Hattera.s.  One  hundred 
and  fifty-two  only  were  saved.  Over 
$2,000,000  treasure  was  lost. 

1857.  Sept.  15.  Brigham  Young 
issued  his  proclamation  against  the 
United  States  troops  which  had  been 
sent  out  to  maintain  order  in  the 
province,  and  urged  the  people  of  Utah 
to  resist  them.  The  troops  were  har» 
assed  after  their  entrance  into  the  terri- 
tory of  Utah,  by  Mormon  raiders.  Sup- 
ply trains  were  cut  off,  and  cattle  stolen. 
Winter  quarters  were  prepared  on 
Black's  Fork,  near  Fort  Bridger.  Alfred 
Gumming,  who  had  been  appointed  gov- 
ernor, and  was  with  the  army,  declared 
the  territory  to  be  in  rebellion. 

GREAT  REVIVAL. 

1857.  Sept.  23.  The  first  step  in  the 
great  religious  revival  of  1857  and  1858 
was  taken  in  the  establishment  of  a  bus- 
iness men's  prayer  meeting  in  the  third 
story  lecture  room  of  the  old  Fulton  Street 
church,  at  twelve  o'clock  noon,  by  Mr. 
J.  C.  Lanphier,  who  was  serving  as  city 
missionary  for  the  church.  For  one  half 
of  the  hour  Mr.  Lanphier  was  alone. 
Five  persons  came  in  during  the  last  half. 
One  week  from  that  time  twenty  were 
present.  Two  weeks,  nearly  forty  were 
there.  At  the  close  of  this  third  meet- 
ing one  was  appointed  for  the  next  day, 
inaugurating  the  Fulton  Street  daily 
prayer  meeting,  which  has  never  ceased 
to  be  held.  It  was  not  long  before 


570 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT, 


meetings  were  held  in  other  churches, 
and  the  city  began  to  be  alive  with  them. 
About  the  same  time  with  the  Fulton 
Street  meeting,  one  was  established  in 
Plymouth  Church,  Brooklyn.  During 
the  spring  of  1858  the  revival  attained 
great  power  all  over  the  land.  Churches 
were  everywhere  aroused,  and  converts 
made  by  thousands. 


1857.  Sept.  25-26.  The  banks  of 
Philadelphia  suspended  payment,  and 
were  followed  in  quick  succession  by 
banks  through  all  the  surrounding  region. 

1857.  Oct.  13-14.  The  banks  of 
New  York  suspended  payment  after  a 
terrible  run  upon  them  by  thousands  of 
depositors.  The  banks  of  Massachusetts 
went  down  in  the  second  day. 

1857.  Nov.  2.  Unemployed  work- 
men in  New  York  held  a  large  mass 
meeting.  Their  distresses  during  the 
panic  were  great.  They  held  another 
Nov.  10. 

•  1857.  Dec.  12.  The  banks  of  New 
York  resumed  payment,  and  were  soon 
followed  by  others,  so  that  the  blackest 
part  of  the  crisis  seemed  past.  During 
the  year  ending  Dec.  25  there  had  been 
5,123  commercial  failures,  with  liabilities 
amounting  to  $291,750,000. 

1857.  Dec.  17.  Gen.  Zuloaga  pro- 
nounced against  the  constitution  of  Mex- 
ico, and  under  the  lead  of  the  church 
party  aided  Comonfort,  who  had  been 
inaugurated  president  of  the  republic 
on  Dec.  i,  in  trying  to  secure  absolute 
power. 

1857.  Kansas  Troubles.  The  free 
state  legislature  of  Kansas  tried  to  meet 
in  January,  but  were  broken  up  by 
United  States  troops  again.  Gov.  Geary 
resigned  because  of  difficulty  with  the  pro- 
slaver  v  legislature.  Robert  T.  Walker 

^  O  •/ 


of  Mississippi,  was  made  governor.  The 
United  States  House  declared  the  acts  of 
the  Kansas  pro-slavery  legislature  "  cruel, 
oppressive,  illegal  and  void."  The  Senate 
refused  to  concur  in  this. 

1857.  The  National  Association  of 
Base  Ball  Players  was  organized,  and 
established  a  uniform  system  of  rules  for 
the  whole  country.  The  rules  had  for- 
merly varied  in  different  states.  This 
association  has  been  divided  within  a  few 
years  into  professional  and  amateur 
societies. 

1857.  A  process  for  condensing 
milk  was  patented  by  Charles  Alden, 
who  has  since  invented  processes  for 
drying  fruit  by  evaporation  so  as  to  retain 
every  valuable  element  in  them. 

FENIAXISM. 

1857.  The  Fenian  Organization  was. 
founded  for  the  first  time  in  America  at 
New  York,  by  Michael  Corcoran,  Mi- 
chael Doheny,  and  James  O'Mahoney, 
under  the  name  of  the  Emmet  Monu- 
ment Association.  Similar  societies  al- 
ready existed  in  Ireland,  where  they 
were  known  as  Phoenix  societies.  The 
name  Fenian,  afterward  adopted,  was 
taken  from  Fionn  or  Finn,  who  com- 
manded a  kind  of  Irish  militia  in  the 
third  century.  In  1858,  ISM-ISS?. 
James  Stephens,  the  chief  Eugene  Sue. 
promoter  of  the  brotherhood,  visited 
New  York  from  Ireland,  and  helped  the 
club  then  organize  more  fully,  with 
John  O'Mahoney  as  president. 


1857.      A  great  contest  of    mowers 

under  the  auspices  of  the  United  States 
Agricultural  Society,  was  held  at  Syra- 
cuse, N.  Y.  Forty  mowers  were  put 
into  the  trial.  The  Buckeye  won  the 
victory. 


1845-1859.] 

1857.  Central  Park,  New  York.   The 

New  York  legislature  set  apart  the  land 
in  the  upper  part  of  New  York  city,  for 
a  permanent  free  park.  Frederic  Law 
Olmsted  and  Calvert  Vaux  provided 
plans  for  its  improvement,  and  work  has 
been  constantly  going  on  at  great  ex- 
pense to  beautify  the  grounds  and  make 
them  an  attractive  public  resort. 

1857.  The   seat  of   government  for 
Canada     was    placed     permanently    at 
Ottawa. 

1858.  Jan.  19.     Mexican  Troubles. 
Gen.   Zuloaga   had    just   now   forsaken 
President  Comonfort,  who  was    obliged 
to  flee  for  his  life.     The  former  took  the 
administration  upon  himself.     But  Benito 
Juarez,  who  had  been  made  chief-justice 
under  the  new  constitution,  and  who,  ac- 
cording to  the  provisions  of  that   docu- 
ment was  legally  president  in  the  absence 
of  the  one  chosen   as  such,  removed  to 
Guanajuato,  and  was  there  recognized  as 
president  of  the  republic.     He,  however, 
1795-1858.  had    no   safety  against  the 

Ary  sdieffer.  church  party,  and  therefore 
had  to  shift  for  himself.  He  was  at 
last  made  prisoner  by  his  guard,  who 
pronounced  in  favor  of  the  old  regime, 
but  was  afterward  set  at  liberty. 

1858.  Jan.  24.  Two  United  States 
vessels,  named  Lizzie  Thompson  and 
Georgiana,  were  seized  by  Peruvian  ves- 
sels while  loading  guano  on  the  coast  of 
the  province  of  Arequipa.  It  led  to  com- 
plications, but  Peru  has  afforded  redress. 

1858.  Feb.  22.  A  Washington  Mon- 
ument at  Richmond,  Va.,  by  Crawford, 
was  inaugurated. 

1858.  April  30.  Congress  voted  to 
ISM.  Jan.  31.  admit  Kansas  to  the  Union 

Great  Eastern  i         ,  i        T 

launched  at  Lon-  under  the  Lecompton  con- 
don.  stitution,  which  was  pro- 

slavery,  with  the  condition  that  it  should 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


571 


have  certain  valuable  public  lands  if  it 
would  adopt  that  constitution  by  a  vote 
of  the  people.  It  had  previously  been 
rejected  by  a  majority  of  10,000  votes. 

1858.  May  1.  Convention  of  Rivas. 
The  states  of  Nicaragua  and  Costa  Rica 
formed  a  treaty  with  a  representative  of 
the  French  government,  agreeing  on  the 
formation  of  an  interoceanic  canal  com- 
pany by  the  latter,  and  making  the  nec- 
essary stipulation  for  the  construction  of 
a  transit  of  this  kind.  This  was  after- 
ward commended  by  the  British  gov- 
ernment. 

1858.  May  4.  Three  Years'  War 
in  Mexico.  Chief-justice  Juarez  once 
more  established  himself  in  the  govern- 
ment at  Vera  Cruz.  The  country  was 
overrun  by  the  forces  of  the  opposing 
party,  but  Juarez  began  the  effort  which 
ended  in  January,  i86i,in  his  triumphal 
entry  into  the  City  of  Mexico,  as  the 
savior  of  the  republic. 

1858.  May  11.  Minnesota  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Union  as  the  isss.  Great  East 
thirty-second  state.  It  has  India  ComPany 

•went  out  of  ex- 

83,531    square    miles,    and    istence. 
780,807  inhabitants  in   1880.     Its  motto 
is,  «  L'Etoile  du  Nord."     "  The  star  of 
the  North." 

1858.  May.  The  college  regatta 
association  was  formed  by  a  convention 
of  oarsmen  from  Harvard,  Yale,  Brown, 
and  Trinity.  Regattas  were  held  annu- 
ally until  1870. 

1858.  June  10.  A  president's  mes- 
sage announced  the  peaceable  settlement 
of  the  Utah  difficulties. 

1858.  June  13.  The  Pennsylvania 
was  wrecked  in  the  Mississippi  River, 
and  100  lives  lost. 

1858.  June  13.  A  treaty  of  friend- 
ship between  the  United  States  and 
China  was  signed  at  Tien-Tsin. 


572 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


1858.  June  19.  A  severe  earthquake 
occurred  in  the  valley  of  Mexico,  de- 
stroying the  aqueduct  which  brought 
water  into  the  city,  and  doing  much 
other  damage  in  other  places. 

1858.  July  14.  The  Turkish  admi- 
ral, Mehemet  Pacha,  and  his  suite,  after 
an  extensive  tour  throiagh  portions  of  the 
United  States,  sailed  from  Boston. 

1858.  Aug.  2.  British  Columbia 
was  separated  from  the  Hudson's  Bay 
1858.  Palmer-  Company,  and  incorporated 

stones  ministry  ^  &  distinct  colonial  govern- 
closed.  Lord 

Derby  succeeded,  ment.  Gold  had  been  found 
within  its  limits,  and  a  permanent  colony 
planted.  The  previous  centers  had 
merely  been  trading  stations. 

1858.  Aug.  3.  The  people  of  Kansas 
by  a  full  vote,  refused  to  accept  the  Le- 
compton  constitution  with  its  provisions 
for  slavery,  even  with  the  inducement 
held  out  to  them  by  congress  in  a  free 
gift  of  valuable  lands. 

1858.  Aug.  11.  The  first  annual 
convention  of  the  National  Teachers' 
Association  was  held  at  Cincinnati. 

tiTLyLXTIC  CABLE. 

1858.  Aug.  13.  After  another  faith- 
ful attempt  to  lay  a  telegraphic  cable 
across  the  Atlantic,  success  seemed  to 
crown  the  labors  to  that  end.  A  first 
trial  was  made  and  was  broken  up  by  a 
1858.  July  12.  storm,  but  on  Aug.  5  the 
First  jeTvin  R  between  Valentia,  Ire- 

British     Parlia- 
ment. Baron          land,   and     Newfoundland, 
Rothschild  en-       ^^  completed.   Communi- 

tered     House    of 

Commons.  cation  was  at  once  held  be- 

tween England  and  America.  Upon 
Aug.  17,  Queen  Victoria  sent  a  message 
of  congratulation  to  President  Buchanan, 
who  replied  with  a  similar  sentiment. 
The  success  of  the  enterprise  was  a  mat- 
ter of  great  rejoicing  in  both  continents. 


But  the  communications  afterward  grew 

O 

more  difficult,  and  finally  ceased  entirely 
about  the  first  of  September.  It  was 
eight  years  before  another  cable  was  laid, 
and  permanent  success  reached.  Sub- 
marine cables  now  run  in  all  directions. 


1858.  Aug.  27.  The  slave  vessel 
Echo  was  captured  and  carried  into 
Charleston,  S.  C.  The  rescued  negroes 
were  taken  to  Liberia  on  the  United 
States  steamship  Niagara.  The  grand 
jury  of  Columbia  county,  S.  C.,  refused 
an  indictment  against  the  Echo. 

1858.  Sept.  1.  The  quarantine  sta- 
tion on  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.  harbor,  was 
destroyed  by  the  citizens,  who  regarded  it 
as  a  nuisance. 

1858.    Sept.  13.    The  steamship  Aus- 
tria, of  the  New   York   and   Hamburg 
line,  with  five  hundred  and  thirty-eight 
persons  on  board  was  burned    1S5S,    june  15% 
in    mid-ocean    while   on   a    Forty-five  Chris- 

-.-,  -r      ,  .       tians    massacred 

voyage  to  New  York.     A    at  JfMaht  Tur. 
bucket  of  tar  used  in  fumi-    key-    Jeddah 

afterward    bom- 

gatmg  the  ship  took  fire  barded  by  Eng. 
and  communicated  the  lish  steamer. 
flames  to  everything  around.  Only  sixty- 
seven  were  rescued  from  the  wreck  by 
passing  vessels,  making  this  one  of  the 
most  terrible  disasters  ever  known  in 
ocean  navigation. 

1858.  Sept.  16.  The  first  overland 
mail  ever  started  for  California  from  the 
East  left  St.  Louis. 

1858.     Sept.  21.     The  steam  frigate 
General  Admiral,  built  for    J858    Atlempt 
the     Russian    government,    to  kil1  Emperor 

i  i_      i      j.  TVT  -\r      i         Napoleon  III. 

was  launched  at  New  York. 

1858.  Oct.  5.  A  great  fire  consumed 
the  Crystal  Palace,  New  York,  while  an 
annual  fair  was  in  operation.  Its  contents 
were  entirely  lost.  The  .fire  began  in  a 
lumber  room  and  spread  with  such  amaz- 


1858. 

wee  court" 
opened  in  Lon- 
don. 


1845-1859.] 

ing   rapidity   along   the   highly  seasoned 
di-    pitch  pine  floors,  the  cases 

an(j    taW          tha(.    m    half  fln 

hour    the    whole   building 
«was  in  ruins.      It  was  a  so-called    fire- 
proof building,  but  it  went  like  magic. 
It  was   with   difficulty  that  the   visitors 
escaped  from  harm. 

1858.  Oct.  15.  Parker  Cleaveland, 
"  the  father  of  American  mineralogy," 
died  at  Brunswick,  Me.,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight  years.  He  was  born  at 
Rowley,  Mass.,  Jan.  15,  1780,  and  was 
graduated  at  Harvard  College,  in  1799. 
In  1805,  after  having  served  foj  two 
years  as  tutor  at  Harvard,  he  was  elected 
professor  in  Bowdoin  College,  a  position 
less.  First  rail-  which  he  held  for  53  years, 

road  in  Egypt,         .  .    ,  ... 

the  Suez.  m  Spite  Of   frequent  SOUClta- 

tions  to  accept  situations  elsewhere.  His 
main  subject  of  study  and  instruction  was 
natural  science,  and  in  1816  the  first  edi- 
tion of  his  work  on  mineralogy  was 
issued.  He  acquired  a  world-wide  repu- 
tation, and  was  elected  a  member  of  six- 
teen different  scientific  and  literary  socie- 
ties in  Europe.  He  only  failed,  for  rea- 
sons in  connection  with  himself,  in  attend- 
ing three  recitations  during  his  long  term 
of  service  in  Bowdoin. 

1858.  Oct.  20.  A  brutal  prize  fight 
took  place  at  Long  Point  Island,  Lake 
Erie,  between  John  Morrissey,  since 
member  of  congress,  and  John  C.  Heenan, 
tor  a  wager  of  $2,500.  The  former  was 
declared  the  champion  of  America. 

1858.  Nov.  28.  Three  hundred 
Africans  were  landed  from  the  yacht 
Wanderer  at  Brunswick,  Ga. 

1858.  Dec.  21.  Faustin  was  banished 
by  the  revolutionists  of  Hayti,  and  Gen. 
Jeffrard  made  president  in  his  place. 

1858.  Vineland,  N.  J.,  was  founded 
by  Mr.  Charles  K.  Landis.  It  was  laid 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


573 


out  into  fine  streets,  and  the  lots  were 
sold  subject  to  certain  specified  conditions 
which  related  not  only  to  the  building 
thereon,  but  to  the  general  life  of  the 
community.  The  success  has  been  great. 
Intoxication  and  poverty  are  unknown, 
and  there  is  scarcely  any  need  of  a  police 
or  fire  department.  Taxes  are  very  low. 
The  soil  was  poor,  but  the  place  has  been 
made  a  city  of  well-regulated  homes  and 
industrious  people. 

1858.  Mount  Vernon,  the  home  of 
Washington,  was  sold  to  the  "  Ladies' 
Mt.  Vernon  Association,"  for  $200,000, 
with  the  intention  of  making  it  a  place  of 
resort.  Money  has  been  laid  out  upon  it, 
and  two  or  three  rooms  in  the  house  re- 
main as  they  were  when  Washington 
died. 

1858.  Paul  C.  Morphy,  the  American 
champion  chess-player,  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  visited  Europe,  and  obtained  vic- 
tories over  the  best  players  in  England, 
and  on  the  continent.  He  became  the 
champion  of  the  world.  Upon  his  return 
he  received  a  magnificent  ovation.  He 
has  since  been  a  practising  lawyer  in  New 
Orleans. 

1858.  The  first  sleeping-car  seen  on 
American  railroads  was  run  this  year,  but 
was  not  at  all  satisfactory. 

1858.  The  American  Bank  Note 
Company  was  formed  by  a  combination 
of  the  engraving  companies  of  the  United 
States.  It  has  controlled  a  large  share  of 
the  work  in  engraving  bank  notes.  The 
work  of  counterfeiting  is  more  difficult 
because  of  this  combination. 

1858.  A  record  of  Franklin's  expedi- 
tion up  to  the  time  when  the  ships  were 
abandoned,  was  found  in  a  cairn  at  Point 
Victory.  Sir  John  died  June  u,  1847. 
The  ships  were  abandoned  April  22, 
1848,  and  105  men  started  for  Great  Fish 


574 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


River.  They  evidently  died  of  starvation 
along  the  way,  as  appears  by  the  dis- 
covery of  skeletons  at  different  points. 

1858.  Valuable  gold  diggings  were 
found  in  western  Kansas,  and  emigration 

'  O 

at  once  began  to  flow  in.  Many  persons 
suffered  great  hardships.  There  was  also 
a  great  gold  excitement  during  the  year 
in  Washington  and  Oregon  territories. 

1858.  Dr.  Linares  became  dictator  of 
Bolivia  for  two  years,  till  overthrown  and 
imprisoned. 

1858.  Guayaquil  in  Ecuador  was 
blockaded  by  Peruvian  vessels,  but  the 
difficulties  between  the  two  powers  which 
had  been  of  six  years'  standing,  were  soon 
terminated. 

1858.  Paraguay  River  was  declared 
open    to  the   mercantile   marine    of   all 
countries. 

1859.  Jan.    1.     Gen.   Zuloaga   abdi- 
cated in  Mexico  in  favor  of  Gen.  Miguel 
Miramon,  who  began  his  attempt  to  sub- 
due the  constitutional  party  under  Juarez. 

1859.  January.  The  independence 
of  Uruguay  w'as  secured  by  a  treaty  with 
Brazil  and  the  Argentine  confederation. 
The  province  had  been  peaceful  since 
the  fall  of  Rosas  in  1852.  It  was  now 
on  the  verge  of  a  fresh  crisis  in  its  affairs. 

1859.  Jan.  1O.  Cuba.  A  bill  pro- 
viding $30,000,000  for  the  work  of  secur- 
ing Cuba  as  a  part  of  the  United  States, 
1769-1859.  was  introduced  into  the  IL 

Humboidt.  S.  congress  by  Mr.  Slidell. 
This  was  a  part  of  the  long  effort  to  get 
that  island  for  the  sake  of  adding  to  the 
slave  territory  of  the  United  States. 

WILLIAM  H.  PRESCOTT. 

1859.  Jan.  28.  William  H.  Pres- 
cott,  one  of  our  most  eminent  American 
historians,  died  in  Boston,  aged  sixty-two 
years.  He  was  born  in  Salem,  Mass., 


May  4,  1796.  -His  early  boyhood  was 
spent  in  the  place  of  his  birth.  In  1808 
the  family  removed  to  Boston,  and  the 
young  William  was  at  once  put  into  the 
best  training  school  of  the  time,  in  that* 
city.  Here  he  received  the  drill  in 
classics  which  followed  him  all  his  life. 
He  entered  Harvard,  a  bright,  hearty, 
young  man,  and  pursued  his  studies  with 
ordinary  diligence.  In  his  junior  year  an 
incident  occurred  which  colored  his  whole 
subsequent  life.  As  he  was  isoo-1859. 
going  out  from  dinner  one  ^^  Afacauioy. 
day  at  Commons,  with  a  crowd  of  laugh- 
ing  students,  he  turned  his  head  to  look 
behind  him,  and  at  just  this  instant  a  crust 
of  dry  bread  thrown  by  some  one,  struck 
him  in  the  open  eye.  This  accident 
caused  the  entire  loss  of  the  sight  of  this 
eye  for  his  lifetime.  It  also  caused  severe 
attacks  at  times  in  the  other  eye.  For 
the  most  of  his  career  Mr.  Prescott  could 
manage  with  difficulty  to  use  the  remain- 
ing eye,  and  at  best  the  help  afforded  by 
it  was  partial  and  unsatisfactory.  It, 
however,  drove  him  to  a  great  discipline 
of  memory,  and  in  his  best  days  it  was 
possible  for  him  to  compose  and  revise 
about  sixty  pages  of  history  in  his  mind, 
A  writing  machine  became  his  constant 
companion  after  a  time,  although  at  all 
times  during  his  work  on  his  histories  he 
employed  a  secretary.  For  well-nigh 
half  of  his  life  he  received  little  aid  from 
eyesight.  A  tour  abroad  occupied  him 
after  graduation  from  college.  When  in 
America  again  he  was  married,  and  be- 
gan the  consideration  of  his  lifework. 
Law  was  thrown  out  of  the  question,  and 
before  a  great  while  he  began  to  think  of 
history.  As  a  preparation  he  began  the 
task  of  reviewing  his  studies,  especially 
in  grammar,  and  in  the  1803-1359. 

_-..        Robert  Stephen  - 

modern     languages.       His    son. 


1845-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


575 


reading-  first  turned  towai'd  a  life  of 
Moliere,  but  at  a  later  day  he  selected 
the  reign  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  as 
his  first  field.  He  collected  materials  at 
great  trouble,  much  of  it  in  Spanish,  and 
employed  a  secretary  whom  he  taught  to 
read  the  text  without  being  able  to  under- 
stand it.  For  ten  years  he  worked  in  the 
most  painstaking  way,  and  at  last  put  his 
work  before  the  public  with  much  mis- 
giving. But  the  work  was  no  sooner 
issued  than  his  reputation  began  to 
spread.  People  who  had  thought  that 
this  man,  almost  blind,  had  been  amusing 
himself  with  some  studies  for  his  own  re- 
lief, found  that  he  was  doing  a  work  few 
well  men  could  do.  In  the  same  way  his 
other  works  were  prepared.  Public 
honors  flowed  in  upon  him,  and  he  was 
known  widely  at  home  and  abroad.  Mr. 
Prescott  was  a  genial,  conscientious, 
methodical  man,  and  subjected  himself  to 
his  own  demands  most  untiringly.  He 
was  of  a  tall  stature,  and  easy  manner. 
A  very  fine  private  library  was  collected 
by  him,  especially  in  the  lines  of  his 
study.  His  life  is  a  lesson  of  untiring 
diligence  in  the  midst  of  great  suffering. 


1859.  Feb.  14.  Oregon  was  the 
thirty-third  state  to  be  received  into  the 
Union,  It  has  95,274  square  miles,  and 
174,767  inhabitants  in  1880.  The  motto 
of  the  state  is,  "Alis  volat  propriis." 
"  She  flies  with  her  own  wings." 

1859.  Feb.  27.  Philip  Barton  Key, 
District  Attorney  for  the  District  of 
Columbia,  was  shot  on  the  street  in 
Washington  by  Hon.  Daniel  E.  Sickles, 
on  the  charge  of  alleged  intimacy  with 
the  latter's  wife.  The  matter  became 
known  to  Mr.  Sickles  through  the  con- 
fession of  Mrs.  Sickles.  Great  excite- 
ment was  caused  over  the  country  by 


this  terrible  tragedy,  and  when  the  trial 
of,  Mr.  Sickles  came  on,  little  else  was 
talked  about  anywhere.  The  jury  re- 
turned a  verdict  of  "  Not  guilty,"  and 
Mr.  Sickles  has  since  been  prominent  in 
the  Civil  War,  where  he  1786.1859, 
obtained  the  rank  of  major-  t>e%uinc<y. 
general,  and  has  served  as  minister  to 
Spain.  The  husband  and  wife  were 
reunited,  but  Mrs.  Sickles  failed  in  health, 
and  died  before  many  years. 

1859.  March  18.  Miramon  besieged 
Vera  Cruz  in  the  attempt  to  overthrow 
Juarez  and  the  constitutional  party.  But 
the  effort  was  unsuccessful.  The  men 
now  in  charge  of  the  republican  forces 
were  men  of  great  wisdom  and  executive 
ability. 

1859.  March  29.  An  earthquake 
destroyed  a  large  part  of  Quito,  S.  A. 
During  this  year  Guayaquil  was  destroyed 
by  fire. 

1859.  April  4.  The  Juarez  govern- 
ment in  Mexico  was  recognized  by  Mr. 
McLane,  the  United  States  commissioner, 
who  negotiated  a  treaty  therewith.  It 
was  now  gaining  in  power  every  day. 

1859.  May  6.  Rich  gold  deposits 
were  found  in  the  Pike's  Peak  region, 
and  inaugurated  the  Pike's  Peak  fever. 
Settlers  and  miners  poured  in  from  all 
directions. 

1859.  May  11.  The  slave  trade  was 
discussed  by  a  Southern  convention  held 
at  Vicksburg,  and  was  the  subject  of 
resolutions  favorable  to  its  re-opening. 

1859.  May  16.  A  great  fire  raged 
at  Key  West,  destroying  no  dwellings, 
and  $2,750,000  worth  of  property. 

1859.  July  1.  An  aerial  trip  from 
St.  Louis  to  New  York,  a  distance  of 
1,200  miles,  was  made  by  Wise,  the  bal- 
loonist. 

1859.     July  5.     A  new  constitution, 


576 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 


prohibiting  slavery,  was  framed  in  Kan- 
sas by  a  convention  of  delegates  who  as- 
sembled at  Wyandotte. 

1859.  July  9.  Vancouver's  Island 
was  taken  possession  of  by  Gen.  Harney, 
in  behalf  of  the  United  States. 

1859.  July  12.  The  confiscation  of 
1859.  Franco-  church  property  was  de- 
A«*tna»*ar.  ^  ,  Juarez,  who-was 

Treaty  of  peace  J     " 

signed  July  ii.  leader  of  the  republic  in 
Mexico.  The  church  brought  all  its 
forces  to  bear  in  defeating  the  movement 
for  the  constitution  of  1857. 

RUFUS  CHOATE. 

1859.  July  13.  This  eminent  Amer- 
ican lawyer  and  advocate  died  at  Halifax, 
Nova  Scotia,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine 
years.  He  was  born  in  what  is  now  the 
town  of  Essex,  Mass.,  Oct.  i,  1799.  His 
boyhood  was  spent  in  the  freedom  of  his 
home,  where  he  became  known  for  great 
sensitiveness,  and  a  keen  sense  of  humor. 
His  memory  showed  itself  even  in  his 
early  days  as  being  very  remarkable,  for 
while  apparently  glancing  over  a  book, 
he  would  be  gaining  an  excellent  idea  of 
its  contents,  and  would  retain  it.  This 
made  him  a  bright  student.  But  he  was 
also  faithful  in  work  when  it  was  his  to 
do  about  the  place  owned  by  his  father. 
For  a  few  months  he  studied  at  Hampton 
Academy,  and  then  entered  Dartmouth 
College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1819, 
after  a  course  of  great  application,  and  of 
high  honor.  He  served  as  tutor  one 
year,  then  studied  law,  and  finally  began 
practice  in  Salem,  Mass.  Political  honors 
soon  came  to  him,  but  after  a  term  in  the 
state  house  of  representatives,  one  in  the 
state  senate,  and  one  in  the  United  States 

1859.  July  25.  nouse  °f  representatives,  he 
strike  in  London  declined  further  election. 

by  builders.  ^  Qf  ^  j. 


in  1841,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  United 
States  senate,  he  continued  the  practice 
of  his  profession,  and  rose  to  eminence  in 
it.  His  powers  as  an  advocate  were  very 
great.  During  his  entire  life  he  main- 
tained his  study  of  the  classics,  and  was 
at  home  in  such  lines  of  study,  as  well  as 
in  English  literature.  His  reputation 
rests  upon  a  few  eloquent  speeches  and 
addresses.  His  accomplishments  were 
undoubtedly  rather  of  the  popular  and 
transient,  than  the  solid  and  enduring 
kind. 

1859.  July.  A  civil  war  raged  in 
Venezuela,  and  Gen.  Monagas,  dictator 
for  eleven  years,  was  overthrown. 

1859.  July.  Extreme  heat  during 
this  and  the  previous  month,  made  Cali- 
fornia almost  unendurable. 

HORACE  MANX. 

1859.  Aug.  2.  This  eminent  Ameri- 
can educator  died  at  Yellow  Springs, 
Ohio,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years. 
He  was  born  at  Franklin,  Mass.,  May  4, 
1796,  and  grew  up  in  the  midst  of  cir- 
cumstances which  developed  and  aided 
the  finer  characteristics  which  he  pos- 
sessed. As  a  boy  he  was  pure,  and  free 
from  the  vices  of  boyhood.  His  nature 
was  religious  from  the  start,  and  religious 
things  took  a  deep  hold  upon  him.  At 
twelve  yeai's  of  age  he  met  isos-isso. 
with  some  decided  experi-  Tocqueviiie. 

ence  which  gave  tone  and  color  to  all  his 
after  life.  His  peculiar  views,  partaking 
of  those  of  the  so-called  liberal  sects, 
first  took  shape  at  that  time.  Yet  he 
was  a  true  boy,  full  of  fun,  and  fond  of 
recreation.  At  last  he  was  fitted  for 
college,  and  entered  Brown  University, 
Providence,  R.  I.,  and  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1819.  Close  application  to  study 


184.5-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


577 


during  these  periods  nearly  ruined  his 
physical  system.  His  life  was  a  long 
struggle  against  the  threatening  results. 
After  serving  as  tutor  for  a  while,  he 
studied  law,  and  began  practice  in  Ded- 
ham,  Mass.  But  political  life  opened 
before  him  in  1827  in  an  election  to  the 
legislature  of  his  state,  and  here  he  first 
began  to  show  the  full  characteristics  of 
his  manhood.  From  this  time  on  his 
activity  in  reform  and  education  was 
constant.  He  would  never  lay  down  the 
work.  For  eleven  years  from  1837,  ne 
was  secretary  of  the  state  board  of  edu- 
cation. Many  features  of  school  life 
were  subjected  to  his  thorough  super- 
vision. In  the  interests  of  this  work  he 
visited  Europe  to  study  school  systems. 
His  zeal  was  unflagging.  For  the  eleven 
years  he  labored  for  the  schools  fifteen 
hours  a  day,  winter  and  summer,  with 
never  a  day's  vacation.  In  1848  he  suc- 
ceeded John  Quincy  Adams  in  congress. 
Here  he  labored  for  freedom,  and  was 
returned  till  1852,  when  he  was  nomi- 
nated for  governor  of  Massachusetts  by 
the  free-soil  party,  but  was  defeated.  An 
election  as  president  of  Antioch  College, 
in  Ohio,  was  given  him  at  the  same  time, 
and  he  accepted  it.  Here  unremitting 
labors  began  to  wear  upon  him,  but  he 
knew  no  cessation  in  his  effort  to  try  the 
experiment  of  co-education,  as  he  thought 
successfully.  In  his  death  hour  he  had 
the  students  and  others  called  to  him,  that 
he  might  give  them  his  last  burning  ad- 
vice. Then  he  died,  or  rather  was  con- 
sumed by  his  own  arduous  labors.  He 
acted  throughout  all  his  life  under  the 
power  of  the  words  with  which  he  closed 
a  baccalaureate  address  to  his  students 
this  very  summer:  "Be  ashamed  to  die 
till  you  have  won  some  victory  for  hu- 
manity." 

37 


1859.  Aug.  14.  A  revolution  occurred 
in  Costa  Rica,  and  President  Mora  was 
overthrown. 

1859.  Aug.  16.  Flora  Temple  trotted 
two  miles  in  harness  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
in  4  m.  50^  sec. 

1859.  Sept.  21.  A  duel  was  fought  in 
California,  between  David  C.  Broderick. 
U.  S.  senator,  and  Hon.  D.  S.  Terry,  a 
California  judge.  The  former  was  killed. 
The  opposition  of  Mr.  Broderick  to  sla- 
very, and  remarks  which  he  had  made 
upon  the  subject,  were  the  cause  of  the 
challenge  from  Mr.  Terry.  The  latter 
fled  from  San  Francisco,  but  returned  in 
due  time,  and  in  1880  was  put  upon  the 
list  of  electors  for  Hancock  and  English 
in  the  presidential  campaign.  Strange 
to  say  he  was  the  only  democratic  elector 
in  that  state  who  was  defeated,  and  it  is 
said  that  he  owes  his  defeat  largely  to  the 
remembrance  of  that  duel. 

1859.  Sept.  29.  A  great  auroral 
display  took  place,  and  was  accompanied 
by  an  extensive  magnetic  disturbance 
through  the  United  States.  ^  Sp<jin  de. 
Telegraph  lines  became  dares  war  on 

i  j  Morocco. 

useless,    and    operators    at 
Washington  and  Philadelphia,  and  other 
places,  received    shocks.     An    unwonted 
solar  outburst   took   place  at   the   same 
period. 

1859.    Oct.  4.    The  people  of  Kansas 
'ratified  the  new  constitution  by  a  majority 
of  4,000. 

JOHN  BROWN'S  RAID. 

1859.  Oct.  16.  An  event  of  great 
interest  to  all  who  were  concerned  in  the 
slave  question  took  place  on  the  evening 
of  this  day,  in  the  capture  of  the  U.  S. 
arsenal  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  by  John 
Brown,  who  had  been  prominent  in 
Kansas  troubles,  and  twenty-one  compan- 
ions, five  of  whom  were  negroes.  Brown 


578 

had  formed  the  great  purpose  of  libera- 
ting the  slaves,  and  in  the  attempt  to  carry 
it  out  he  seems  to  have  miscalculated  the 
forces  upon  which  he  could  rely.  Brown 
was  a  New  England  boy,  reared  from 
his  fifth  year  in  Ohio.  From  the  time 
when  he  was  forty  years  of  age  he  seems 
to  have  meditated  very  much  upon  the 
project  of  freeing  the  slaves.  His  nature 
was  religious,  and  the  purpose  took  the 
deeper  hold  upon  him.  When  the 
Kansas  difficulties  grew  up  four  of  his 
sons  were  in  that  state,  and  the  father 
thought  the  time  had  come  for  the  inau- 
guration of  his  great  enterprise.  He 
therefore  went  to  Kansas,  and  was  soon 
known  there  as  a  fearless  fighter.  His 
little  forces  often  did  great  service  in  the 
free-state  cause.  At  one  time  he  assisted 
1859.  Telegrams  jn  liberating  a  number  of 

from  India  to  _  ,.  T 

England.  slaves     in     Missouri.       In 


planning,  however,  for  a  more  extensive 
movement,  he  decided  upon  Virginia  as 
the  scene  of  action,  as  he  could  there  get 
control  of  large  amounts  of  weapons  by 
the  capture  of  Harper's  Ferry,  and  could, 
in  case  of  war,  have  the  advantage  of  the 
mountains  in  which  to  maintain  himself 
and  his  forces.  He  trusted  also,  that  after 
the  arsenal  was  taken,  large  numbers  of 
slaves  would  flock  to  his  side.  With 
these  things  in  view,  he  appeared  in  the 
vicinity  of  Harper's  Ferry,  and  secured 
the  lease  of  a  farm.  Here  his  force' 
gradually  joined  him,  and  finally  reached 
the  number  composing  it  at  the  time  of 
the  attack.  Suspicions  began  to  creep 
about  before  long  that  some  enterprise 
was  on  foot  with  these  men.  Brown 
learned  of  these,  and  therefore  hastened 
his  descent  upon  Harper's  Ferry  one 
week.  Oct.  24  had  been  the  chosen  day. 
But  it  was  finally  agreed  on  Sunday,  the 
1 6th,  that  no  further  delay  would  be  ad- 


POLITICAL  DEVELOPMENT. 

visable,  and  the  little  company  proceeded 
at  dark  to  the  town  of  Harper's  Ferry. 
The  street  lights  were  first  extinguished, 
and  then  the  arsenal  was  taken  from  the 
three  men  who  served  as  watchmen. 
Persons  about  the  town  were  made  pris- 
oners, among  them  being  Col.  Washing- 
ton and  other  prominent  citizens.  A 
train  from  the  west  was  detained  till 
morning.  Brown  seemed  perfectly  cer- 
tain of  success,  and  was  confident  of  as- 
sistance. To  those  who  wished  to  know 
his  object,  he  openly  said  he  was  going 
to  free  the  slaves,  "by  the  authority  of 
God  Almighty."  The  arsenal  was  made 
headquarters,  and  the  prisoners  confined 
within  it.  About  sixty  in  all  were  taken. 
It  was  not  long  before  some  of  the  citi- 
zens began  to  appear  with  weapons,  and 
firing  soon  occurred.  This  continued 
through  the  forenoon  without  forcing  the 
surrender  of  the  arsenal.  The  besiegers 
constantly  increased  in  numbers,  and  all 
escape  became  impossible.  Brown's 
forces  were  reduced  during  the  day  to 
a  very  small  number,  but  he  strove  to  in- 
spire his  companions,  and  displayed  great 
self-possession  in  the  very  presence  of  his 
impending  doom.  Col.  Robert  E.  Lee, 
with  a  company  of  U.  S.  marines  and 
two  pieces  of  artillery,  reached  the  scene 
during  the  night.  The  end  had  now. 
come.  By  a  strong  assault  in  the  morn- 
ing the  place  was  captured,  and  after  the 
doors  had  been  beaten  down,  Brown  and 
his  companions  were  taken  into  custody, 
not  without  a  severe  struggle.  The  un- 
daunted old  leader  was  himself  severely 
wounded  by  being  knocked  down  and 
bayoneted.  On  the  27th  the  trial  began 
before  the  courts,  and  Brown,  because  of 
physical  weakness,  was  obliged  to  lie  on 
a  cot  during  the  time.  In  four  days  he 
was  found  guilty,  and  ordered  to  be  hung 


1845-1859.] 


THE  INCREASE  OF  SECTIONALISM. 


579 


on  Dec.  2d.  He  steadily  disclaimed  all 
evil  intent  upon  lives  or  property,  and 
seemed  to  have  expected  after  his  pro- 
ject was  known,  that  he  would  have 
little  difficulty  in  gaining  enough  follow- 
ers to  make  his  way  easy.  His  days  in 
prison  were  spent  in  receiving  visits.  All 
offers  of  consolation  or  religious  help 
from  those  who  upheld  slavery  were  in- 
dignantly rejected  by  him.  No  dismay 
overcame  him,  but  he  was  full  of  dignity 
and  fearlessness  to  the  last  moments. 
The  kiss  which  he  gave  the  little  negro 
child  as  he  left  the  prison  for  his  execu- 
tion, has  been  told  of  over  the  world. 
All  who  saw  him  were  •  struck  with  his 
bearing,  and  have  since  testified  to  the 
character  and  sincerity  of  the  man.  No 
spirit  of  ill-temper  was  visible  in  him. 
Gentleness  marked  him  in  all  his  last 
utterances.  His  remains  were  conveyed 
by  the  sorrowing  widow  to  North  Elba, 
N.  Y.,  and  at  that  place  Wendell  Phillips 
spoke  in  a  funeral  oration  of  eulogy  upon 
the  deceased.  The  whole  country  was 
alive  with  excitement  over  this  tragedy. 
It  was  preached  about  by  press  and 
pulpit,  and  passed  into  a  song  which  was 
afterward  used  with  great  effect. 


1859.     Nov.  15.     A  brilliant  meteor 

attracted  great  attention  throughout  the 
eastern  United  States. 

WASHINGTON  IRVING. 

1859.  Nov.  28.  This  eminent  Amer- 
ican author,  of  world- wide  reputation, 
died  at  his  residence,  named  Sunnyside, 
near  Tarrytown,  N.  Y.,  aged  seventy-six 
years.  He  was  born  in  New  York, 
April  3,  1783.  A  brief  school  life,  till 
he  was  sixteen  years  old,  then  a  study  of 
law,  and  an  attempt  to  write  for  the 
papers,  marked  the  early  life  of  Irving. 


He  traveled  abroad,  tried  for  three  days 
to  become  a  painter  with  Washington 
Allston,  at  Rome,  and  upon  his  arrival 
home  was  easily  led  to  fresh  literary  at- 
tempts. His  career  now  be-  1S59-  Great  re- 

,  a  ,.,  ligioiis  revival 

gan  and  flowed  steadily  on  ,-„  ireiand. 
in  the  production  of  the  works  which  are 
known  so  widely  and  fully.  Some  of 
his  volumes  have  an  international  repu- 
tation. He  lived  to  see  600,000  of  his 
volumes  sold  in  America.  His  works 
command  a  steady  sale.  Irving  was  kind 
and  gentle  in  all  his  ways,  both  of  life 
and  conversation.  His  name  is  a  literary 
treasure. 

1859.  Dec.  6.  A  Kansas  election 
was  held  under  the  new  constitution.  It 
was  carried  by  the  free-state  men,  who 
chose  Charles  Robinson  governor. 

1859.  A  great  Rodman  gun  of  15 
inch  bore,  and  weighing  49,000  pounds, 
was  cast  at  the  Fort  Pitt  Iron  Works, 
Pittsburg,  and  placed  in  Fortress  Monroe. 
The  same  works  have  since  cast  a  20 
inch  gun  capable  of  throwing  a  1000  Ib. 
shot. 

1859.  Putnam  Forged  Horse  Nails. 
The  first  machine  which  successfully 
forged  horse-shoe  nails  after  the  manner 
of  blacksmiths,  was  put  into  operation  by 
Silas  S.  Putnam  at  Neponset,  Mass.  He 
had  formed  the  idea  nine  years  before, 
but  had  been  unsuccessful  till  the  present 
trial.  The  machine  gave  the  nail  about 
sixty  blows.  This  nail  was  adopted  by 
the  United  States  during  the  Civil  War 
as  the  standard  nail. 

GREAT  COMSTOCK  LODE. 

1859.  The  Comstock  silver  mine  was 
discovered  in  Nevada,  United  States,  by 
James  Fennimore,  who  was  known  as 
"  Phinney,"  and  Henry  Comstock. 


580 


POLITICAL  DE  VEL  OPMENT. 


These  men  were  prospecting  in  the 
region,  and  at  once  filed  claims  to  the 
tract.  But  neither  of  them  realized  the 
value  of  the  "  find."  So  Phinney  sold 
out  his  share  to  Comstock  for  a  pinch  of 
gold  dust  and  a  mule.  Comstock  after- 
ward parted  with  the  whole  claim  for  a 
comparatively  small  amount.  The  find- 
ing of  this  lode  was  the  origin  of  the 
silver  excitement.  By  1866  $70,000,000 
worth  had  been  taken  from  this  lode.  It 
has  been  the  richest  mine  in  the  world, 
but  is  now  reduced  in  the  quality  of  ore, 
and  the  difficulty  of  extracting  it,  so  that 
other  mines  are  now  attracting  increasing 

attention. 

OIL  FEVER. 

1859.  The  first  oil  well  in  America 
was  bored  on  Oil  Creek,  Penn.,  at  Titus- 
ville,  by  Messrs.  Bowditch  and  Drake,  of 
New  Haven,  Conn.  They  obtained  400 
gallons  a  day  from  a  depth  of  71  feet. 
The  oil  rose  at  once  to  the  surface.  The 
"  oil-fever  "  immediately  spread  over  the 
country,  and  soon  scores  of  wells  were 
being  bored.  Some  wells  began  to  flow 
3,000  gallons  a  day.  Petroleum  became 
the  subject  of  talk,  and  of  experiments 
everywhere.  Railroad  cars  were  con- 
structed specially  for  its  transportation. 
Refineries  were  built,  and  a  great  trade 
grew  up.  Fortunes  were  made  and  lost 
in  speculation. 

COLORADO  POTATO  BEETLE. 

1859.  This  pest  which  had  been 
known  in  certain  small  localities,  first 
began  to  attract  public  attention,  and 


from  this  time  it  has  been  a  prominent 
subject  of  consideration  by  all  agricultu- 
rists. The  migrations  of  the  beetle  began 
now.  Soon  it  was  in  Nebraska  and 
Iowa.  It  reached  and  passed  the  Missis- 
sippi in  1865,  and  traveled  on,  ravaging 
Illinois,  Wisconsin,  then  Indiana  and 
Michigan  in  1867,  and  Ohio  in  1868. 
In  1875  it  had  accomplished  its  great 
tour,  and  reached  the  edge  of  the  Atlantic. 
Its  first  depredation  on  cultivated  potatoes 
was  west  of  Omaha  one  hundred  miles. 
Half  the  continent  had  been  crawled 
over  in  fifteen  years.  No  efforts  sufficed 
to  close  up  the  pathway  of  this  great 
enemy  to  the  potato  crop. 


1859.  The  pope  conferred  upon  Arch- 
bishop Kenrick  of  Baltimore,  and  his  as- 
sociates in  that  position,  the  "  primacy  of 
honor,"  by  which  they  take  precedence 
of  all  other  Catholic  clergy  in  the  country. 

1859.  The  right  of  search  was  agaia 
the  subject  of  correspondence  between 
the  United  States  and  England.  Several 
merchant  vessels  had  been  searched  near 
Cuba  by  British  ci'uisers,  upon  suspicion 
of  being  slavers.  Congress  passed  reso- 
lutions, and  armed  vessels  were  ordered 
to  the  region  of  the  gulf.  But  at  last 
England  disavowed  the  act  of  her  officers, 
and  gave  up  the  right  of  search. 

1859.  A  treaty  with  Paraguay  was 
made  by  the  United  States  and  closed 
troubles  of  long  standing.  A  fleet  had 
been  sent  to  Paraguay  in  1858,  but  was- 
rendered  unnecessary. 


PART   VI. 


1860-1868. 


581 


&YMJV  OF  THE 


"  Mine  eyes  have  seen  the  glory  of  the  coming  of  the  Lord: 
He  is  trampling  out  the  -vintage  'where  the  grapes  of  wrath 

are  stored; 

He  has  loosed  the  fateful  lightning  of  his  terrible  swiff  sword. 
His  truth  is  marching  on. 

"  I  have  seen  him  in  the  watchfires  of  a  hundred  circling  camps ; 
They  have  builded  him  an  altar  in  the  evening  dews  and  damps ; 
I  can  read  his  righteous  sentence  by  the  dim  and  flaring  lamps. 
His  day  is  marching  on. 

"  I  have  read  a  fiery  gospel,  writ  in  burnished  rows  of  steel ; 
'  As  ye  deal  with  my  contemners,  so  with  you  my  grace  shall  deal; 
Let  the  Hero,  born  of  woman,  crush  the  serpent  with  his  heel, 
Since  God  is  marching  on? 

"  He  has  sounded  forth  the  trumpet  that  shall  never  call  retreat; 
He  is  sifting  out  the  hearts  of  men  before  his  judgment  seat ; 
O,  be  swift,  my  soul,  to  answer  him!  be  jubilant  my  feet ! 
Our  God  is  marching  on. 

"  In  the  beauty  of  the  lilies  Christ  was  born  across  the  sea, 
With  a  glory  in  his  bosom  that  transfigures  you  and  me; 
As  he  died  to  make  men  holy,  let  us  die  to  make  men  free, 
While  God  is  marching  on" 

— JULIA    WARD   HOWE. 


582 


SECTION    XIX. 


TO 


MHE  United  States  now  became  the 
field  of  a  great  conflict.  The  pas- 
sions which  had  been  gathering 
strength  since  1820  now  burst  out 
into  uncontrolled  violence.  It  seemed  at 
first  doubtful  what  form  the  issue  would 
take  in  the  different  parts  of  the  Union. 
The  South  relied  on  many  supposed 
friends  at  the  North  to  help  make  their 
way  out  of  the  Union  easy  and  successful. 
Many  speeches  at  the  North  at  first 
dwelt  in  distinct  words  with  great  favor 
upon  the  right  of  secession.  But  the 
firing  upon  Sumter  and  kindred  acts, 
developed  an  unexpected  strength  of  op- 
position in  the  North.  In  many  battles, 
however,  during  this  opening  period,  the 
North  had  the  severe  discipline  of  defeat. 
She  had  not  at  first  half  realized  her  task. 
In  Mexico  the  great  crisis  came  on 
through  foreign  intervention.  The  strug- 
gling republic  had  well-nigh  more  than  it 
could  endure.  But  brave  hearts  "  fought 
the  fight,  and  kept  the  faith."  In  New 
Grenada  after  years  of  comparative 
peace  the  liberals  and  conservatives  be- 
came arrayed  against  each  other.  The 
crisis  there  passed  sooner.  Lesser  crises 
occurred  in  other  of  the  South  and  Cen- 
tial  American  Republics.  It  was  a  time 


.    1860-1862. 


of  the   balancing  of  powers   in   a  great 
part  of  the  continent. 


1860.     Jan.    1.      Free  negroes  were 
banished  from  Arkansas  by  a  law  of  this 


PEMBERTOX  MILL  HORROR. 

1860.  Jan.  10.  The  great  manufact- 
uring city  of  Lawrence,  Massachusetts, 
was  smitten  by  a  disaster  which  carried 
death  and  suffering  into  many  humble 
homes,  and  made  a  thrill  of  terror  run 
through  the  land.  It  was  very  nearly 
five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when  the 
hundreds  of  operatives  scattered  through 
the  great  structure  felt  an  unsteadiness  of 
the  floors,  and  seemed  to  themselves  to  be 
standing  upon  swaying  timbers.  The 
machinery  also  ran  queerly  for  a  few 
moments  or  seconds.  Soon  the  knowl- 
edge burst  on  every  mind  186°-  ?a»-  7- 

,  .        ,      .,  ,.  ....        Rebellion  in 

that  the  building  was  fall-  India  close^ 
ing,  and  before  anything  could  be  done  or 
the  situation  be  more  than  realized,  the 
timbers  and  walls  were  bursting  apart, 
the  floors  disappearing  in  the  gulf  below, 
and  human  forms  being  swallowed  up 
with  the  rattling  looms,  in  a  terrible 

583 


584 


NATIONAL    CRISES. 


plunge  of  death.  The  first  thing  which 
many  in  the  middle  and  lower  stories 
knew  of  the  impending  catastrophe  was 
the  descent  of  the  upper  story  machinery 
and  beams  through  the  ceiling  of  the 
rooms  in  which  they  were  employed. 
This  left  them  no  time  to  escape,  and  they 
were  stricken  down  where  they  stood. 
In  a  few  minutes  the  sight  was  awful. 
Portions  of  human  forms  could  be  seen 
through  the  outer  ruins.  Soon  flames 
began  to  ascend,  and  in  a  short  time  they 
were  sweeping  the  whole  pile.  Men 
worked  heroically.  Fire-engines  poured 
floods  of  water,  but  they  could  do  little 
to  mitigate  the  horror  of  the  scene. 
About  one  hundred  persons  had  lost  their 
lives.  Several  hundred  persons  were  in- 
jured in  various  ways.  The  suffering  and 
destitution  caused  by  this  accident  lasted 
for  months.  It  is  notable  in  the  history 
of  calamities. 

1860.  January.  Anna  Dickinson 
made  her  first  public  speech  in  a  meeting 
of  the  Progressive  Friends  of  Philadel- 
phia on  "Woman's  Rights  and  Woman's 
Wrongs."  She  has  since  been  on  the 
platform  a  great  deal,  has  taken  part  in 
political  campaigns,  within  a  few  years 
h?.s  been  upon  the  stage,  and  has  written 
one  or  two  novels. 

1860.  Feb.  1.  A  long  contest  for 
the  speakership  of  the  U.  S.  House  of 
Representatives  which  opened  on  the  pre- 
vious 5th  of  December,  was  closed  by  the 
election  of  William  Pennington  of  New 
Jersey,  a  republican.  During  these  eight 
i860.  Jan.  to.  weeks  much  angry  debate 
Decree  in  Austria  ^^  indulged  in,  inspired 

giTtng  " *  rights 

to  the  jews,  by  the  excitement  over 
John  Brown's  raid,  and  by  Hinton  R. 
Helper's  recent  book  upon  "  The  Im- 
pending Crisis,"  a  work  which  undertook 


to  show  that  the  South  suffered  in  every 
way  from  the  presence  of  slavery  within 
it.  The  arguments  were  founded  on 
statistics. 

1860.  Feb.  19.  The  steamer  Hun- 
garian, from  Liverpool  to  Portland,  was 
wrecked  on  Cape  Sable,  with  a  loss  of 
205  lives. 

COV ODE  INVESTIGATION. 

1860.  March  5.  A  committee  was 
appointed  by  the  U.  S.  House  to  investi- 
gate charges  of  corruption  against  the 
administration  in  trying  to  secure  the 
passage  of  a  vote  favoring  the  Lecompton 
constitution  in  Kansas.  The  committee 
making  the  examination  under  the  pro- 
tests of  the  president,  afterward  reported 
that  the  charges  were  sustained.  The 
matter  ended  in  debate. 

1860.  March  7.  Gen.  Miramon  at- 
tacked Vera  Cruz  in  an  attempt  to  carry 
the  city.  His  vessels  in  the  harbor  were 
captured  the  same  day  by  the  U.  S.  cor- 
vette Saratoga. 

JAPANESE  EMBASSY. 

1860.  March  28.  A  grand  Japanese 
Embassy,  the  first  ever  sent  by  that  na- 
tion to  any  other  power,  visited  the 
United  States  to  exchange  the  ratification 
of  the  treaty  between  the  two  govern- 
ments, and  express  the  great  mo.  universal 
desire  of  the  emperor  of  suffrage  in  Cen- 

,  .  ,  .  tral  Italy.   Italy 

Japan  for  continued  amity    recognizedby  ' 
and    good- will.     The    am-    England  and 

France.      Victor 

bassadors,    who     were    of   Emanuel  fro- 
noble  blood,  were  brought    ^dmedking. 
to  this  country  with  their  large  train  of 
attendants,  and  were  carried  back  again 
in  U.  S.  vessels  of  war.     They  arrived 
this  day  at  San  Francisco,  and  were  met 
with  great  honor.     In  May  they  reached 


1860-1862.] 

Washington,  and  were  publicly  received 
by  President  Buchanan,  in  the  White 
House.  After  a  further  stay  of  a  few 
weeks  in  the  large  cities,  where  they 
closely  watched  everything  they  saw, 
they  sailed  for  Japan  June  30,  having 
cemented  more  firmly  the  good  relations 
between  the  two  powers. 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


585 


1860.  April  23.  The  democratic 
national  nominating  convention  met  at 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  but  no  choice  of  candi- 
dates could  be  arrived  at,  because  of  the 
profound  difference  of  opinion  upon  the 
course  which  should  be  pursued  in  apply- 
ing the  doctrine  of  "popular  sovereignty" 
to  the  question  of  slavery.  The  dele- 
gates from  several  slave-labor  states 
seceded  from  the  convention,  and  ad- 
journed to  meet  at  Richmond,  Va.  The 
northern  delegates  also  adjourned  to  meet 
at  Baltimore  in  the  same  month. 

POXY  EXPRESS. 

1860.  April.  The  "  Pony  Express" 
was  established  as  part  of  a  mail  line  be- 
tween New  York  and  San  Francisco,  by 
wray  of  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  and  Sacramento. 

1861.    May.  Between    these    tWO    places 

Massacre  of  ,  i          -i  •    .  i 

3,ooo  cMsians  the  ^stance  was  traversed 
at  Damascus.  by  fleet  horsemen,  each  of 
whom  went  sixty  miles.  .  The  weight 
carried  was  not  to  exceed  ten  pounds, 
and  the  charge  was  $5  in  gold  for  a 
quarter  of  an  ounce.  The  riders  were 
paid  $1200  a  month.  The  distance  be- 
tween New  York  and  San  Francisco 
was  made  in  fourteen  days.  This  enter- 
prise lasted  two  years,  till  the  telegraph 
was  erected. 

1860.  May  1.  Gen.  Zuloaga  being 
encouraged  to  make  the  attempt,  con- 
demned Miramon  because  of  his  failure 


to    overthrow    Juarez,   and    proclaimed 
himself  president. 

THEODORE  PARKER. 

1860.  May  10.  Theodore  Parker,  a 
clergyman  of  the  Unitarian  church,  died 
at  Florence,  Italy,  whither  he  had  gone 
in  pursuit  of  health,  aged  forty-nine  years. 
He  was  born  at  Lexington,  Mass.,  and 
was  brought  up  to  work  during  his  boy- 
hood. He  gradually  fitted  for  college, 
aiding  himself  by  teaching  school,  and 
studying  as  he  had  oppor-  i860.  Ca-vour 
tunity.  During  his  college  ca*™ *>!><***< 

J  minister  of  Sar- 

course  he  only  presented  dMa. 
himself  at  examination.  He  afterward 
studied  divinity  at  Cambridge,  all  this 
time  making  his  study  of  languages  very 
extensive.  His  first  settlement  occurred 
at  West  Roxbury,  in  1837,  over  a  Uni- 
tarian church.  His  mind  was  very  active, 
and  his  views  began  to  be  very  indi- 
vidual. His  life  was  now  growing  in 
intensity  every  minute.  He  was  an 
omnivorous  reader,  without  being  a  pro- 
found scholar.  He  could  get  the  sub- 
stance of  a  page  of  print  as  rapidly  as 
many  readers  can  get  the  substance  of  a 
line.  An  alienation  grew  up  between 
him  and  his  Unitarian  brethren,  and  Mr. 
Parker  raised  up  a  congregation  of  his 
own  in  Boston,  when  a  society  was  or- 
ganized under  him.  Mr.  Parker's  great 
claim  on  the  remembrance  of  men  is  be- 
cause of  his  stalwart  service  in  advocat- 
ing the  rights  of  humanity.  He  was 
closely  connected  with  the  life  of  Boston 
in  its  stormy  period  of  agitation  over  the 
slavery  question,  and  was  a  leader  in  in- 
fluence. In  theology  his  views  grew  in 
the  line  of  anti-supernaturalism,  and  in- 
curred the  hostility  of  large  numbers. 
His  influence  in  this  respect  is  not  lasting. 
His  health  gradually  failed,  and  he  began 


586 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


to  preach  with  difficulty.  He  sailed 
abroad,  but  without  permanent  relief,  and 
at  last  died  in  the  prime  of  life. 


1860.  May  16.  The  Republican 
nominating  convention  was  held  at 
Chicago  in  a  great  building  erected  for 
the  purpose,  and  known  as  the  "  Wig- 

mi.  Garibaldi  wam-"  Abraham  Lincoln 
proclaims  Mm-  of  Illinois,  was  nominated 

self  dictator  of          c  •  i  i     TT          • 

sicify.  After.  for  president,  and  Hanni- 
ward  enters  bal  Hamlin  of  Maine,  for 

Naples,  and  then          •  •  •%  \ 

left  victor  Em.  vice-president.  A  protec- 
anuei  to  retain  tive  tariff,  internal  improve- 
the  power.  ments  at  national  expense, 

the  "  Homestead  Bill,"  and  a  Pacific 
railroad,  were  commended  in  the  plat- 
form. 

1860.  May  19.  The  "  Constitutional 
Union  party"  held  its  nominating  con- 
vention at  Baltimore.  John  Bell  of 
Tennessee,  was  nominated  for  president, 
and  Edward  Everett  of  Massachusetts, 
for  vice-president.  This  was  the  old 
"  American  "  party.  Its  platform  was 
"  The  Constitution  of  the  country,  the 
Union  of  the  States,  and  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  laws." 

I860.  May  29.  The  first  expedi- 
tion of  Charles  Francis  Hall  sailed  from 
New  London,  Conn.,  consisting  of  one 
whaling  vessel,  named  George  Henry, 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  Buddington. 
The  aim  was  to  search  for  Sir  John 
Franklin.  Mr.  Hall  found  no  trace  of 
the  lost  explorer,  but  studied  the  Esqui- 
maux very  thoroughly;  and  when  he 
returned  to  the  United'  States  in  two 
years,  he  brought  with  him  an  Esqui- 
maux man  and  wife,  who  were  very 
much  attached  to  him. 

1860.  June  1.  The  manumission 
of  slaves  was  forbidden  by  a  law  of 


Maryland,  to  take  effect  on  and  after  this 
date. 

1860.  June  3.  A  great  tornado 
swept  across  portions  of  Iowa  and  Illi- 
nois, damaging  a  large  amount  of  prop- 
erty, and  almost  sweeping  whole  settle- 
ments out  of  existence. 

1860.  June  18.  The  Democratic 
convention  met  in  Baltimore,  and  after 
an  unsuccessful  attempt  on  the  part  of  the 
seceders  at  Charleston  to  re-enter  the 
body,  an  attempt  which  con-  iseo.  Reformers 
sumed  several  days,  Stephen  "nd '°.?itat°'s 

•     '  condemned  by  a 

A.  Douglas  of  Illinois,  was  Papal  bull. 
nominated  for  president,  and  Herschel  V. 
Johnson  of  Georgia,  for  vice-president. 
The  platform  of  this  party  threw  the 
responsibility  for  the  extension  of  slavery 
upon  the  territories,  and  upon  the  U.  S. 
supreme  court. 

1860.  June  28.  The  delegates  from 
the  slave-labor  States,  when  they  found 
they  could  not  regain  their  lost  foothold 
in  the  democratic  convention,  met  at 
Baltimore  and  nominated  John  C.  Breck- 
inridge  of  Kentucky,  for  president, 
and  Joseph  Lane  of  Oregon,  for  vice- 
president. 

"  GREAT  EASTERN"  AT  NEW  YORK. 

1860.  June  28.  At  last  the  vessel 
which,  during  its  construction,  launching, 
and  first  ocean  trials,  occasioned  more 
talk  and  wide-spread  interest  than  any 
other  vessel  ever  afloat,  arrived  in  New 
York  harbor  from  its  trip  across  the 
Atlantic.  As  soon  as  she  nearccl  the 
city,  people  by  thousands  began  to  crowd 
all  available  space  on  vessels,  wharves, 
and  housetops.  Befoi-e  she  passed  the 
bar  Mr.  Murphy  took  command  of  her 
as  pilot,  and  brought  her  safely  across 
that  dangerous  point.  The  monster 
sailed  up  the  harbor,  and  after  having 


1860-1862] 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


587 


gone  up  North  River  to  Forty-fifth 
Street,  turne'd,  and  came  to  her  wharf. 
Here  she  lay  for  some  weeks,  occasionally 
making  excursions  to  Cape  May  or  else- 
where, in  order  to  exhibit  her  working. 
The  Great  Eastern  is  680  feet  long,  and 
is  of  18,915  tons  burden.  J.  Vine  Hall 
was  in  command  of  her.  In  her  ocean 
voyage  she  made  from  twelve  to  four- 
teen knots  an  hour.  Four  thousand 
passengers  can  be  made  comfortable 
within  her.  The  greatest  service  of 
this  great  steamer  was  in  laying  the 
Atlantic  cable  in  after  years. 


1860.    July   1.     Charles   Goodyear, 

whose  service  in  discovering  the  method 
of  vulcanizing  India  rubber,  has  made  him 
famous,  died,  aged  fifty-nine  years.  The 
patents  which  he  took  out  in  different 
countries  were  very  costly  to  him  in  the 
end,  and  he  failed  to  acquire  any  prop- 
erty as  a  reward  for  his  labor.  Others 
have  profited  by  his  invention  more  than 
he  did.  He,  however,  received  grand 
medals  at  London  in  1851,  and  at  Paris 
in  1855.  Napoleon  III.  bestowed  upon 
him  the  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor. 

1860.  July  9.  Dr.  Isaac  I.  Hayes, 
who  had  been  with  Dr.  Kane,  sailed  from 
Boston  on  an  Arctic  exploring  trip  in 
the  schooner  United  States,  of  133  tons, 
with  fourteen  persons  accompanying 
him.  He  pushed  north  through  Smith 
Sound,  and  by  great  exertions  with 
sledges  he  reached  land  in  lat.  81°  37' 
N.,  from  which  they  saw  open  water 
beyond.  This  trip  stands  very  high  in 
Arctic  expeditions,  and  honors  were  con- 
ferred on  Dr.  Hayes  by  foreign  societies. 

1860.  July  20.  A  great  meteor 
was  seen  in  many  portions  of  the 
northern  United  States. 


PRINCE  OF  WALES  IN  AMERICA 


1860.  July  24.  The  Prince  of 
Wales  landed  at  St.  John's  for  an 
American  tour.  He  spent  several  weeks 
in  Canada,  and  was  everywhere  received 
with  great  enthusiasm.  In  the  United 
States  he  was  met  at  Chicago,  St.  Louis, 
New  York,  Boston,  and  other  cities,  with 
vast  crowds  of  people.  He  spent  a  time 
in  the  West,  in  hunting,  at  which  he 
showed  himself  an  adept.  At  Washing- 
ton he  was  met  very  warmly  by  Presi- 
dent Buchanan,  and  visited  the  different 
departments  of  government.  An  excur- 
sion was  made  to  Mount  Vernon,  where 
the  royal  visitor  stood  silently  before  the 
tomb  of  Washington.  During  his  stay 
in  New  York,  the  First  Phoenix  or 
Fenian  regiment,  the  69th  National 
Guard,  refused  to  parade.  At  Boston  he 
held  a  pleasant  interview  with  Ralph 
Farnham,  the  last  survivor  of  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill.  The  Prince  sailed  from 
Portland,  Me.,  in  the  month  of  October, 
for  England. 


1860.  Sept.  8.  The  Lady  Elgin,  a 
lake  steamer,  collided  with  a  sailing- 

'  O 

vessel  named  Augusta,  and  sunk  in  Lake 
Michigan,  with  a  loss  of  297  persons, 
many  of  them  being  from  Milwaukee. 
Only  about  one-fourth  of  her  passengers 
were  saved. 

I860.  Oct.  12.  A  magnificent  ball 
was  given  in  New  York  at  the  Academy 
of  Music,  in  honor  of  the  Prince  of 
Wales.  Between  three  and  four  thou- 
sand persons  were  present,  and  the  oc- 
casion was  one  of  the  finest  ever  seen  in 
America.  A  similar  ball  was  given 
in  his  honor,  in  Boston,  with  equal  display 
and  success. 


588 


NATIONAL  CRISES 


NINETEENTH  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN. 

1860.  Nov.  6.  This  campaign  ended 
in  the  election  thlc  day  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  and  Hannibal  Hamlin.  the  re- 
publican candidates.  The  canvass  had 
been  very  exciting,  because  of  the  num- 
ber of  candidates,  and  the  increasing 
bitterness  over  the  question  of  slavery. 
Lincoln  and  Hamlin  had  an  electoral 
vote  of  1 80,  comprising  all  the  northern 
states  except  New  Jersey,  which  cast 
three  for  Lincoln  and  four  for  Douglas, 
and  a  popular  vote  of  1,866,352.  Breck- 
inridge  and  Lane  had  72  electoral,  and 
845,763  popular  votes.  Bell  and  Everett 
had  39  electoral,  and  589,581  popular 
votes.  Douglas  and  Johnson  had  12 
electoral,  and  1,375,157  popular  votes. 
No  one  had  a  majority  of  the  popular 
vote.  The  cry  that  a  sectional  president 
had  been  elected,  at  once  spread  through 
the  southern  states,  and  threats  of  seces- 
sion were  uttered  by  leading  southern 
men. 

REVOLUTIONARY  MESSAGE. 

1860.  Dec.  3.  The  message  of  Pres- 
ident Buchanan  to  congress  dealt  largely 
with  the  slavery  question,  and  declared 
that  all  the  troubles  which  now  culmi- 
nated in  the  antagonism  of  the  North  and 
the  South  were  caused  by  anti-slavery 
agitators  at  the  North  ;  that  all  which 
the  South  wanted  was  to  manage  its 
own  institutions,  in  its  own  way.  He 
declared  against  the  right  of  voluntary 
withdrawal  from  the  Union,  but  affirmed 
the  right  of  revolutionary  resistance,  and 
forcible  secession.  He  proposed  cei'tain 
legislation  to  guard  and  perpetuate  the 
rights  of  slave-holders.  This  message 
was  like  a  firebrand  in  the  midst  of 
tinder.  John  P.  Hale  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, condensed  the  message  into  three 


propositions  :  First, "  South  Carolina  has 
just  cause  for  seceding  from  the  Union  ; 
second,  She  has  no  right  to  secede  ;  third, 
We  have  no  right  to  prevent  her  from 
seceding." 

SOUTH  CAROLINA  SECEDES. 

1860.  Dec.  20.  An  ordinance  of 
secession  was  passed  by  a  state  conven- 
tion of  South  Carolina,. which  had  been 
called  after  the  election  of  Lincoln.  The 
ordinance  was  in  the  form  of  a  repeal  of 
the  act  of  May  23,  1788,  ratifying  the 
Constitution.  South  Carolina  senators 
and  other  federal  officers  at  once  resigned. 
Some  of  the  United  States  property  in 
the  state  was  immediately  occupied  and 
held. 


1860.  Dec.  21.  The  excited  con- 
dition of  the  country,  especially  as  de- 
tailed in  the  President's  message,  was 
referred  as  a  subject  of  consideration  to  a 
House  committee  of  thirty-three,  and  a 
Senate  committee  of  thirteen. 

1860.  Dec.  26.  Major  Robert  Ander- 
son, who  was  stationed  at  Fort  Moultrie 
with  a  force  of  1 1 1  Federal  soldiers,  re- 
moved his  command  because  of  the 'in- 
security of  that  fortification,  to  Fort 
Sumter,  a  much  stronger  position.  He 
did  it  in  the  secrecy  of  night,  and  when 
the  morning  dawned  he  exhibited  the 
stars  and  stripes  to  the  wondering  eyes  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Charleston.  This  step 
caused  great  rejoicing  at  the  North,  and 
great  vexation  at  the  South. 

1860.  The  eighth  census  of  the 
United  States  gave  a  population  of 
31,443,321  inhabitants.  It  was  taken  at 
a  cost  of  $1,922,272.42.  The  rate  of 
increase  since  1850  had  been  35.11  per 
cent. 

1860.      A    second    light-house    was 


1860. 


X  / 


1860-1862.]  THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS 

of  Georgia,  as  vice-president.  Prelimi- 
nary steps  were  taken  toward  the  estab- 
lishment of  government  departments. 
The  constitution  of  the  Confederacy  re- 
sembled the  U.  S.  constitution,  save  that 
it  was  arranged  to  expressly  favor  slavery, 
and  discountenance  tariffs.  The  provi- 
sional government  was  afterward  made 
permanent. 


1861.  Feb.  18.  Gen.  Twiggs  sur- 
rendered the  entire  United  States  prop- 
erty and  munitions  in  Texas  to  the  au- 
thorities of  the  state,  because,  as  he  said, 
"  he  wished  to  avoid  even  the  possibility 
of  a  collision  between  federal  and  state 
troops."  The  surrendered  property  con- 
sisted of  all  supplies,  and  was  valued  at 
$1,209,500.  In  other  parts  of  the  South 
the  state  authorities  had  occupied  federal 
property  wherever  possible.  They  thus 
gained  great  supplies,  amounting  in  all 
to  many  millions  of  dollars. 

LINCOLN'S  INAUGURATION. 

1861.  March  4.  In  spite  of  the  fears 
of  many,  and  the  threats  of  some,  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  was  inaugurated  president 
of  the  United  States,  and  Hannibal 
Hamlin,  vice-president.  Mr.  Lincoln  had 
left  his  home  at  Springfield,  111.,  on  Feb. 
1 1 ,  and  had  spent  several  days  in  accept- 
ing ovations  at  different  cities  along  his 
route.  His  friends  in  Illinois  had  fore- 
boded ill  for  him.  While  passing  through 
Pennsylvania  he  was  advised  to  omit 
stopping  at  Baltimore,  because  of  certain 
indications  of  mob  violence  there.  Tak- 
ing a  train  in  the  night,  with  the  knowl- 
edge of  none  save  a  very  few  confidential 
friends,  he  passed  immediately  on  to 
Washington,  where  he  arrived  Feb.  23. 
There  were  fears  of  violence  even  now, 
but  none  occurred,  and  a  peaceful  inau- 

88 


593 

guration  took  place.  A  small  number  of 
troops  were  in  the  city  as  a  guard.  The 
new  president's  message  was  wise  and 
pacific. 


1861.    March.    Stars  and  Bars.    The 

Confederate  States  adopted  a  flag  com- 
posed of  three  horizontal  bars,  the  two 
outer  ones  being  red,  and  the  middle  one 
white,  with  a  blue  union,  upon  which 
were  nine  stars  in  a  circle. 

1861.  March.  A  disastrous  earth- 
quake visited  the  Argentine  Republic, 
destroying  12,600  persons. 

FORT  SUMTER  EVACUATED. 

1861.  AprU  14.  The  presence  of 
Maj.  Anderson  in  Fort  Sumter  had  been 
a  constant  annoyance  to  the  South.  A 
demand  for  its  surrender  was  made  on 
the  nth  by  Gen.  G.  T.  Beauregard,  in 
command  of  the  southern  forces,  but  was 
refused.  On  the  I2th  a  fire  wa?,  opened 
upon  it  from  batteries  lying  about  it  in 
different  directions.  The  first  gun  was 
fired  by  an  old  man  named  Edmund 
Ruffin.  The  force  in  the  fort  was  small, 
and  the  fittings  of  it  were  insufficient. 
The  bombardment  began  to  reduce  it  in 
security  very  much.  But  still  the  brave 
leader  held  out  till  the  next  day.  Several 
thousand  shot  and  shell  were  thrown  into 
the  fort,  which  was  at  times  on  fire. 
The  magazine  was  endangered,  and  in- 
juries were  inflicted  by  the  explosion  of 
an  exposed  service  magazine.  At  last 
terms  of  evacuation  were  agreed  upon, 
and  the  defenders  prepared  to  leave. 
They  marched  out  with  their  arms  and 
saluted  their  flag,  just  before  it  was  taken 
down  to  be  carried  with  them,  with  a 
discharge  of  fifty  guns.  The  shores  and 
city  were  crowded  with  spectators  during 
this  bombardment.  A  United  States 


594 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


fleet  was  then  on  its  way  by  sea  for  the 
relief  of  Sumter.  This  event  gave  full 
vent  to  war. 

1861.     April    15.      A    proclamation 

calling  for  75,000  troops  from  the  militia 
of  the  several  states,  was  issued  by  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  "  to  suppress  combinations, 
and  cause  the  laws  to  be  duly  executed." 
Men  and  money  soon  began  to  be  offered 
very  freely.  Mass  meetings  were  at 
once  held  through  all  the  North.  Sev- 
eral border  states  refused  to  furnish  men 
under  this  call. 

1861.  April  17.  A  blockade  procla- 
mation was  issued  by  President  Lincoln, 
declaring  the  southern  ports  to  be  in  a 
state  of  blockade. 

1861.  April  17.  Virginia  passed  an 
ordinance  of  secession  in  her  state  con- 
vention, by  a  vote  of  88  to  55.  United 
States  property  was  at  once  seized,  and 
men  called  forth. 

BLOODSHED  IN  BALTIMORE. 

1861.  April  19.  A  great  crisis  came. 
From  many  of  the  northern  states  troops 
were  ready  to  start  for  the  front.  Sev- 
eral companies  from  Pennsylvania  were 
the  first  to  reach  Washington.  On  their 
passage  through  Baltimore  on  the  i8th, 
a  mob  threatened  them  somewhat,  but 
made  no  serious  attack,  though  they 
came  near  to  it  several  times.  But  on 
the  next  day,  when  the  6th  Massachusetts 
Regiment  arrived  on  its  way  to  Wash- 
ington, a  mob  of  thousands  was  waiting 
for  them,  and  during  the  transfer  from 
one  depot  to  the  other,  a  severe  fight  oc- 
curred, in  which  three  soldiers  were 
killed,  one  was  mortally  wounded,  and 
others  injured.  The  troops  abstained 
from  returning  fire  as  long  as  possible, 
but  at  last  were  forced  to  defend  them- 


selves. Nine  Baltimoreans  were  killed. 
Some  Pennsylvania  troops  without  arms 
did  not  get  across  the  city,  and  were 
forced  to  return  to  Philadelphia.  The 
other  troops  passed  on,  and  were  received 
at  Washington  with  great  delight  through 
fear  that  the  confederate  forces  were 
preparing  to  advance  on  the  city.  The 
troops  were  posted  in  the  Capitol,  which 
was  prepared  for  defense. 


1861.  April  21.  Gosport  Navy 
Yard,  at  Norfolk,  Va.,  with  most  of  the 
shipping,  was  destroyed  as  far  as  it  could 
be  by  Capt.  McCauley,  who  withdrew 
the  Union  forces  at  the  time,  because  of 
an  intended  seizure  by  Virginia  forces. 
Much  of  the  property,  however,  remained 
uninjured.  The  place  was  occupied  and 
became  very  important  to  the  South. 

1861.  April  26.  The  Maryland 
legislature  at  a  special  session  refused  to 
pass  an  ordinance  of  secession,  but  passed 
resolutions  which  were  intended  to  put 
the  state  into  a  neutral  position. 

1861.  May  3.  Additional  troops  to 
the  number  of  42,000,  were  called  for  by 
the  U.  S.  government  for  a  period  of 
three  years.  At  the  same  time  an  in- 
crease of  the  regular  army  and  navy  was 
provided  for. 

1861.  May  6.  A  convention  of  Ten- 
nessee passed  an  ordinance  of  secession 
to  be  submitted  to  the  people  in  June, 
which  was  done.  There  was  a  majority 
in  favor  of  secession,  although  East  Ten- 
nessee cast  a  majority  against  it. 

1861.  May  6.  Arkansas  passed  an 
ordinance  of  secession  without  waiting  to 
submit  it  to  the  people,  as  had  been  at 
first  agreed. 

1861.  May  13.  Loyalty  of  West 
Virginia.  A  mass  convention  was  held 


1S61.    May  13, 
Qieen  Victoria 
proclaimed  neu- 
trality in  Ameri- 
can affairs. 


1860-1862.] 

at  Wheeling,  Virginia,  by  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  western  counties  of  the 
state.  The  secession  of  Virginia  was 
strongly  condemned,  and  another  conven- 
tion provided  for,  which  met  June  1 1.  It 
was  agreed  to  erect  a  new  state,  and  on 
June  20  state  officers  were 
elected,  Francis  H.  Pierpont 
being  chosen  governor.  Mr. 
Pierpont  borrowed  $12,000 
on  his  own  credit,  with  which  to  raise 
troops  for  the  defense  of  the  new  state  of 
Kanawha. 

1861.  May  14.  George  B.  McClel- 
lan,  who  previously  had  command  of 
the  Ohio  troops,  was  appointed  major- 
general  of  the  Ohio  River  volunteers, 
including  those  from  West  Virginia.  He 
was  ordered  to  drive  out  the  opposing 
forces  from  West  Virginia,  and  then  ad- 
vance on  Harper's  Ferry. 

1861.  May  16.  Benjamin  F.  Butler 
was  appointed  major-  general  of  the 
department  of  East  Virginia,  and  was 
ordered  to  Fortress  Monroe,  to  take 
charge  of  the  forces  gathering  there.  He 
had  been  commanding  the  route  through 
Maryland  by  way  of  Annapolis,  had  re- 
stored the  railroad  and  protected  it,  and 
by  a  bold  stroke  had,  two  days  before 
this  appointment,  occupied  Baltimore,  to 
the  surprise  of  all  parties.  The  Unionists 
of  Baltimore  hereafter  held  the  sway. 

1861.  May  20.  SewelPs  Point  Con- 
flict. The  Potomac  flotilla,  consisting  of 
four  armed  propellers,  including  the  flag- 
ship Thomas  Freeborn,  was  organized 
by  Capt.  J.  H.  Ward,  a  navy  veteran  of 
forty  years'  service.  He  was  put  in  com- 
mand and  sent  to  Hampton  Roads  to 
report  to  Commodore  Stringham.  On 
the  route  he  was  fh'ed  upon  by  a  rebel 
battery  at  Sewell's  Point  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Elizabeth.  The  attack  was  aided  by 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


595 


2,000  Virginia  troops,  but  the  battery 
was  silenced,  and  the  men  compelled  to 
flee. 

1861.  May  21.  North  Carolina 
passed  an  ordinance  of  secession. 

1861.  May  23.  The  first  rebel  flag 
taken  in  the  war  was  obtained  by  William 
McSpedon  of  New  York,  and  Samuel 
Smith  of  Long  Island,  who  had  seen  it 
flying  at  Alexandria,  from  their  position 
at  Washington  across  the  Potomac. 

1861.  May  23.  Joseph  E.  Johnston 
was  appointed  by  Jefferson  Davis  to  the 
command  of  the  Confederate  troops  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  the  key  to  the  Shenan- 
doah  Valley. 

1861.  May  24.  Occupation  of  Ar- 
lington Heights,  Va.  The  first  great 
movement  of  Union  troops  in  the  war 
took  place  in  the  passage  of  about  13,000 
men  across  from  Washington  to  the  soil 
of  the  Old  Dominion  at  Alexandria. 
They  moved  in  three  columns,  the  first 
under  General  McDowell,  crossing  at 
Georgetown.  As  the  men  passed  over 
the  high  aqueduct  bridge,  the  moon 
struck  full  upon  this  array  of  arms,  and  a 
most  beautiful  spectacle  was  presented  to 
the  crowds  of  spectators  who  were  eagerly 
watching  the  affair.  The  confederates 
were  already  advancing  toward  Wash- 
ington, but  the  pickets  on  the  Virginia 
side  gave  way  to  a  part  of  the  forces 
which  were  pushed  on  toward  Manassas 
Junction.  The  remaining  troops  were 
sent  down  the  river  to  aid  the  second 
division  which  was  crossing  Long  Bridge 
under  Gen.  Mansfield,  in  seizing  and  forti- 
fying Arlington  Heights.  The  third 
division  was  sent  down  the  river  on  two 
schooners  under  Col.  E.  E.  Ellsworth, 
who  advanced  and  took  possession  of  the 
place  after  exchanging  a  shot  with  the 
Virginia  skirmishers,  who  immediately 


596 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


fled.  A  large  amount  of  rolling  stock  on 
the  Alexandria  and  Orange  Railroad  was 
seized,  and  thirty-five  cavalrymen  were 
taken  prisoners.  Alexandria  was  now  in 
sole  possession  of  the  national  forces.  The 
whole  movement  was  made  just  in  time, 
as  the  confederate  troops  would  probably 
have  seized  Arlington  Heights  within  a 
few  hours.  Col.  Ellsworth  seeing  a  con- 
federate flag  still  flying  after  the  occupa- 
tion, from  the  roof  of  the  Marshall  House, 
entered  the  building,  and  hauled  down  the 
flag.  As  he  was  coming  down  the  stairs 
on  his  return,  he  was  shot  dead  by  the 
landlord,  named  Jackson.  In  an  instant 
Jackson  fell  dead  by  a  shot  from  one  of 
Ellsworth's  companions,  named  Frank  E. 
Brownell.  Ellsworth's  death  thrilled  the 
North,  and  a  purse  of  money  was  made 
up  by  Virginians  for  Jackson's  family. 
This  event  seemed  to  prophesy  a  long 
and  bloody  contest. 

1861.  May  24.  "Contraband  of  War." 
Three  negroes  escaped  from  work  on  the 
fortifications  of  the  confederate  troops,  and 
made  their  way  over  to  the  Union  lines 
at  Fortress  Monroe.  Gen.  Butler,  before 
whom  they  were  brought,  said,  "  These 
men  are  contraband  of  war;  set  them  at 
work."  This  phrase  was  at  once  adopted 
as  solving  the  question  of  receiving  ne- 
groes into  Union  lines. 

1861.  May  25.  General  Sanford,  in 
command  at  Arlington  Heights,  issued  a 
proclamation  to  the  confused  inhabitants, 
stating  that  those  who  attended  to  their 
customary  work  should  not  be  disturbed. 
He  made  Lee's  fine  residence  his  head- 
quartei's,  and  informed  the  owner  that 
ereat  care  would  be  taken  of  his  home. 

O 

1861.  May  27.  Newport-Newce. 
Gen.  Butler  sent  a  detachment  from 
Fortress  Monroe,  under  Col.  Phelps,  to 
erect  a  battery  on  the  promontory  at 


Newport-Newce,  which  guarded  the 
James  River  channel.  The  steamer 
Harriet  Lane  was  there  to  protect  them. 

1861.  May  27.  General  McDowell 
was  appointed  to  succeed  Gen.  Sanford, 
and  also  to  command  all  the  forces  in 
Virginia. 

1861.  May  28.  Mount  Vernon.  It 
was  ordered  that  the  greatest  care  should 
be  given  to  Washington's  tomb,  and  the 
Mount  Vernon  Estate.  This  order  was 
strictly  observed  through  the  war,  by  both 
South  and  North. 

1861.  May  29.  Captain  Ward,  after 
reducing  the  battery  placed  at  Sewell's 
Point  to  sweep  Hampton  Roads,  reported 
to  Stringham,  and  then  moved  up  toward 
Washington,  capturing  two  schooners  on 
the  way,  with  fifty  rebel  soldiers. 

1861.  May  31- June  1.  At  Acquia 
Creek  the  southern  forces  were  attacked 
by  Capt.  Ward  with  the  Potomac  flotilla. 
Robert  E.  Lee  had  been  placed  in  com- 
mand of  all  the  confederate  troops  in 
Virginia.  Hidden  batteries  had  been 
erected  at  Acquia  Creek,  fifty-five  miles 
below  Washington,  to  guard  the  Potomac, 
and  prohibit  navigation;  but  they  were 
discovered  and  silenced  by  Ward  with  the 
gunboats  Anacosta,  Freeborn  and  Reso- 
lute, till  his  long-range  ammunition  was 
exhausted,  and  then  he  withdrew.  The 
next  day  he  returned  accompanied  by  the 
Pawnee,  which  was  struck  by  nine  balls 
in  a  hot  contest  of  several  hours.  Not 
much  damage  was  done  on  either  side. 
Whenever  Ward  stopped  firing,  the  bat- 
tery began  again. 

1861.  June  1.  Battle  of  Fairfax 
Court  House.  Seventy  -  five  cavalry- 
men, under  Lieutenant  Tompkins,  were 
ordered  from  Arlington  Heights  to  re- 
connoiter  the  position  of  the  enemy  at 
Faii'fax  Court  House.  A  severe  skir- 


18GO-1862.] 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


597 


mish  ensued.  Tompkins  lost  six  men — 
one  killed,  five  wounded  and  missing, 
and  twelve  horses.  He  captured  five 
armed  prisoners  and  two  horses,  and 
killed  about  twenty  of  the  enemy,  among 
whom  was  Capt.  John  Q.  Marr,  who 
was  "  the  first  soldier  of  the  South  to 
baptize  the  soil  of  the  Old  Dominion 
with  patriotic  blood." 

1861.  June  3.  The  confederate 
privateer  Savannah,  after  having  seized 
one  or  two  defenceless  prizes,  attacked 
the  Perry,  off  Charleston  harbor,  mis- 
taking her  for  a  merchant  vessel.  But 
she  was  captured  by  the  Perry.  The 
Savannah  was  the  first  vessel  bearing  a 
confederate  flag  that  was  captured  in 
the  war. 

1861.  June  3.  Battle  of  Philippi. 
On  the  evening  of  May  26th,  Col.  Kelley 
crossed  the  Ohio  to  Wheeling,  with 
eleven  hundred  men,  and  moved  toward 
Grafton.  Col.  Porterfield  commanding 
fifteen  hundred  confederates  here,  re- 
treated to  Philippi.  Kelley  arrived  at 
Grafton  on  the  3oth,  and  forming  a 
junction  with  some  fresh  forces,  started 
in  pursuit.  The  forces  were  arranged 
in  two  columns — one  under  Dumont  to 
move  almost  directly  south  to  Philippi, 
a  distance  of  twelve  miles;  and  the  other, 
under  Kelley,  to  take  a  circuitous  route 
toward  the  east.  On  the  afternoon  of 
June  2d  they  started,  aiming  to  reach 
Philippi  at  the  same  time,  and  make  the 
attack  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
A  heavy  rain  rendered  the  night  dark, 
and  the  march  burdensome.  Dumont 
arrived  first  and  planted  his  cannon  to 
command  the  bridge  over  the  Tygart's 
Valley  River.  Fearing  that  Porterfield 
would  escape,  Col.  Landers,  representing 
Gen.  McClellan,  ordered  the  artillery 
to  open  on  him.  Dumont's  infantry 


marched  double  quick  down  to  the 
bridge  where  Porterfield  had  concen- 
trated his  troops.  They  "  drove  in  the 
pickets,  dashed  across  the  bridge,  and 
carried  a  fatal  panic  into  the  ranks  of 
their  opponents."-  Kelley  had  been  mis- 
led by  his  guide,  and  having  heard  the 
booming  of  Landers'  cannon,  arrived  just 
in  time  to  flank  the  fugitives  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  town.  Three  hun- 
dred and  eighty  stands  of  arms,  a-  regi- 
mental flag,  some  valuable  papers,  and  a  . 
large  amount  of  baggage,  were  captured. 
The  only  injury  to  the  Union  troops  was 
an  almost  fatal  wound  of  the  brave  Col. 
Kelley,  who  recovered,  and  lived  to  fill 
the  rank  of  brigadier,  to  which  he  had 
been  appointed  several  days  before. 

STEPHEN  A.  DOUGLAS. 

1861.  June  3.  Stephen  Arnold 
Douglas,  a  prominent  American  states- 
man, died  at  Chicago,  111.,  aged  forty -eight 
years.  He  was  born  at  Brandon,Vt.,  April 
23,  1813,  and  was  left  fatherless  when  two 
months  old.  He  was  obliged  to  work 
during  his  boyhood  until  his  health  failed. 
An  academical  education  was  obtained, 
and  he  began  the  study  of  law  at  Canan- 
daigua,  N.  Y.  In  1833  he  went  west; 
after  teaching  and  study  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  That  his  success  was  re- 
markable can  be  measured  from  the  fact 
that  within  a  year  from  his  admission  he 
was  elected  attorney-general  by  the  state 
legislature  of  Illinois.  He  continued  in 
the  service  of  the  state  and  in  private 
practice,  for  a  series  of  years.  In  1837 
he  was  defeated  for  congress  by  five  votes. 
In  February,  1840,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
seven,  he  was  made  one  of  the  supreme 
judges  of  Illinois.  Several  terms  of  ser- 
vice in  congress  gave  him  a  prominence 


598 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


in  many  important  measures.  He  de- 
fended the  compromise  measures  of  1 850, 
both  in  congress  and  at  home  among  his 
constituents.  At  a  later  day,  however, 
he  steadily  opposed  the  pro-slavery  Le- 
compton  constitution  of  Kansas,  because 
he  saw  it  did  not  represent  the  will  of 
the  majority  of  the  people  of  that  state. 
Mr.  Douglas  had  at  this  time  a  debate 
with  Mr.  Lincoln  on  the  stump  in  Illi- 
nois, which  has  stood  at  the  head  of  all 
such  efforts  in  our  country.  In  all  his 
public  life  he  aimed  to  promote  the 
interests  of  his  constituents.  In  1860  the 
northern  section  of  the  democratic  party 
gave  him  1,300,000  popular  votes  for 
president.  His  last  influence  was  thrown 
fully  on  the  side  of  the  Union.  He  said 
there  was  no  other  way  for  a  patriotic 
man  to  act.  Mr.  Douglas  was  com- 
monly spoken  of  as  "  the  little  giant." 


1861.  June  5.  Engagement  at  Pig 
Point.  The  Harriet  Lane,  Capt.  John 
Faunce,  was  sent  by  Butler  to  ascertain 
the  strength  of  Pig  Point,  a  confederate 
battery  nearly  opposite  Newport-Newce. 
The  shallow  water  would  not  allow  her 
to  approach  nearer  than  eighteen  hun- 
dred yards.  Many  of  the  thirty  shots 
that  were  fired  in  forty  minutes,  fell 
short,  while  she  got  the  desired  informa- 
tion at  her  own  expense,  being  struck 
twice  by  the  long  range  guns  of  the 
battery.  Five  of  her  men  were  wounded. 
Gen.  Butler  desired  to  seize  the  Weldon 
railroad  from  Suffolk  to  Norfolk  and 
Petersburg,  which  was  the  great  connec- 
tion between  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas. 

1861.  June  10.  Battle  of  Little 
Bethel.  Brigadier-General  Pierce  was 
ordered  on  Sunday,  the  9th,  to  take 
two  regiments  from  Camp  Hamilton, 


near  Fortress  Monroe,  and    i&i.    juneio. 

i  •     i  ,  1.1          Napoleon  III. 

march  at  night  toward  the 

proclaimed  neu- 

Bethels,  where  he  would  be  traiity. 
joined  by  a  detachment  from  Newport- 
Newce.  Butler  ordered  both  detach- 
ments to  arrive  in  time  to  make  the 
attack  at  dawn  on  the  loth.  It  was 
arranged  for  the  column  which  might 
possibly  make  the  attack  first,  to  shout 
"  Boston !"  and  they  would  be  answered 
by  the  second  column  with  the  same. 
All  the  men  were  to  have  white  ragfs 

o 

tied  on  their  left  arms.  Colonels  Town- 
send  and  Bendix  advanced  simultaneously 
with  their  respective  forces  toward  Little 
Bethel.  The  meeting  was  in  a  thick 
wood,  while  it  was  yet  dark.  The 
watchword  and  badges  had  not  been 
given  to  Bendix.  Thinking  Townsend's 
men  to  be  the  confederates,  as  the  latter 
had  worn  white  badges  at  times,  he 
ordered  his  men  to  fire.  Townsend  re- 
turned the  fire,  supposing  it  was  the 
enemy  in  ambush,  and  then  retreated  a 
short  distance,  when  the  mistake  was 
discovered.  Two  of  his  men  were  killed, 
and  several  wounded.  The  fifty  rebels 
that  were  posted  there  became  alarmed, 
and  fled  to  Big  Bethel,  five  miles  distant. 
1861.  June  10.  Battle  of  Big 
Bethel.  Gen.  Pierce  sent  back  to  Fort- 
ress Monroe  for  reinforcements.  The 
confederates  were  commanded  by  Cols. 
Hill  and  Magruder,  and  were  reported 
to  be  four  thousand  in  number,  with 
twenty  heavy  cannon.  Gen.  Pierce 
pushed  forward  with  his  weary  troops. 
He  drew  up  his  line  of  battle  within  a 
mile  of  the  confederate  entrenchments, 
at  half-past  nine  o'clock.  The  enemy 
opened  the  contest  with  a  fire  from  their 
battery,  but  it  fell  so  wide  of  the  mark 
that  the  Union  troops  returned  a  loud 
cheer,  and  advanced  to  the  attack.  The 


1860-1862.] 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


599 


confederates  were  steadily  driven  back, 
when  Townsend,  on  their  left,  made  a 
fatal  blunder,  and  retired  a  short  distance. 
Greble,  who  had  charge  of  the  national 
artillery,  had  exhausted  his  ammunition, 
and  thus  the  attacking  army  was  weak- 
ened and  forced  to  retreat.  At  this  junc- 
ture the  reinforcements  from  Fortress 
Monroe  arrived,  increasing  Pierce's  army 
to  twenty-five  hundred,  while  the  enemy 
had  only  eighteen  hundred.  The  fresh 
troops  were  ordered  to  the  front  to  cover 
the  retreat,  which  was  conducted  in  good 
order.  The  rebel  cavalry  pursued  for 
six  miles,  and  then  their  whole  army 
withdrew  to  Yorktown.  Sixteen  of  the 
Union  army  were  killed,  among  whom 
was  the  brave  and  beloved  Lieutenant 
Greble,  thirty-four  wounded,  and  five 
missing.  The  enemy's  loss  was  slight. 
Censure  unjustly  rested  on  Pierce,  who 
proved  a  stable  and  efficient  commander 
through  the  entire  war,  after  rising  again 
from  a  private  soldier.  Gen.  Butler's 
brilliant  career  was  also  darkened. 

1861.  June  11.  Skirmish  at  Rom- 
ney  Bridge.  The  wrath  of  the  northern 
people  at  the  Big  Bethel  defeat,  was 
somewhat  appeased  the  next  day  by  a 
victory  at  Romney  Bridge.  It  was 
gained  by  the  bold  dash  of  Colonel  Lew 
Wallace,  and  his  eager  and  well-disci- 
plined regiment  of  Indiana  Zouaves,  who 
had  a  special  grudge  against  Jefferson 
Davis,  their  old  colonel  in  the  Mexican 
war.  The  colonel  slipped  out  from 
Grafton  on  the  night  of  the  loth,  and  by 
an  unfrequented  mountain  route,  came 
down  on  the  rebels  unexpectedly,  com- 
pelling them  to  flee  and  abandon  their 
batteries  at  Romney,  twenty-three  miles 
from  Cumberland.  All  the  inhabitants, 
except  the  negroes,  fled  with  the  troops. 
The  effect  was  satisfactory,  as  the  con- 


federate general,  Johnston,  thought  that 
this  movement  was  only  a  prelude  to 
something  greater,  and  abandoned  Har- 
per's Ferry  within  three  days. 

1861.  June  18.  Battle  of  Boon- 
ville,  Mo.  While  these  stirring  events 
were  going  on  in  Virginia  an  active  part 
was  being  played  by  the  confederates  in 
Missouri.  Gov.  Jackson,  by  a  misrepre- 
sentation of  his  purpose,  called  out  fifty 
thousand  state  militia  for  aid  to  the  con- 
federates, and  placed  Ex-Governor  Price 
in  command.  National  troops  under 
Gen.  Harney  were  ordered  there.  He 
was  soon  succeeded  by  Gen.  Lyon,  who 
ascertained  that  a  confederate  force  was 
encamped  at  Boonville.  He  proceeded 
thence  and  put  them  to  flight,  taking 
two  cannon,  twenty  prisoners,  several 
horses,  and  a  lot  of  military  stpres.  Jack- 
son, who  had  the  command,  continued 
the  flight  for  fifty  miles. 

1861.  June  27.  The  Baltimore 
secessionists  tried  to  take  possession  of 
the  city,  in  conjunction  with  the  police 
force,  and  thus  wrest  Maryland  from  the 
Union.  But  the  troops  were  mustered 
out  under  Ex-Governor  Banks  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  the  attempt  was  prevented. 

1861.  June  27.  Engagement  at 
Matthias  Point.  Having  heard  that  the 
confederates  had  planted  a  strong  bat- 
tery at  Matthias  Point,  Capt.  Ward  pro- 
ceeded to  that  place  from  Acquia  Creek, 
with  his  Potomac  flotilla.  He  landed 
part  of  his  forces,  after  reducing  the  place 
with  his  guns,  and  driving  off  the  skir- 
mishers. While  throwing  up  a  strong 
redoubt  he  espied  a  large  reinforcement 
coming  over  a  hill.  He  then  withdrew 
to  the  ships,  and  was  preparing  to  leave, 
when,  while  sighting  a  cannon,  he  was 
mortally  wounded  by  a  shot  from  the 
shore.  His  forces  sustained  no  damage. 


600 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


1861.  June  30.  The  privateer 
Sumter  ran  the  blockade  at  New  Or- 
leans, and  very  soon  made  havoc  among 
U.  S.  merchantmen  in  the  West  Indies. 
She  finally  entered  the  port  of  Gibraltar 
where  she  was  at  once  guarded  by  the  U. 
S.  gunboat  Tuscarora,  and  afterward  by 
the  Kearsage.  She  was  finally  aban- 
doned by  her  crew,  who  entered  the  Ala- 
bama at  Liverpool. 

1861.  July  2.  Battle  of  Falling 
Waters.  About  the  first  of  June  Gen. 
Patterson  took  command  of  the  Union 
forces  at  Chambersburg,  with  a  view  to 
making  Hai-per's  Ferry  his  headquarters, 
and  driving  away  the  confederates  from 
Maryland  Heights.  Johnston,  the  con- 
federate commander,  as  has  been  seen, 
evacuated  Harper's  Ferry,  and  retired  to 
Maryland  Heights.  But  General-in-chief 
Scott  called  on  Patterson  for  troops  to 
defend  the  Capital,  and  his  army  was 
1805-1861.  reduced  to  ten  thousand 

Mrs.  Browning.  raw  troops,  against  greatly 
superior  numbers  of  the  enemy.  After 
much  delay  and  uneasiness  Patterson  fol- 
lowed up  Johnston,  who  was  on  his  way 
to  Winchester.  At  Falling  Waters  the 
advance  guard  of  the  national  troops, 
under  Colonel  J.  J.  Abercrombie,  fell  in 
with  that  of  Johnston.  Jackson  had 
the  direct  leadership  of  Johnston's  ad- 
vance guards,  and  opened  fire  with  the 
artillery  and  infantry.  The  confederate 
cannon  were  soon  silenced,  and  Jackson 
fled  to  Hainesville,  five  miles  distant. 
The  victors  pursued,  but  when  Johnston 
increased  Jackson's  already  large  detach- 
ment, the  pursuit  ceased.  Reinforce- 
ments were  then  sent  to  Patterson,  and 
he  entered  Martinsburg,  where  he  re- 
mained several  days. 

1861.  July  5.  Battle  of  Carthage. 
A  Union  force  of  fifteen  hundred  was 


raised  in  Northern  Missouri,  and  Colo.iel 
Sigel  put  in  command.  On  the  2^d  of 
June  he  moved  southward  to  Springfield 
and  thence  to  Sarcoxie,  where  he  learned 
that  Price  was  encamped  with  nine  hun- 
dred confederates  at  Pool's  Prairie. 
But  Price  moved  on  further  south,  and 
Sigel  turned  to  engage  Gov.  Jackson's 
army,  nine  miles  north  of  Carthage.  He 
pushed  on,  and  found  Jackson's  army  of 
about  five  thousand  with  plenty  of 
cavalry,  but  deficient  in  artillery,  drawn 
up  on  a  small  knoll.  Sigel  advanced, 
broke  his  strong  front  by  the  artillery, 
and  a  gallant  charge  of  infantry ;  but  he 
was  compelled  to  retreat  by  the  over- 
whelming opposing  force,  with  a  loss  of 
thirteen  killed,  thirty  -  one  wounded, 
ninety  prisoners,  four  cannon,  nine 
horses,  and  a  baggage  wagon.  The  con- 
federate loss  was  about  thirty-five  killed, 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  wounded, 
forty-five  prisoners,  eighty  horses,  and  a 
number  of  shot-guns,  with  which  the 
soldiers  were  armed.  Sigel  continued 
his  retreat  to  Springfield,  where  he 
joined  Gen.  Lyon. 

1861.  July  11.  The  U.  S.  Senate 
expelled  ten  of  its  members,  and  two 
days  later  the  House  expelled  John  B. 
Clark,  of  Missouri. 

1861.  July  11.  Battle  of  Rich 
Mountain,  Va.  The  confederates  still 
kept  up  a  kind  of  partisan  warfare  in 
Virginia,  which  was  doomed  to  become 
the  seat  of  war.  They  sent  out  troops  in 
all  directions  from  their  large  camp  at 
Manassas  Junction,  intent  upon  getting 
possession  of  the  Potomac  and  Washing- 
ton city;  protecting  Richmond  from 
threatened  invasion;  and  driving  Mc- 
Clellan  from  West  Virginia,  and  Patter- 
son from  the  Shenandoah.  McClellan's 
force  at  Grafton,  his  headquarters,  was 


1860-1862.] 

twenty  thousand.  A  detachment  was 
sent  out  under  General  J.  D.  Cox,  to 
check  the  Rebel  general,  Wise,  in  the 
Kanawha  Valley ;  and  another  under 
General  Hill,  to  keep  reinforcements 
from  joining  Johnston  at  Winchester. 
After  a  third  detachment  under  Gen. 
Morris  had  been  sent  to  Beverly,  via 
Philippi,  McClellan  had  but  ten  thousand 
men  left.  With  these  he  advanced  to 
Clarksburg,  and  then  to  Beverly.  Morris 
•was  to  reconnoiter  and  to  meet  the  enemy 
in  front,  while  McClellan  should  attack 
them  in  the  rear.  Garnett,  the  confeder- 
ate commander, was  strongly  entrenched, 
both  naturally  and  artificially.  There 
was  also  a  detachment  of  fifteen  hundred 
tinder  Col.  John  Pegram,  which  was 
strongly  fortified  at  Rich  Mountain  Gap, 
on  a  very  important  highway,  four  miles 
in  Garnett's  rear.  McClellan  ordered 
Col.  W.  S.  Rosecrans  to  reduce  Pegram's 
position.  Rosecrans  started  from  Bev- 
erly early  in  the  morning  of  the  nth. 
Just  as  he  was  coming  up  in  Pegram's 
rear  he  was  greeted  by  a  terrible  volley 
from  a  hidden  source,  the  attack  having 
been  found  out  and  prepared  for,  by 
Pegram's  scouts.  At  two  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  Rosecrans  sent  out  a  small 
force  to  the  attack.  A  severe  fight  en- 
sued, and  the  confederates  came  bound- 
ing from  their  entrenchments  upon  the 
besiegei's,  when  three  Indiana  regiments 
arose  from  concealment  in  the  grass,  and 
as  promptly  drove  them  back  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet.  The  Union  loss 
was  eighteen  killed,  and  forty  wounded ; 
while  the  enemy  lost  about  one  hundred 
and  forty  killed,  and  many  wounded  and 
prisoners,  about  four  hundred  in  all,  in- 
cluding several  officers.  Rosecrans  was 
then  made  brigadier-general. 

1881.     July  12.     Battle  of  Carrick's 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


601 


Ford.  McClellan  pushed  up  in  Pe- 
gram's front  in  the  evening  of  the  nth, 
purposing  to  attack  him  in  the  morning. 
He  thereby  relieved  Rosecrans,  who  was 
in  a  most  perilous  position  in  the  rear. 
But  Pegram  stole  away  during  the 
night  toward  Beverly.  This  exposed 
Garnett's  rear.  His  position  thus  weak- 
ened, Garnett  left  his  heavy  baggage 
and  artillery,  and  fled  toward  St.  George. 
McClellan  increased  Morris'  force,  and 
ordered  a  hot  pursuit.  The  enemy  were 
overtaken  at  Carrick's  Ford,  where  they 
made  a  stand,  but  were  defeated  with  a 
loss  of  thirty  killed,  among  whom  was 
Gen.  Garnett,  and  a  large  number 
wounded  and  prisoners,  besides  a  large 
amount  of  provisions.  The  Union  loss 
was  two  killed,  and  ten  wounded.  This 
ended  the  war  in  West  Virginia. 

1861.  July  14.  Pegram's  Surrender. 
After  Garnett  fled  from  Beverly,  Pe- 
gram found  that  he  could  not  escape,  and 
on  Sunday  morning  he  surrendered  his 
nine  hundred  weary,  half-starved  troops, 
to  Gen.  McClellan. 

1861.  July  17.  Battle  of  Vienna. 
Gen.  McDowell  ordered  a  regiment  from 
Alexandria  to  be  stationed  as  pickets 
and  guards  along  the  railroad  to  Vienna, 
fifteen  miles  from  the  former  place.  On 
the  i  yth  the  regiment  left  on  a  train, 
and  was  scattered  along  the  route.  On 
entering  the  deep  cut  at  Vienna,  three 
hundred  men  that  were  left  on  the  train 
were  fired  upon  by  masked  cannon,  just 
planted  by  the  confederates,  who  had 
torn  up  the  road.  The  troops  left  the 
train,  and  rallying  in  a  wood  near  by, 
stood  their  ground.  This  alarmed  the 
enemy,  who  fled,  sustaining  a  considerable 
loss  after  a  hot  skirmish.  Of  the  Union 
troops,  five  were  killed,  six  wounded,  and 
thirteen  missing. 


602 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


1861.  July  19.  Major- General  Pat- 
terson was  honorably  discharged  from 
the  army  of  the  Shenandoah,  axid  Gen. 
Banks  put  in  command. 

1861.  July  21.  Battle  of  Bull  Run. 
"  On  to  Richmond  ! "  became  the  cry  of 
the  people  after  the  army  had  had  a 
number  of  engagements  in  Virginia,  and 
1810-1861.  several  thousand  troops  had 

Count  Cavmir.  been  sent  to  Washington. 
McDowell  was  at  Alexandria,  and  John- 
ston's army  was  in  the  Shenandoah, 
guarded  by  Patterson's  army.  The 
main  body  of  the  confederates  was  at 
Manassas  Junction,  but  they  had  forces 
stationed  at  Centreville  and  Fairfax 
Court  House.  The  federal  army  ad- 
vanced in  three  divisions  and  encamped 
at  Centreville,  after  the  confederates  had 
deserted  it,  on  Saturday  night,  June  2oth. 
McDowell's  army  was  about  forty  thou- 
sand, most  of  whom  had  enlisted  for  only 
three  months,  and  their  time  had  nearly 
expired,  hence  the  cry  "  On  to  Rich- 
mond !"  which  became  too  strong  for 
him.  He  was  so  positive  that  Gen.  G. 
T.  Beauregard's  army  at  Manassas  was 
much  less  than  his  own,  that  he  did  not 
ascertain  its  real  strength.  But  Johnston 
avoided  Patterson  in  the  Shenandoah, 
and  reinforced  and  took  command  of  the 
army  at  Manassas,  which  was  then  about 
forty-five  thousand.  On  Sunday  morn- 
ing the  federals  moved  to  the  attack, 
just  as  the  confederates  were  preparing 
for  the  same  act.  The  two  armies  came 
together  at  the  Bull  Run,  four  miles 
north  of  Manassas,  and  a  most  desperate 
conflict  followed.  The  armies  swayed 
like  fields  of  grain  before  the  wind,  and 
the  confederates  were  slowly  driven 
back.  But  Jackson  stopped  and  made  a 
firm  stand  on  a  plateau  in  the  rear,  with 
Stanard's  battery.  It  was  here  in  a 


baptism  of  fire  that  he  received  his  cele- 
brated sobriquet — "  Stonewall  Jackson.'* 
It  originated  in  the  remark  :  « There 
stands  Jackson  like  a  stone  wall."  The 
battle  raged  till  noon,  when  Johnston 
ordered  more  troops,  under  Kirby  Smith, 
from  Manassas,  They  were  delayed, 
but  arrived  just  as  the  federals  were 
gaining  the  victory.  They  poured  in  a 
cross  fire,  and  the  federals  were  swept 
from  the  field  in  utter  route.  Many  of 
them  did  not  stop  till  over  the  Long 
Bridge  at  Washington.  The  federals 
in  action  were  about  thirteen  thousand  ; 
the  confederates  about  twice  the  number, 
they  having  received  reinforcements  all 
day.  The  federal  loss  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners,  was  about 
thirty-five  hundred.  The  confederate 
loss  was  about  twenty-five  hundred. 
This  battle  satisfied  the  cry  of  the 
Northerners,  and  assured  them  that  the 
war  would  be  long  and  bloody,  and  not 
"  end  in  ninety  days,"  as  predicted. 
They  were  to  fight  a  people  as  brave 
as  themselves,  and  men  afterward  en- 
listed for  "  three  years,  or  the  war." 
Congress  voted  $500,000,000,  and  five 
hundred  thousand  men. 

1861.  July  22.  A  state  convention 
met  in  Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  and  declared 
all  the  prominent  state  offices  vacant, 
as  the  occupants  thereof  were  no  longer 
promoters  of  the  will  of  the  people.  A 
new  election  for  governor,  legislators,  etc., 
was  called. 

1861.  July  22.  Gen.  McDowell  was. 
superseded  by  Gen.  McClellan,  as  com- 
mander of  the  Potomac  army,  after  the 
Bull  Run  disaster.  Rosecrans  succeeded 
McClellan  as  commander  of  the  troops, 
in  West  Virginia.  Gen.  Lee  took  Gar- 
nett's  place,  and  the  commissions  of  Wise 
and  Floyd  were  filled  by  competent  men. 


1860-1862.] 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


603 


1861.  July  28.  Capture  of  the 
Petrel.  The  Petrel,  a  federal  vessel 
which  had  surrendered  to  the  confeder- 
ates in  December  of  the  previous  year, 
was  captured  in  a  very  strategic  manner 
by  the  St.  Lawrence,  off  Charleston 
harbor.  The  Petrel  had  avoided  the 
blockade  squadron  at  the  harbor,  and 
sailed  out  for  prizes.  She  espied  the  St. 
Lawrence  lying  behind  an  island,  and 
gave  chase.  The  latter  vessel  assumed 
the  appearance  of  a  merchant  vessel,  and 
took  to  flight  ;  but  when  the  Petrel 
came  within  proper  distance  of  her,  she 
turned  and  hurled  three  shots,  which 
struck  and  sunk  the  pursuer.  Part  of 
the  crew  survived,  and  were  imprisoned 
at  Philadelphia. 

1861.  July  29.  Evacuation  of  the 
Kanawha  Valley.  Gen.  Cox  succeeded 
in  forcing  Wise  from  the  Kanawha  Val- 
ley. He  retreated  to  Lewisburg.  Here 
he  was  out-ranked  by  Brigadier-general 
J.  B.  Floyd. 

1861.  July  31.  Invasion  of  Illinois 
Checked.  Early  in  the  summer  John 
C.  Fremont  was  appointed  over  the 
Army  of  the  West.  At  the  time  of  his 
appointment  (May  I4th)  he  was  in 
Europe.  He  brought  over  twenty  thou- 
sand stand  of  arms  for  his  department, 
but  they  were  appropriated  for  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  He  then  proceeded  to 
St.  Louis,  and  obtained  by  force  enough 
money  to  arm  the  volunteers  who  were 
crowding  into  that  place.  A  confeder- 
ate force  of  twelve  thousand  under  Gen. 
Pillow,  a  major-general  of  the  Army  of 
West  Tennessee,  was  preparing  to  cap- 
ture Cairo,  and  overrun  Southern  Illinois. 
Fremont  mustered  thirty-eight  hundred 
men,  and  started  down  the  river  on  eight 
steamers  to  reinforce  Cairo.  A  rumor 
exaggerating  the  proportions  of  Fre- 


mont's army  reached  Pillow,  and  he 
retreated.  Fremont  arrived  in  safety, 
and  strengthened  the  twelve  hundred 
already  there;  and  thus  Cairo  was  saved. 

1861.  July  31.  The  Grand  Army 
of  the  Potomac  was  fully  organized, 
equipped,  and  disciplined  by  the  last  of 
July,  and  numbered  one  hundred  and 
fifty-two  thousand.  Arms  had  been  pur- 
chased in  Europe,  and  this  great  army 
was  now  ready  to  avenge  the  Bull  Run 
defeat.  By  March  following,  it  was  in- 
creased to  two  hundred  and  twenty  thou- 
sand, but  about  thirty  thousand  were 
sick  or  absent. 

1861.  Aug.  2.  The  Cherokee  In- 
dians, in  a  mass  meeting,  gave  in  their 
allegiance  to  the  confederate  cause,  in 
spite  of  the  appeals  of  John  Ross,  their 
head  chief.  The  Choctaws  and  Chicka- 
saws  had  already  done  so,  and  were  rais- 
ing men. 

1861.  Aug.  2.  Battle  of  Dug  Springs, 
Mo.  Gen.  Lyon,  with  about  five  thou- 
sand (nearly  his  entire  army),  moved 
out  from  Springfield  to  check  the  con- 
federates, who  were  advancing  on  that 
place.  He  halted  in  the  valley  of  Dug 
Springs,  nineteen  miles  southwest  of 
Springfield.  The  line  of  battle  was 
drawn  up,  and  before  long  the  foe  ap- 
peared. A  charge  was  made  by  the 
federal  cavalry,  under  Stanley,  which 
dashed  the  confederate  infantry  into 
fragments.  The  confederate  cavalry  ap- 
peared from  the  woods,  but  the  federal 
artillery  was  brought  to  play  upon  them, 
and  they  were  dispersed  almost  instantly. 
Everything  was  without  hope  now  on 
the  confederate  side,  and  they  fled  with 
a  loss  of  forty  killed,  and  as  many 
wounded.  The  federal  loss  was  eio-ht 

o 

killed,  and  thirty  wounded.    After  giving 
chase,  Lyon  returned  to  Springfield. 


604 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


ARMY  RATIONS. 

1861.  Aug.  3.  At  the  foundation  of 
the  United  States  Government  under  the 
Constitution,  the  army  ration  was  one 
pound  of  beef,  or  three-quarters  of  a 
pound  of  pork ;  one  pound  bread  or  flour, 
half  a  gill  of  rum,  brandy,  whiskey,  or 
the  value  thereof,  and  at  the  rate  of  one 
quart  salt,  two  quarts  vinegar,  two 
pounds  soap,  and  one  pound  candles,  to 
every  one  hundred  rations.  This  was 
changed  from  time  to  time,  by  increasing 
the  amounts;  one  great  change  being  in 
1802,  to  one  gill  of  liquor  instead  of  one 
half  gill  as  before.  In  1832  the  liquor 
was  displaced,  and  four  pounds  coffee 
with  eight  pounds  sugar  to  every  one 
hundred  rations,  substituted.  This  in- 
creased at  a  later  day.  At  this  date  the 
ration  was  made  to  consist  of  one  pound 
and  a  half  of  bread  or  flour,  or  one  pound 
hard  bread;  fresh  beef  as  often  as  may 
be  possible,  in  place  of  salt  beef;  beans, 
rice,, hominy,  twice  a  week;  one  pound 
of  potatoes  three  times  a  week;  tea  to  be 
substituted  for  coffee  if  desired,  and  other 
food  provided  for,  to  some  extent.  This 
ration  was  afterward  found  too  large, 
and  was  diminished.  The  army  was 
well  fed  through  the  war. 

1861.     Aug.  3.     A  proclamation  was 

issued  by  the  provisional  governor  of 
Missouri,  which  quieted  the  turbulence 
then  existing,  and  restored  comparative 
peace.  Armed  bands  of  secessionists 
carried  on  a  partisan  warfare  in  Northern 
Missouri;  and  groups  of  Union  soldiers 
were  trying  to  put  them  down  when  the 
proclamation  was  issued. 

1861.  Aug.  7.  Burning  of  Hamp- 
ton. Gen.  Butler  at  Fortress  Monroe, 
was  drawn  upon  for  troops  for  the  de- 


fense of  the  capital,  and  to  furnish  them 
he  reduced  the  forces  at  Newport-Newce. 
and  Hampton.  Magruder  took  advan- 
tage of  this  to  reduce  Hampton,  and 
moved  with  five  thousand  men  from 
Yorktown  on  the  6th  for  that  purpose. 
But  the  news  reached  Gen.  Butler,  and 
he  sent  out  a  force  for  its  defense.  The 
force  was  beaten,  and  driven  back. 
Magruder  then  ordered  the  city  to  be 
fired.  The  next  morning  the  town  was 
in  ashes,  and  the  confederates  had  re- 
turned to  Yorktown.  This,  with  other 
things,  blackened  the  cloud  cast  upon 
Gen.  Butler  at  the  Bethels,  and  he  was 
formally  deposed,  and  replaced  by  Gen. 
John  E.  Wool. 

1861.  Aug.  10.  Battle  of  Wilson's 
Creek,  Mo.  The  confederates  collected 
at  Wilson's  Creek,  southwest  of  Spring- 
field, for  the  purpose  of  advancing  on  the 
latter  place,  after  their  defeat  at  Dug 
Springs.  With  mutual  consent  Gen. 
McCulloch  succeeded  Gen.  Price  in  the 
chief  command  of  the  army,  which  con- 
sisted of  about  twenty-three  thousand. 
McCulloch  ordered  all  the  men  who 
were  fit  for  action  to  prepare  for  a  march 
on  Springfield  at  midnight  of  the  9th. 
The  pickets  were  taken  in,  and  prepara- 
tions made,  but  a  rain  storm  prevented 
the  march.  General  Lyon,  with  only 
five  thousand  at  the  same  time,  after 
much  hesitation,  had  ordered  a  march  on 
the  enemy,  in  order  to  save  Missouri  to 
the  Union.  On  the  9th  the  Union  army 
marched  away  in  two  columns,  under 
Generals  Lyon  and  Sigel.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  loth  they  appeared  at  Wilson's 
Creek.  Sigel  gained  the  rear,  and  Lyon 
attacked  the  enemy  in  front,  after  driving 
in  the  skirmishers.  The  fierce  contest 
then  began.  First  one  side  and  then  the 
other,  was  driven  in  confusion,  but  rallied 


1860-1862.] 

again.  The  onset  of  the  confederates 
was  irresistible,  but  the  federal  artillery 
mowed  them  down  like  grass.  By  a 
feint  the  confederates  destroyed  Sigel's 
batteries,  and  almost  routed  his  whole 
force.  Finally  both  armies  came  to  a 
solid  stand  within  a  few  feet  of  each 
other.  In  a  hardly-fought,  nearly  hand 
to  hand  struggle,  the  confederates  were 
compelled  to  retire  under  a  melting  fire 
from  the  federals.  But  they  held  the 
field  at  a  cost  of  three  thousand  men. 
The  greatly  reduced  national  troops  then 
withdrew,  and  returned  to  Springfield. 
Their  loss  was  between  twelve  and  thir- 
teen hundred,  among  whom  was  the 
noble  and  gallant  Gen.  Lyon. 

1861.  Aug.  28-29.  Blockade  of 
Hatteras  Inlet.  English  blockade  run- 
ners were  supplying  the  confederates 
with  provisions,  at  Hatteras  Inlet.  After 
Butler  had  been  relieved  of  his  command 
at  Fortress  Monroe,  he  apprised  the  na- 
tional authorities  of  this,  and  offered  his 
services  to  command  an  expedition.  He 
was  given  charge  of  some  forces  and  the 
squadron  of  ten  vessels  under  Commo- 
dore Stringham.  They  arrived,  and  be- 
gan a  siege  which  lasted  two  days,  when 
the  forts  of  Hatteras  and  Clark  surren- 
dered, with  715  prisoners,  25  cannon,  and 
1,000  stands  of  arms.  In  the  following 
September  an  attempt  by  the  confeder- 
ates to  regain  the  Inlet,  was  foiled.  The 
national  garrison  was  thus  strengthened 
and  made  secure. 

1861.  Aug.  31.  An  anticipated 
Emancipation  in  Missouri.  Fremont 
issued  a  proclamation  declaring  martial 
law  in  Missouri,  and  also  declaring  the 
confiscation  of  property  and  the  freedom 
of  slaves  belonging  to  all  citizens  who 
joined  the  secessionists.  While  the  mar- 
tial law  put  down  civil  strife,  the  other 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


605 


parts  created  great  consternation  among 
the  citizens  of  the  state. 

1861.  Sept.  4.  Seizure  of  Columbus 
and  Hickman.  On  the  pretext  of  "  an 
expectation  that  the  national  troops 
were  about  to  invade  the  state "  of 
Kentucky,  Gen.  Polk  advanced  with  a 
confederate  force,  and  seized  and  forti- 
fied Columbus  and  Hickman.  Simon 
Buckner,  a  confederate  brigadier-general, 
proceeded  with  two  or  three  regiments 
to  seize  X<ouisville.  But  the  fireman  of 
an  engine  escaped  and  carried  the  news  to 
Gen.  Anderson,  the  hero  of  Fort  Sumter. 
Anderson  immediately  ordered  out  troops 
from  Camp  Joe  Holt,  near  Louisville, 
and  the  movement  was  checked. 

1861.  Sept.  6.  Kentucky's  neu- 
trality Ended.  Major-General  U.  S. 
Grant,  who  had  charge  of  military  affairs 
near  Cairo,  took  possession  of  Paducah, 
and  thus  ended  Kentucky's  neutrality. 
There  was,  however,  up  to  this  time,  a 
Union  majority  of  the  people. 

1861.  Sept.  9.  The  Battle  of  Car- 
nifex  Ferry.  After  the  confederates 
changed  commanders  in  Virginia  they 
tried  to  get  possession  of  West  Virginia 
again.  Gen.  Floyd  sent  out  a  detach- 
ment which  surprised  and  routed  Col. 
Tyler's  regiment  at  Cross  Lanes,  early 
in  the  morning  of  the  pth,  killing  and 
capturing  two  hundred  men.  He  then 
moved  southward  to  get  around  Cox; 
but  Rosecrans  swooped  down  upon  him 
at  Carnifex  Ferry,  in  the  afternoon,  with 
ten  thousand  men  from  Clarksburg. 
Floyd,  after  a  severe  battle,  escaped  in 
the  night,  leaving  a  large  amount  of 
ammunition  and  provisions.  The  feder- 
al loss  in  all  was  about  two  hundred; 
that  of  the  confederates  is  not  known,  but 
was  considerably  less. 

1861.      Sept.   11.     A    Slave    Order, 


606 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


President  Lincoln  ordered  that  Fre- 
mont's Missouri  proclamation  should  be 
modified  so  as  to  free  only  those  slaves 
who  were  actually  employed  in  the 
southern  army. 

1861.  Sept.  12.  The  Capture  of 
Jjexington,  Mo.  After  the  battle  of 
Wilson's  Creek,  Sigel  continued  moving 
northward  from  Springfield  to  Rolla. 
A  dissension  having  arisen  between  Price 
and  McCulloch,  the  latter  withdrew  his 
Texas  troops  from  the  state.  But  Price 
•enlisted  more  secessionists  to  fill  the 
empty  ranks,  and  then  began  a  north- 
ward movement.  Fremont  discovered  it 
and  sent  a  force  of  twenty-eight  hundred, 
under  Col.  J.  A.  Mulligan,  to  protect 
Lexington,  which  commanded  the  ap- 
proach by  water  to  Ft.  Leavenworth. 
After  a  terrible  storm  Price  drew  up 
before  Lexington  on  the  morning  of  the 
1 2th.  With  some  difficulty  he  drove  the 
federals  into  their  entrenchments.  The 
contest  then  took  the  form  of  a  siege. 
The  confederates  were  reinforced  to 
twenty-five  thousand.  Mulligan  expected 
relief,  but  his  courier  was  captured,  and  it 
did  not  come.  At  length  (on  the  2oth), 
his  communication  and  water  supply 
having  been  cut  off,  he  surrendered.  His 
loss  was  forty  killed,  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty  wounded.  The  confederate  loss 
was  twenty-five  killed,  and  seventy-five 
wounded.  The  prisoners  were  put  on 
parole.  Mulligan  was  subsequently  ex- 
changed, and  offered  a  bi'igadier-general- 
ship,  but  declined,  preferring  to  remain 
with  his  '*  Irish  Brigade  "  of  Chicago. 

1881.  Sept.  11-13.  Cheat  Moun- 
tain Skirmishes.  Lee  determined  to 
open  communication  with  Shenandoah, 
after  the  battle  of  Carnifex  Ferry.  He 
moved  from  Huntersville  on  the  nth, 
toward  the  mountains,  where  Gen.  Rey- 


nolds, with  a  detachment  of  Rosecrans' 
army,  was  posted  at  Elk  Water,  Cheat 
Mountain  Pass,  and  the  Summit.  Lee 
attacked  him  at  these  places,  but  was  re- 
pulsed each  time.  The  confederates 
were  about  five  thousand,  and  the  loss 
was  one  hundred  killed  and  wounded, 
and  ninety  prisoners.  Reynolds'  force 
was  about  six  hundred,  and  his  loss  was 
ten  killed,  twenty-four  wounded,  and 
sixty-four  prisoners. 

1861.  Sept.  13.  The  confederate 
privateer  Judah,  lying  in  Pensacola 
harbor,  was  boarded  and  destroyed  by  a 
force  from  the  U.  S.  ship  Colorado. 

DECISIVE  SOUTH  &MERICHX  BATTLE. 

1861.  Sept.  17.  The  troubles  which 
had  been  occasioning  military  move- 
ments of  a  more  or  less  burdensome 
character  for  some  years  between  Buenos 
Ayres  and  the  Argentine  Republic,  of 
which  Buenos  Ayres  had  at  times  been 
a  part,  now  came  to  an  end  by  the  final 
defeat  of  the  Argentine  forces  at  Pavon, 
by  Gen.  Bartolome  Mitre.  The  difficul- 
ties in  trying  to  remain  a  united  people 
were  a  reflex  of  United  States  difficulties 
in  the  antagonism  of  separate  parties. 
Buenos  Ayres  had  wished  to  have  a 
centralized  government.  The  other  prov- 
inces of  the  La  Plata  had  wished  a 
federation,  revolted,  and  formed  one. 
The  former  gained  in  the  present  battle 
something  of  a  victory  for  its  own  idea, 
entered  the  Argentine  Republic  the  next 
year,  and  has  been  the  seat  of  the  capital 
since. 

1861.  September.  The  flag  of  the 
Confederate  States  had  been  at  times 
mistaken  at  a  distance  for  the  Union  flag, 
hence  a  battle  flag  was  adopted,  consist- 
ing of  a  "  red  field  charged  with  a  blue 


1860-1863.] 

saltier,  with  a  narrow  border  of  white, 
on  which  were  displayed  thirteen  white 
stars." 

1861.  Oct.  3.  Battle  on  the  Green- 
briar.  Lee  left  Gen.  H.  R.  Jackson  of 
Georgia,  with  three  thousand  men  on 
the  Greenbriar  River,  at  the  foot  of 
Cheat  Mountain,  to  watch  Reynolds. 
But  Reynolds  assumed  the  offensive,  and 
on  the  night  of  the  2d  moved  on  Jack- 
son's camp  with  five  thousand  men.  He 
drove  in  the  pickets  and  prepared  to 
flank  the  enemy,  but  Jackson  discovered 
the  movement  in  time,  and  checkmated 
it.  The  federal  loss  was  ten  killed,  and 
thirty-two  wounded.  Learning  that  re- 
inforcements were  coming  to  Jackson's 
rescue,  Reynolds  withdrew  to  Elk  Water. 
The  confederate  loss  was  over  two 
hundred. 

1861.  Oct.  5.  A  confederate  force, 
in  attempting  to  land  in  Pamlico  Sound 
for  an  attack  on  the  Union  camp,  was 
shelled  by  the  U.  S.  boat  Monticello,  and 
driven  off  with  great  slaughter. 

1861.  Oct.  9.  Events  on  the  Gulf 
Coast.  While  these  stirring  events  were 
going  on  in  the  north,  others  were  tran- 
spiring on  the  Gulf.  A  small  Union 
force  under  Col.  Watson  at  Ft.  Pickens, 
was  making  sad  havoc  with  the  con- 
federate navy-yards.  They  became  the 
terror  of  the  coast.  The  injured  con- 
federates could  bear  their  intrusions  no 
longer,  and  prepared  to  avenge  them. 
They  proceeded  up  Pensacola  Bay,  to 
Deer  Point,  on  Santa  Rosa  Island,  with 
fourteen  hundred  picked  men.  A  land- 
ing was  soon  made.  They  drove  in  the 
pickets  at  night,  surprised  the  hundred 
and  fifty  New  York  Zouaves  that  were 
posted  there,  and  plundered  their  camp. 
But  the  Zouaves  were  then  joined  by 
four  companies  from  the  fort,  and  drove 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS.  607 

back  the   assailants  with   a    galling  fire, 


into  their  ships,  one  of  which  was  sunk. 
The  entire  national  loss  was  sixty-four; 
that  of  the  enemy  one  hundred  and  fifty, 
including  those  who  were  drowned. 
The  confederate  iron-clad  ram,  Manas- 
sas,  was  then  fitted  up  with  a  great  iron 
prow  or  beak.  It  drove  off  the  bom- 
barding squadron,  under  Flag-officer 
McKean  and  Col.  Brown,  from  Ft. 
McRae,  and  would  have  done  great 
damage  had  it  been  under  competent 
management. 

1861.  Oct.  21.  Battle  of  BaU's 
Bluff.  The  confederates  by  bold  skir- 
mishing parties  had  planted  their  flag 
within  six  miles  of  Washington,  and  had 
made  several  sharp  attacks  isei.  Oct.  i. 
on  Harper's  Ferry.  But  mili<"nl- 

•  crowned  King  of 

they  were  repulsed  each  Prussia. 
time,  and  finally  driven  beyond  Fairfax 
Court  House.  Hearing  that  the  confed- 
erates had  evacuated  Leesburg,  McClel- 
lan  sent  out  a  reconnoitering  party  of 
four  thousand  under  Gen.  C.  P.  Stone, 
who  had  orders  to  make  only  a  "  demon- 
stration on  Leesburg."  Col.  Devens  was 
sent  with  seven  hundred  men  from  Stone's 
headquarters  at  Edward's  and  Conrad's 
Ferries,  toward  Leesburg.  Col.  Baker, 
a  noted  and  esteemed  representative  from 
Oregon,  was  ordered  from  the  Grand 
Army  to  Conrad's  Ferry,  and  then  sent 
out  with  a  small  party  to  attract  the 
enemy's  attention  from  Devens.  Having 
learned  that  Devens  had  had  an  engage- 
ment with  the  enemy,  Baker  concluded 
to  join  him.  To  do  this  he  had  to  cross 
the  Potomac.  The  transportation  was 
exceedingly  poor,  and  the  movement 
dangerous.  With  great  difficulty  it  was 
accomplished,  and  the  two  companies 
were  consolidated  on  the  opposite  bank. 
Baker  took  command  of  the  whole  force 


608 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


of  nineteen  hundred,  acting  as  brigadier- 
general.  The  troops  were  hardly  in  line 
when  the  confederates  came  swarming 
out  of  the  woods  on  all  sides  of  the  field. 
A  terrible  battle  speedily  followed.  A 
misguided  manoeuver  on  the  federal  left 
caused  a  rout,  and  the  army  was  pushed 
backward  down  the  slippery,  clayey 
bluffs,  fifty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
high.  The  two  old  scows  that  brought 
them  over  were  soon  sunk,  and  many  of 
the  soldiers  were  shot  while  in  the  act 
of  swimming.  Few  reached  the  bank 
beyond.  The  loss  to  the  federals  was 
one  thousand,  of  whom  three  bundled 
were  killed.  The  confederate  loss  was 
three  hundred.  In  the  heat  of  the  battle 
the  gallant  Baker  fell,  pierced  by  a  dozen 
balls.  After  the  battle  Stone  took  com- 
mand in  person.  McClellan  sent  twenty- 
five  hundred  more  men,  and  these  held 
Harrison's  Island.  The  confederates  re- 
turned to  Leesburg  with  their  prisoners, 
and  three  Union  cannon.  That  night 
the  confederate  camp-fire  glowed  with 
victory,  while  the  Union  soldier  crawled 
off  to  his  camp  in  sore  distress. 

1861.  Oct.  21.  Invasion  of  Ken- 
tucky. Gen.  Zolllcoffer,  with  seven 
regiments  of  confederates,  invaded  Ken- 
tucky in  the  latter  part  of  the  month. 
He  moved  with  great  alacrity  and 
caution  ;  but  while  he  was  raiding 
through  the  country  almost  unobstructed, 
he  came  upon  a  Union  force  of  four 
thousand,  just  mustered  under  Colonel 
Garrard.  On  the  2ist  Zollicoffer  twice 
attacked  them  at  Camp  Wildcat  in  Rose 
Castle  Hills,  but  he  was  promptly  driven 
off  each  time,  and  then  withdrew.  Gen. 
W.  T.  Sherman  was  now  appointed  to 
command  the  Department  of  the  Cum- 
berland. 

1861.      Oct.  24.     Battle   of  Spring- 


field.      The     surrender     of    Lexinsrton 

O 

caused  much  blame  to  rest  on  Fremont. 
But  the  number  of  his  army  had  been 
greatly  exaggerated,  and  he  won  vic- 
tories which  would  have  been  defeats 
with  larger  armies.  He  now  resolved  to 
take  the  field  himself,  and  at  the  head 
of  his  army,  pushed  southward.  The 
total  number  of  federal  troops  in  Mis- 
souri was  about  fifty-six  thousand.  Price 
retired  to  Arkansas,  as  McCulloch  had 
deserted  him,  and  other  embarrass- 
ments were  daily  coming  up.  Gen. 
Jeff.  Thompson  had  already  been  routed 
by  Fremont  on  the  2ist.  Just  before 
Fremont  arrived  at  Springfield,  he  sent 
Zagonyi  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  well- 
equipped  cavalry  to  reconnoiter,  and  if 
he  could,  capture  the  place.  Zagonyi 
made  a  daring  strike.  Nearly  two  thou- 
sand confederates  were  drawn  up  on  the 
brow  of  a  hill  near  the  city.  After  a 
short  exhortation  to  his  devoted  followers,. 
Zagonyi  made  a  dart  toward  the  solid 
lines  ;  and  notwithstanding  a  destructive 
fire  which  killed  eighty-four  of  their 
number,  the  brave  riders  struck  terror  to 
the  heart  of  the  opposing  ranks,  and  com- 
pelled them  to  hastily  retreat.  This  was 
soon  turned  into  a  rout.  The  confeder- 
ate loss  is  not  known. 

INTERFERENCE  WITH  MEXICO. 

1861.  Oct.  31.  The  Convention  of 
London,  held  by  England,  France,  and 
Spain,  to  consider  the  losses  experienced 
by  their  subjects  in  Mexico,  agreed  to 
send  a  joint  expedition  thither  to  urge 
the  matter  by  force,-  if  necessary.  They 
had  not  been  able  to  get  what  they 
thought  to  be  satisfactory  terms  from 
President  Juarez.  The  last  of  this  year 
and  the  first  of  the  next,  troops  from  each 
nation  landed  in  Mexico.  But  Spain  and 


1860-1862.]  THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 

England  soon  withdrew  their  foi'ces  be- 
cause of  having  arrived  at  the  prospect 
of  a  settlement  by  negotiation.  France 


continued    the  effort,  which  resulted   so 
disastrously  foi  Maximillian. 

UNITED  STATES  OF  COLOMBIA. 

1861.  October.  A  convention  was 
held  in  Bogota,  S.  A.,  by  representatives 
of  the  liberal  sections  of  New  Grenada, 
and  adopted  a  constitution  under  the 
Mosquera  was  made  pres- 
conservatives  held  the 
attempted  to 
of  their  own. 
much  broken 


above  name. 

ident.       The 

southern     sections,     and 

maintain    a    government 

The   province  was   very 


up,  and  the  hostility  of  the  two  parties 
was  very  great.  For  over  a  year  from 
this  time  civil  war  raged  in  considerable 
fury. 

1861.  Nov.  2.  Gen.  Fremont,  on 
account  of  the  course  he  had  taken  in 
issuing  his  proclamation,  and  in  many 
other  respects,  was  superseded  by  Gen. 
Hunter. 

1861.  Nov.  2.  A  secession  ordi- 
nance was  passed  by  a  portion  of  the 
legislature  of  Missouri,  who  came  to- 
gether for  the  purpose. 

1861.  Nov  7.  Naval  Expedition 
against  Port  Royal  Entrance,  S.  C. 
A  very  mysterious  and  imposing  armada 
left  Hampton  Roads  on  the  zpth  of  Oc- 
tober, for  a  secret  destination.  It  was 
composed  of  fifty  war  vessels  and  trans- 
ports, and  twenty-five  coal  vessels.  The 
transports  carried  fifteen  thousand  troops 
under  Brig.-Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman;  the 
naval  forces  were  under  Capt.  S.  F.  Du- 
pont.  After  three  days  of  delightful  sea 
a  terrible  and  shattering  storm  came  up. 
The  fleet  was  scattered,  and  many  vessels 
had  to  throw  overboard  a  few  guns  and 


609 

stores,  to  lighten  their  burden.  Sealed 
orders  were  on  board  each  vessel.  These 
were  opened,  and  Port  Royal  was  found 
to  be  th  ir  destination. 

The  confederates  held  strong  positions 
at  Ft.  Walker,  on  Hilton  Head  Island, 
and  Ft.  Beauregard,  on  Phillips'  Island, 
with  a  flotilla  under  Capt.  Tatnall,  farther 
up  the  entrance.  These  forts  were  two 
miles  apart.  On  the  morning  of  the  yth 
the  assailants  pushed  up  between  them 
and  described  a  curve,  to  avoid  becoming 
a  mark  for  the  guns  at  the  forts,  which 
they  fired  upon  as  they  passed.  Such 
revolutions  were  continuously  performed 
until  a  quarter  past  one,  p.  M.,  when  the 
forts  were  silenced,  and  deserted  by  the 
besieged. '  They  were  then  taken  posses- 
sion of;  Sherman's  troops  were  landed, 
and  Hilton  Head  Island  made  a  point  of 
supplies.  The  national  loss  was  small; 
the  confederate,  fifty.  The  Wabash  was 
struck  thirty-four  times,  while  in  the  forts 
"  shell  fell  as  fast  as  a  horse's  feet  beat  the 
ground  in  a  gallop."  Tybee  Island,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Savannah  River,  was 
shortly  afterward  captured  by  Capt. 
Dupont  without  much  effort;  and  the 
coast  islands  remained  in  possession  of  the 
federals.  They  also  controlled  the  im- 
portant network  of  water  communication 
in  South  Carolina.  A  large  amount  of 
cotton,  guns,  ammunition,  etc.,  was  left 
on  the  islands,  and  fell  into  national 
hands;  but  before  the  cotton  could  be 
secured,  some  sly  confederates  applied  the 
torch  to  it. 

1861.  Nov.  7.  Battle  of  Belmont, 
Mo.  Gen.  Grant  captured  Smithland, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland  River, 
and  made  some  movements  to  cooperate 
with  Fremont  in  Missouri.  Learning 
that  Polk  had  sent  reinforcements  from 
Columbus  to  Price,  Grant  moved  down 


610 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


the  river,  with  three  thousand  Illinois 
volunteers,  to  take  Belmont,  opposite  Co- 
lumbus, and  threaten  the  latter  place. 
He  landed  and  formed  his  troops  three 
miles  above  the  city.  He  then  moved 
forward  to  attack  the  confederates,  whose 
camp  was  well  protected  by  felled  trees 
with  the  small  branches  cut  off  and  the 
large  ones  pointed,  and  the  points  placed 
outward.  But  the  federals  drove  the 
enemy  back,  charged  over  their  sharp- 
ened sticks,  and  captured  a  large  number 
of  men,  horses,  and  artillery.  The  con- 
federates made  a  gallant  defense,  but  their 
ammunition  was  exhausted,  and  they  suf- 
fered defeat.  Polk  tried  to  cut  off  Grant's 
return  to  the  boats,  but  all  attempts  were 
averted,  with  great  difficulty.  The  con- 
federate camp  was  fired,  as  the  federals 
had  no  baggage  wagons.  The  federals 
lost  four  hundred  and  eighty-five  men  in 
killed,  wounded  and  missing ;  the  confeder- 
ates, six  hundred  and  thirty-two. 

1861.  Nov.  8.  The  Trent  Affair. 
Davis  appointed  Messrs.  Mason  and  Sli- 
dell,  two  noted  slavery  statesmen,  ambas- 
sadors to  England  and  France,  who  had 
acknowledged  the  confederate  states  as 
belligerents.  With  their  private  secre- 
taries they  took  passage  on  the  Trent,  a 
British  mail  steamer,  from  Havana,  hav- 
ing escaped  a  blockade  squadron  at 
Charleston.  Capt.  Wilkes,  of  the  San 
Jacinto  (a  U.  S.  merchant  vessel  from 
the  South  Sea  Islands)  was  informed, 
and  lay  in  the  Bahama  Channel.  On  the 
8th,  just  before  noon,  the  Trent  appeared. 
An  order  by  the  Jacinto  to  heave  to  was 
unheeded  by  the  Trent,  and  a  shell  was 
fired  across  her  bow,  which  brought  her 
to  terms.  The  envoys  were  taken  back 
and  imprisoned  at  Ft.  Warren,  near 
Boston.  "  Neutral  "  England  demanded 
the  immediate  release  of  the  prisoners. 


After  a  protracted  and  hot  debate  in 
congress  the  prisoners  were  handed  over. 
1861.  Nov.  9.  Battle  of  Piketon, 
Ky.  A  thousand  confederates  undei 
Col.  Williams,  were  encamped  near 
Piketon,  and  Gen.  Nelson  marched  with 
three  thousand  Unionists  from  the  Big 
Sandy  to  attack  and  drive  them  out  of 
the  state,  or  make  them  surrender.  An 
advance  guard  came  upon  some  of 
Williams'  pickets.  The  confederates  fled 
after  a  short  but  severe  skirmish,  in 
which  they  lost  forty  killed,  and  a  large 
number  wounded.  The  union  loss  was 
six  killed,  and  twenty-four  wounded. 
Williams  fled  from  Piketon  before  an  at- 
tack could  be  made,  and  as  Nelson  had 
no  cavalry,  he  could  not  pursue  him. 

1861.  Nov.  29.  A  Mistaken  Proc- 
lamation. The  military  affairs  in  Mis- 
souri were  taken  charge  of  Nov.  18,  by 
Henry  Wager  Halleck,  who  succeeded 
Gen.  Hunter;  the  latter  was  placed  over 
the  Kansas  department.  Thousands  of 
refugees,  the  victims  of  poverty  and  dis- 
tress at  the  hands  of  Price,  came  flocking 
into  the  Union  lines.  By  some  means  the 
confederates  obtained  knowledge  of  every 
movement  of  the  Union  armies.  Hal- 
leck issued  a  proclamation  on  the  29th, 
which  forbade  the  fugitive  slaves  to  enter 
the  lines,  on  the  ground  that  they  were 
the  offenders.  The  proclamation  was  so 
adverse  to  the  Union  cause  that  it  was 
soon  countermanded. 

1861.  Dec.  6.  Beaufort,  N.  C.,  was 
occupied  by  the  federal  troops.  The 
confederates  had  evacuated  it  after  the 
naval  battle  at  Hilton  Head. 

1861.  Dec.  14.  Charleston  Fire. 
On  the  night  of  the  I4th  a  great  con- 
flagration swept  over  Charleston,  S.  C.» 
destroying  several  million  dollars'  worth 
of  property. 


1860-1682.] 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


611 


last.    Dec.  23. 

Prince  Albert 


1861.  Dec.  19.  Battle  on  the  Black- 
water.  In  Missouri  Pope  gained  the  in- 
formation that  a  confederate  force  was 
north  of  him,  near  Milford,  and  sent  a 
force  to  flank  them.  The  affair  took 
place  on  the  Blackwater,  opposite  Clear 
Creek.  Lieutenant  Gordon  led  the  charge 
with  cavalry,  and  with  the 
proper  support  routed  the 
army  of  thirteen  hundred,  infantry  and 
cavalry.  The  spoils  were  eight  hundred 
horses  and  mules,  a  thousand  stand  of 
arms,  and  seventy  wagon  loads  of  sup- 
plies. The  captors  then  returned  to 
Sedalia,  sweeping  the  whole  country 
west  of  that  place. 

1861.  Dec.  2O.  Blockade  of  Charles- 
ton harbor  by  the  "  Stone  Fleet." 
Twenty-five  condemned  merchant  ves- 
sels were  purchased  by  order  of  the  secre- 
tary of  war,  and  filled  with  granite.  The 
copper  bottoms  were  taken  off,  and  holes 
bored  below  the  water  mark,  and  these 
holes  plugged  up.  When  they  reached 
Charleston  harbor  the  plugs  were  taken 
out  and  the  vessels  allowed  to  settle  in 
such  a  way  that  they  would  produce  dis- 
turbing currents,  but  not  destroy  naviga- 
tion. The  whole  affair  was  a  failure,  as 
the  vessels  either  sunk  in  the  sand  or 
were  carried  out  to  sea  by  the  strong 
currents. 

1861.  Dec.  20.  Battle  of  Dranes- 
ville,  Va.  After  the  battle  of  Ball's 
Bluff  the  ravages  and  audacity  of  the 
confederates  increased  to  immense  pro- 
portions. Gen.  McClellan  sent  out  Gen. 
McCall  on  a  foraging  expedition,  to 
wound  them,  and  stop  their  incursions. 
While  ravaging  the  country,  the  con- 
federates usually  left  a  force  at  Dranes- 
ville.  Upon  this  McCall  determined  to 
have  revenge.  He  ordered  Brigadier- 
General  Ord,  with  four  thousand  men, 


aided  by  Brigadier  Reynolds,  to  do  the 
work.  They  moved  toward  Centerville, 
arid  while  gathering  forage  were  attacked 
by  twenty-five  hundred  of  the  incursion- 
ists  from  Centerville,  under  Gen.  Stuart. 
Their  attack  was  promptly  repelled. 
The  loss  in  the  engagement  to  the 
federals  was  six  killed,  and  sixty 
wounded;  to  the  confederates,  forty -three 
killed,  and  one  hundred  and  forty-three 
wounded.  The  federal  gain  was  "  a 
victory,  sixteen  wagon  loads  of  excellent 
hay,  and  twenty-two  of  corn."  This 
closed  the  campaign  of  1861.  The  con- 
federates had  gained  the  battles  of  Bull 
Run  and  Wilson's  Creek,  the  greatest  of 
the  year;  they  had  possession  of  the  im- 
mense national  arsenals  at  Harper's 
Ferry  and  Norfolk.  Columbus,  Ft. 
Henry,  Ft.  Donelson,  Bowling  Green, 
Mill  Spring,  and  Cumberland  Gap, 
which  constituted  a  strongly-fortified  line 
of  defence,  were  in  their  possession. 
They  had  also  been  acknowledged  as 
belligerents,  which  placed  them  on  the 
same  footing  with  the  United  States. 
They  had  350,000  troops.  The  federals 
had  mustered  and  drilled  a  large  army  of 
nearly  500,000,  and  made  other  exten- 
sive preparations  for  the  war.  They 
were  successful  in  nearly  all  of  the  minor 
engagements,  and  had  saved  West  Vir- 
ginia, Missouri,  and  Maryland.  They 
had,  in  fact,  thrown  the  whole  South  into 
a  state  of  siege,  both  by  land  and  sea. 
The  federal  plan  agreed  upon  at  last 
was  to  capture  Richmond,  blockade  the 
southern  ports,  and  open  the  Mississippi. 
1861.  Web  Printing  Press.  Mr. 
Bullock  patented  his  printing  press, 
which  crowned  all  previous  progress  in 
this  direction.  The  machine  receives  the 
paper  from  a  roll,  and  cuts  off  each  sheet 
as  it  proceeds.  It  also  prints  both  sides 


612 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


before  the    sheet    leaves    the    cylinders. 

1861.  Shoddy.  Some  of  the  early 
regiments  in  the  war  were  clothed  in 
suits  which  were  fine  in  appearance  at 
first,  but  which  proved  to  be  entirely 
without  strength  to  hold  together,  because 
they  were  made  of  refuse  matter  pressed 
into  the  shape  of  cloth,  but  without  the 
firmness  of  woven  threads.  It  called 
down  wrath  upon  some  of  the  contractors. 

1861.  Vassar  College  for  young 
women,  was  founded  at  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  Y.  It  was  named  for  Matthew 
Vassar,  who  gave  it  at  the  start  $408,000. 
He  afterward  gave  several  hundred 
thousand  dollars  more. 

1861.  Insurrectionary  movements 
occurred  in  Honduras,  but  were  sup- 
pressed by  President  Guardiola,  who  was 
assassinated  before  a  long  time.  He  had 
been  extremely  lenient  in  pardoning  his 
opponents.  Montes  was  made  president. 

1861.  Dec.  26.  Ralph  Farnham,  the 
last  survivor  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill, 
died  at  Acton,  Me.,  at  the  age  of  105 
years,  5  months,  19  days.  He  was  born 
at  Lebanon,  Me.,  July  7,  1756. 

1861.  December.  Spanish  troops 
from  Cuba  landed  in  Mexico  at  Vera 
Cruz,  and  were  soon  followed  by  the 
French  and  English  forces. 

1861.  The  first  iron-clad  steam  rams 
used  in  warfare  by  the  United  States 
were  constructed  upon  the  Mississippi  by 
James  B.  Eads,  a  civil  engineer. 

RAREY,  THE  HORSE  TAMER. 

1861.  It  was  during  this  year  that 
John  S.  Rarey  began  to  get  that  wide 
reputation  which  caused  so  much  talk  for 
a  few  years  over  the  subject  of  training 
horses.  He  gave  public  exhibitions,  in 
which  he  made  the  wildest  steeds  entirely 
obedient  to  his  will.  Audiences  were 


carried  away  with  amazement.  In  Lon- 
don, Paris,  and  in  Russia,  Mr.  Rarey  ex- 
hibited his  skill  before  crowds  of  royal 
persons,  upon  animals  the  most  vicious 
to  be  obtained,  and  with  equal  success  in 
all  circumstances.  He  claimed  that  kind- 
ness was  at  the  basis  of  his  whole  system. 


1862.      Jan.  2.      Mason  and   Slidell 

who  had  been  taken  on  board  the  En°r- 

O 

lish  vessel  named  the  Trent,  on  their  way 
to  negotiate  for  aid  to  the  confederacy, 
were  released  by  order  of  the  British 
govei'nment,  and  sailed  at  once  for  Eng- 
land. Mr.  Slidell  afterward  obtained 
aid  for  the  South,  in  France. 

1862.  Jan.  7.  Battle  of  Preston- 
burg,  Ky.  Gen.  Don  Carlos  Buell  raised 
a  force  of  forty  thousand  men  in  Louis- 
ville to  protect  a  number  of  important 
forts  in  Tennessee,  and  started  southward 
from  that  place  late  in  December  of  1 86 1 . 
Hearing  that  twenty-five  hundred  con- 
federates under  Humphrey  Marshall  were 
encamped  in  the  eastern  part  of  Ken- 
tucky, he  directed  Colonel  J.  A.  Garfield, 
with  two  regiments  and  three  hundred 
cavalry,  to  dislodge  them.  Garfield  man- 
aged the  difficult  and  perilous  march  up 
the  Big  Sandy,  admirably.  Marshall 
fled  further  up  the  river  at  his  approach, 
but  was  overtaken  and  defeated  by  the 
pursuing  cavalry  at  Jennis'  Creek.  Gar- 
field  pushed  on  in  pursuit  till  the  con- 
federates halted  in  a  strong  position  three 
miles  above  Prcstonburg.  In  a  skill- 
fully fought  battle  which  lasted  from  one 
o'clock  till  dark,  the  confederates  were 
forced  from  their  position,  with  a  loss  of 
sixty  killed,  and  about  one  hundred 
wounded  and  prisoners.  The  federal 
loss  was  only  two  killed,  and  twenty-five 
wounded.  Because  of  his  bravery  and 


1860-1862.] 

skill  on  this  occasion,  Col.  Garfield  was 
made  a  Brigadier- General  of  volunteers. 

JOHN  TYLER. 

1862.  Jan.  18.  John  Tyler,  the 
tenth  president  of  the  United  States,  died 
at  Richmond,  Va.,  aged  seventy-one 
years.  He  was  born  in  Virginia,  March 
29,  1790.  His  parents  were  wealthy, 
and  his  boyhood  was  surrounded  by  all 
the  advantages  which  wealth  procures. 
In  1807  he  graduated  at  William  and 
Mary  College,  and  was  soon  admitted  to 
the  bar.  He  then  passed  successfully 
through  various  offices  in  his  own  state, 
and  was  elected  United  States  senator  in 
1827.  He  remained  such  till  1836,  when 
he  resigned  because  his  enmity  to  Gen. 
Jackson  prevented  him  from  acting  on 
the  resolution  to  remove  the  vote  of  cen- 
sure from  Jackson's  name,  because  of  his 
removal  of  the  U.  S.  funds  from  the  U. 
S.  Bank.  In  1840  Tyler  was  elected 
vice-president ;  at  the  death  of  Harrison  he 
was  suddenly  called  to  be  president.  He 
now  found  himself  in  a  difficult  position, 
for  his  sympathies  were  largely  with  the 
democrats,  although  he  had  been  elected 
on  the  whig  ticket.  His  measures  to 
keep  the  favor  of  all  resulted  in  the  loss 
of  the  confidence  of  each  party.  At  the 
close  of  his  term  he  was  not  reelected, 
and  retired  to  his  home  in  Virginia. 
Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  he 
became  identified  with  the  South,  and 
was  elected  to  the  confederate  congress, 
in  which  body  he  was  serving  at  the  time 
of  his  death. 

1862.  Jan.  19.  Battle  of  Mill 
Spring.  By  this  time  Gen.  Buell's  army 
was  increased  to  one  hundred  and  four- 
teen thousand  men,  with  one  hundred 
and  twenty-six  pieces  of  artillery. 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


613 

Thomas  was  ordered  to  attack  the 
confederates  at  Beech  Grove  and  Mill 
Spring,  where  there  were  ten  thousand 
strongly  posted  under  Zollicoffer.  If 
success  should  crown  his  efforts  there, 
he  intended  to  penetrate  Eastern  Ten- 
nessee. He  moved  rapidly  southward  to 
within  a  few  miles  of  Beech  Grove,  and 
disposed  his  troops  in  order  of  attack. 
Thomas  had  left  a  large  detachment 
of  his  army  at  Somerset,  under  Gen. 
Schoepf.  This  Zollicoffer  attempted  to 
crush  before  the  federal  forces  could 
again  unite.  The  battle  was  begun  and 
wore  on  nearly  all  day,  with  victory 
almost  in  the  grasp  of  each  army,  several 
times.  Toward  evening  the  federal 
artillery  began  to  tell,  and  a  flank 
bayonet  charge  by  a  portion  of  the  in- 
fantry, decided  the  battle.  In  the  dark- 
ness of  the  night  the  confederates  slipped 
away,  leaving  supplies,  ammunition,  artil- 
lery, etc.,  behind.  One  hundred  and 
ninety-two  of  the  confederates  were 
killed,  among  whom  was  Gen.  Zolli- 
coffer, sixty-two  wounded,  and  eighty- 
nine  taken  prisoners.  The  federal  loss 
was  thirty  killed,  and  two  hundred  and 
eight  wounded.  The  enemy's  line  of 
defense  was  now  pierced,  and  a  key  to 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee  seized. 

1862.  Jan.  27.  Gen.  Beauregard, 
as  a  dashing  commander,  was  ordered  to 
take  charge  of  the  confederate  Army  of 
the  West,  after  the  disastrous  battle  of 
Mill  Spring. 

1862.  Jan.  31.  Foote's  Flotilla. 
A  naval  armament  of  twelve  gunboats, 
seven  of  which  were  ironclad,  carrying 
one  hundred  and  twenty-six  heavy  guns, 
was  fitted  out  at  St.  Louis  by  the  last  of 
January,  to  cooperate  with  the  Army  of 
the  West.  Flag-officer  A.  H.  Foote  of 
the  national  navy,  was  put  in  command. 


614 


NATIONAL  CRISES, 


1862.  Feb.  6.  Capture  of  Fort 
Henry.  The  bold  strike  of  Gen. 
Thomas  so  paralyzed  the  confederates 
that  they  practically  abandoned  their 
line  of  defense  east  of  Bowling  Green, 
and  strengthened  the  line  westward.  It 
also  inspired  the  Union  forces,  so  that  it 
was  concluded  to  consolidate  the  armies 
of  Halleck  and  Buell  in  one  grand  attack 
ori  the  enemy's  principal  strongholds. 
These  were  Island  No.  10  in  the  Missis- 
sippi, Columbus,  Fort  Henry,  and  Fort 
Donelson.  Gen.  Thomas  pushed  on 
toward  Cumberland  Gap,  after  the  battle 
of  Mill  Spring,  on  a  pretended  invasion 
of  Tennessee,  in  order  to  draw  forces 
from  Buell's  front.  Johnston  ordered  a 
large  force  from  Bowling  Green  to 
check  the  movement,  when  Thomas  re- 
treated, having  accomplished  his  purpose. 
Grant  was  delegated  to  command  the 
expedition  against  Fort  Henry.  The 
fort  was  armed  with  rifle-pits  on  each 
side,  and  seventeen  heavy  guns,  twelve 
of  which  could  sweep  the  river.  Foote 
moved  up  the  Tennessee  to  within  twelve 
miles  of  the  fort  on  Feb.  2d,  convoying 
the  troops  on  transports.  Hidden  torpe- 
does were  fished  out  of  the  river  by 
scouts,  and  two  gunboats  were  sent  for- 
ward to  scour  the  woods  for  batteries. 
On  the  6th  the  fleet  moved  to  the  attack, 
commencing  a  bombardment,  while  one 
of  the  divisions  of  the  army,  under 
McClernand,  moved  around  to  intercept 
a  retreat  to  Fort  Donelson.  A  heavy 
rain  swelled  the  streams,  and  prevented 
this  movement.  The  gunboats  reduced 
the  fort  in  less  than  an  hour,  and  the 
entrenched  fled  to  Fort  Donelson.  A 
hundred  artillerists  and  their  guns  were 
the  fruits  of  the  victory. 

1862.  Feb.  7-8.  Burnside's  Expedi- 
tion against  Roanoke  Island.  About 


the  middle  of  January  one  hundred  war 
vessels,  transports,  and  gunboats,  carry- 
ing sixteen  thousand  New  England 
troops,  under  Gen.  Burnside,  set  sail  for 
parts  unknown.  On  the  voyage  a  ter- 
rible storm  off  Cape  Hatteras  wrecked  a 
fine  steamer,  a  gunboat,  four  transports, 
and  a  floating  battery.  The  loss  was 
four  hundred  barrels  of  powder,  fifteen 
hundred  rifles,  eight  hundred  shells,  and 
a  large  amount  of  supplies;  but  no  lives- 
Roanoke  Island  was  the  destination. 
This  was  the  key  to  all  the  important 
water  communication  of  North  Carolina  \. 
but  the  strong  confederate  batteries,, 
covering  Shallowbag  Bay  and  Croatan 
Sound,  had  to  be  beaten  down.  At 
eleven  o'clock  on  the  yth  of  February,, 
this  work  commenced.  Fort  Barlow 
and  its  batteries  soon  fell,  and  at  mid- 
night the  troops  were  landed.  An  attack 
was  made  early  next  morning,  as  the 
men  were  without  shelter  from  the  cold 
and  rain  during  the  night.  There  were 
only  twenty-five  hundred  confederates  in 
the  entrenchments,  but  they  held  fast  till 
the  federal  ammunition  was  exhausted,, 
when  the  latter  made  an  irresistible 
bayonet  charge.  The  onset  was  gal- 
lantly withstood  for  a  time,  but  the  over- 
whelming numbers  of  the  federals  soon 
forced  the  assailed  to  surrender.  The 
confederates  lost  about  three  thousand 
prisoners,  one  hundred  and  forty-three 
killed  and  wounded,  and  forty-two  large 
caliber  guns.  The  federal  loss  was  two 
hundred  and  seventy-two. 

1862.  Feb.  9.  Capture  of  Elizabeth 
City.  From  Roanoke  the  confederate 
flotilla  pushed  up  the  Albemarle  Sound 
thirty  miles  to  Elizabeth  City,  where  it 
was  confronted  and  destroyed,  after  a 
severe  engagement  of  thirty  minutes 
with  Capt.  Rowan's  fleet.  All  the  ves- 


1860-1862.] 

sels  but  one  were  burnt  or  captured  by 
the  federals,  with  a  loss  of  only  two  killed, 
and  six  wounded. 

1862.  Feb.  16.  Fort  Donelson. 
Having  been  appointed  over  the  Depart- 
ment of  West  Tennessee,  which  included 
all  the  territory  from  Cairo  to  Mississippi, 
Grant  concluded  to  follow  up  immedi- 
ately the  victory  at  Fort  Henry.  He 
deployed  one  of  McClernand's  brigades 
to  hasten  toward  Fort  Donelson,  and  halt 
within  two  miles  of  the  place.  A  large 
part  of  the  remainder  of  the  army  were 
convoyed  to  the  fort  by  Foote's  flotilla, 
around  by  Paducah.  The  flotilla  arrived 
before  the  land  force,  and  began  a  cannon- 
ade on  the  afternoon  of  the  loth.  A 
steady  stream  of  shot  and  shell  flowed 
from  the  gunboats  in  the  river,  and  the 
batteries  in  the  fort,  for  an  hour  and  a 
half,  when  the  batteries  were  silenced. 
They  afterward  reopened  fire  with  in- 
creased vigor,  and  compelled  the  boats  to 
withdraw.  The  land  troops,  suffering 
from  the  intense  cold,  and  almost  without 
food  or  shelter,  arrived  and  bivouacked 
that  night  on  the  bare  ground.  At  day- 
light the  next  morning  a  heavy  column 
of  rebel  infantry  poured  out  upon  the 
federal  right  wing.  The  terrible  onset 
seemed  irresistible  at  first,  but,  by  degrees, 
the  confederates  were  driven  back.  Grant 
then  ordered  Smith,  with  the  left,  to  carry 
the  enemy's  entrenchments  by  assault. 
This  having  been  done  reinforcements 
were  pushed  forward,  and  the  point  gained 
was  soon  secured  beyond  recapture.  En- 
couraged by  these  successes  Gen.  Wallace 
advanced  with,  the  center  and  again 
pushed  back  the  confederates,  who  made 
stubborn  resistance.  Night  came  on,  and 
the  fatigued  federals  slept  once  more  on  the 
frozen  ground.  But  this  did  not  lessen 
their  enthusiasm.  At  dawn  on  the  i6th 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


615 


everything  had  been  arranged  for  a 
grand  attack,  when  the  confederate  gen- 
eral commanding,  Bucknei,  asked  for  an 
armistice  to  make  capitulation.  Grant  re- 
plied, "  No  terms  except  unconditional  and 
immediate  surrender  can  be  acceptable. 
I  propose  to  move  immediately  on  your 
works."  Buckner  made  several  excuses, 
and  then  said  that  he  was  "compelled 
to  accept  the  ungenerous  and  unchival- 
rous  terms  "  which  Grant  proposed.  The 
fort  was  surrendered  with  fifteen  thou- 
sand prisoners,  seventeen  heavy  guns, 
forty  field  pieces,  and  a  large  amount  of 
supplies.  The  confederate  loss  in  killed, 
wounded,  etc.,  was  one  thousand  two 
hundred  and  thirty -eight;  the  federal  loss, 
two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty- 
one.  The  effect  was  electrical,  and  the 
foundation  of  Grant's  fame  was  lain.  In 
Europe  the  confederate  faith  was  shaken 
for  the  first  time.  The  confederates 
evacuated  Columbus  and  Bowling  Green, 
falling  back  to  Corinth,  the  great  rail- 
road center  for  Mississippi  and  Tennessee. 
Their  forces  were  gradually  collected  here 
under  Gens.  A.  S.  Johnston  and  G.  T. 
Beauregard.  Grant  was  put  in  com- 
mand of  the  Union  army,  which  ascended 
the  Tennessee  to  Pittsburgh  Landing, 
and  Buell  was  ordered  to  his  assistance. 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee  were  now  lost 
to  the  confederates,  the  federals  having 
taken  possession. 


1862.  Feb.  16.  Nashville  Panic. 
On  the  evening  of  the  day  on  which 
Fort  Donelson  surrendered,  the  news  was 
received  at  Nashville  like  an  earthquake. 
Evacuation  commenced  at  once,  to  make 
way  for  the  victorious  tread  of  the  federal 
army.  Stores  were  thrown  open  for  the 
public  to  carry  out  goods,  and  bank  vaults 
were  immediately  emptied.  Emigra- 


616 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


tion  to  Chattanooga  began  with  incredi- 
ble speed.  Hack  hire  rose  to  twenty -five 
dollars  an  hour.  The  great  Tennessee 
Iron  Works  were  destroyed,  and  other 
similar  institutions  followed  the  same  fate. 
When  Buell  entered  the  place,  all  was 
desolation. 

1862.  Feb.  21.  The  War  in  New  Mex- 
ico. Twenty-three  hundred  Texas  Rang- 
ers, under  Col.  H.  H.  Sibley,  invaded  this 
territory.  Several  skirmishes  were  made, 
the  greatest  one  at  Valverde,  where  two 
thousand  federals  were  defeated  with  a 
loss  of  two  hundred.  The  Texans'  loss 
was  about  the  same,  but  the  invasion 
was  checked. 

1862.  Feb.  25.  Expedition  to  New 
Orleans.  At  the  beginning  of  the  year 
E.  M.  Stanton,  the  new  secretary  of 
War,  and  Gen.  Butler,  planned  an  expe- 
dition against  New  Orleans.  By  strenu- 
ous efforts  Butler  raised  thirteen  thousand, 
seven  hundred  men.  This  force  was 
organized  as  the  Department  of  the  Gulf, 
with  Gen.  Butler  at  its  head.  It  em- 
barked on  the  25th  of  February  and 
arrived  at  its  destination  a  month  later, 
rendezvousing  on  Ship  Island,  where 
Capt.  D.  G.  Farragut  was  stationed  with 
the  navy.  The  army  and  navy  remained 
there  sometime  after  taking  Biloxi  and 
Pass  Christian,  before  preparations  for 
the  siege  and  capture  of  New  Orleans 
were  completed. 

1862.  Feb.  25.  Price's  Exit  from 
Missouri.  Price  having  thought  that  he 
was  out  of  immediate  danger,  had  gone 
into  winter  quarters  at  Springfield,  sta- 
tioning pickets  twelve  miles  north.  Hal- 
leek  concentrated  his  forces  at  Lebanon, 
under  Gen.  S.  R.  Curtis,  and  thereupon 
Price  moved  farther  south,  closely  fol- 
lowed by  Curtis.  By  successive  skir- 
mishes and  manoeuvers,  Price  was  driven 


as  far  as  Cove  Creek  on  the  25th,  so  that 
Missouri  was  freed  from  the  secessionists' 
armies. 

1862.  Feb.  28.  Florida  and  Georgia 
Expeditions.  Having  organized  an  ex- 
pedition against  Fort  Pulaski,  Commo- 
dore Dupont  and  General  H.  G.  Wright, 
who  had  succeeded  Gen.  W.  T.  Sher- 
man, left  Port  Royal,  their  base  of  oper- 
ations, on  an  expedition  against  the  forts 
on  the  Florida  and  Georgia  coasts. 
Fernandina,  Fort  Clinch,  Jacksonville, 
Darien,  and  St.  Augustine,  fell  by  easy 
victories  to  them.  After  garrisoning 
these  forts  they  returned.  The  Union 
flag  now  waved  over  the  entire  Atlantic 
coast,  except  Mobile,  Charleston,  and 
Savannah. 

1862.  Feb.  28.  Confederate  Priva- 
teers. The  confederates  were  assisted 
by  British  privateers  manned  by  confed- 
erate crews,  under  the  commission  issued 
by  Davis,  early  in  1861.  One  of  these, 
the  Nashville,  became  famous  near  the 
close  of  the  year  for  the  number  of 
American  vessels  she  had  destroyed. 
But  her  career  was  closed  by  destruction 
on  this  date,  after  a  death  struggle  with 
the  Montauk,  Capt.  Worden. 

1862.  March  7.  Battle  of  Pea 
Ridge,  Mo.  While  the  nation's  flag  was 
being  planted  in  Tennessee  and  Ken- 
tucky, affairs  in  Arkansas  were  approach- 
ing a  last  great  effort  by  the  confederates 
to  regain  Missouri.  The  armies  of  Price, 
Van  Dorn,  McCulloch  and  Pike,  were 
consolidated,  making  a  total  of  about 
twenty-five  thousand  men,  of  whom  two 
or  three  thousand  were  half-civilized  In- 
dians. Van  Dorn,  as  the  most  skillful 
and  energetic  general,  took  the  chief 
command.  Gen.  Curtis'  force  was  only 
eleven  thousand,  with  forty  pieces  of 
artillery.  Van  Dorn  encamped  in  the 


1860-1862.] 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


617 


Boston  Mountains  till  the  5th  of  March, 
when  he  made  a  vigorous  march  toward 
the  federal  forces  at  Sugar  Creek,  near 
Pea  Ridge.  In  the  afternoon  federal 
scouts  came  in  with  the  startling  infor- 
mation that  the  enemy  was  approaching 
in  large  force.  Curtis  prepared  a  bold 
front  for  Van  Dorn,  but  the  latter  moved 
around  by  Fayetteville  in  order  to  attack 
the  federal  rear,  cut  off  their  resources, 
and  capture  the  whole  army.  The  fed- 
eral scouts  again  betrayed  the  enemy's 
plan,  and  Sigel  hastily  conducted  his  train 
of  supplies  to  Bentonville.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  yth  Van  Dorn  had  the  situa- 
tion arranged  to  his  desire.  But  Curtis 
rapidly  changed  fronts,  and  Van  Dorn 
pushed  forward  in  a  terrible  assault,  only 
to  be  driven  back  with  fearful  loss. 
Again  the  confederates  broke  forward, 
only  to  meet  with  a  second  bloody  re- 
pulse; but  not  without  leaving  their 
mark  on  the  union  lines.  The  struggle 
continued  till  dark,  but  was  indecisive. 
The  federal  left  was  successful,  but  the 
right  was  compelled  to  retire  slowly  from 
a  murderous  charge  of  the  Arkansas 
troops.  A  fierce  artillery  duel,  in  the 
afternoon,  had  a  telling  effect  on  both 
armies.  During  the  night  the  confeder- 
ates succeeded  in  placing  several  batteries 
and  large  bodies  of  infantry  on  the  side 
of  a  hill  overlooking  the  federal  lines 
from  the  north.  If  the  confederates 
could  hold  their  new  position,  the  victory 
would  be  theirs.  At  sunrise  Carr  opened 
upon  the  hill  with  his  batteries,  while 
Sigel  advanced  with  the  infantry.  Sigel 
succeeded  in  getting  a  position  well  to  the 
front,  under  cover  of  thirty  pieces  of 
artillery,  which  were  discharged  with 
fatal  accuracy  upon  the  opposing  bat- 
teries. After  an  incessant  flow  of  two 
hours,  the  iron  hail  from  the  federal  guns 


became  unendurable.  The  crowded 
ranks  of  the  enemy  were  scattered,  their 
artillery  horses  mown  down,  and  the  In- 
dians, made  wild  by  the  roar  of  battle 
and  the  sight  of  guns  on  wheels,  became 
unmanageable.  An  infantry  charge 
along  the  federal  center  and  left,  and  a 
cross  fire  from  the  right,  routed  the  con- 
federates, who  fled  in  dismay  down  the 
narrow  defiles  of  cross  timber,  pursued 
by  cavalry.  Thus  ended  one  of  the 
hardest  fought  battles,  and  most  brilliant 
successes  of  the  war.  The  loss  to  the 
confederates  was  two  thousand;  to  the 
federals,  about  fourteen  hundred.  Price 
and  Van  Dorn  fled  into  Tennessee,  join- 
ing Beauregard  at  Memphis,  while 
Curtis  retired  to  Springfield. 

1862.  March  8.  Bell-metal  for 
Cannon.  Confederate  artillery  and  iron 
became  so  scarce  that  Gen.  Beauregard 

O 

made  a  touching  and  sympathetic  appeal 
to  the  people  of  the  confederacy  to  follow 
the  example  of  ancient  nations,  and  bring 
forth  their  bells  and  scraps  of  old  iron 
for  the  purpose  of  making  more  heavy 
guns.  The  response  was  liberal.  A 
New  Yorker,  impressed  into  the  con- 
federate service,  says:  "Every  church 
gave  up  its  bell;  courthouses,  factories, 
public  institutions,  and  plantations,  sent 
theirs.  The  people  furnished  large 
quantities  of  old  brass  of  every  descrip- 
tion— andirons,  candlesticks,  gas  fixtures, 
and  even  door  knobs.  I  have  seen 
wagon-loads  of  these  lying  at  depots 
waiting  shipment  to  the  foundries." 

MERRIMAC  AND  MONITOR. 

1862.  March  9.  The  most  hotly 
contested  naval  battle  ever  fought  took 
place  between  the  Merrimac  and  Moni- 
tor, in  Hampton  Roads.  When  the  con- 
federates captured  the  navy  yard  at  Nor- 


618 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


folk,  the  Merrimac,  which  was  the  finest 
vessel  in  the  yard,  was  scuttled  and  sunk. 
She  was  afterward  raised,  and  fitted  up 
with  a  sloping  roof  of  interlapped  rail- 
road iron,  and  an  immense  iron  beak,  so 
that  she  greatly  resembled  a  huge  house 
sunk  in  water  to  the  eaves.  Ironclad 
rams  had  done  such  effective  work  in  the 
West,  that  the  confederates  concluded  to 
try  something  on  a  grander  scale  for  the 
total  destruction  of  the  United  States 
navy.  The  result  of  their  effort  was 
the  Merrimac.  But  this  unconquerable 
monster  had  a  contemporary  in  the 
« Yankee  cheese-box,"  as  it  was  called 
by  the  confederates.  This  was  the  fa- 
mous Monitor.  It  was  known  that  the 
Merrimac  was  building,  and  steps  were 
taken  by  the  government  for  the  con- 
struction of  a  rival.  Several  plans  for 
ironclad  vessels  were  presented,  but  only 
three  were  accepted.  Among  these  was 
one  by  Capt.  John  Ericsson.  The 
government  agreed  to  appropriate  $275,- 
ooo  toward  its  construction,  provided  the 
vessel  worked  successfully.  The  Moni- 
tor was  a  hull,  with  a  deck  eighteen 
inches  above  water,  covered  with  two- 
inch  wrought  iron  plates  on  the  top,  and 
six-inch  plates  on  the  sides.  It  carried 
two  eleven-inch  guns  in  a  round  tower, 
twenty  feet  in  diameter,  and  ten  feet  high, 
inclosed  by  a  nine-inch  covering  of 
wrought  iron.  This  tower  revolved  by 
steam,  so  that  the  guns  could  be  trained 
upon  an  enemy  in  any  direction,  making 
it  the  most  formidable  war  vessel  ever 
built.  It  was  to  be  ready  by  the  middle 
of  January  ;  but  the  contractors  were 
delayed  forty  days.  The  Merrimac  ap- 
peared in  Hampton  Roads  a  little  before 
noon  on  the  8th  of  March.  She  passed 
the  heavy  Union  batteries,  fearing  their 
shot  and  shell  no  more  than  drops  of  rain, 


and  made  for  the  sloop  of  war  Cumber- 
land, which  she  sunk  by  one  stab  from 
her  great  beak.  The  guns  of  the  Cum- 
berland played  vigorously  upon  her,  but 
the  shells  glanced  off,  and  fell  harm- 
lessly into  the  water.  The  next  victim 
was  the  Congress,  which  was  forced  to 
surrender.  The  wounded  of  this  vessel 
were  removed,  and  she  was  fired.  It 
was  now  evening,  and  the  Merrimac 
returned  to  Norfolk,  confident  of  an  easy 
victory  over  the  remainder  of  the  Union 
fleet  the  following  day.  That  night  the 
long  looked-for  Monitor  appeared,  and 
in  the  light  of  the  burning  Congress,  ran 
up  to  the  Minnesota,  which  was  to  be 
attacked  by  the  Merrimac.  Early  on 
Sunday  morning,  the  pth,  the  Merrimac 
returned  to  finish  her  conquest.  She 
bore  down  upon  the  Minnesota,  and 
poured  in  a  destructive  broadside,  when 
suddenly  an  unexpected  little  antagonist 
darted  out  to  oppose  the  monster.  Now 
began  the  terrible  iron-clad  duel.  The 
participants  were  so  close  together  that 
the  fiery  tongues  of  the  opposing  guns 
were  interwoven.  The  Merrimac  poured 
forth  masses  of  iron  weighing  two  hun- 
dred pounds  ;  but  these  were  smashed 
on  the  "cheese-box,"  and  fell  back  on  the 
deck  of  the  Monitor  like  balls  of  soft 
clay.  However,  the  pilot-house  of  the 
Monitor  was  struck  twice  with  such  vio- 
lence by  the  projectiles  from  the  Merri- 
mac that  some  cement  was  shivered, 
striking  Capt.  Worden  in  the  face.  He 
was  blinded  for  several  days,  and  at  one 
time  his  life  was  despaired  of.  The 
Merrimac  was  struck  two  or  three  times 
in  the  port-holes,  by  some  well-aimed 
shots,  and  considerably  disabled.  She 
then  turned  her  attention  to  the  Minne- 
sota, which  she  fired  by  a  few  broad- 
sides. But  the  Monitor  again  interfered. 


1860-1862.] 


THE  RES  OPT  TO  ARMS. 


623 


The  federals  wavered,  but  mustering 
new  courage,  repulsed  the  enemy.  Again 
and  again  the  confederates  rushed  for- 
ward, with  greater  violence  than  ever. 
Unable  to  withstand  these  terrible  as- 
saults, the  federals  fell  slowly  back,  ob- 
stinately disputing  every  inch  of  ground 
over  which  they  passed.  Thus  the  con- 
flict raged  for  twelve  hours,  when  the 
federals  were  pushed  to  the  very  brink  of 
the  river.  Things  were  becoming  des- 
perate. The  federals  had  lost  their  camp 
and  baggage,  and  now  the  whole  army 
was  about  to  be  cut  up  in  detail.  Grant 
massed  his  artillery  on  a  ridge,  and  about 
it  gathered  the  fragments  of  regiments 
for  the  final  stand.  To  approach  this 
the  confederates  had  to  cross  a  deep  and 
miry  ravine.  The  shells  from  the  gun- 
boats in  the  river  now  ploughed  through 
the  confederate  ranks  with  fearful  slaugh- 
ter, and  they  were  soon  melted  away  by 
the  deadly  discharges  of  artillery  and 
musketry  from  above.  They  fell  back, 
and  thus  ended  the  day's  fight.  That 
night,  in  the  midst  of  a  drenching  rain, 
Buell's  army  arrived.  Eai'ly  in  the 
morning  the  fresh  troops  were  poured  on 
the  weary  confederates,  who  were  put  to 
flight  after  some  heavy  fighting.  The 
rain  ended  in  a  cutting  sleet  and  hail 
storm,  which  caused  the  death  of  more 
than  three  hundred  of  Beauregard's  men 
on  the  retreat  to  Corinth.  Thus  ended 
in  a  victory  for  the  national  arms,  one  of 
the  hardest-fought  battles  of  the  war. 
The  confederate  loss  was  about  eleven 
thousand,  including  their  greatest  com- 
mander, A.  S.  Johnston,  who  fell  in  the 
heat  of  the  action  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
first  day.  The  federal  loss  was  about 
thirteen  thousand,  including  three  thou- 
sand prisoners,  besides  their  camp,  thirty 
flags,  and  an  immense  quantity  of  stores. 


1862.  April  7.  Surrender  of  Island 
No.  10.  It  has  been  seen  that  the  con- 
federates garrisoned  Island  No.  10  and 
New  Madrid,  after  their  strong  line  of 
forts  through  Kentucky  and  Tennessee 
had  vanished  like  a  mist.  The  Island 
was  a  place  of  remarkable  strength. 
Foote  succeeded  in  running  his  ironclad 
fleet  past  the  batteries  that  lined  the 
shores  above,  and  bombarded  the  place 
for  three  weeks,  with  but  little  effect. 
Pope,  who  had  brought  his  army  up 
from  New  Madrid,  was  held  in  check 
below,  by  a  powerful  battery  on  the 
opposite  shore.  He  begged  Foote  to- 
run  the  gauntlet,  and  send  him  a  gun- 
boat ;  but  this  could  not  be  done.  At 
this  critical  time  Gen.  Hamilton  sug- 
gested a  way  out  of  the  dilemma.  The 
suggestion  was  put  into  practice  ;  and 
two  weeks  of  incessant  labor  by  the 
whole  army  completed  a  canal  fifty  feet 
wide  and  twelve  miles  long,  across 
Donald's  Point.  The  gunboats  and 
transports  were  run  down  the  canal,  and 
a  combined  attack  by  the  army  and 
navy  of  the  West  was  about  to  be  made, 
when  the  confederates  abandoned  the 
Island,  and  fled  into  the  swamps  east  of 
the  river.  Here  they  were  forced  to 
capitulate.  Over  seven  thousand  officers 
and  men  were  surrendered,  besides  more 
than  a  hundi'ed  heavy  siege  guns,  twenty- 
five  field-pieces,  and  a  large  amount  of 
munitions  of  war  in  general.  New 
Orleans  and  other  cities  along  the  Missis- 
sippi were  now  exposed  to  capture,  as 
the  bulk  of  the  confederate  army  was- 
concentrated  at  Corinth. 

1862.  April  11.  Mitchell's  Cavalry 
Raid  through  Mississippi.  While  the 
contending  armies  were  struggling  at 
Shiloh,  Gen.  Mitchell  conducted  a  con- 
federate cavalry  raid  through  Tennessee 


624 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


and  Mississippi.  He  captured  the  town 
of  Huntsville,  on  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  Railway,  with  one  hundred 
and  sixty  prisoners,  a  large  amount  of 
supplies,  and  one  hundred  and  seventeen 
locomotives  and  passenger  coaches.  He 
seized  the  railway  for  several  miles,  and 
at  one  time  had  possession  of  about  fifty 
miles  of  the  Tennessee. 

1862.  April  12.  Capture  of  Fort 
Pulaski.  In  February  preparations  were 
made  by  the  occupants  of  Port  Royal 
for  an  expedition  up  the  Savannah.  The 
object  of  this  was  the  capture  of  Fort 
Pulaski,  which  would  seal  that  river  to 
the  English  blockade  runners.  By  the 
9th  of  April  everything  was  in  readiness, 
and  the  army  and  navy  set  sail,  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Davis  and  Gen.  Gill- 
more.  On  their  arrival  batteries  to  the 
number  of  thirty-six  guns  were  erected, 
and  the  siege  begun.  Three  days  of 
almost  continuous  thunder  and  shock 
wore  away,  when  the  fort  surrendered. 
The  loss  to  the  besieged  was  forty  heavy 
guns,  and  a  quantity  of  ammunition.  The 
human  loss  was  one  on  each  side. 

WAR  UPON  MEXICO. 

1862.  April  16.  War  was  declared 
upon  Mexico  by  France.  Although 
Spain  and  England  had  submitted  their 
claims  to  negotiations,  and  withdrawn 
their  troops,  France  refused  to  do  so. 


1862.  April  19.  Battle  of  South 
Mills.  A  detachment  of  four  thousand 
xmder  Gen.  Reno,  was  sent  out  from 
Port  Royal,  after  the  capture  of  Pulaski, 
to  scour  the  shores  of  Albemarle  Sound, 
threaten  Norfolk  from  the  rear,  and 
assist  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Macon  that 
was  soon  to  follow.  The  troops  were 
conveyed  in  transports  up  the  Pasquo- 


tauk,  and  landed  near  Elizabeth  City. 
A  reconnoitering  party  was  put  out,  but 
was  misled,  and  the  presence  of  the  entire 
force  betrayed  to  the  enemy,  who  pre- 
pared to  meet  the  federals  at  South 
Mills.  Though  the  confederates  were 
timely  warned,  and  had  the  choice  of 
position,  the  federals  swooped  down 
upon  them  in  overwhelming  numbers, 
and  defeated  them  with  considerable  loss. 
Gen.  Reno  remained  here  for  some  time. 
Burnside's  army  of  sixteen  thousand  was 
scattered  promiscuously  over  that  part  of 
the  state,  so  as  to  occupy  the  strongest 
places.  Affairs  rested  in  this  manner 
until  in  July,  when  Burnside  withdrew, 
to  reinforce  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
The  national  army  held  the  coast  the 
remainder  of  the  year;  but  notwithstand- 
ing the  vigilant  squadrons,  the  English 
blockade  runners  still  continued  to  feed 
the  confederates. 

1862.  April  25.  Capture  of  New- 
Orleans.  Gen.  Mansfield  Lovell,  who 
held  the  command  of  this  city,  made 
most  ample  provision  for  its  defence. 
The  strongest  fortifications  were  Forts 
Jackson  and  St.  Phillip.  At  the  former 
place  was  a  stupendous  iron  chain 
stretched  across  the  river,  supported  by 
buoys  of  cypress  logs,  and  guarded  by  a 
powerful  battery  on  each  side  of  the 
river.  The  fort  at  this  place  was  origi- 
nally built  by  the  national  government, 
and  cost  over  a  million  dollars.  It  was 
capable  of  sheltering  six  hundred  men, 
and  mounting  one  hundred  and  fifty 
guns.  The  federal  fleet  was  the  most 
powerful  ever  assembled  under  the  stars 
and  stripes ;  but  the  object  of  attack  was 
deemed  so  impregnable  that  no  uneasi- 
ness was  felt  by  the  inmates,  when  the 
siege  began.  The  fleet  consisted  of  eight 
steamships,  sixteen  gunboats,  and  twenty- 


1860-1862.] 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


629 


soon  reduced.  Farther  up  he  met  with 
some  opposition,  but  this  was  cleared  by 
the  approach  of  artillery,  and  he  went  on 
1862.  May  i.  toward  Norfolk  unimpeded. 

International!*-      Ag    he    approached    he     waS 
Inbition  at  Lon- 
don opened,  met  by   the   mayor  with   a 

flag  of  truce.  The  town  was  surrendered, 
and  the  capture  thus  effected  without  the 
loss  of  a  single  life.  Before  Huger  fled 
he  fired  the  navy  yard,  and  exploded  the 
Merrimac ;  but  he  left  about  two  hundred 
cannon  to  the  victorious  Wool. 

1862.  May  10.  Battle  of  Fort 
Pillow.  Shortly  after  the  battle  of  Fort 
Donelson,  Foote  moved  back  to  the 
Mississippi,  sending  part  of  his  flotilla  to 
Shiloh.  Meantime  the  confederate  fleet 
was  fitted  out  with  armored  vessels,  called 
*'  rams,"  finished  with  long  iron  prows. 
This  fleet  now  challenged  its  enemy  to  a 
test.  A  battle  immediately  followed,  and 
the  fort  opened  fire.  Several  of  the  fed- 
eral vessels  were  badly  damaged,  but  the 
confederate  fleet  was  worsted,  and  again 
forced  back  to  the  fort.  Three  weeks 
passed  while  the  two  fleets  lay  watching 
each  other.  Finally,  Davis  was  rein- 
forced by  a  "  ram  "  flotilla.  But  Hollins 
now  fled  down  the  river. 

1862.  May  15.  Attack  on  Drewry's 
Bluff.  At  the  head  of  a  fleet  of  five 
vessels,  Com.  John  Rodgers  followed 
Huger  up  the  James  from  Norfolk.  He 
came  in  contact  with  a  formidable  bat- 
tery at  Drewry's  Bluff,  two  hundred  feet 
high,  and  after  a  severe  combat  of  three 
hours,  on  the  morning  of  the  I5th  of 
May,  was  compelled  to  withdraw.  His 
loss  was  twenty-seven;  that  of  the  bat- 
tery, fifteen. 

1862.  May  15.  Butler's  "Woman 
Order."  The  manner  and  speech  of  the 
New  Orleans  "  ladies  "  in  the  presence  of 
Union  officers  and  soldiers,  became  so 


offensive,  and  their  insults  became  so 
gross,  that  Gen.  Butler  found  it  necessary 
to  issue  his  famous  "Woman  Order." 
The  soldiers  had  treated  the  women  with 
great  courtesy  and  gentleness,  but  received 
repeated  insults  in  return.  The  conduct 
of  the  women  was  most  disgraceful. 
The  order  declared  that  any  female  who 
"  shall,  by  word,  gesture,  or  movement, 
insult,  or  show  contempt  for,  any  officer 
or  soldier  of  the  United  States,  shall  be 
regarded  and  held  liable  to  be  treated  as 
a  woman  of  the  town  plying  her  voca- 
tion." The  order  had  the  desired  effect. 
After  a  few  arrests  of  boistei-ous  men,  in- 
cluding the  mayor,  the  wonted  peace  was 
restored. 

1862.  May  21.  Army  Medical 
Museum.  A  circular  was  issued  to  all 
army  surgeons,  requesting  them  to  pre- 
serve and  forward  for  a  museum  all  speci- 
mens of  morbid  anatomy  which  would  be 
valuable;  also  everything  relating  to 
death  or  injury  by  war,  and  disease  in 
camp.  This  is  the  origin  of  the  present 
valuable  collection  in  Ford's  Theater, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

1862.  May  25.  Battle  of  Winchester. 
After  Schenck  retreated  from  McDowell, 
Banks  began  a  precipitate  retreat  from 
Strasburg  toward  the  Potomac.  Ewell 
closely  followed,  and  caught  the  federal 
rear  guard  at  Front  Royal,  overtaking 
the  entire  army  at  Winchester.  An  en- 
gagement of  five  hours  followed,  imme- 
diately. Ewell  had  twenty  thousand 
men,  and  Banks  five  thousand;  but  the 
latter  maintained  his  position  so  deter- 
minately  that  it  was  necessary  to  add 
Jackson's  force  to  EwelPs.  Banks  then 
continued  his  retreat  with  renewed  en- 
ergy. He  was  pursued  closely  to  Mar- 
tinsburg,  but  reached  the  Potomac  River 
in  safety. 


630 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


1862.  May  27.  Battle  of  Hanover 
Court  House.  McClellan  still  had  his 
base  of  supplies  at  White  House  Land- 
ing. Skirmishers  and  light  infantry  had 
pushed  the  confederates  back  to  within 
seven  miles  of  Richmond.  McClellan 
sent  a  part  of  Fitz-John  Porter's  corps 
to  Hanover  Court  House  to  protect 
the  right  flank  of  the  main  army,  and 
keep  an  opening  for  the  reception  of 
McDowell's  troops,  which  he  expected 
hourly.  Porter  arrived  at  the  Court  House 
about  noon  on  the  2yth,  having  routed  a 
confederate  force  about  two  miles  from 
there.  Martindale,  with  a  part  of  his 
brigade,  keenly  pursued  the  confederates 
beyond  Peake's  Station.  While  return- 
ing he  was  attacked  by  a  force  fresh  from 
Richmond.  Porter  hastened  from  the 
Court  House  to  his  assistance,  and  a 
sharp  fight  followed.  The  confederates 
fell  rapidly  back,  leaving  a  howitzer,  a 
caisson,  some  small  arms,  and  two  rail- 
way trains,  with  two  hundred  men  dead 
on  the  field.  Their  total  loss  of  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners,  was  over  one 
thousand.  The  federal  loss  was  three 
hundred  and  fifty. 

1862.  May  30.  Evacuation  of  Cor- 
inth. When  Halleck  arrived  before 
Corinth,  Beauregard,  finding  himself 
greatly  outnumbered,  began  to  remove 
the  sick  and  wounded  to  Mobile.  Fol- 
lowing these,  he  sent  the  most  valuable 
stores,  with  nearly  all  of  the  ordnance  ; 
and  finally  a  number  of  his  most  efficient 
troops  were  removed.  Halleck  prepared 
for  a  battle  early  on  the  morning  of  the 
3Oth.  But  at  dawn  of  the  appointed 
morning,  when  the  federals  were  ready 
for  battle,  they  found  that  Beauregard 
had  fled,  leaving  ashes  and  desolation  in 
his  wake.  When  Halleck  entered,  nothing 
was  left  of  Corinth  but  smouldering  ruins. 


1862.  May  31-June  1.  Battle  of 
Fair  Oaks.  McClellan's  vast  army  was 
lying  on  both  sides  of  the  Chickahominy,. 
which  a  heavy  rain-storm  had  raised  till 
it  flooded  the  swamps.  The  energetic 
Johnston  seized  upon  the  opportunity  to 
cut  off  the  wing  on  the  Richmond  side. 
Johnston  ordered  Longstreet,  assisted  by 
Hill,  with  two  divisions,  to  move  forward 
and  attack  the  Fair  Oaks  division  at  early 
dawn  on  the  3ist  of  May.  Rain  delayed 
the  attack  till  noon.  The  confederates, 
advanced  in  great  multitude,  and  by 
severe  fighting  and  fine  manoeuvers, 
seemed  to  have  carried  the  day.  The 
destruction  of  the  whole  Union  army  on 
that  side  of  the  river  seemed  to  be  certain. 
Fortunately  Gen.  Sumner  had  taken  the 
precaution  to  construct  a  bridge  over  the 
overflowing  creek,  and  flew  to  the  rescue. 
He  arrived  toward  evening,  just  as  the 
federal  forces  were  being  separated,  as- 
sumed command,  and  ordered  the  guns 
to  be  fired  with  the  great-  1S6L  Revoit  in 
est  rapidity.  The  confeder-  Greece. 
ates  recoiled,  with  their  great  com- 
mander seriously  wounded.  A  bayonet 
charge  swept  them  from  the  field,  and 
Couch  recaptured  all  that  was  lost. 
Darkness  closed  the  contest.  Each  force 
was  now  about  fifteen  thousand.  Early 
next  morning  (Sunday,  June  i)  the  con- 
federates re-opened  the  battle,  and  kept 
it  up  for  three  hours,  until  their  munitions 
of  war  could  be  removed  to  Richmond. 
The  loss  on  each  side  was  about  seven 
thousand.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac 
still  remained  on  the  unhealthy  Chicka- 
hominy,  evidently  preparing  to  storm 
Richmond,  while  the  confederates  were 
concentrating  for  its  defense. 

1862.  June  6.  Capture  of  Mem- 
phis. From  Fort  Pillow  Commodore 
Davis  steamed  down  the  river  to  Mem- 


1860-1862.] 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


631 


phis,  headed  by  Ellet's  ram  fleet.  All 
that  now  remained  to  overcome  was  the 
confederate  fleet  in  the  river.  Over  this 
Davis  and  Ellet  gained  an  easy  victory, 
causing  all  the  confederate  vessels  to  be 
sunk  or  abandoned,  without  sustaining  a 
severe  loss  ;  and  Gen.  Wallace,  from 
Grant's  army,  at  once  occupied  the  place 
without  resistance. 

1862.  June  8.  Battle  of  Cross  Keys, 
Va.  McDowell,  whose  force  was  now 
over  forty  thousand,  crossed  into  the 
Shenandoah  by  the  Manassas  Gap  rail- 
way, and  with  the  aid  of  Fremont,  who 
was  to  join  him  at  Strasburg,  attempted 
to  cut  off  Jackson's  retreat  from  near 
Harper's  Ferry.  Jackson  perceived  the 
movement,  and  fled  back  up  the  valley 
with  all  possible  speed.  Fremont  pressed 
him  so  closely  that  he  was  obliged  to 
stop  and  defend  his  rear.  Fremont 
moved  out  of  Harrisonburg  on  Sunday 
morning,  and  attacked  Ewell's  division 
at  Cross  Keys.  The  conflict  raged  long 
and  fiercely.  The  federals  finally  with- 
drew, and  bivouacked  where  their  lines 
had  been  formed  in  the  morning,  while 
the  confederates  remained  on  the  battle- 
field. At  dawn  on  the  following  morn- 
ing, Ewell  slipped  away  to  aid  Jackson 
at  Port  Republic. 

1862.  June  9.  Battle  of  Port  B>e- 
public.  Shields  followed  Ewell,  and 
gallantly  attacked  him  at  Port  Republic, 
but  was  repulsed  and  driven  back  five 
miles.  Jackson  then  burned  the  bridge 
across  the  Shenandoah,  and  thus  placed 
an  impassable  river  between  the  two 
armies.  This  ended  the  pursuit,  and 
Fremont  returned  to  Harrisonburg,  in  a 
soaking  rain. 

1862.  June  14.  Stuart's  Raid  on 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  For  two 
weeks  after  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  the 


vast  Army  of  the  Potomac  lay  tented 
along  the  steaming,  malarial  Chicka- 
hominy,  inactive  and  immovable,  while 
its  commander  reported  "All  quiet  along 
the  Potomac,"  to  the  great  disgust  of 
the  public  mind.  During  this  time  Gen. 
J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  with  fifteen  hundred 
cavalry,  made  a  raid  on  the  army,  un- 
equaled  in  daring.  He  dispersed  two 
squadrons  of  cavalry,  captured  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-five  prisoners,  several 
horses  and  mules,  and  a  quantity  of  sup- 
plies, and  returned  to  Richmond  un- 
harmed. But  this  was  only  a  reconnois- 
sance  to  the  more  fatal  blow  which  was 
soon  to  be  dealt  by  Jackson  at  Mechanics- 
ville.  McClellan  was  in  the  meantime 
promising  to  "  advance  on  Richmond  to- 
morrow." 

1862.  June  25.  Battle  of  Oak 
Grove.  The  confederates  were  embol- 
dened by  the  inactivity  of  the  army  con- 
fronting them,  and  kept  crowding  nearer 
and  nearer  daily  ;  so  that  McClellan  was 
compelled  to  move,  either  forward  or 
backward.  In  preparation  for  a  defeat 
he  changed  his  base  of  supplies  from 
White  House  Landing  on  the  York,  to 
Harrison  Landing  on  the  James.  He 
then  sent  Gen.  Heintzleman,  to  recon- 
noiter  the  confederate  position  around 
Fair  Oaks.  The  confederates  met 
Heintzleman  at  Oak  Grove,  and  a  short, 
severe  fight  ensued,  resulting  in  a  loss  to 
the  federals.  McClellan  now  aban- 
doned all  hope  of  moving  on  Richmond. 

1862.  June  26.  Battle  of  Me- 
chanics ville.  Preparations  to  strike  the 
federal  right  were  completed  on  the  25th. 
Lee  ordered  Jackson  and  A.  P.  Hill  to 
make  the  attack,  while  Longstreet's  corps 
was  to  remain  as  a  reserve.  This  left 
only  two  divisions  between  McClellan's 
left  wing  and  Richmond.  The  assailing 

38 


632 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


party  advanced  on  the  26th,  and  drove 
in  the  federal  packets,  and  a  battery 
posted  at  Mechanicsville.  The  contest 
lasted  until  night,  when  the  confederates 
gave  up  the  field  as  lost. 

1862.  June  27.  Battle  of  Game's 
Farm.  Jackson  stole  around  on  a  flank 
movement  from  Mechanicsville,  and  Lee 
attempted  to  cut  McClellan's  communi- 
cation with  White  House  Landing.  But 
the  federal  general  had  secured  the  re- 
moval of  the  supplies,  and  now  he  began 
a  retrograde  movement,  instead  of  mov- 
ing immediately  on  Richmond,  where 
there  were  only  twenty-five  thousand 
troops  for  the  defence.  Porter's  corps 
was  left  behind,  and  received  an  attack 
which  was  made  at  two  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  by  A.  P.  Hill,  of  Lee's  advance. 
It  was  bravely  withstood  until  the  re- 
mainder of  Lee's  force,  reinforced  by 
Jackson  and  Ewell,  came  up.  Porter, 
though  then  reinforced  by  a  division 
under  Slocum,  fell  back  to  the  river. 
Two  more  federal  brigades  arrived  on 
the  scene,  and  rushing  eagerly  to  the 
front,  repulsed  the  enemy,  who  fell  back 
to  the  field  they  had  dearly  bought  at  the 
cost  of  five  thousand  lives.  The  federal 
loss  was  eight  thousand,  including  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners.  Porter  then 
retired  toward  Savage  Station,  burning 
the  bridges  over  the  river. 

1862.  June  29.  Battle  of  Savage 
Station.  Greatly  deceived  and  perplexed 
when  he  found  that  his  antagonist  had 
escaped  to  the  James  with  his  supplies, 
Lee  instantly  started  Huger  and  Magru- 
der  on  one  flank  line,  and  Longstreet  and 
Hill  on  the  other,  to  intercept  the  retreat. 
Magruder,  who  so  successfully  bluffed 
McClellan  at  Yorktown,  arrived  at 
Savage  Station  just  after  the  federal 
army  had  left.  Sumner,  as  he  was 


covering  the  retreat,  took  a  stand,  and 
gave  Magruder  an  impromptu  check. 
Magruder  made  another  violent  attack, 
aided  by  Huger.  Sumner  gallantly  re- 
pulsed him  again,  and  then  followed  the 
main  army. 

1862.  June  30.  Battle  of  Frazier's 
Farm.  Jackson  followed  directly  in  the 
wake  of  the  retreating  army,  his  passage 
of  White  Oak  Swamps  being  disputed, 
while  Longstreet,  accompanied  by  Lee, 
pushed  around  by  way  of  Malvern  Hills, 
to  gain  a  position  on  the  federal  flank. 
The  latter  movement  was  easier  planned 
than  executed,  as  the  sloping  sides  of  that 
great  amphitheater  was  covered  by  tier 
upon  tier  of  federal  batteries.  Long- 
street  waited  till  Magruder  arrived,  and 
then  made  a  dashing  charge,  receiving  a 
bloody  repulse,  with  the  loss  of  two  hun- 
dred prisoners.  The  confederates  rallied 
in  the  woods  and  made  another  desperate 
charge,  which  resulted  in  a  murderous 
hand  to  hand  encounter.  At  dark  rein- 
forcements from  Hooker's  and  Kearney's 
divisons  arrived,  and  the  confederates,  no 
longer  able  to  endure  the  slaughter,  fell 
back  into  the  woods.  That  night  the 
federals,  wearied  by  the  heat  and  dust  of 
the  long  march,  drew  off  and  joined  the 
main  army,  which  was  united  now  for 
the  first  time  since  it  was  separated  by- 
the  Chickahominy. 

1862.  July  1.  Battle  of  Malvern 
Hills.  Porter's  troops  were  placed  on 
Malvern  Hills  to  guard  the  approach  of 
the  enemy,  either  by  Malvern  Plains  or 
White  Oak  Swamps.  Lee  concentrated 
his  army  with  the  intention  of  dislodging 
the  fedei-als  on  the  plateau.  But  cooper- 
ation failed,  and  the  attacking  columns 
were  dispersed  and  driven  far  back  into 
the  woody  lowlands.  Here  they  re- 
formed and  advanced,  only  to  be  again 


1860-1862.] 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


633 


swept  away  by  the  invincible  canister 
and  infantry  fire  from  the  "  Yankee " 
lines.  At  dusk,  a  mass  of  troops  under 
Jackson,  struck  Porter's  and  Couch's 
divisions  with  fearful  effect.  The  conflict 
continued  till  nine  o'clock  at  night,  when 
the  whole  confederate  army  was  routed. 
This  ended  the  seven  days'  battle  before 
Richmond.  The  federal  loss  for  the 
whole  time  was  fifteen  thousand,  two 
hundred,  that  of  the  confederates  about 
nineteen* thousand.  McClellan  issued  an 
order  to  fall  back  to  the  James,  which 
was  obeyed  with  great  reluctance.  Lee 
collected  his  shattered  army  and  returned 
to  the  entrenchments  at  Richmond. 

1862.  July  3.  Agricultural  College 
Land  Grant.  The  bill  for  the  establish- 
ment of  agricultural  colleges  in  the  sev- 
eral states,  having  passed  both  houses  of 
congress,  was  signed  by  President  Lin- 
coln. Industrial  institutions  have  since 
then  been  established  in  nearly  every 
state.  The  bill  appropriated  30,000  acres 
of  land  for  each  representative,  the  pro- 
ceeds of  it  to  be  given  to  found  agricul- 
tural and  mechanical  colleges. 

1862.  July  8.  Condition  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  The  inactivity 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  more 
disastrous  than  all  the  fighting  it  had 
done.  Every  kind  of  sickness  infested 
the  camp  on  the  unhealthy  James.  After 
the  battle  of  Malvern  Hills  McClellan 
reported  his  force  at  fifty  thousand  against 
one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  that  had 
entered  the  Peninsula  under  his  com- 
mand. President  Lincoln  immediately 
departed  for  headquarters,  and  found  only 
nine  thousand  "  present  and  fit  for  duty." 
A  council  decided  to  move  the  army  to 
Washington,  as  an  aggressive  movement 
was  expected  from  Lee  soon. 

1862.     July  12.     Guerilla  Warfare. 


Marauding  bands  under  noted  chiefs 
roved  through  Kentucky  and  Tennessee, 
in  the  months  of  July  and  August,  destroy- 
ing property,  both  public  and  private. 
The  most  dreaded  of  these  was  that  of  J. 
H.  Morgan,  who  was  considered  an  ad- 
vance for  Bragg's  expected  invasion. 
Morgan  attacked  and  dispersed  a  detach- 
ment of  federal  cavalry  at  Lebanon,  on 
this  date,  and  destroyed  several  rniles  of 
the  Lexington  and  Louisville  railway. 
His  force  was  rapidly  swelled  from  day 
to  day  by  the  young  men  of  Kentucky. 
When  he  began  to  threaten  Cincinnati, 
Green  Clay  Smith,  aided  by  the  business 
men,  organized  a  superior  force  and  rose 
to  the  defense  of  the  city,  afterward  driv- 
ing him  back  into  Tennessee. 

COLORED  TROOPS. 

1862.  July  17.  Congress  authorized 
President  Lincoln  to  receive  into  service 
for  constructing  entrenchments,  doing 
camp  duty,  or  any  other  labor,  or  any 
military  or  naval  service  for  which  they 
were  found  competent,  persons  of  African 
descent.  This  was  interpreted  liberally, 
and  some  became  soldiers  under  this  act, 
although  this  was  not  originally  intended. 
In  1864  they  were  unconditionally  en- 
listed as  troops,  and  did  the  best  of  ser- 
vice. The  largest  number  in  service  at 
any  one  time  was  123,156.  The  whole 
number  in  service  as  soldiers  during  the 

O 

war  was  186,017. 


CEMETERIES. 

1862.  July  17.  Congress  authorized 
President  Lincoln  to  buy  cemetery 
grounds  for  soldiers  who  should  die  in 
the  national  service,  and  inclose  them 
securely  for  that  purpose.  Subsequent 
legislation  was  had,  according  to  necessity. 
There  are  about  80  of  these  cemeteries, 


634 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


containing  350,000  soldiers.  Arlington, 
Vicksburg,  and  Nashville,  have  more 
than  1 6,000  in  each.  Some  of  them  are  on 
famous  battle  grounds;  among  these  are 
Antietam,  Gettysburg,  and  Seven  Pines. 
Most  of  the  situations  are  very  beautiful. 
A  person  connected  with  the  army  has 
had  charge  of  these  grounds,  to  lay  them 
out  and  keep  them  in  order,  as  inspector. 
Slabs  of  wood  or  stone  have  been  erected 
at  the  graves.  More  recently  an  arrange- 
ment has  been  made  to  give  to  soldiers' 
remains  lying  in  other  than  national 
cemeteries,  appropriate  headstones. 


1862.  July  20.  The  Army  of  Vir- 
ginia Organized.  Pope  was  called  from 
Missouri  to  take  charge  of  the  Army  of 
Virginia,  which  was  organized  for  the 
defense  of  the  national  capital.  The 
army  consisted  of  fifty  thousand  efficient 
troops,  under  Major-Generals  Sigel, 
Banks,  and  McDowell.  When  the  Army 
of  Virginia  was  ready  for  action,  Pope 
asked  McClellan's  cooperation,  but  that 
officer  so  far  refused  that  Pope  recom- 
mended the  appointment  of  a  general-in- 
chief  to  be  above  both.  Halleck  was 
called  from  the  west  for  the  appoint- 
ment, and  commenced  his  duties  as  com- 
mander of  all  the  armies  of  the  United 
States  on  the  23d.  He  ordered  McClel- 
lan  to  transfer  his  army  to  Acquia  Creek. 

EXCHANGE  OF  PRISONERS. 

1862.  July  22.  The  famous  first  car- 
tel for  exchange  of  prisoners  was  signed 
and  afterward  used  between  the  North 
and  South.  But  various  things  led  to  a 
final  disregard  of  it.  There  was  much 
contention  all  through  the  war  over  this 
matter,  and  much  discussion  concerning  it 
since.  At  one  time  the  confederates 
refused  to  exchange  negro  troops  on 


equal  terms.  This,  with  other  things 
connected  with  the  care  of  prisoners,  led 
often  to  great  delays  in  exchanging,  and 
much  consequent  suffering. 

MARTIN  VAN  BUREN. 

1862.  July  24.  Martin  Van  Buren, 
the  eighth  president  of  the  United  States, 
died  at  Kinderhook,N.  Y.,  where  he  was 
born,  Dec.  5,  1782.  As  a  boy  he  was 
energetic  and  made  rapid  progress  in  his 
studies,  so  that  when  only  fourteen  years 
old  he  began  to  read  law,  and  in  1803 
opened  an  office  for  himself  in  Kinder- 
hook.  He  soon  became  quite  promi- 
nently connected  with  politics,  and  was 
largely  instrumental  in  organizing  the 
branch  of  democrats  which  for  twenty 
years  had  power  in  New  York  as  the 
Albany  "  Regency."  After  filling  vari- 
ous state  offices,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  in 
1821  elected  to  the  U.  S.  senate.  He 
was  a  great  favorite  with  Jackson,  who 
appointed  him  minister  to  England.  The 
appointment,  however,  was  not  ratified 
by  the  senate.  After  serving  as  vice- 
president,  he  was  in  1836  chosen  presi- 
dent. His  administration  was  filled  with 
exciting  events.  The  insurrection  in 
Canada,  which  threatened  to  involve  the 
states,  the  agitation  of  the  slavery  ques- 
tion, and  finally  the  great  commercial 
panic  which  spread  over  the  country,  all 
Were  trials  of  his  wisdom.  The  finan- 
cial distress  was  attributed  to  the  man- 
agement of  the  democratic  party,  and 
brought  the  president  into  such  disfavor 
that  he  failed  of  a  re-election.  The  pre- 
emption law  was  a  fortunate  measure  of 
his  administration.  With  the  exception 
of  being  in  1848  nominated  for  the  presi- 
dency by  the  "  free-soil  "  democrats,  Mr. 
Van  Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate 
until  his  death. 


1860-1 862.  J 

1862.  July  27.  The  steamer  Golden 
Gate,  of  San  Francisco,  was  lost  on  the 
Mexican  coast, with  a  loss  of  204  lives. 

1862.  July.  The  iron-clad  oath,  to 
be  taken  by  all  officers  of  the  United 
States  government,  was  adopted  at  the 
extra  session  of  congress  which  closed 
this  month.  Slavery  was  also  prohibited 
in  all  present  and  future  territories  of  the 
United  States,  and  was  also  abolished  in 
the  District  of  Columbia.  Diplomatic 
representatives  to  the  republics  of  Liberia 
and  Hayti  were  for  the  first  time  author- 
ized by  congress. 

1862.  July.  The  confiscation  proc- 
lamation was  issued  by  President  Lin- 
coln in  accordance  with  an  act  of  con- 
gress, declaring  that  the  property  of  all 
persons  who  remained  in  rebellion 
against '  the  United  States  at  the  end  of 
sixty  days,  would  be  confiscate  to  the 
uses  of  the  national  government. 

1862.  Aug.  5.  Battle  of  Baton 
Rouge.  Farragut  run  the  gauntlet  at 
Vicksburg,  and  captured  Baton  Rouge. 
Gen.  Butler  placed  Gen.  Williams  there 
with  twenty-five  hundred  men  to  hold  it. 
Gen.  J.  C.  Breckinridge  attempted  to  re- 
gain it  with  five  thousand,  making  a  dar- 
ing attack  before  sunrise  on  the  morning 
of  the  5th  of  August,  but  he  was  beaten 
back,  sorely  smitten,  after  a  severe  battle 
of  three  hours.  Gen.  Williams  was 
killed  at  the  close  of  the  action,  just  as  he 
was  giving  an  order  to  fall  back,  while 
the  confederates  were  doing  the  same. 

1862.  Aug.  8.  Battle  of  Cedar 
Mountain.  Pope  made  several  successful 
raids  toward  Richmond,  tearing  up  rail- 
ways, and  breaking  the  confederate  com- 
munications. Jackson  succeeded  in  get- 
ting a  position  on  the  eastern  slope  of  Ce- 
dar Mountain,  which  now  overlooked  the 
federal  camp.  Forming  his  whole  force 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


635 


in  battle  line,  he  opened  on  the  federal 
advance.  Gen.  Banks  charged  up  the 
mountain  to  dislodge  him,  but  was  hurled 
back  after  a  desperate  struggle  of  an 
hour  and  a  half,  when  the  fighting 
ceased.  The  loss  on  each  side  was  about 
two  thousand. 

1862.  Aug.  9.  Massacre  of  Texas 
Loyalists.  In  a  cane  brake  on  the 
Nueces  River,  occurred  one  of  the  most 
fiendish  massacres  of  the  civil  war.  A 
party  of  sixty  young  German  loyalists, 
of  the  best  families  of  Western  Texas, 
attempted  to  flee  the  country.  They 
made  good  their  escape  to  the  Nueces, 
where  they  were  overtaken  by  the  bru- 
tal guerilla  chief  Lieutenant  Lilley,  with 
over  a  hundred  followers,  and  they  were 
slaughtered^  in  the  most  barbarous  ways. 
During  the  whole  summer  of  1862,  the 
few  Texans  who  remained  loyal  to  the 
Union  received  severe  treatment  at  the 
hands  of  their  oppressors.  The  San  An- 
tonio Herald  says  of  them :  "  Their 
bones  are  bleaching  on  the  soil  of  every 
county  from  the  Nueces  to  the  Rio 
Grande,  and  in  the  counties  of  Wise  and 
Denton  their  bodies  are  suspended  from 
the  '  Black  Jacks '  by  scores." 

1862.  Aug.  23.  Pope  and  Lee  on 
the  Rappahannock.  After  the  battle  of 
Cedar  Mountain  Pope  captured  some 
confederate  cavalry,  from  whom  he 
learned  that  Lee  intended  to  crush  him 
before  he  could  be  reinforced.  He  at 
once  began  to  retreat,  stopping  behind 
the  Rappahannock,  his  rear  guard  skir- 
mishing along  the  march  with  Lee's  ad- 
vance cavalry.  Lee  tried  to  force  a  pas- 
sage, keeping  up  an  artillery  fire  for  two 
days.  Failing  in  this  he  decided  to 
march  up  the  river,  cross,  and  flank  Pope. 
He  left  Longstreet  at  Beverly  Ford.  It 
was  now  clear  to  Pope  that  he  must  cross 


636 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


the  river  and  crush  Longstreet,  or  give 
the  confederates  direct  approach  to 
Washington.  A  heavy  rain  made  the 
Rappahannock  impassable,  so  that  an 
attempt  to  cross  was  foiled.  But  Lee 
had  crossed  before  the  rise  of  the  river, 
and  gained  his  rear  during  the  storm. 
Both  armies  were  now  in  great  peril. 
Lee's  communication  was  severed,  while 
Pope  could  not  take  advantage  of  it. 

1862.  Aug.  26.  Seizure  of  Manas- 
sas  Junction.  From  Bristow  Station 
Jackson  sent  Stuart  to  seize  Manassas 
Junction.  Stuart  surprised  the  place, 
taking  three  hundred  prisoners,  eight 
guns,  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
horses,  ten  locomotives,  seven  supply 
trains,  and  a  large  amount  of  other  pro- 
visions. fc 

1862.  Aug.  29.  Battle  of  Groveton. 
Though  Pope's  forces  were  scattered  to 
hold  subordinate  places,  he  determined 
to  "  bag  "  Jackson  before  he  could  join 
Longstreet.  Early  on  the  morning  of 
the  29th  he  dispatched  Heintzleman  and 
Reno  to  Gainesville  to  effect  a  junction 
with  Sigel.  But  Sigel  had  attacked 
Jackson  at  Sudley  Mill,  on  the  Warreri- 
ton  road,  near  Groveton,  before  they 
arrived,  and  was  being  beaten  by 
Jackson,  aided  by  Longstreet,  when  they 
came  to  his  relief.  At  sunset  the  confed- 
erate left  wavered,  and  was  pushed  back 
a  mile.  A  division  of  Longstreet's  corps 
and  Hood's  famous  Texan  brigade  were 
ordered  to  the  front,  and  drove  back  the 
federal  advance.  At  dark  the  conflict 
ceased.  The  loss  was  several  thousand 
on  each  side. 

1862.  Aug.  3O.  Second  Battle  of 
Bull  Run.  Pope  concluded  to  make  one 
more  stand  before  continuing  his  retreat 
to  Washington.  His  force  was  now  only 
about  forty  thousand  worn-out  soldiers, 


besides  Banks'  force.  But  he  pushed 
forward  and  attacked  Lee's  left,  while 
that  general  was  also  advancing  for  an 
attack  on  the  federal  right.  They  came 
together  with  a  terrible  clash,  on  the  old 
battle-field  of  Bull  Run.  The  confeder- 
ates attempted  the  favorite  flank  move- 
ment, but  were  timely  turned  by 
McDowell's  corps.  Victory  seemed  al- 
most to  crown  the  struggles  of  the  feder- 
als, when  their  right  was  suddenly  pushed 
back  by  a  united  forward  movement  of 
the  confederate  left.  But  the  main  army 
held  fast  till  dark,  preserving  their  line  of 
retreat.  Fitz-John  Porter's  action  during 
the  contest  was  much  condemned.  He 
lay  back  with  his  division  within  sight  of 
the  battle,  refusing  to  obey  repeated 
orders  to  advance.  He  was  court-mar- 
tialed and  forever  disqualified  from  hold- 
ing any  office  of  trust  in  the  U.  S.  go.v- 
ernment.  Pope  retired  to  Centerville 
during  the  night,  unmolested. 

1862.  Aug.  30.  Bragg's  Invasion 
of  Kentucky.  Having  been  appointed 
to  Beauregard's  command,  Bragg  re- 
solved to  recover  Kentucky  and  Tennes- 
see, or  capture  a  large  amount  of  supplies 
from  the  rich  agricultural  districts  in  the 
attempt.  Buell,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Tennessee,  with  an  army  of  one  hundred 
thousand  strong,  was  determined  to  check 
the  invasion.  Bragg's  force  was  about 
sixty  thousand.  Both  started  for  Chat- 
tanooga; but  by  swift  marches  Bragg 
reached  it  first,  sending  Smith  to  Knox- 
ville.  Buell  halted  at  Huntsville,  and 
stationed  his  army  in  a  line  running 
back  into  Tennessee.  Smith  started  for 
Frankfort  from  Knoxville,  issuing  procla- 
mations and  swelling  his  force  by  the 
thousand,  with  Kentucky  volunteers.  But 
he  was  boldly  met  at  Richmond  on  the 
3Oth  of  August,  by  a  corps  organized  in 


1860-1862.] 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


637 


Indiana  by  Gen.  Lew  Wallace,  and  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Nelson.  Most  of  the 
Union  troops  had  never  seen  a  battle, 
but  fought  with  the  courage  and  stability 
of  old  veterans.  But  they  lacked  the  dis- 
cipline, and  were  defeated  with  a  loss  of 
five  thousand.  The  confederate  loss  was 
about  the  same.  The  triumphant  Smith 
hastened  forward  toward  Cincinnati, 
which  was  then  defenceless,  and  Bragg's 
invasion  was  under  full  headway. 

1862.  Sept.  1.  Battle  of  Chantilly. 
Pope  held  a  position  at  Centerville  which 
Lee  did  not  wish  to  assail.  To  drive 
him  from  it,  Lee  dispatched  Jackson  to 
flank  him  again;  but  Pope  divined  the 
movement,  and  fell  back  to  Fairfax 
Court  House.  Gen.  Reno  was  stationed 
at  Chantilly,  when  Jackson  came  up  at 
six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  while  a  cold 
rain  was  pouring  down  in  torrents.  A 
severe  battle  at  once  took  place,  in  which 
Gen.  Stevens  was  among  the  first  to  fall. 
His  brigade  fled,  and  Gen.  Kearney 
clashed  his  brigade  forward  to  fill  the 
gap,  when  he,  too,  was  shot  down. 
Colonel  Birney  took  command,  and 
ordered  a  bayonet  charge  which  repulsed 
the  enemy,  and  gained  the  field.  Pope 
then  retired  to  the  entrenchments  at 
Washington,  and  the  Army  of  Virginia 
vanished,  being  absorbed  by  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  Pope  returned  to  the 
west  by  his  own  request,  made  before 
the  campaign. 

1862.  Sept.  2.  Lee's  Invasion  of 
Maryland.  The  way  was  now  clear, 
the  fields  were  glowing  with  a  rich,  ripe 
harvest,  and  everything  seemed  to  in- 
vite Lee  into  Maryland.  Disposition  of 
his  army  was  made  accordingly,  and  the 
army  moved  on  the  2,d  of  September, 
headed  by  a  division  of  fresh  and  vigor- 
ous troops,  under  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill. 


1862.  Sept.  8.  Lee's  Proclamation. 
Lee  arrived  in  Maryland,  and  issued  a 
proclamation  entreating  the  citizens  to 
revolt  against  the  government,  join  his 
army,  and  be  restored  to  liberty  once 
more.  It  was  met  with  scorn,  and 
caused  more  deserters  than  adherents. 

CARLOS  &XTOXIO  LOPEZ. 

1862.  Sept.  10.  Lopez,  the  dictator 
of  Paraguay,  died  at  Asuncion,  aged 
seventy-one  years.  He  was  born  in  the 
same  place  Nov.  4,  1790,  and  was 
brought  up  under  the  arbitrary  power  of 
Dr.  Francia.  He  was  fond  of  study,  and 
was  educated  as  well  as  could  be  at 
Asuncion.  When  Dr.  Francia  died,  he 
was  at  once  put  into  connection  with 
the  government,  because  of  his  known 
studies  in  that  direction,  studies  which 
Francia  had  steadily  repressed.  He  was 
elected  president  for  ten  years  from  1844. 
At  the  end  of  that  term  he  was  elected 
for  three  years,  and  in  1857  for  seven 
years.  He  was  given  power  to  appoint 
a  successor.  His  administration  was 
very  different  from  Dr.  Francia's.  In- 
tercourse with  other  nations  was  sousrht 

O 

for,  and  treaties  were  made.  One  im- 
portant step  was  the  sending  of  young 
men  to  Europe  to  be  educated  in  indus- 
trial and  scientific  lines  of  study.  He 
strove  to  build  up  Paraguay  in  all  ways. 


1862.  Sept.  12.  Cincinnati  Threat- 
ened. Gen.  Wallace  hurried  to  Cincin- 
nati, after  organizing  the  army  to  check 
Smith,  and  issued  a  stirring  proclamation 
on  the  first  day  of  September,  calling  on 
the  citizens  to  close  their  business  and 
come  out  at  once  for  the  common  de- 
fence. The  proclamation  received  a 
liberal  response  from  Cincinnati,  Cov- 
ington,  and  Newport,  to  the  number 


638 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


of  forty  thousand.  Entrenchments  were 
thrown  up  immediately,  and  lines  formed 
to  oppose  the  expected  attack.  Gen. 
Heath  appeared  before  the  city  on  the 
1 2th,  with  fifteen  thousand  of  Smith's 
men,  but  so  bold  a  front  was  presented 
that  he  was  frightened  away,  and  re- 
treated under  cover  of  the  darkness. 

1862.  Sept.  12.  Seizure  of  Frank- 
fort. Frustrated  in  the  attempt  to  cap- 
ture Cincinnati,  Smith  undertook  the 
conquest  of  Louisville,  ultimately  joining 
Bragg,  who  was  coming  northward.  To 
this  end  he  moved  into  Frankfort,  which 
had  been  vacated  by  the  legislature. 

1862.  Sept.  14.  Battle  of  South 
Mountain.  With  the  utmost  caution 
Lee  advanced  to  Frederick,  intending  to 
move  on  Baltimore  and  Washington, 
after  further  developments. '  Lee  directed 
Jackson  to  march  around  by  South 
Mountain,  of  the  Blue  Ridge  range,  and 
cut  off  the  escape  of  troops  from  Harper's 
Ferry.  Lee  counted  greatly  on  McClel- 
lan's  tardiness  ;  but  the  federal  general 
pushed  on,  and  foiled  his  plan.  McClel- 
lan  passed  through  the  mountains  at 
Turner's  Gap,  and  drove  back  Hill,  who 
was  stationed  there  to  hold  the  pass. 
On  the  morning  of  the  14-th  the  federal 
advance  gained  the  summit  of  South 
Mountain  by  perseverance  and  desperate 
fighting.  At  four  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon the  battle  became  general  all  along 
the  line.  The  battle  continued  till  sun- 
set, when  Gen.  Reno  was  killed,  just  at 
the  moment  of  victory.  The  confederate 
line  fell  back,  and  the  conflict  ceased. 
The  federals  were  ready  to  resume  the 
battle  next  morning,  but  the  confederates 
had  withdrawn  during  the  night. 

1862.  Sept.  14.  Battle  of  Cramp- 
ton's  Gap.  Franklin,  on  his  way  to 
relieve  Harper's  Ferry,  came  up  before 


Crampton's  Gap,  where  there  were  three 
confederate  brigades,  under  Cobb,  de- 
fended by  stone  walls.  Franklin  at- 
tacked and  drove  him  out  after  several 
hours'  hard  fighting,  sustaining  a  loss  of 
five  hundred.  Cobb's  loss  was  over  a 
thousand  men,  besides  several  hundred 
small  arms. 

1862.  Sept.  14.  Surrender  of  Har- 
per's Ferry.  A  large  amount  of  stores 
was  gathered  at  Harper's  Ferry,  which 
was  garrisoned  by  a  force  of  twelve  thou- 
sand. Jackson  slipped  around  into  the 
rear  on  the  I3th,  while  McLaws  ap- 
peared on  Maryland  Heights;  and  a 
force  on  Loudon  Heights  completed  the 
line  around  the  besieged  garrison.  At 
Elk  Mountain,  two  miles  north  of  Har- 
per's Ferry,  Colonel  Ford  gallantly  held 
McLaws  in  check  for  a  time,  but  was 
compelled  to  retreat  to  the  fort  Early 
on  the  next  morning  the  fort  was  fired 
upon,  and  a  capitulation  at  once  took 
place.  Gen.  Miles  was  killed. 

BATTLE  OF  yLNTIETslM. 

1862.  Sept.  17.  Lee  now  collected 
his  whole  force  at  Sharpsburg,  in  the 
Antietam  Valley,  six  miles  above  the 
Ferry.  On  the  1 5th  McClellan  followed 
slowly  up  the  valley.  A  few  shots  were 
exchanged,  and  then  both  armies  began 
to  "prepare  for  a  heavy  battle.  Lee's 
force  was  about  sixty  thousand,  while  the 
federal  numbers  were  nearly  ninety  thou- 
sand. Four  bridges  spanned  the  Antie- 
tam, a  mile  or  two  apart.  At  two 
o'clock  on  the  i6th  Hooker  crossed 
bridge  No.  i,  and  steadily  crowded  back 
the  confederate  left,  Gen.  Mansfield  fol- 
lowing in  his  wake.  Both  sides  were 
now  heavily  reinforced.  At  dawn  of  the 
next  morning  Hooker  opened  a  galling 
fire  on  the  confederate  left;  but  Jackson 


1860-1862.] 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


639 


made  a  bold  dash,  sweeping  his  corps 
from  the  field.  Hooker  was  wounded. 
All  day  the  armies  advanced  and  recoiled. 
When  the  conflict  ceased  in  the  evening 
the  federals  held  the  field,  but  with  a 
great  loss  of  life.  The  entire  federal  loss 
was  over  twelve  thousand.  The  confed- 
erate loss  was  thirty  thousand,  including 
six  thousand  prisoners,  besides  fifteen 
thousand  small  arms,  thirteen  cannon,  and 
thirty-nine  battle  flags.  On  the  morning 
of  the  1 8th  neither  commander  was  ready 
to  fight.  Lee's  army  was  terribly  smitten, 
and  McClellan's  was  but  little  better  off. 
The  confederate  soldiers  were  now  en- 
during great  privation,  being  almost 
destitute  of  food  or  clothing.  Lee  soon 
escaped  up  the  Shenandoah  Valley  to 
Winchester. 

1862.  Sept.  19.  Battle  of  luka. 
During  the  summer  of  1862  the  federal 
army  in  West  Tennessee  remained  pas- 
sive, except  to  capture  or  disperse  gue- 
rilla bands,  or  make  reconnoissances. 
Leaving  Col.  Murphy  at  luka  with  a 
small  force  to  protect  the  supplies,  Rose- 
crans  moved  westward  to  within  seven 
miles  of  Corinth,  and  encamped.  Price 
seized  the  opportunity  and  hurried  to 
luka  to  crush  Murphy,  who  fled  on  his 
approach,  leaving  all  the  vast  amount  of 
supplies  in  the  hands  of  the  Missourian, 
who  at  once  occupied  the  place.  Grant 
immediately  dispatched  two  columns, 
under  Rosecrans  and  Ord,  to  capture 
Price.  By  a  detour  of  twenty  miles 
Rosecrans  gained  the  rear,  while  Ord 
was  to  make  the  attack  in  front.  On  the 
morning  of  the  I9th  Rosecrans  advanced 
to  within  two  miles  of  luka,  drove  in  the 
confederate  skirmishers,  and  formed  his 
lines  of  battle.  A  desperate  engagement 
followed.  An  attempt  by  Price  to  wheel 


around  the  federal  left,  ended  in  utter  de- 
feat. He  was  driven  from  the  field  at 
dusk,  which  closed  the  battle.  Ord's  or- 
ders were  to  advance  and  halt  four  miles 

from     luka,    Until    he    COuld      1862.   September. 

hear  Rosecrans'  cannon.  A    ^marck  became 

prime  minister 

strong  northwest  wind  pre-  of  Prussia. 
vented,  and  he  remained  till  the  next 
morning,  when  he  heard  the  cannon  of 
the  victorious  army.  But  Price  slipped 
out  during  the  night.  Rosecrans  took 
possession,  and  then  marched  to  Corinth. 
Grant  took  up  his  headquarters  at  Jack- 
son, Tenn.,  leaving  Sherman  at  Memphis. 

EMANCIPATION  FORETOLD. 

1862.  Sept.  22.  President  Lincoln 
issued  a  proclamation,  declaring  that  if 
any  states  remained  in  rebellion  Jan.  i, 
1863,  all  slaves  within  them  should  be 
thereafter  forever  free. 


1862.     Oct.  3-4.     Battle  of  Corinth. 

Rosecrans  arrived  at  Corinth  on  the. 26th 
of  September,  and  began  strengthening 
the  works  thrown  up  by  Beauregard 
and  Halleck.  With  twenty-two  thou- 
sand men  Van  Dorn  moved  northward  to 
attack  Rosecrans.  He  arrived  at  Che- 
walla,  twelve  miles  from  Corinth,  on  the 
night  of  Oct.  2d.  On  the  3d  a  bat- 
tle was  kept  up  all  day  between  Va-n 
Dorn's  advance  and  a  force  sent  out  by 
Rosecrans.  At  nine  o'clock  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  4th,  the  confederates  advanced 
with  a  fearful  assault  on  the  federal  cen- 
ter. The  federals  bravely  withstood  the 
shock,  while  their  artillery  made  lanes 
through  the  confederate  ranks.  Waver- 
ing at  first,  they  rallied,  and  then  there 
followed  a  desperate  struggle,  in  which 
the  confederates  were  forced  back  in  con- 
fusion to  the  woods  in  the  rear.  Finally 
the  federals  charged  furiously  over  the 


640 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


entrenchments,  and  drove  Price  and  Lov- 
ell  back  in  the  wildest  dismay.  Van 
Dorn  began  a  hasty  retreat,  and  was  pur- 
sued by  Rosecrans  for  a  distance.  So 
ended  the  gallant  defense  of  Corinth, 
covering  Rosecrans  with  honor.  His 
force  was  only  twenty  thousand,  while 
that  of  the  confederates  had  been  in- 
creased to  thirty-eight  thousand.  In  the 
engagement  and  pursuit  his  loss  was  two 
thousand,  two  hundred.  He  estimated 
the  confederate  loss,  from  reliable  data, 
at  nine  thousand. 

1862.  Oct.  8.  Bragg's  Invasion  of 
Tennessee.  Battle  of  Perryville.  In 
the  latter  part  of  August  Bragg  started 
from  Chattanooga  for  Louisville,  in  full 
force.  When  Buell  found  out  Bragg's 
design  he  protected  the  Louisville  and 
Nashville  railway  as  soon  as  possible,  and 
then  began  pursuit.  No*w  commenced  a 
great  military  race  of  three  hundred 
miles.  Bragg  reached  Glasgow,  across 
the  Cumberland,  where  he  made  his 
headquarters,  having  access  to  Louisville 
by  railroad.  He  immediately  sent  the 
advance  under  Gen.  Chalmers,  toward 
that  city.  Chalmers  arrived  at  Mum- 
fordsville  on  the  1 4th  of  September.  At 
that  place  was  a  federal  garrison  of  four 
thousand.  This  he  attacked,  but  was  so 
quickly  repulsed  that  he  concluded  to 
wait  for  the  main  army,  which  arrived  on 
the  1 6th.  An  attack  was  made  immedi- 
ately, and  the  garrison  was  captured  after 
a  desperate  struggle,  the  confederates  sus- 
taining a  heavy  loss.  Bragg's  force  was 
now  sixty-five  thousand.  In  the  mean- 
time Buell  had  gained  the  race,  reaching 
Louisville  first,  but  he  allowed  Bragg  to 
fill  his  trains  with  plunder.  The  United 
States  government  now  prompted  Buell 
to  act  on  the  offensive.  He  had  a  force 
of  one  hundred  thousand  strong,  with 


Gen.  Thomas  as  second  in  command. 
Bragg  fell  back  to  Perryville  with  his 
forage.  Buell  ordered  Gilbert  to  attack 
the  confederates  at  that  place.  Bragg 
determined  to  give  battle  and  escape  with 
his  plunder  before  the  two  flanking  forces 
could  corner  him.  On  the  morning  of 
the  8th  he  opened  a  desultory  combat, 
which  lasted  till  nearly  noon.  The  en- 
gagement now  became  general,  lasting 
the  rest  of  the  day.  A  gap  was  finally 
made,  exposing  Gilbert's  flank.  The  con- 
federates now  made  a  general  rush  to  fill 
the  open  space.  But  Sherman  made  a 
valiant  charge,  breaking  the  confederate 
line,  and  drove  them  back  to  their  bat- 
teries, capturing  several  guns  and  a  num- 
ber of  prisoners.  This  closed  the  battle 
for  the  day.  The  next  morning  the  fed- 
erals were  prepared  to  renew  the  battle, 
but  Bragg  fled  to  Harrodsburg  during  the 
night.  Here  he  left  twelve  hundred  sickr 
and  twenty-five  thousand  barrels  of  pork, 
retreating  into  East  Tennessee.  It  is  said 
that  his  plunder  filled  a  wagon  train  forty 
miles  long.  He  also  destroyed  vast 
amounts. 

1862.  Oct.  3O.  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland. Buell's  conduct  during  Bragg's 
invasion  was  so  unsatisfactory  that  he- 
was  relieved,  and  Gen.  Rosecrans,  who 
made  such  a  brilliant  record  in  West  Vir- 
ginia and  Mississippi,  was  appointed  to 
the  command.  The  appellation  was 
changed  from  the  "  Army  of  the  Ohio  " 
to  the  "  Army  of  the  Cumberland." 

1862.  Nov.  4.  Lee's  Retreat  into  Vir- 
ginia. McClellan,  under  an  order  from 
the  president,  moved  over  to  the  east 
side  of  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains,  and 
began  pursuit  of  Lee  in  his  slow  way. 
Lee  consolidated  his  army  at  Culpepper 
Court  House  to  turn  McClellan  back. 
His  army  was  so  disposed  that  a  quick 


1860-1862.] 

and  vigorous  movement  would  cut  it  up 
in  detail.  But  this  was  not  made  by  Mc- 
Clellan,  and  Lee  escaped  to  Gordonsville. 
1862.  Nov.  5.  McClellan  Super- 
seded by  Burnside.  The  people's  confi- 
dence, in  McClellan  died  away  on  his 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS: 


641 


was  to  act  against  Richmond  instead  of 
Lee,  making  his  base  of  supplies  at 
Acquia  Creek. 

1862.  Nov.  9.  Butler  Superseded 
by  Banks.  On  the  pth  of  November^ 
Gen.  B.  F.  Butler,  as  commander  of  the 


BENJAMIN   F.    BUTLER. 


failure  to  destroy  Lee's  army.  He  was 
now  superseded  by  Gen.  Burnside,  who 
was  indorsed  by  his  record  at  the  South. 
Burnside  refused  the  appointment  several 
times,  but  his  acceptance  was  somewhat 
compulsory.  He  commenced  his  duties 
by  reorganizing  the  arrny.  His  policy 

41 


Gulf  Department,  was  superseded  by 
Gen.  Banks.  The  confederates  had  now 
given  up  a  former  remote  idea  of  taking 
New  Orleans,  and  Butler's  supervision  of 
that  city  was  no  longer  needed.  Butler's 
administration  of  the  city  government 
was  mai'ked  by  justice  and  prosperity. 


642 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


He  found  there  a  rebellious  people,  and 
the  greatest  discord  generally.  By  vari- 
ous means  he  extracted  from  the  citizens 
$1,088,000,  with  which  he  put  the  city  in 
good  order,  fed  the  poor,  and  increased 
his  army  from  thirteen  thousand  raw 
troops  to  seventeen  thousand  well-disci- 
plined soldiers.  Several  regiments  were 
of  colored  soldiers.  There  were  $545,000 
yet  in  his  hands.  Of  this  he  turned  over 
$200,000  to  his  successor,  and  the  re- 
mainder to  the  national  treasury.  A 
Charleston  man  offered  $10,000  for 
Butler,  dead  or  alive.  Davis  afterward 
issued  a  proclamation  for  him  and  others, 
to  be  hung  on  being  caught. 

1862.  Nov.  27.  Battle  of  Boston 
Mountains,  Mo.  The  successes  of  the 
confederate  armies  near  Richmond  en- 
couraeed  the  secessionists  in  Missouri  so 

o 

much  that  they  revived  the  fierce  guerilla 
warfare  which  had  been  carried  on  there. 
They  raised  an  army  of  twenty  thousand. 
The  federal  army  numbered  ten  thou- 
sand. The  confederates  now  resolved  to 
regain  Missouri  to  the  confederate  cause, 
and  advanced  northward  for  that  purpose. 
At  Boston  Mountains  their  advance  was 
met  and  defeated  in  a  minor  engagement. 
1862.  Dec.  7.  Battle  of  Prairie 
Grove,  Ark.  On  the  morning  of  the  yth 
the  confederates  appeared  before  Herron's 
federal  force  at  Prairie  Grove.  Herron 
had  been  stripped  of  his  cavalry,  and  now 
had  but  four  thousand  effective  men  to 
oppose  the  confederate  hosts.  He  ar- 
ranged his  army  in  the  best  order  to 
oppose  the  enemy,  and  a  severe  fight  fol- 
lowed, in  which  the  federals  were  en- 
gaged without  support.  But  the  federal 
artillery  did  excellent  work,  inflicting  a 
'  heavy  loss  on  the  confederate  infantry  in 
the  numerous  attacks.  That  night  the 
federals  slept  on  their  arms,  waiting  to 


renew  the  battle  on  the  following  day. 
But  Hindman  retreated  during  the  night, 
supposing  Herron,  because  of  the  defense 
he  had  made,  to  have  a  larger. force. 

1862.  Dec.  13.  Battle  of  Freder- 
icksburg.  When  the  new  plan  of  Burn- 
side's  advance  became  known  to  Lee,  he 
moved  back  to  Fredericksburg  and  took 
position  south  of  the  Rappahannock,  on 
a  ridge  which  overlooked  a  plain  reach- 
ing down  to  the  river.  On  the  northern 
shore,  opposite  Fredericksburg,  was 
ample  position  for  defense,  but  owing  to 
the  brokenness  of  the  bank  the  river  was 
difficult  to  cross  in  case  of  retreat.  On 
the  loth  of  December  a  long-expected 
pontoon  train  arrived,  and  offensive  move- 
ments were  immediately  commenced  by 
the  federals.  By  the  evening  of  the  1 2th, 
in  spite  of  great  difficulties,  the  federals 
had  crossed,  beaten  back,  and  captured 
some  sharpshooters,  and  had  ascertained 
the  relative  position  of  the  confederates, 
who  by  this  time  had  made  their  situa- 
tion almost  impregnable  by  judiciously 
posting  three  hundred  cannon  on  the 
heights.  Jackson  was  recalled  from 
down  the  river,  and  everything  was  in 
readiness.  Burnside  ordered  Franklin  to 
make  the  attack  early  next  morning. 
At  sunrise  he  ordered  forward  Meade's 
division,  which  drove  back  Jackson's  ad- 
vance, taking  two  hundred  prisoners,  and 
several  battle  flags.  Two  confederate 
divisions,  under  Gregg  and  Early,  then 
made  a  charge,  driving  Meade  before 
them.  Meade  lost  heavily  in  this  en- 
counter. Longstreet  was  posted  behind 
a  formidable  stone*  wall  with  heaw  re- 
serves. Against  these  French  launched 
his  division,  which  melted  away  under 
the  leaden  messengers.  Hancock  threw 
his  columns  forward,  but  was  soon  hurled 
back  by  the  murderous  lire,  leaving  half 


1860-1862.] 

his  number  on  the  field.  Howard's  divi- 
sion was  the  next  to  be  shattered  before 
the  fatal  stone  wall.  Burnside  now  deter- 
mined to  carry  the  heights,  and  directed 
Hooker  to  do  the  work.  Hooker  vainly 
protested,  but  he  ordered  Humphrey's 
division  to  charge  the  entrenchments  with 
bayonets.  This  charge  was  repulsed 
with  fearful  slaughter.  Night  mercifully 
put  an  end  to  the  fruitless  massacre.  The 
federal  loss  was  nearly  fourteen  thousand, 
while  the  confederate  loss  was  less  than 
half  that  number.  Burnside  remained  at 
Fredericksburg  till  the  i6th,  when  his 
general  officers  persuaded  him  to  retreat. 
Lee  was  now  left  in  full  possession  of 
the  town. 

1862.  Dec.  20.  Movements  Toward 
Vicksburg  Checked.  Vicksburg  was 
the  great  connecting  link  of  the  confeder- 
acy, by  which  their  armies  received  sup- 
plies from  the  rich  fields  of  Texas  and 
Western  Louisiana.  Grant  arranged  a 
plan  for  the  attack  and  capture,  and  it 
was  approved  by  his  council.  The  city 
afforded  extraordinary  natural  defence, 
surrounded  as  it  was  by  deep  ravines, 
impassable  swamps  and  bayous,  and 
rugged  hills  covered  by  tier  upon  tier  of 
rifle-pits  and  batteries,  from  foot  to  sum- 
mit. In  accordance  with  the  plan 
Sherman  descended  the  Mississippi  from 
Memphis,  with  thirty  thousand  well- 
drilled  and  well -equipped  troops,  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Yazoo ;  while  Grant  moved 
by  land  to  attack  the  main  body  of  the 
confederates,  under  Van  Dorn,  drive  them 
into  Vicksburg,  and  assist  Sherman  in 
the  siege.  On  the  4th  of  November 
Grant  changed  his  headquarters  from 
Jackson  to  La  Grange,  near  Grand  Junc- 
tion, on  the  Memphis  and  Charleston 
railway.  From  there  he  sent  McPher- 
son,  with  ten  thousand  infantry  and  fifteen 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


643 


hundred  cavalry  to  break  the  confederate 
line  of  defence  along  the  Tallahatchee 
River.  This  was  accomplished,  and  Grant 
occupied  Holly  Springs,  where  he  col- 
lected $4,000,000  worth  of  supplies. 
During  this  time  Generals  C.  C.  Wash- 
burne  and  A.  P.  Hovey  made  several 
cavalry  raids,  destroying  a  large  amount 
of  confederate  railroad  stock.  Grant 
then  moved  to  Oxford,  Miss.,  leaving 
Col.  Murphy  with  one  thousand  men, 
to  guard  the  supplies  at  Holly  Springs. 
Satisfied  that  Van  Dorn  would  attempt 
to  seize  the  supplies,  Grant  entreated 
Murphy  to  be  extremely  cautious,  and 
ordered  four  thousand  men  to  his  assist- 
ance, again  notifying  him  on  the  I9th,  of 
immediate  danger.  But  Murphy  did  not 
heed.  On  the  morning  of  the  2oth  Van 
Dorn's  cavalry  galloped  into  the  place 
unimpeded.  Murphy  made  a  feeble  re- 
sistance, and  then  surrendered  before  the 
reinforcements  arrived.  The  victors  es- 
caped with  what  plunder  they  could 
carry,  and  burned  the  rest.  Murphy  was 
discharged  from  the  army  "  for  cowardly 
and  disgraceful  conduct."  The  destruc- 
tion of  the  supplies  necessitated  Grant's 
return,  and  thus  the  movements  on 
Vicksburg  were  checked. 

1862.  Dec.  28.  Battle  of  Chicka- 
saw  Bluffs.  Meantime  Sherman  was 
trying  to  gain  the  rear  of  Vicksburg  by 
the  Yazoo  River,  in  conjunction  with 
Porter's  fleet  of  thirty  vessels.  Sherman 
was  ignorant  of  the  disaster  at  Holly 
Springs,  but  he  pushed  forward  and 
attacked  the  confederates  at  Chickasaw 
Bayou.  He  advanced  with  his  whole 
line  against  the  impregnable  fortifications 
on  the  bluffs,  but  was  repulsed  with  great 
slaughter.  His  loss  was  two  thousand, 
while  the  confederate  loss  was  only  two 
hundred.  He  then  gave  up  all  attempts 


644 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


to  capture  Vicksburg,  Grant's  assistance 
having  been  withdrawn. 

1862.  Dec.  31-Jan  2.  Battle  of 
Murfreesboro'.  Bragg  hurried  out  of 
Kentucky  with  his  plunder  train,  after 
the  battle  of  Perryville.  When  he  per- 
ceived that  pursuit  was  abandoned,  he 
consolidated  his  entire  strength  at  Mur- 
freesboro',' thirty  miles  southeast  of 
Nashville,  and  began  to  menace  Nash- 
ville. Rosecrans  directed  McCook  to 
occupy  that  place,  which  he  did.  The 
main  Army  of  the  Cumberland  speedily 
followed.  By  the  26th  of  December 
Rosecrans  had  his  army  ready  for  an 
aggressive  movement.  He  determined 
to  draw  Bragg  to  decisive  action,  or 
chase  him  out  of  the  country.  The 
federal  army  advanced,  and  on  the  night 
of  the  3Oth  rested  within  six  miles  of 
Murfreesboro'.  That  night  was  spent  in 
prepai-ation  for  the  impending  contest. 
Both  generals  concluded  to  make  the 
attack,  and  formed  the  same  plan.  The 
advantage  lay  with  the  attacking  party. 
At  twilight  the  next  morning  Bragg 
pushed  his  left  forward,  and  completely 
surprised  the  federal  right,  the  weight  of 
the  charge  falling  on  the  divisions  of 
Sheridan  and  J.  C.  Davis.  The  latter 
division  was  soon  driven  in  confusion, 
with  heavy  loss;  and  Sheridan  was  com- 
pelled to  follow,  fighting  desperately, 
but  overcome  by  the  superior  numbers 
of  the  foe,  who  had  nearly  surrounded 
him.  At  last  Rosecrans  succeeded  in 
forming  a  new  line;  while  Hazen,  on 
the  extreme  left,  was  slowly  turning  the 
victorious  multitude.  Against  this  new 
line  the  confederates  made  several  terrific 
charges,  but  were  weakened  at  *each 
blow.  They  were  trampled  down, 
and  crowded  back  till,  at  sunset,  the 
federals  held  their  morning  position. 


Bragg  sent  a  dispatch  to  the  confederate 
congress  stating  that  he  believed  Rose- 
crans would  relinquish  further  hostilities. 
The  federal  general  had  no  such  inten- 
tions. His  conduct  during  the  action 
had  so  endeared  him  to  his  officers  that 
his  will  was  law.  He  told  them  plainly : 
"  Gentlemen,  we  conquer,  or  die  right 
here;"  and  they  supported  him.  The 
next  day  was  occupied  by  some  heavy 
skirmishing  and  occasional  artillery  firing. 
Batteries  were  erected  during  the  follow- 
ing night,  and  on  the  morning  of  Janu- 
ary 2,  1863,  these  opened  with  fearful 
destructive  effect  upon  the  confederate 
entrenchments.  Then  the  armies  came 
together  with  a  crash  that  seemed  to 
promise  utter  annihilation  of  both.  The 
columns  staggered,  until  at  last  the  con- 
federates were  hurled  back  with  great 
loss  of  life.  Within  twenty  minutes  two 
thousand  confederates  had  fallen,  dead 
and  wounded.  They  fell  back,  and  at 
midnight  escaped,  leaving  their  dead  on 
the  field.  Each  army  was  decreased 
about  twelve  thousand  by  the  engage- 
ment. Being  deficient  in  cavalry  Rose- 
crans did  not  pursue.  His  praise  was 
now  unbounded.  This  engagement 
closed  the  second  year  of  the  Great 
Struggle.  The  federals  had  opened  the 
Mississippi  to  Vicksburg;  taken  New 
Orleans  and  the  seaboard  towns  along 
the  Atlantic  coast;  had  destroyed  the 
Merrimac  and  the  confederate  navy  yard 
at  Norfolk;  and  had  gained  the  great 
battles  of  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson, 
Island  No.  10,  Pea  Ridge,  Antietam, 
Fair  Oaks,  Corinth,  luka,  and  Murfrees- 
boro'. The  confederate  arms  were  suc- 
cessful in  the  campaigns  of  Jackson  and 
Lee ;  the  battles  of  FredericJcsburg,  Cedar 
Mountain,  and  Chickasaw  Bluff";  the  de- 
fence of  Richmond,  and  Bragg's  inva- 


1860-1862.] 


THE  RESORT  TO  ARMS. 


645 


sion  of  Kentucky.  The  federal  plans 
were  the  same  as  the  preceding  year, 
while  the  confederates  were  to  act  on  the 
defensive. 

1862.  Greenbacks.  The  United 
States  government  issued  the  first  bills 
-called  greenbacks.  The  face  of  these 
bills  was  engraved  by  the  American 
Bank  Note  Company,  in  the  highest 
style  of  the  art.  The  back  was  engraved 
by  another  company. 

1862.  The  first  telegraph  line  across 
the  American  continent  over  the  Rocky 
Mountains  was  established. 

GtiTLlXa  GUN. 

1862.  Mr.  Richard  J.  Gatling  made 
the  first  Gatling  gun  at  Indianapolis.  It 
is  a  machine  gun  which  is  loaded  and 
fired  while  the  barrels  are  revolving 
under  the  power  of  a  gear  wheel.  A 
feed  case  of  cartridges  is  placed  in  the 
hopper  of  the  gun,  and  one  by  one  these 
drop  out  as  one  of  the  half  dozen  or 
more  barrels  comes  round  to  position.  It 
will  fire  four  hundred  shots  per  minute, 
and  is  most  deadly.  It  was  patented  this 
year,  and  adopted  at  a  later  date  in  the 
U.  S.  army. 

1862.  The  first  long  span  iron 
bridge  was  built  across  the  river  at  Steu- 
benville,  O.,  with  one  span  which  was 
320  feet  long. 

1862.  A  great  bed  of  rock  salt  was 
found  on  the  island  of  Petite  Anse,  in 
Vennillion  Bay,  Louisiana. 

1862.  The  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture of  the  United  States  was  formally 
organized.  Buildings  have  since  been 
erected  for  it  within  the  Smithsonian 
grounds  at  Washington,  D.  C.>  and  inves- 
tigations into  the  productions  of  the 
United  States  have  gone  on  to  a  great 


extent.  It  is  the  design  to  be  able 
to  furnish  any  person  in  one  part 
of  the  country  information  concerning 
the  soil,  crops,  etc.,  of  any  other  part. 
Great  quantities  of  seeds  are  annually 
distributed. 

1862.  December.  A  great  disaster 
occurred  to  the  oil  boats  at  Oil  City, 
Penn.,by  which  50,000  barrels  of  oil  were 
lost  by  being  crushed  in  an  ice-gorge. 
The  loss,  direct  and  indirect,  was  $500,000. 
This  is  one  of  many  accidents.  At  one  time 
in  1863,  forty  loaded  boats  were  burned, 
making  a  conflagration  of  unwonted 
splendor.  At  times  wells  have  burned 
out  with  destruction  of  much  property, 
and  sometimes  of  life. 

1862.  A  great  disturbance  in  Chili 
was  produced  by  the  Araucanian  Indi- 
ans, who  were  led  by  a  Frenchman 
named  De  Toneins,  who  called  himself 
king  of  the  Araucanians  and  Patagonia. 
He  was  finally  taken  prisoner,  held  for  a 
year,  and  afterward  released. 

1862.  Affairs  in  the  Argentine  Re- 
public were  comparatively  quiet,  al- 
though an  insurrection  had  been  in  exist- 
ence under  Gen.  Penalosa.  Gen.  Mitre, 
who  had  directed  the  government  of 
Buenos  Ayres  and  the  Republic  was  now 
elected  president  of  the  combined  states, 
and  Buenos  Ayres  had  been  appointed 
as  the  seat  of  government.  The  repub- 
lic has  591,000  square  miles,  and  1,826,- 
738  inhabitants. 

1862.  December.  The  civil  war  in 
Colombia,  S.  A.,  was  ended  by  the  agree- 
ment made  between  the  conservatives 
and  the  liberals.  The  former  recognized 
the  government  instituted  by  the  latter. 
For  a  series  of  years  now,  great  quiet 
existed  in  the  republic. 

1862.  War  in  Mexico  had  been  ac- 
tually begun  by  the  French,  and  some 


646 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


severe  fighting  had  taken  place.  The 
Mexicans  had  repelled  the  French  at  the 
siege  of  Puebla,  but  had  been  less  suc- 
cessful in  other  engagements.  The 
French  were  aiming  at  the  City  of 
Mexico. 

The  position  and  prospects  of  the 
struggling  republic  were  now  at  stake. 
The  effort  begun  by  Hidalgo  with  the 
spirit  of  self-sacrifice  in  1810,  was  appar- 
ently to  be  crushed,  even  after  it  had 
attained  independence.  A  foreign  power 
seemed  about  to  plant  itself  upon  the 
American  continent  in  spite  of  the  Mon- 
roe doctrine,  and  in  spite  of  patriots  who 
•would  give  their  life  to  save  their  land. 
The  situation  was  dark,  but  not  hopeless. 
The  United  States  were  unable  to  press 
any  argument  upon  the  French  govern- 
ment in  opposition  to  the  course  it  was 
pursuing.  Their  home  efforts  consumed 
their  strength.  The  papal  party  in 
Mexico  had  welcomed  the  foreign  in- 
vasion, and  chose  their  own  downfall. 
But  such  an  event  upon  the  American 
Continent  was  not  to  be.  Years  had 
been  occupied,  and  tears  and  blood  had 
been  spent  in  fostering  the  spirit  of  lib- 
erty which  had  found  in  later  days  a  life 


of  promise.  Government  upon  the 
American  soil  could  never  return  to  mo- 
narchical power.  The  forms  of  it  in  Brazil 
and  Canada  are  really  permeated  with 
the  spirit  of  American  institutions.  The 
continent  is  too  truly  one  land  not  to  ar- 
rive ultimately  at  similar  conceptions. 
History  proves  that  whatever  has  been 
of  value  in  one  p^rt  of  it  is  watched  in 
other  parts  of  it.  Changes  have  often 
come  insensibly.  But  they  have  comer 
and  no  power  could  hinder.  Hence  the 
folly  and  ultimate  failure  of  the  foreign 
attempt  on  Mexico.  The  Latin  race 
have  no  heritage  of  authority  in  this  con- 
tinent save  what  they  gain  in  harmony 
with  American  tendencies.  The  discipline 
of  Mexico  was  to  be  long,  but  her  victory 
was  sure.  Maximilian's  determination 
to  enthrone  himself  was  strong  and  eager. 
It  held  out  even  after  his  reverses  came 
thick  and  fast,  and  when  the  French  had 
deserted  him  he  refused  to  abdicate,  but 
chose  to  remain  to  the  bitter  end.  A  like 
attempt  will  not  soon  be  made.  Let 
Mexico  gain  the  wisdom  necessary  to 
govern  herself.  Time  wUi  bring  even 
this,  and  she  will  be  orV  cf  the  fairest 
lands  on  the  continent. 


SECTION   XIX. 

TO  'P&ACfi.    1863-1868. 


HE  crises  in  American  affairs  did 
not  pass  speedily  to  a  peaceful  set- 
tlement. Too  many  firm  convic- 
tions  had  grown  up  on  all  hands, 
and  in  opposing  parties.  The  fiery  ordeal 
was  terrible.  In  the  United  States  civil 
war  the  way  down  from  Antietam,  Get- 
tysburg and  Vicksburg  was  long  and 
painful.  The  Emancipation  Proclama* 
tion  stands  midway  between  these,  and 
from  its  level  we  look  off  into  a  slowly 
waning  contest.  With  fearful  strug- 
gles did  the  confederacy  prolong  the 
agony.  With  great  shrewdness  it  at- 
tempted to  break  the  strength  of  the 
North  by  invasion.  But  to  no  purpose. 
May  the  nation  be  worthy  of  the  victory 
it  won,  and  not  simply  rest  upon  its 
power.  To  do  the  former  will  be  to  win 
everlasting  honor.  To  do  the  latter  will 
be  to  bring  weakness  and  overthrow,  in 
the  end.  It  is  singular  that  the  other 
countries  of  this  continent,  which  have 
thrown  off  Spanish  power  and  become 
republics,  took  earlier  steps  toward  the 
abolition  of  slavery  than  the  United 
States  did.  While  behind  the  United 
States  in  thousands  of  things,  they  seemed 
to  have  learned  from  Spanish  tyranny 


and  "  dark  night "  to  highly  esteem  per- 
sonal freedom.  During  this  period  those 
provinces  were  gaining  greater  stability, 
and  returning  to  comparative  peace. 
Long  struggles  in  some  ended  before  the 
United  States  civil  war  ended.  In  Mex- 
ico foreign  intervention  held  on  until  it 
could  no  longer  remain  with  impunity. 

EMANCIPATION. 

1863.  Jan  1.  President  Lincoln,  in 
accordance  with  his  September  announce- 
ment, issued  the  following  proclamation. 

The  pen  and  penstock  with  which  Mr. 
Lincoln  wrote  this  paper  were  given  to 
Senator  Sumner,  and  by  him  to  the  late 
George  Livermore,  of  Boston.  They 
were  of  the  most  ordinary  kind.  The 
original  draft  was  given  to  a  sanitary  fair 
in  Chicago,  and  was  sold  for  $3,000  to  T. 
B.  Bryan,  Esq. 

THE  EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMATION. 

BY  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

OF  AMERICA  : 

WHEREAS,  On  the  twenty-second  day  of 
September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  sixty-two,  a  proclama- 
tion was  issued  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  containing,  among  other  things,  the  fol- 
lowing, to-wit: 

' '  That  on  the  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year 
647 


648* 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
sixty -three,  all  persons  held  as  slaves  within  any 
state,  or  designated  part  of  a  state,  the  people 
whereof  shall  then  be  in  rebellion  against  the 
United  States,  shall  be  then,  thenceforward  and 
forever  free,  and  the  executive  government  of 
the  United  Stales,  including  the  military  and 
naval  authority  thereof,  will  recognize  and  main- 
tain the  freedom  of  such  persons,  and  will  do 
no  act  or  acts  to  repress  such  persons,  or  any  of 
them,  in  any  efforts  they  may  make  for  their 
actual  freedom. 

"  That  the  executive  will,  on  the  first  day  of 
January,  aforesaid,  by  proclamation,  .designate 
the  states  and  parts  of  states,  if  any,  in  which 
the  people  thereof  respectively  shall  then 
be  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States, 
and  the  fact  that  any  state,  or  the  peo- 
ple thereof,  shall  on  that  day  be  in  good  faith 
represented  in  the  congress  of  the  United  States 
by  members  chosen  thereto  at  elections  wherein 
a  majority  of  the  qualified  voters  of  such  state 
shall  have  participated,  shall,  in  the  absence  of 
strong  countervailing  testimony,  be  deemed 
conclusive  evidence  that  such  state  and  the  peo- 
ple thereof  are  not  then  in  rebellion  against  the 
United  States." 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Abraham  Lincoln,  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  by  virtue  of  the  power 
in  me  vested  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army 
and  navy  of  the  United  States  in  time  of  actual 
armed  rebellion  against  the  authority  and  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  and  as  a  fit  and 
necessary  war  measure  for  suppressing  said  re- 
bellion, do,  on  this  first  day  of  January,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  sixty-three,  and  in  accordance  with  my  pur- 
pose so  to  do,  publicly  proclaim  for  the.  full  pe- 
riod of  one  hundred  days  from  the  day  the  first 
above  mentioned,  order  and  designate,  as  the 
states  and  parts  of  states  wherein  the  people 
thereof  respectively  are  this  day  in  rebellion 
against  the  United  States,  the  following,  to- wit: 

Arkansas,  Texas,  Louisiana  (except  the  par- 
ishes of  St.  Bernard,  Plaquemines,  Jefferson, 
St  Johns,  St.  Charles,  St.  James,  Ascension, 
Assumption,  Terre  Bonne,  Lafaurche,  St. 
Mary,  St.  Martin,  and  Orleans,  including  the 
city  of  New  Orleans),  Mississippi,  Alabama, 
Florida,  Georgia,  South  Carolina,  North  Caro- 
lina, and  Virginia  (except  the  forty- eight  coun- 
ties designated  as  West  Virginia,  and  also  the 
counties  of  Berkley,  Accomac,  Northampton, 
Elizabeth  City,  York,  Princess  Ann,  and  Nor- 
folk, including  the  cities  of  Norfolk  and  Ports- 
mouth), and  which  accepted  parts  are  for  the 
present  left  precisely  as  if  this  proclamation 
were  not  issued. 

And  by  virtue  of  the  power  and  for  the  pur- 
pose aforesaid,  I  do  order  and  declare  that  all 
persons  held  as  slaves  within  said  designated 
states  and  parts  of  states  are,  and  henceforward 
shall  be,  free ;  and  that  the  executive  government 
of  the  United  States,  including  the  military  and 
naval  authorities  thereof,  will  recognize  and 
maintain  the  freedom  of  said  persons. 

And  I  hereby  enjoin  upon  the  people  so  de- 


clared to  be  free,  to  abstain  from  all  violence, 
unless  in  necessary  self-defense,  and  I  recom- 
mend to  them  that  in  all  cases,  when  allowed, 
they  labor  faithfully  for  reasonable  wages. 

And  I  further  declare  and  make  known  that 
such  persons  of  suitable  condition,  will  be  re- 
ceived into  the  armed  service  of  the  United 
States,  to  garrison  forts,  positions,  stations,  and 
other  places,  and  to  man  vessels  of  all  sorts  in 
said  service. 

And  upon  this  act,  sincerely  believed  to  be  an 
act  of  justice,  warranted  by  the  Constitution, 
upon  military  necessity,  I  invoke  the  consider- 
ate judgmentjof  mankind,  and  the  gracious  favor 
of  Almighty  God. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set 
my  name,  and  caused  the  seal  of  the 
United  States  to  be  affixed. 

Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this 

[L.  s.]  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our 

Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 

sixty-three,  and  of  the  Independence  of 

the  United  States  the  eighty-seventh. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 
By  the  President: 
WILLIAM  H.  SEVVARD, 

Secretary  of  State. 


1863.  Jan.  1.  Recapture  of  Galves- 
ton.  Late  in  December,  after  Gen. 
Banks  had  taken  command  of  the  Gulf 
Department,  Commodore  Renshaw,  at 
his  own  request,  was  sent  to  effect  the 
capture  of  Galveston.  When  he  •  ap- 
peared before  the  city  with  three  com- 
panies and  six  gunboats,  the  civil  and 
military  authorities  fled  to  the  mainland. 
Desirous  of  regaining  the  city,  which  was 
his  only  opening  to  the  sea,  Gen.  Magru-- 
der,  from  the  Virginia  Department  of 
the  confederate  armies,  made  an  attack, 
but  was  repulsed  after  a  desultory  en- 
gagement. His  boat  then  arrived,  and  a 
naval  battle  was  begun.  Both  the  con- 
testing parties  were  severely  worsted,  but 
the  federals  were  driven  off  with  the  loss 
of  their  commander.  The  steamer  Har- 
riet Lane  was  captured  by  the  confeder- 
ates after  she  had  destroyed  two  or  three 
of  their  best  boats.  The  shore  was  once 
more  repossessed  by  the  confederates. 


1863-1868.] 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


649 


DR.  LYMtfJV  BEECHER. 
1863.  Jan.  10.  Rev.  Lyman  Beecher, 
D.  D.,  died  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  aged 
eighty-seven  years.  He  was  born  in 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  Oct.  12,  1775.  His 
early  life  and  student  career  were  passed 
in  the  same  city,  and  in  1797  ne  com~ 
pleted  his  theological  course,  hy  which  he 
was  made  ready  for  the  active  work  of 
the  ministry.  His  first  settlement  was 
on  Long  Island,  at  East  Hampton,  at  a 
salary  of  $300.  This  was  increased  by 
what  his  wife  could  obtain  by  teaching 
school.  Attention  soon  began  to  be  at- 
tracted toward  the  earnest  and  eloquent 
young  preacher.  He  became  pastor  at 
Litchfield,  Conn.,  in  1810,  and  soon 
widened  his  reputation  throughout  the 
whole  country.  He  lived  here  till  1826, 
when  he  went  to  Hanover  Street,  Boston, 
for  six  years.  While  at  Litchfield,  Conn., 
he  preached  the  six  sermons  which  made 
him  famous  as  a  champion  of  temper- 
ance. In  1832  he  was  made  president  of 
Lane  Seminary,  Cincinnati,  and  remained 
such  twenty  years.  This  was  his  last 
professional  work.  He  spent  a  time  in 
Boston,  and  then  went  to  live  with  his 
son,  Henry  Ward,  at  Brooklyn.  His 
last  days  were  days  of  physical  vigor,  but 
of  great  decline  of  mental  power.  Dr. 
Beecher  was  pronounced,  vigorous,  and  a 
born  leader.  He  was  sensitive  to  nervous 
excitement  in  public  speaking,  and  was 
obliged  to  work  it  off  in  some  manual 
labor,  or  otherwise,  when  he  returned  to 
his  house.  He  is  said  to  have  sometimes 
danced  the  "  double  shuffle  "  in  the  parlor, 
or  to  have  shoveled  sand  in  his  cellar  for 
this  purpose.  Sometimes  he  would  take 
the  violin,  instead,  and  draw  forth  "  Auld 
Lang  Syne  "  from  its  strings.  He  lived 
a  life  of  great  usefulness.  Of  his  chil- 
dren, Catharine  E.,  Edward,  Henry 


Ward,  Harriet  E.,  Charles,  and  Thomas 
K.,  are  all  widely  known. 


1863.  Jan.  11.  Capture  of  Arkansas 
Post.  McClernand  entered  the  Arkansas 
River  and  moved  up  fifty  miles  to  Ar- 
kansas Post,  where  there  was  a  confeder- 
ate fort  garrisoned  by  five  thousand. 
After  a  bombardment  the  fort  surren- 
dered to  a  storming  party,  with  a  large 
amount  of  guns  and  ammunition. 

1863.  Jan.  11.  Banks' Baid  through 
Western  Louisiana.  General  Banks  de- 
termined to  ravage  a  portion  of  the  rich 
country  in  Western  Louisiana.  The  ex- 
pedition left  on  the  1 1  th  of  January,  and 
after  a  march  of  four  days  arrived  at 
Pattersonville,  where  there  were  eleven 
hundred  confederates  protected  by  a  gun- 
boat. The  confederates  were  beaten  in 
a  sharp  battle,  and  their  gunboat  de- 
stroyed. The  expedition  was  abandoned, 
being  almost  a  total  failure.  Banks  con- 
centrated his  army  at  Baton  Rouge, 
preparatory  to  running  the  batteries  at 
Port  Hudson,  in  conjunction  with  Far- 
ragut. 

1863.  Jan.  26.  Burnside  Superseded 
by  Hooker.  Owing  to  general  discord 
between  General  Burnside  and  his  offi- 
cers, President  Lincoln  led  him  to  give 
over  his  command  to  Gen.  Hooker. 

1863.  Jan.  31.  The  Army  on  the 
Bappahannock.  The  Army  of  the 
Potomac  was  very  weak  by  the  last  of 
January.  The  weather  was  cold  and 
blustering,  and  the  roads  impassable. 
The  recent  disasters  of  hard  fighting  and 
rough  marshes  had  telling  effect  on  the 
soldiers.  However,  a  "  Peace  Faction  " 
had  been  stirring  up  dissatisfaction,  and 
the  enemies  of  the  government,  at  the 
north,  called  for  a  compromise  of  the  two 
governments,  after  the  unsuccessful  cam- 


650 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


paigns  of  McClellan  and  Buell.  Schem- 
ing politicians  tried  to  raise  a  spirit  of 
disloyalty  among  the  federal  troops.  But 
this  was  quelled  by  the  vigilant  and  ener- 
getic Hooker.  The  cavalry  was  thor- 
oughly organized  into  an  efficient  corps, 
which  had  never  been  done  before.  It  is 
a  curious  fact  that  Hooker  used  to  offer 
$5.00  for  a  dead  cavalryman,  but  now 
the  cavalry  was  no  longer  a  useless  ex- 
pense to  the  government.  As  soon  as 
the  roads  permitted,  the  hitherto  "  laugh- 
ing stock  of  the  army  "  made  themselves 
severely  felt  in  the  way  of  daring  raids 
within  the  confederate  lines.  Lee  was 
also  drilling  and  reorganizing  his  infantry, 
cavalry,  and  artillery.  The  cavalry  re- 
taliated for  the  federal  raids,  and  several 
bloody  cavalry  battles  were  fought  during 
the  two  months  following.  Lee  still  held 
his  position  near  Fredericksburg,  which 
he  strengthened  by  great  earthworks. 

1863.  Feb.  3.  Attempt  on  Fort 
Donelson.  The  garrison  at  the  fort  was 
only  six  hundred  Union  soldiers,  with 
five  small  cannon.  Wheeler's  force  of 
nearly  five  thousand  advanced  in  the 
morning,  and  demanded  the  surrender 
of  the  garrison;  but  Col.  A.  C.  Harding 
refused,  and  maintained  a  gallant  defence, 
until  the  gunboats  came  to  his  assistance, 
and  dispersed  the  cavalry. 

1863.  Feb.  9.  Good  for  Evil.  A 
ship  named  George  Griswold  which  had 
sailed  from  New  York  with,  a  cargo  of 
food  worth  $200,000,  contributed  by 
New  York  merchants  for  the  starving 
operatives  of  Lancashire,  England,  ar- 
rived at  Liverpool.  An  American  ship 
of  war  was  sent  with  it  as  a  convoy,  be- 
cause of  the  danger  upon  the  high  seas 
arising  from  the  confederate  privateers, 
which  had  been  fitted  out  by  English 
supplies. 


THE  SIOUX  WAR. 

1863.  Feb.  28.  Execution  of  the 
Savages.  In  the  autumn  of  1862  bands 
of  hostile  Sioux  Indians,  under  Little 
Crow,  committed  the  most  barbarous 
massacres  upon  the  white  inhabitants  of 
Minnesota  and  Dakota.  Little  Crow 
and  his  followers  were  incited  to  hostili- 
ties by  confederate  emissaries,  who  caused 
the  Indians  to  become  dissatisfied  with 
the  transactions  between  themselves  and 
the  United  States  government.  Over 
seven  hundred  whites  fell  victims  to  the 
savage  tomahawk.  Gen.  H.  H.  Sibley, 
with  a  force  of  militia,  then  routed  Little 
Crow  at  Wood  Lake,  and  took  five  hun- 
dred prisoners.  Three  hundred  of  these 
were  tried  by  court  mai'tial,  and  sentenced 
to  death.  But  President  Lincoln  inter- 
fered, and  all  but  thirty-nine  were  re- 
leased. These  were  hung  at  Mankato, 
Minn.,  on  this  date.  But  the  war  did 
not  end  till  three  or  four  months  later, 
when  Gen.  Pope  dispersed  and  drove 
Little  Crow's  band  into  the  Rocky 
Mountains. 

1863.  March  4.  The  National  Acad- 
emy of  Arts  and  Sciences  was  founded 
by  congress.  The  only  money  it  has 
had  was  a  legacy  from  Alexander  Dallas 
Bache,  and  therefore  it  could  not  publish  . 
much. 

THE  IMPOSTOR  GUNBOAT. 

1863.  March.  The  confederates  on 
the  Mississippi  had  in  February  captured 
the  Union  ram  Queen  of  the  West  which 
had  done  them  considerable  harm,  and 
the  Indianola,  a  large,  powerful  ironclad 
belonging  to  Porter's  fleet.  The  last 
was  disabled  by  a  fierce  attack  from  a 
confederate  ram,  aided  by  two  gunboats. 
Her  conquerors  set  at  work  to  make  her 
into. a  vessel  for  their  own  use,  and  would 


1863-1808.] 

have  had  a  valuable  addition  to  their 
river  armament.  While  they  were  doing 
1863.  March  10.  th}S)  pOrter  rigged  up  a 

Prince  of  Wales     ,  ..  ,   n 

married.  *arge»  disused  flat  boat,  SO  as 

to  resemble  a  ram  in  the  darkness.  Pork 
barrels  were  set  up  on  its  deck  to  imitate 
smoke-stacks.  This  successful  imitation 
was  sent  upon  its  silent  way,  without  a 
man,  down  past  the  Vicksburg  batteries, 
where  sharp  eyes  were  on  the  watch. 
The  whole  force  of  guns  was  trained 
upon  it.  Not  a  sound  came  in  reply. 
More  of  a  monster  did  it  seem  for  this. 
It  was  esteemed  something  which  had 
no  need  to  notice  shot  and  shell.  The 
Queen  of  the  West  fled  swiftly.  The 
Indianola  had  not  yet  been  set  afloat,  and 
was  blown  to  atoms  to  prevent  her  from 
being  captured  by  the  unknown.  Just 
after  she  had  been  blown  up,  the  real 
character  of  the  strange  visitor  was  dis- 
covered by  the  confederates. 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


651 


1863.  March  13.  Banks  and  the 
Port  Hudson  Batteries.  Gen.  Banks 
sent  twelve  thousand  troops  to  divert  the 
attention  of  the  forts  at  Port  Hudson, 
while  Farragut  could  run  his  boats  by 
the  batteries  next  morning.  That  night 
was  very  dark,  and  Farragut  concluded 
to  do  the  work  before  daylight.  The 
fleet  consisted  of  four  frigates,  five  gun- 
boats, and  six  mortars.  The  gunboats 
were  lashed  to  the  frigates,  and  all  moved 
silently  up  the  river.  But  they  were 
seen,  and  a  bonfire  put  them  all  into  the 
light  of  day.  Broadside  after  broadside 
was  poured  into  them  for  an  hour  and 
a  half,  when  the  fleet  withdi'ew,  leaving 
the  splendid  frigate  Mississippi  in  flames. 

1863.  April  12.  Banks'  March  to 
Red  River.  The  devastation  of  the  pro- 
ductive agricultural  region  west  of  the 
Mississippi  again  became  Banks'  aim 


after  the  failure  at  Port  Hudson.  He 
sent  out  a  force  which  drove  back  the 
confederates  as  far  as  Pattersonville. 
Another  force  made  a  stand  at  Bisland, 
and  dislodged  the  confederate  general, 
Richard  Taylor,  who  burnt  several 
steamers,  bridges,  and  transports  of  sup- 
plies, and  fled.  The  Queen  of  the  West 
was  captured,  and  burnt  by  the  confeder- 
ates. Banks  was  now  with  the  expedi- 
tion, and  pushed  on  and  captured  Alex- 
andria on  the  Red  River. 

1863.  April  17.  Grierson's  Cavalry 
Raid.  While  Grant  was  pounding  away 
on  the  north  of  Vicksburg,  his  cavalry 
was  scouring  Western  Mississippi.  Grier- 
son  started  on  a  destructive  raid  from 
La  Grange  down  through  Ripley,  Ma- 
con,  Montrose,  and  Hazlehurst,  halting 
at  Baton  Rouge.  He  swept  around  the 
rear  of  the  confederates,  through  swamps 
and  gulches,  destroying  telegraph,  rail- 
road, and  other  property,  arriving  at  Baton 
Rouge  on  May  2.  The  property  de- 
stroyed amounted  to  six  million  dollars. 

1863.  April  27.  The  steamer  Anglo- 
Saxon  was  lost  off  Cape  Race,  with  a 
loss  of  237  lives. 

1863.  April  28.  The  Veteran  Re- 
serve Corps  of  the  United  States  was 
organized  among  officers  and  soldiers 
who  were  rendered  incapable  of  active 
service  by  wounds  or  disease,  but  who 
could  do  light  duty  in  garrison  and  hos- 
pital service,  or  in  the  enlistment  of  men. 
This  corps  did  much  which  otherwise 
able-bodied  soldiers  must  have  done.  Its 
services  were  invaluable.  Over  60,000 
men  entered  it  at  different  times. 

"THE  RESPONSIVE  CHORD." 

1863.  The  following  affecting  inci- 
dent is  given  as  it  is  told  by  a  writer 
since  the  war: 


652 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


"In  the  early  spring  of  1863,  when  the 
confederate  and  federal  armies  were  con- 
fronting each  other  on  the  opposite  hills 
of  Stafford  and  Spottsylvania,  two  bands 
chanced  one  evening  to  discourse  sweet 
music  on  either  bank  of  the  river.  A 
large  crowd  of  soldiers  of  both  armies 
gathered  to  listen  to  the  music,  the 
friendly  pickets  not  interfering,  and  soon 
the  bands  began  to  answer  each  other. 
First  the  band  on  the  northern  bank 
would  play  '  Star  Spangled  Banner,' 
'  Hail  Columbia,'  or  some  other  national 
air,  and  at  its  conclusion  the  '  boys  in 
blue'  would  cheer  most  lustily.  And 
then  the  band  on  the  southern  bank 
would  respond  with  '  Dixie,'  or  '  Bonnie 
Blue  Flag,'  or  some  other  southern 
melody,  and  the  boys  in  gray  would 
attest  their  approbation  with  an  '  old 
confederate  yell.'  But  presently  one  of 
the  bands  struck  up,  in  sweet  and  plaintive 
notes  which  were  wafted  across  the  beau- 
tiful Rappahannock,  and  were  caught 
up  at  once  by  the  other  band  and  swelled 
into  a  grand  anthem  which  touched  every 
heart,  '  Home,  Sweet  Home  !'  At  the 
conclusion  of  this  piece  there  went  up  a 
simultaneous  shout  from  both  sides  of  the 
river — cheer  followed  cheer,  and  those 
hills  which  had  so  recently  resounded 
with  hostile  guns,  echoed  and  re-echoed 
the  glad  acclaim.  A  chord  had  been 
struck  responsive  to  which  the  hearts  of 
enemies — enemies,  then — could  beat  in 
unison." 

1863.  May  1.  Battle  of  Port  Gib- 
son. How  to  secure  Vicksburg  now 
puzzled  Grant.  A  canal  was  started 
across  Milliken's  Bend,  but  an  overflow  of 
the  river  destroyed  it.  Another  Yazoo 
expedition  resulted  in  a  failure,  because 
of  the  difficulty  of  navigating  the  river. 


Finally,  on  the  night  of  the  i6th  of  April 
the  transports  were  floated  past  the 
Vicksburg  batteries  under  cover  of  the 
smoke  from  the  gunboats.  The  troops 
made  a  detour,  and  halted  at  New  Car- 
thage. A  five  hours'  siege  of  Grand 
Gulf  proved  fruitless,  and  the  fleet  was 
run  past,  as  at  Vicksburg,  without  much 
injury.  A  strong  confederate  force  con- 
fronted the  troops  at  Port  Gibson. 
McPherson  steadily  pushed  back  the 
confederate  left,  but  his  left  was  also- 
impeded.  After  another  struggle  the 
confederates  recoiled,  and  retired  into 
Port  Gibson,  pursued  by  the  federals. 
Night  closed  the  battle,  but  the  light  of 
the  following  morning  revealed  a  de- 
serted village.  The  confederates  had 
fled,  burning  the  bridges  behind  them. 

BATTLE  OF  CHANCELLORSVILLE. 

1863.  May  2-3.  On  the  2yth  of 
April  Hooker  crossed  the  Rappahan- 
nock ten  miles  below  Fredericksburg, 
leaving  Gen.  Sedgwick  with  three  corps 
to  mask  the  movement  from  Lee,  and 
then  take  Fredericksburg  at  an  oppor- 
tune moment.  The  roads  were  muddy,, 
and  the  streams  swollen  by  heavy  rains. 
Hooker  reached  Chancellorsville  on  the 
southeast,  and  took  post  in  the  Wilderness. 
Lee  discovered  the  movement  in  time 
and  did  not  retreat  toward  Richmond,  as 
was  supposed.  He  prepared  to  fight. 
Aware  of  his  peril  in  the  Wildei'ness,, 
Hooker  ordered  his  army  forward  to 
meet  Lee.  The  opposing  columns  came 
together  just  before  noon  on  May  i  st,  and 
the  federals  were  driven  back  to  their  de- 
fence of  breastworks  and  abatis  at  Chan- 
cellorsville. Hooker  made  preparation 
for  a  strong  defense.  At  six  o'clock  on 
the  evening  of  May  2d,  Jackson  burst 
through  the  fo'rest  like  a  terrible  tornado, 


1863-1868.] 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


653 


and  scattered  the  federal  right  like  chaff, 
killing  and  capturing  a  great  number. 
But  the  flying  federals  were  soon  rallied, 
and  reformed,  with  a  powerful  support. 
A  desperate  struggle  followed.  It  was 
while  trying  to  follow  up  his  advantage 
that  Stonewall  Jackson  fell,  having  been 
shot  in  the  twilight  by  some  of  his  own 
men.  It  was  a  loss  never  made  good  to 
the  confederacy.  He  died  on  the  loth  of 
May.  His  command  devolved  upon 
Gen.  Stuart.  The  confederate  leaders 
now  thought  best  not  to  continue  the  at- 
tack, and  withdrew.  The  federals  also 
fell  back.  That  night  Hooker's  force 
was  increased  to  sixty  thousand,  while 
Lee  had  only  forty  thousand.  Hooker 
constructed  a  new  line  of  entrenchments 
for  the  inevitable  attack  on  the  following 
morning,  and  Lee  massed  his  artillery  on 
the  heights  commanding  the  federal 
lines.  At  dawn  on  the  3d  Stuart  ad- 
vanced to  the  attack.  Slowly  the  fed- 
erals were  crowded  back  to  a  second  line 
of  entrenchments,  fighting  desperately 
every  step  of  the  way.  In  the  heat  of 
this  struggle,  which  lasted  till  noon,  the 
federals  were  without  a  head,  Hooker 
having  been  rendered  senseless  by  the 
falling  of  a  huge  stone  from  the  Chan- 
cellor House,  caused  by  a  shell  from  the 
confederate  artillery.  Hooker  resumed 
command  at  noon.  The  federal  army 
was  now  in  a  fair  way  to  be  captured  or 
dispersed  by  its  victors.  But  the  confed- 
erates were  also  in  an  exceedingly  critical 
condition.  While  the  heavy  fighting 
was  going  on  at  Chancellorsville,  Sedg- 
wick  had  crossed  the  Rappahannock  and 
took  the  heights  at  Fredericksburg  by 
storm,  driving  Early's  force  back  in  dis- 
order. He  was  now  about  to  fall  upon 
Lee's  rear.  This  was  averted  on  the  4th. 
Early  retook  the  heights,  and  Lee  again 


turned  his  attention  to  the  army  in  front. 
A  heavy  rain  prevented  an  attack  on  the 
5th,  and  on  the  following  day  Hooker 
returned  to  his  old  grounds,  opposite 
Fredericksburg,  followed  by  Lee.  Thus 
ended  a  disastrous  defeat  of  the  federals, 
and  a  dear-bought  victory  of  the  confed- 
erates. The  confederate  loss  was  twelve 
thousand,  including  two  thousand  prison- 
ers. The  federal  losses  were  seventeen 
thousand  men  and  twenty  thousand  stands 
of  arms,  besides  an  immense  amount  of 
ammunition. 

1863.  May  3.  Close'of  the  Siege  of 
Suffolk.  Ever  since  the  loss  of  their 
navy  yard  at  Norfolk  the  confederates 
had  been  trying  to  regain  that  portion  of 
Virginia.  Early  in  April  Lee  started 
Longstreet  off  to  Suffolk  with  thirty 
thousand  troops  to  capture  the  federal 
army  of  fourteen  thousand,  under  Gen. 
J.  J.  Peck.  Many  bold  but  vain  attempts 
were  made  to  take  the  place,  and  after  a 
siege  of  one  month  Longstreet  turned 
away  disheartened,  while  Lee  was  win- 
ning a  victory  at  Chancellorsville. 

1863.  May  3.  Stoneman's  Cavalry 
Raid.  Gen.  Stoneman  made  an  exten- 
sive raid  through  Virginia  with  10,000 
cavalry.  He  moved  with  great  celerity 
around  by  Culpepper  Court  House  and 
Gordonsville,  destroying  an  immense 
amount  of  property  and  railway  stock. 
But  he  failed  in  the  great  object  of  the 
expedition,  to  cut  off  Lee's  communica- 
tion with  Richmond. 

VALL&NDIGHyLM'S  FREEST. 

1863.  May  4.  Clement  L.  Vallan- 
digham,  a  citizen  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
arrested  for  having  made  seditious 
speeches,  and  having  entertained  treason- 
able intentions.  A  proclamation  had 


654 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


been  issued  by  Gen.  Burnside,  whose  dis- 
trict included  Ohio,  declaring  that 
speeches  or  acts  calculated  to  aid  the  con- 
federates would  not  be  permitted.  Val- 
landigham  defied  the  proclamation  by 
making  the  most  bitter  and  inflammatory 
speeches.  After  his  arrest  he  was  tried 
by  a  court-martial,  and  sentenced  to  con- 
finement for  the  war.  This  was  after- 
ward changed  by  an  order  that  he  be 
sent  within  the  confederate  lines,  and  if 
found  again  in  northern  territory  that  the 
penalty  be  executed.  But  the  brave  man 
deserted  the  South,  fled  to  Nassau,  thence 
to  Canada,  where  he  remained  in  com- 
parative peace.  After  his  exile  from 
Ohio  his  democratic  friends  of  the  Peace 
Faction  nominated  him  for  governor. 

COLOMBIAN  CONSTITUTION. 

1863.  May  8.  A  new  constitution 
was  proclaimed  in  the  United  States  of 
Colombia,  and  a  provisional  government 
established  under  it,  with  Mosquera  as 
provisional  president  till  an  election 
could  be  held.  Religious  liberty  was 
granted,  and  church  property  confiscated 
by  this  constitution.  The  ire  of  the  pope 
was  aroused,  and  the  repeal  of  the  con- 
stitution urged  by  an  encyclical  letter,  but 
it  was  not  obtained.  Don  Manuel  Mu- 
rillo  Toro  was  elected  first  president, 
and  assumed  the  office  April  i,  1864. 
The  term  of  office  was  limited  to  two 
years. 


1863.  May.  The  "  Credit  Mobilier 
of  America  "  was  organized  as  a  joint 
stock  company  with  a  capital  of  $3,500,- 
ooo  to  do  a  banking  business. 

DRAFT  DIFFICULTIES. 

1863.  May  8.  In  accordance  with 
an  act  of  congress  in  1862,  and  on  ac- 


count of  discouragements  to  volunteer- 
ing, produced  by  the  Peace  Faction, 
President  Lincoln  issued  a  proclamation 
ordering  an  enrolling  board  to  be  formed 
in  each  congressional  district.  The  draft 
began  in  July.  It  created  a  great  dis- 
turbance, and  was  strongly  objected  to 
by  the  opposition  party.  The  draft  was 
also  the  occasion  of  a  great  riot  in 
the  city  of  New  York.  The  news  of 
Gettysburg  and  Vicksburg  dismayed  the 
leaders,  and  the  insurgents  were  quieted. 
The  stream  of  volunteers  once  more 
flowed  freely.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
the  South  had  hoped  for  very  much  from 
this  revolutionary  resistance  at  the  North. 

STONEWALL  JACKSON. 

1863.  May  10.  Gen.  Thomas  J. 
Jackson,  familiarly  known  as  "  Stone- 
wall "  Jackson,  died  at  the  Chandler 
House,  at  Guiney's  Station,  near  Rich- 
mond, whither  he  had  been  carried  after 
the  battle  of  Chanccllorsville.  His 
wounds  were  owing  to  one  of  the  sad 
casualties  of  war.  After  a  terrible  on- 
slaught made  by  his  men  upon  Howard's 
eleventh  corps  at  Chancellorsville,  at  a 
time  when  he  considered  a  great  gain 
made,  he  rode  off  with  a  few  of  his  staff 
to  plan  still  further  movements.  When 
riding  back  to  the  confederate  lines,  night 
was  coming  on,  and  he  and  his  com- 
panions were  thought  to  be  union  scouts. 
They  were  therefore  fired  on  by  the  con- 
federates, and  Jackson  received  three 
balls,  one  in  each  hand,  and  another  in 
the  left  arm  below  the  elbow.  The  lat- 
ter broke  the  bone,  and  cut  an  artery. 
After  a  few  minutes  he  was  taken  care 
of  by  his  friends.  His  arm  was  shortly 
after  amputated,  and  the  wounds  would 
not  have  proved  fatal,  had  not  pneu- 
monia set  in  and  carried  him  off  as  one 


1863-1868.J 

of  its  victims.  In  his  cooperation  with 
Lee,  Gen.  Jackson  was  preeminent.  His 
force  and  strategy  were  inestimable  qual- 
ities in  the  confederate  army,  and  his  loss 
was  severely  felt.  His  moral  convictions 
were  deeply  bound  up  in  the  confederate 
cause,  and  the  spirit  of  leadership  seemed 
to  have  waited  for  the  civil  war  for  the 
privilege  of  expression.  He  was  born  at 

trksburg,  Va.,  Jan.  21,  1824,  and  was 
re  fore  but 
ty-nine  years 
ge.  He  was 
a  graduate  of 
We$t  Point  in 
1846,  and  passed 
through  the 
Mexican  war 
with  great  hon- 
or. He  was  af- 
terward for  some 
years  preceding 
the  civil  war,  a 
professor  in  the 
military  acad- 
emy of  Virginia, 
at  Lexingto'n. 
He  was  a  pro- 
fessing Christian, 
and  was  a  deacon 
in  a  Presbyterian 
church.  His 
moral  tone  was 
high,  and  his 
prayers  for  the  success  of  the  confederate 
cause  were  frequent  itmd  intense. 

1863.  May  14.  Battle  of  Jackson, 
Miss.  Having  lost  the  battle  of  Port 
Gibson,  the  confederates  eVacuated  Grand 
Oulf  to  avoid  being  flanketl  by  McCler- 
nand.  On  the  I2th  McPheYson  met  two 
brigades  of  confederates  drawn  up  across 
the  road  near  Raymond.  A  .sharp  com- 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


655 


GENERAL  STONEWALL  JACKSON   PRAYING   IN   HIS  TENT. 


bat,  ending  in  a  bayonet  charge  by  the 
federals,  broke  their  lines,  and  they  fled 
to  Jackson.  Grant  ordered  the  remain- 
ing corps  to  Jackson,  as  Gen.  J.  E.John- 
ston was  expected  there.  This  was  to 
get  between  Johnston  and  Pemberton, 
crush  the  latter  at  Vicksburg  before 
Johnston  could  come  to  his  aid,  and  thus 
leave  no  enemy  in  the  rear  of  the  fed- 
erals. Early  on  the  morning  of  the 
1 4th  McPherson 
pushed  on  and 
drove  back  the 
confederatepick- 
ets,  five  miles 
from  Jackson. 
Further  on  was 
a  heavy  force 
posted  in  a  ra- 
vine, and  on  the 
brow  of  a  hill. 
Against  this  Mc- 
Pherson made 
several  vigorous 
attacks,  but  the 
confederates 
stood  firm.  A 
bayonet  charge 
with  loaded 
muskets  caused 
them  to  abandon 
their  stronghold, 
and  fly  to  the 
entrenchments  of 
the  city.  The  federals  pursued  a  short 
distance,  when  they  halted.  When 
they  advanced  again  they  found  the  city 
vacant.  Sherman  had  approached  from 
the  opposite  side,  shelled  the  place,  and 
had  driven  out  the  military  and  civil 
officers,  who  took  with  them  most  of  the 
valuables  of  the  state.  The  triumphant 
armies  entered  and  found  the  stores  and 
supplies  all  ablaze.  The  fugitives  spared 


656 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


the  deaf  and  dumb  asylum,  of  which  the 
federal  troops  took  possession,  and  the 
flag  of  the  Union  waved  over  one  more 
principal  city  of  the  confederacy. 

1863.  May  16.  Battle  of  Champion 
Hills.  Johnston  fled  northward  from 
Jackson,  and  asked  Pemberton's  cooper- 
ation to  crush  the  federal  rear  at  Clinton. 
Ignorant  of  the  disaster  which  had  be- 
fallen his  chief  at  Jackson,  Pemberton 
hastened  toward  Clinton  on  the  i5th, 
\vith  all  possible  speed.  When  he  had 
gone  as  far  as  Champion  Hills,  Grant 
pounced  down  upon  him  and  forced  him 
into  battle.  The  battle  ground  was  on 
the  Edward  Station  Road,  with  a  hill  on 
the  left,  covered  by  a  dense  forest.  To 
reach  the  enemy  the  federals  ascended  a 
steep  slope,  in  the  face  of  a  cutting 
shower  of  bullets.  At  eleven  on  the 
i6th  the  battle  was  opened,  and  kept  up 
for  an  hour  and  a  half  with  desperation. 
At  five  o'clock  in  the  evening  Logan's 
division  gave  the  finishing  stroke  to  the 
victory  by  falling  on  the  confederate  left, 
and  the  whole  army  fell  back  in  confu- 
sion. Pemberton  ordered  the  retreat  to 
continue  across  the  Big  Black.  Grant 
vigorously  pursued,  capturing  two  thou- 
sand prisoners. 

1863.  May  17.  Battle  on  the  Big 
Black  River.  After  dark  on  the  i6th 
the  pursuit  was  abandoned,  the  federals 
having  captured  a  railroad  train  laden 
with  provisions.  The  confederates  halted 
in  a  strong  position  across  the  river.  On 
Sunday  morning,  the  i  yth,  the  pursuit  was 
renewed.  The  confederate  skirmishers 
were  driven  across  the  river  in  wild  con- 
fusion. The  panic  was  communicated  to 
the  main  body  on  the  opposite  shore,  and 
the  whole  army  fled  to  the  entrench- 
ments at  Vicksburg,  burning  the  bridges 
behind  them.  The  spoils  of  the  victory 


were   fifteen   hundred    prisoners,  several 
thousand    stands   of   arms,  and  a   larsre 

7  o 

quantity  of  commissary  stores. 

FREXCH  IN  CITY  OF  MEXICO. 

1863.  June  10.  The  reverses  of  the 
patriot  army  in  Mexico  were  such  as  to 
enable  the  French  to  seize  the  capital, 
which  they  did  with  great  pleasure  to 
themselves  and  to  the  church  party. 
Juarez,  without  giving  up  the  contest, 
removed  his  government  to  San  Luis 
Potosi.  He  was  steadily  and  firmly 
bound  to  free  his  country  from  danger. 


1863.  June  15.  Lee's  Second  In- 
vasion. Battle  of  Winchester.  Lee 
felt  that  if  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania 
could  be  foraged  to  fill  the  empty  gran- 
aries of  the  confederacy,  and  a  revolution 
be  stirred  up  within  the  North,  peace 
would  follow  at  his  own  nsr-ises. 
dictation.  It  was  not  until  wimteiy. 

Lee  had  started  on  his  raid  that  the 
people  of  the  North  fully  comprehended 
the  real  state  of  affairs.  The  call  for 
troops  was  then  answered  to  the  number 
of  fifty  thousand,  of  whom  one-half  were 
patriotic  Pennsylvanians.  Lee  oi'ganized 
his  army  into  three  corps,  commanded  by 
Longstreet,  Ewell,  and  A.  P.  Hill.  He 
left  Hill's  corps  to  hold  Fredericksburg,, 
and  put  the  remainder  of  the  finest  army 
ever  mustered  by  the  confederacy  in  a 
march  to  the  North,  on  the  3d  of  June. 
He  moved  westward  by  Cul pepper  Court 
House,  where  Stuart's  cavalry  was  con- 
centrated. At  BWerly  Ford,  on  the 
Rappahannock,  a  brigade  of  his  advance 
was  defeated  by  Gen.  Pleasanton,  with 
his  cavalry,  which  had  been  thrown  out 
by  Hooker  to  detect  Lee's  movements. 
But  Pleasanton  retreated,  having  ascer- 
tained that  Lee  was  advancing  in  full 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 
federal    right,   and    that 


1863-1868.] 

force  on  the 
Ewell  was  hurrying  into  the  Shenandoah. 
Ewell  marched  rapidly  westward  for 
three  days,  and  on  the  I5th  confronted 
Milroy,  who  was  at  Winchester  with  ten 
thousand  troops.  Milroy  desired  to  en- 
gage his  antagonist ;  but,  after  a  heavy 
skirmish  against  great  odds,  he  was  per- 
suaded by  his  council  to  make  a  hasty  re- 
ti'eat,  with  his  wagon  train,  to  Harrisburg. 
The  Shenandoah  was  now  cleared  for 
the  invaders,  after  the  garrison  at  Ha:-- 
per's  Ferry  moved  across  to  Maryland 
Heights. 

1863.  June  20.  West  Virginia  was 
admitted  into  the  Union  as  the  thirty -fifth 
state.  It  has  23,000  square  miles,  and 
618,193  inhabitants  in  1880.  Its  motto 
is  "  Montani  semper  liberi."  "  Moun- 
taineers are  always  free." 

BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG. 

1863.  July  1-3.  Lee  kept  Hooker 
blinded  as  to  his  intentions,  and  gained 
a  week's  start  of  him.  Longstreet  fol- 
lowed the  advance  corps  of  the  invading 
army,  by  way  of  Culpepper  Court  House, 
and  took  post  at  Winchester.  When 
Hooker  perceived  that  he  had  been 
cheated,  he  instantly  started  after  Lee, 
always  careful  to  protect  Washington. 
Satisfied  that  the  way  was  clear  after  he 
flanked  Hooker,  Lee  pushed  rapidly  on, 
unimpeded.  No  power  from  the  Poto- 
mac to  the  Hudson  seemed  adequate  to 
stay  his  onward  march.  City  after  city 
surrendered  to  the  victorious  Ewell,  and 
the  ultimate  capture  of  Washington  was 
most  probable.  People  fled  from  Phila- 
delphia with  their  valuables,  to  places  of 
safety.  The  people  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland  now  began  to  see  the  wisdom 
of  the  entreating  addresses  by  Governor 
Curtin,  and  all  classes  flocked  together, 

42 


657 


formed  companies,  regiments,  brigades, 
and  armies,  and  prepared  for  the  defence 
of  their  firesides.  In  the  meantime,  Gen, 
Hooker  was  preparing  to  cut  through 
the  Blue  Ridge  Range  and  intercept  Lee's 
retreat,  all  the  while  guarding  Wash- 
ington and  Harper's  Ferry.  Hooker 
recommended  the  abandonment  of  the 
latter  place  in  order  to  reinforce  his  army 
sufficient  to  enable  him  to  march  against 
the  audacious  enemy.  But  General-in- 
chief  Halleck  sternly  refused,  and  Hooker 
asked  to  be  relieved.  The  request  was 
granted;  and  on  the  ayth  of  June,  Gen. 
George  G.  Meade  was  put  in  command. 
The  removal  of  Hooker  was  a  terrible 
blow  to  the  soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  for  he  was  greatly  respected 
by  his  men.  But  the  noble  veterans  soon 
overcame  their  prejudices,  and  were  again 
ready  to  defend  the  life  of  their  country,, 
which  was  then  in  great  peril.  Lee  now 
became  alarmed  at  his  enemy,  greatly 
augmented,  on  his  flank,  and  immediately 
ordered  a  retrograde  movement.  In 
order  to  concentrate  his  force,  he  directed 
Ewell  to  fall  back  to  Gettysburg,  and 
Longsti'eet  and  Hill  to  advance  on  the 
Chambersburg  road,  through  Gettysburg,, 
toward  Baltimore.  Meade  collected  his 
army  to  sweep  the  enemy  from  the  midst 
of  the  terrified  citizens,  for  he  knew  the 
movements  then  made  would  develop 
into  a  most  sanguinary  test  battle.  On 
the  night  of  June  3Oth  six  thousand  of 
Meade's  cavalry,  under  Buford,  arrived 
before  Gettysburg.  Several  cavalry  en- 
gagements and  some  heavy  skirmishing 
had  taken  place  before  this,  but  they 
were  only  gusts  of  wind  proclaiming  the 
terrible  gale  which  was  then  brewing. 
The  following  morning  the  confederates 
attacked  Buford;  but  by  skillful  move- 
ments he  kept  them  in  check  till  Rey- 


(558 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


nolds'  corps,  followed  by  Howard's,  came 
to  his  relief.     Reynolds  opened  the  battle, 
but  was  struck  by  a  rifle  ball,  and  fell. 
Gen.  Doubleday  took  his  place.     Neither 
commander   had    planned    to   have   the 
battle  at  Gettysburg.    Meade  was  arrayed 
at  Pipe  Creek,  fifteen  miles  from  Gettys- 
burg; while   Lee  stopped  at  Gettysburg 
as  a  base  for  defensive  operations.     By  a 
heavy  infantry  charge,   Doubleday  was 
pushed  back  to  Seminary  Ridge,  taking 
with  him  eight  hundred   prisoners.     As 
he    fell    back    through    the   village    his 
troops  became  entangled  in    the  streets, 
and  three  thousand    of  them  were  cap- 
tured.     Both    sides    received    reinforce- 
ments, and    early  in    the   afternoon   the 
battle  became  severe.     The  federal  line 
now  extended  three  miles  in  length,  in 
the  form  of  a  triangle.     Having  ranked 
Doubleday,    Howard   continued   the   re- 
treat  to   Cemetery   Ridge,   covered   by 
Buford's   cavalry.      This  ended  the  first 
day's  battle.     All  that  night  troops  kept 
arriving   and   taking    their   position   by 
moonlight — the    federals    on    Cemetery 
Ridge,  and  the  confederates  on  Seminary 
Ridge.     On  the  morning  of  the  ad  both 
commanders  were  loth  to  make  an  attack, 
Lee  wishing  to   draw  Meade  from   his 
strong  position,  and  the  latter  being  un- 
willing to  leave  it.     The  forenoon  thus 
passed  quietly  away,  with  some  skirmish- 
ing.    By  a  mistake  Sickles  took  a  posi- 
tion on  the  left  from  Round  Top,  in  front 
of  Meade's  intended  line  of  battle.     This 
was  a  bait,  and  Lee  swallowed  it.     He 
directed  Longstreet  to  crush  this  force, 
Ewell  to  attack  the  federal    right,  and 
Hill    the    center,    thus    securing    Little 
Round  Top.     Meade  was  thus  forced  to 
support  Sickles,  who  was  finally  forced 
back  to  Cemetery  Ridge,  after  a  desper- 
ate hand-to-hand  struggle.     Here  Sickles 


stood  firmly.  Elated  by  this  partial  vic- 
tory the  confederates  rushed  boldly  up  to 
the  foot  of  the  federal  position,  but  were 
gallantly  repulsed.  By  vigorous  charges 
and  counter-charges,  Ewell  succeeded  in 
getting  a  foothold  on  Gulp's  Hill,  at  ten 
o'clock  that  night.  But  at  four  o'clock 
in  the  morning  he  was  assailed  by  the 
federal  right,  and  forced  back,  after  a 
four  hours'  struggle.  Lee  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  the  forenoon  in  preparation 
for  a  tremendous  blow  on  Meade's  center. 
Batteries  had  been  erected  during  the 
night,  and  at  one  o'clock  Lee  opened  on 
Hancock's  position  with  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  guns.  One  hundred  federal  guns 
answered  promptly.  For  two  hours  the 
air  was  alive  with  shells,  the  terrible 
explosions  shaking  the  whole  region. 
When  the  artillery  firing  ceased,  the  con- 
federates made  a  general  advance,  and  a 
most  deadly  strife  ensued.  They  scaled 
Cemetery  Hill,  but  were  hurled  back, 
terribly  maimed,  with  the  loss  of  five 
thousand  prisoners,  and  several  thousand 
small  arms.  This  was  near  sunset,  and 
ended  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  Both 
armies  were  eighty  thousand  strong. 
The  federal  loss  was  twenty-three  thou- 
sand. The  confederate  loss  was  never 
reported,  but  was  estimated  from  reliable 
data  at  thirty-six  thousand.  Lee's  con- 
dition was  critical;  and,  ignorant  of  his 
opponent's  condition,  he  began  to  retreat, 
both  armies  having  lain  on  the  battle 
ground  over  night.  The  retreat  was 
continued  toward  the  Potomac,  in  the 
midst  of  heavy  rains,  on  the  5th.  Lee 
was  disheartened,  and  in  great  distress. 
His  magnificent  army  was  cut  away  one- 
half,  and  the  other  half  worn  out.  The 
veterans  who  fell  in  windrows  at  Gettys- 
burg could  never  be  replaced.  The  idea 
of  northern  invasion  was  now  a  thing  of 


1863-1808.] 

The  confederates  were  slowly  pushed 
back  behind  the  parapets,  but  left  the 
mark  of  their  guns  in  the  federal  ranks. 
Night  closed  the  first  struggle  of  the 
siege.  Banks  worked  against  great  dis- 
advantages, and  was  in  the  midst  of  im- 
minent danger.  Johnston  might  sweep 
around  Grant's  rear  and  crush  him, 
while  small  forces  were  rapidly  gather- 
ing, which  might  collect  at  any  time,  and 
prove  disastrous  to  his  plan ;  and  in  his 
front  was  an  equal  force,  with  superior 
advantages.  On  the  nth  of  June  he 
made  an  attempt  to  plant  his  lines  closer 
to  the  confederate  works,  but  failed,  hav- 
ing reached  the  abatis.  Day  and  night 
the  federals  kept  up  an  incessant  fire 
with  their  ponderous  artillery.  Again, 
on  the  14th,  Banks  ordered  the  confeder- 
ate works  to  be  taken  by  storm,  after 
demanding  an  unconditional  sui-render 
from  Gardner,  following  the  example  of 
Grant  at  Vicksburg.  Gardner's  supplies 
and  ammunition  were  now  getting  low, 
and  everything  was  in  an  exhausted  con- 
dition; but  he  refused,  vainly  expecting 
aid  from  Johnston.  The  siege  wore  on 
after  the  fashion  of  the  Vicksburg  siege. 
The  long,  gaunt  fingers  of  famine  were 
reaching  out  over  the  garrison,  mules 
and  rats  furnishing  their  meat.  "  Vicks- 
burg has  surrendered!"  was  the  death- 
knell  to  the  hopes  of  the  besieged.  On 
the  pth  of  July  six  thousand,  four  hun- 
dred prisoners  of  war  marched  out  as  the 
victims  of  a  formal  surrender.  Nearly 
eleven  thousand  prisoners  had  been  taken 
during  the  campaign.  The  last  barrier 
to  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  was 
now  removed,  and  its  removal  was  hailed 
with  acclamations  all  over  the  North. 
Occurring  just  after  the  surrender  of 
Vicksburg  and  the  great  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, it  was  the  turning  point  of  the  war. 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


663 


On  the  other  hand,  the  confederates' 
prophets  foretold  a  speedy  recovery  of 
all  that  had  been  lost,  and  the  establish- 
ment of  their  government. 

MEXICO  AN  EMPIRE. 

1863.  July  10.  After  the  French 
army  entered  the  City  of  Mexico,  a  con- 
vention of  "  notables "  was  called,  and 
the  question  of  government  discussed.  A 
vote  was  finally  passed  at  this  date  by  a 
vote  of  250  to  20  to  establish  an  empire, 
with  a  hereditary  monarchy.  It  was  de- 
cided to  offer  the  crown  to  some  Roman 
Catholic  prince,  and  the  Archduke  Maxi- 
milian, of  Austria,  was  selected.  He  did 
not  reach  Mexico  till  the  following  year. 
In  the  meantime  the  war  was  still  carried 
vigorously  on. 

1863.  July.  Montes,  president  of 
Honduras,  was  overthrown  by  Gen.  Me- 
dina. The  republic  had  been  involved 
in  discords  since  1839.  Comparative 
peace  has  now  existed  for  most  of  the 
time  since. 

DRAFT  RIOT  IN  NEW  YORK. 

1863.  July  13-15.  In  accordance 
with  orders  from  the  national  govern- 
ment,, a  draft  was  begun  over  the  coun- 
try, and  a  great  riot  broke  out  in  New 
York,  and  for  three  days  raged  uncon- 
trolled. The  building  where  the  draft 
had  begun,  was  burned  down,  and  a  great 
crowd  at  once  went  to  plundering  houses 
and  stores,  maltreating  citizens,  and  defy- 
ing all  law  and  order.  Colored  persons 
were  killed,  and  an  orphan  asylum,  con- 
taining two  hundred  colored  children, 
was  completely  destroyed.  Attempts  to 
suppress  the  riots  were  made  by  Gov. 
Seymour,  who  undertook  to  conciliate 
the  crowd  by  opposing  the  draft,  but  it 


664 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


was  to  no  purpose.  An  end  did  not 
come  till  troops  began  to  arrive,  and 
take  severe  measures  in  aid  of  the  police. 
A  thousand  persons  were  killed  and  in- 
jured. Riots  occurred  in  other  cities,  but 
not  to  such  an  extent.  Drafts  were  after- 
ward held  in  New  York  without  any 
difficulty. 

1863.  July  15.  Thanksgiving  Proc- 
lamation. President  Lincoln  issued  a 
proclamation,  bidding  the  people  observe 
Aug.  6th  as  a  day  of  national  thanksgiv- 
ing in  gratitude  for  the  turn  of  the  war 
by  the  victories  of  Gettysburg  and 
Vicksburg. 

SAM  HOUSTON. 

1863.  July  25.  Gen.  Sam  Houston 
died  at  Huntersville,  Texas,  aged  seventy 
years.  He  was  born  near  Lexington, 
Va.,  March  2,  1793.  His  father  died 
when  Sam  was  ten  years  old,  and  the 
widow,  with  her  eight  children,  moved  to 
East  Tennessee.  This  son  seems  to  have 
had  a  fondness  for  reading  and  study, 
which  was  never  gratified.  His  mental 
powers  were  good,  and  his  memory 
especially,  was  excellent.  His  physical 
condition  was  one  of  fine  development. 
When  he  was  disappointed  in  his  studies, 
and  had  found  himself  averse  to  any 
ordinary  service  as  clerk,  he  ran  off  and 
lived  with  the  Indians  for  three  years. 
He  gained  the  friendship  of  the  Indians, 
and  as  late  as  1829  was  admitted  to  all 
the  rights  of  the  Cherokee  nation.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  gone  through  the 
war  of  1812  with  honor,  and  then  had 
interested  himself  in  Indian  affairs.  This 
interest  he  maintained  during  his  life,  and 
was  of  great  service  to  his  red  friends. 
In  the  movements  which  led  to  the  inde- 
pendence of  Texas,  Mr.  Houston  was 
prominent,  and  had  great  influence  in 


shaping  events.  He  was  a  chief  leader 
in  the  war  which  followed,  and  at  San 
Jacinto  led  his  eight  hundred  men  in  an 
irresistible  charge  against  one  thousand 
six  hundred  Mexican  regulars,  almost 
annihilating  them.  He  served  as  presi- 
dent of  Texas  during  two  terms,  and 
conducted  affairs  with  great  wisdom.  At 
the  admission  of  Texas  to  the  Union, 
Mr.  Houston  was  elected  a  U.  S.  senator, 
which  position  he  held  till  1859.  He 
firmly  opposed  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill, 
and  always  tried  to  secure  justice  for  the 
Indian  tribes.  In  1859  he  was  elected 
governor  of  Texas,  but  being  wholly  in 
favor  of  the  Union,  he  was  led  by  the 
clamor  of  the  people  for  secession  in  1861, 
to  resign  his  office.  He  was  a  man  of 
strong  convictions  and  wise  judgments. 


1863.  July  26.  Capture  of  the 
Guerilla  Chief  Morgan.  During  the 
months  of  June  and  July  the  famous 
guerilla  chief,  J.  H.  Morgan,  made  an 
extensive  raid  through  Ohio  and  Indiana. 
With  four  thousand  mounted  and  armed 
men  he  dashed  through  the  country  from 
place  to  place,  plundering  property,  and 
committing  ravages  on  the  surprised  and 
defenceless  people,  for  his  own  private 
benefit.  But  the  Home  Guards  soon  rose 
up  to  environ  his  path.  At  Kyger's 
Creek  all  but  five  hundred  of  his  fol- 
lowers were  captured  by  General  Hobbs. 
Morgan,  himself,  made  good  his  escape 
with  the  fugitives,  but  was  taken  with 
them  at  New  Lisbon,  Ohio,  by  Col. 
Shackleford.  The  chief  was  confined 
in  a  Columbus  prison  for  a  few  days,  but 
escaped  and  fled  to  Richmond,  where  he 
was  appointed  a  major-general,  and  sta- 
tioned in  Southwestern  Virginia. 

1863.  Aug.  13.  QuantrelTs  Raid 
and  Massacre  at  Lawrence,  Kan.  The 


1863-1868.] 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


665 


secessionists  in  Arkansas  and  Missouri 
took  occasion  to  rally.  Marmaduke 
made  a  raid  through  Southwestern  Mis- 
souri, and  Coffee  through  Arkansas. 
One  Quantrell,  with  three  hundred  fol- 
lowers, entered  the  town  of  Lawrence, 
Kan.,  at  dawn  on  the  i3th  of  August, 
and,  after  brutally  murdering  its  defence- 
less citizens,  fired  the  town  and  fled. 
This  kind  of  warfare  was  kept  up  inces- 
santly by  the  confederates. 

1863.  Sept.  7.  Siege  of  Charleston, 
S.  C.  Evacuation  of  Fort  Wagner. 
Gen.  T.  W.  Sherman  held  Eclisto  Island, 
a  short  distance  below  Charleston,  and 
Admiral  Dupont  prepared  to  cooperate 
with  the  land  forces  under  Gen.  Hunter. 
Dupont  had  such  confidence  in  his  iron- 
clads and  monitors  that  he  attempted 
to  run  the  gauntlet  of  Fort  Sumter. 
But  when  the  shots  from  the  fort 
increased  to  the  rapidity  of  the  tick 
of  a  watch,  the  iron-clads  had  little 
effect  on  the  fort,  and  they  soon 
floated  off  beyond  the  range  of  its  guns. 
In  June,  another  naval  battle,  similar  to 
the  one  between  the  .Merrimac  and 
Monitor,  took  place  in  Warsaw  Sound 
between  the  Weeha-wkcn,  a  monitor,  and 
the  confederate  iron-clad  Atlanta.  The 
Weehawken,  much  smaller  than  her 
powerful  antagonist,  was  assisted  by  sev- 
eral other  iron-clads;  but  before  they 
could  come  to  her  aid  she  captured  the 
Atlanta.  This  completed  the  triumph 
of  vessels  of  the  monitor  class.  Gen.  Q. 
A.  Gill  more  then  succeeded  Gen.  Hunter, 
and  Rear- Admiral  J.  A.  Dahlgren'  took 
charge  of  the  naval  forces,  instead  of  A. 
H.  Foote,  who  had  died  on  his  way  to 
relieve  Dupont.  Two  unsuccessful  at- 
tempts we-re  made  on  Fort  Wagner, 
owing  to  the  heavy  fire  from  Sumter. 
Heavy  siege  guns  were  then  placed  in 


line,  and  a  desperate  attempt  was  made 
by  the  land  troops  to  seize  the  fort,  but 
they  were  repulsed  by  the  overwhelming 
numbers  of  the  confederates,  with  great 
loss,  especially  in  the  colored  regiments. 
Batteries  were  erected,  and  a  heavy 
bombardment  was  carried  on.  An  eight- 
inch  gun,  called  the  "  Swamp  angel,"  was 
mounted  on  spiles  driven  into  the  mud  in 
the  marsh  west  of  Morris  Island.  It 
threw  shells  five  miles  into  Charleston, 
but  soon  burst,  and  its  labors  ceased. 
Finally  Gillmore  ordered  the  fort  to  be 
taken  by  storm,  but  the  confederates 
evacuated  it  on  the  yth  of  September, 
after  a  bombardment  of  three  weeks. 
The  federals  occupied  it,  taking  posses- 
sion of  nineteen  guns.  Meanwhile, 
Charleston  had  been  copiously  shelled, 
and  Fort  Sumter  was  reduced  to  a  shape- 
less mass.  On  the  day  after  the  capture 
of  Fort  Wagner  an  attempt  was  made 
to  occupy  Sumter,  but  it  ended  in  defeat. 
1863.  Sept.  10.  Surrender  of  Lit- 
tle Hock.  Grant  sent  a  ises.  Sept.  23. 
force  to  capture  Little  G'  Martin  ran 

50  miles  in  6  A., 

Rock.  They  entered  the  17  m.,  at  London. 
city,  which  formally  surrendered,  and 
drove  back  Price  and  Marmaduke,  who 
had  returned  from  Missouri. 

1863.  Sept,  19-20.  Battle  of  Chick- 
amauga  ("River  of  Death.")  Rose- 
crans  kept  comparatively  quiet,  awaiting 
an  opportunity  to  strike  Bragg  a  stunning 
blow.  In  June  the  opportunity  came, 
while  Lee  was  engaged  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  the  other  Southern  armies  were  held 
in  subjection  by  Grant.  Bragg  held  a 
strong  position  on  Duck  River,  south  of 
Murfreesboro'.  By  successive  deceptive 
measures,  Rosecrans  caused  Bragg  to 
evacuate  his  strong  position,  and  flee  to 
Chattanooga ;  and  then  waited  till  the 
crops  were  sufficiently  grown  to  furnish 


666 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


forage,  before  he  pressed  the  pursuit. 
In  August  he  began  to  manoeuver  for  the 
capture  of  Chattanooga.  His  force  was 
sixty  thousand ;  Bragg's  about  forty  thou- 
sand. From  their  imposing  display 
Bragg  supposed  that  Gen.  Hazen's  brig- 
ades, which  were  gaining  his  rear,  were 
the  advance  of  an  immense  army,  and 
abandoned  Chattanooga,  again  retreating 
on  the  8th  and  9th  of  September.  Gen. 
Burnside,  who  held  command  of  the 
Army  of  the  Ohio,  moved  with  great 
celerity  through  Kentucky  and  East 
Tennessee,  sending  a  part  of  his  com- 
mand to  Grant's  aid.  He  captured 
Cumberland  Gap,  and  on  the  9th  joined 
Rosecrans.  Meanwhile,  Buckner  had 
joined  Bragg,  increasing  his  force  to 
sixty  thousand.  The  possession  of  Chat- 
tanooga was  now  of  vital  importance  to 
both  armies.  The  prisoners  paroled  by 
Grant  at  Vicksburg,  were  taken  to 
swell  Bragg's  ranks,  in  violation  of  all 
civilized  law.  Longstreet  also  joined 
Bragg's  army,  and  his  force  was  raised 
to  eighty  thousand.  Thinking  Bragg  to 
be  in  full  retreat,  and  ignorant  of  the  fact 
that  he  had  received,  instead  of  having 
sent  away,  troops,  Rosecrans  began 
operations  to  flank  the  flying  army, 
scattering  his  army  over  a  large  space 
of  country.  When  he  perceived  his 
peril,  he  rapidly  concentrated  his  army 
before  Bragg  in  the  Chickamauga  Val- 
ley. On  the  1 8th  there  was  some  skir- 
mishing, but  both  commanders  were  too 
busily  engaged  preparing  for  the  evident 
battle,  to  engage  deeply.  Bragg  pur- 
sued the  same  plan  as  at  Murfreesboro', 
massing  on  the  right ;  but  Rosecrans 
made  such  a  wise  disposition  of  his  army 
on  the  night  of  the  i8th,  that  the  execu- 
•  tion  of  it  was  prevented.  On  the  follow- 
ing morning  Thomas,  commanding  the 


federal  left,  was  informed  that  a  confed- 
erate brigade  was  across  the  Chicka- 
mauga Creek,  apparently  alone.  An 
attempt  to  seize  this,  resulted  in  a  battle. 
By  ten  o'clock  the  arnlies  were  heavily 
engaged.  A  furious  charge  by  the  fed- 
erals drove  the  confederates  back  a  mile 
and  a  half.  But  they  rallied,  and  in  turn 
drove  the  federals.  Batteries  were  taken 
and  retaken,  and  prisoners  were  taken 
from  both  lines.  Darkness  closed  the 
first  day's  battle,  which  was  indecisive. 
A  heavy  fog  and  some  derangements 
prevented  an  immediate  attack  in  the 
morning.  When  the  fog  lifted,  Bragg's 
troops  were  massed  on  the  right,  ready 
to  push  between  ^the  federal  army  and 
Chattanooga.  Troops  were  drawn  from 
the  federal  center  and  right,  to  aid  the 
left.  Longstreet  perceived  this,  and  at 
an  opportune  moment  swept  the  federal 
right  and  center  from  the  field,  endan- 
gering Chattanooga.  With  nearly  one- 
half  the  .Union  troops  in  his  command, 
Thomas  now  held  the  fate  or  fortune  of 
the  whole  army  in  his  hands.  If  he  gave 
way,  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  would 
be  routed.  But  the  "Rock  of  Chicka- 
mauga" stood  unshaken  by  brigade  after 
brigade  hurled  against  him,  until  sunset. 
At  night  he  withdrew  to  the  entrench- 
ments at  Chattanooga,  leaving  his  dead 
and  wounded  on  the  field.  The  federal 
loss  in  this  engagement  was  about  six 
thousand,  but  their  strength  had  b.een 
expended  in  the  slaughter  of  a  much 
greater  number — nearly  twenty-one  thou- 
sand 'confederates. 

1863.  Oct.  15.  Battle  of  Bristow 
Station  and  Movements  in  Virginia. 
For  some  time  after  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg Lee  and  Meade  remained  passive. 
While  Lee  was  conducting  his  retreat, 
he  made  a  feint  to  return  up  the  Shenan- 


1863-1868.] 

doah,  but  it  was  counteracted  by  the  pru- 
dent and  cautious  Meade,  who  moved 
back  over  the  same  route  whence  Hooker 
had  come.  He  moved  to  the  Rappahan- 
nock,  when  Lee  retired  to  Culpepper 
Court  House.  Longstreet's  corps  was 
then  taken  from  Lee's  army  to  assist 
Bragg  in  the  West,  and  two  corps  of 
Meade's  army,  under  Gen.  Hooker, were 
sent  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 
In  October  Lee  attempted  a  demonstra- 
tion on  Washington.  He  successfully 
turned  Meade's  flanks  and  pushed  him 
back  nearly  to  Manassas.  At  Bristow's 
Station,  Gen.  Warren,  with  a  corps  from 
Meade's  army,  defeated  Hill's  corps,  tak- 
ing five  hundred  prisoners.  Meade  then 
advanced  toward  the  Rappahannock.  At 
Rappahannock  Station,  Sedgwick  met 
Ewell  and  captured  sixteen  hundred  of 
his  men,  with  a  loss  of  three  hundred. 
Lee  became  alarmed  at  this  proximity  of 
the  federals,  and  again  retreated  across 
the  Rapid  Anna  to  Mine  Run,  where  he 
prepared  for  winter  quarters.  Meade 
crossed  the  Rappahannock,  and  made 
Brandy  Station  a  depot  of  supplies.  His 
army  now  numbered  seventy  thousand; 
that  of  Lee,  fifty  thousand.  He  resolved 
to  strike  the  confederates  a  severe  blow 
as  soon  as  prudence  would  allow,  and 
late  in  November  moved  toward  Lee's 
new  position.  He  advanced  and  con- 
fronted Lee  on  the  2yth,  but  found  his 
position  too  strong  to.  make  a  battle  prof- 
itable. Meade's  supplies  were  too  low 
for  an  extended  engagement;  so  he  re- 
treated to  his  old  camping  ground,  and 
went  into  winter  quarters.  During  the 
summer  and  fall  of  '63  there  was  consid- 
erable skirmishing  in  West  Virginia;  but 
by  the  last  of  November  all  organized 
hostilities  in  that  state  ceased,  and  it  was 
abandoned  to  the  government,  to  which 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE.  667 

it  had  been  admitted  on  the  2Oth  of  the 
previous  June. 

1863.  Oct.  16.  Military  Affairs  in 
the  West.  On  the  i6th  of  October  an 
order  was  sent  out  from  the  War  Depart- 
ment, directing  the  consolidation  of  the 
Armies  of  the  Ohio,  Cumberland,  and 
Tennessee,  with  Grant  as  commander. 
By  the  same  order  Sherman  was  ap- 
pointed commander  of  the  Tennessee 
army,  and  Thomas  succeeded  Rosecrans, 
who  was  relieved.  This  step  was  neces- 
sary in  order  to  cope  with  the  confeder- 
ates, who  were  sparing  no  efforts  to  seize 
Chattanooga.  Previous  to  this,  and  after 
the  battle  of  Vicksburg,  Grant  sent 
Sherman  to  drive  Johnston  from  Western 
Mississippi.  Sherman  drove  Johnston 
from  Jackson  on  the  loth  of  July. 
While  there  the  Union  soldiers  committed 
depredations  which  brought  a  great 
blemish  on  their  characters.  Sherman 
then  returned  to  Vicksburg,  and  cast  up 
works  for  the  defense  of  the  city.  In- 
stead of  sending  Herron  to  assist  Banks 
at  Port  Hudson,  Grant  ordered  him  back 
up  the  Yazoo,  just  as  Port  Hudson  was 
surrendered.  Herron  made  a  successful 
expedition,  taking  a  number  of  prisoners, 
and  two  thousand  bales  of  cotton.  About 
this  time  Gen.  Holmes,  with  eig-ht  thou- 

'  O 

sand  troops,  the  remnants  of  decimated 
confederate  armies,  attempted  to  capture 
Helena,  in  Arkansas.  But  Gen.  Prentiss 
was  there  with  a  large  garrison,  and 
sorely  smote  the  confederates,  killing 
about  one-third  of  the  entire  army. 


BEECHER  IN  ENGLAND. 

1863.  Oct.  20.  The  famous  speeches 
of  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  in  England,  in 
behalf  of  the  American  government, 
closed  with  one  in  Exeter  Hall,  London, 
which  will  hold  several  thousands  of  peo- 


668 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


pie.  The  crowd  upon  the  occasion,  not 
only  filled  the  hall  so  densely  that  police- 
men were  obliged  to  carry  Mr.  Beecher 
in  on  their  shoulders,  but  filled  the  streets 
outside  with  thousands.  Mr.  Beecher 
had  spoken  at  Edinburgh,  Glasgow,  Liv- 
erpool, and  other  places,  in  each  doing  a 
great  work  for  the  Union.  In  Liverpool, 
especially,  he  fought  the  opposition  of  a 
rough  audience,  and  finished  his  speech 
in  spite  of  great  turbulence,  and  many 
interruptions.  The  effect  of  his  visit 
was  lasting.  His  arguments  carried  con- 
victions to  hundreds  of  vacillating  hearts. 


1863.     October.    Several  steam  rams 

built  in  England  by  Laird,  for  the  con- 
federate states,  were  seized  by  the  Eng- 
lish government. 

BOSTON  MUSIC  HALL  ORGAN. 
1863.  Nov.  2.  The  greatest  organ 
then  on  this  continent,  was  inaugurated 
in  Music  Hall,  Boston,  for  which  it  had 
been  built  after  seven  years'  study  and 
oversight  on  the  part  of  a  committee 
appointed  to  procure  it.  The  audience, 
at  the  inauguration,  filled  the  vast  hall, 
and  hailed  the  instrument  with  delight. 
This  organ  is  sixty  feet  high,  forty-eight 
feet  wide,  and  twenty-four  feet  deep.  Its 
cost  was  nearly  $60,000.  It  was  built  in 
Germany  by  Herr  Walcker,  of  Lud- 
wigsburg.  There  are  nearly  six  thou- 
sand pipes  within  it. 


1863.  Nov.  3.  The  Fenian  broth- 
erhood held  their  first  national  congress 
at  Chicago.  The  organization  had 
spread  all  over  the  United  States,  and 
through  the  Union  army.  About  15,000 
Fenians  were  represented  in  this  as- 
sembly, which  declared  James  Stephens 
to  be  the  "  head  center."  It  took  meas- 


ures   to    raise    money,  and    perfect    the 
organization. 

LINCOLN'S  GETTYSBURG  SPEECH. 

1863.  Nov.  19.  A  national  cemetery 
was  consecrated  upon  the  battle  field  of 
Gettysburg,  at  which  a  large  number 
were  present.  Edward  Everett  deliv- 
ered an  oration,  and  President  Lincoln 
made  a  short  speech,  which  has  passed 
into  the  treasured  litei'ature  of  the  nation. 
He  spoke  as  follows: 

"  Fourscore  and  seven  years  ago  our 
fathers  brought  forth  upon  this  continent 
a  new  nation,  conceived  in  liberty,  and 
dedicated  to  the  proposition  that  all  men 
are  created  equal. 

"  Now  we  are  engaged  in  a  great  civil 
war,  testing  whether  that  nation,  or  any 
nation  so  conceived  and  so  dedicated,  can 
long  endure.  We  are  met  on  a  great 
battle  field  of  that  war.  We  are  met  to 
dedicate  a  portion  of  it  as  the  final  resting 
place  of  those  who  hei'e  gave  their  lives 
that  that  nation  might  live.  It  is  alto- 
gether fitting  and  proper  that  we  should 
do  this. 

"  But  in  a  larger  sense  we  cannot  dedi- 
cate, we  cannot  consecrate,  we  cannot 
hallow  this  ground.  The  brave  men, 
living  and  dead,  who  struggled  here,  have 
consecrated  it  far  above  our  power  to 
add  or  detract.  The  world  will  little 
note  nor  long  remember  what  we  say 
here,  but  it  can  never  forget  what  they 
did  here.  It  is  for  us,  the  living,  rather 
to  be  dedicated  here  to  the  unfinished 
work  that  they  have  thus  far  so  nobly 
carried  on.  It  is  rather  for  us  to  be  here 
dedicated  to  the  great  task  remaining  be- 
fore us — that  from  these  honored  dead 
we  take  increased  devotion  to  the  cause 
for  which  they  gave  the  last  full  measure 
of  devotion — that  we  here  highly  resolve 


1863-1868.] 

that  the  dead  shall  not  have  died  in  vain, 
that  the  nation  shall,  under  God,  have  a 
new  birth  of  freedom,  and  that  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  people,  by  the  people,  and 
for  the  people,  shall  not  perish  from  the 
earth."  

1863.  Nov.  20.  Ecuador  declared 
war  upon  Gen.  Mosquera,  president  of 
New  Grenada,  because  he  had  tried  to 
bring  the  former  back  into  the  recon- 
structed republic  of  Colombia.  The 
collision  resulted  in  the  total  and  decisive 
defeat  of  the  army  of  Ecuador,  with  a 
loss  of  1,500  killed,  and  2,000  taken 
prisoners.  The  war  was  not  renewed. 

1863.  Nov.  23-25.  Battle  of  Chat- 
tanooga. After  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  Bragg  closed  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  and  threatened  it  with  star- 
vation. The  federal  communication  was 
cut,  and  the  supplies  were  low,  when 
Grant  arrived,  secured  the  source  of  sup- 
plies, and  added  Hooker's  and  Sherman's 
corps  to  the  army.  Affairs  soon  changed. 
Bragg  had  sent  Longstreet  to  operate 
against  Burnside  in  East  Tennessee; 
and  was  now  compelled  to  assume  at 
once  a  defensive  attitude  on  Lookout 
Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge,  and  in  the 
Chattanooga  valley.  In  the  meantime 
great  preparations  were  made  by  Bi'agg 
for  a  protracted  siege.  Several  recon- 
noitering  parties  were  sent  out,  and 
•many  skirmishes  took  place.  Grant 
finally  developed  a  general  plan  for  at- 
tacking the  confederate  position.  On  the 
23d  Thomas  dashed  out  under  cover  of  a 
heavy  artillery  fire  from  the  guns  at 
Chattanooga,  and  seized  Orchard  Knob. 
This  resulted  in  an  immediate  battle, 
with  a  victory  for  the  federals.  Bragg 
was  now  puzzled.  The  next  morn- 
ing Hooker  charged  the  fortifications 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


669 


on  the  mountain.  It  was  a  beau- 
tiful day,  and  crowds  of  spectators 
were  eagerly  watching  the  movements, 
and  waiting  their  results.  The  bands  dis- 
coursed their  liveliest  music,  and  the  men 
were  dressed  in  their  best  uniforms,  as  if 
on  a  parade.  Hooker  ordered  his  men 
to  charge  up  the  ascent,  and  make  a 
stand  when  they  reached  the  high  ground ; 
but  enveloped  by  the  glow  and  enthusi- 
asm of  the  attack,  and  the  grandeur  of 
the  "  battle  above  the  clouds,"  they  rushed 
up  over  the  summit,  sweeping  every- 
thing before  them.  During  this  time 
Sherman  was  making  furious  assaults  on 
the  right.  On  the  following  morning 
Hooker  advanced  on  the  south  of  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  to  aid  Sherman.  Bragg 
made  a  draft  on  his  center  to  repel  these 
attacks.  Grant  perceived  this  and  pushed 
Thomas'  corps  forward  to  annihilate  the 
enemy's  center,  with  orders  to  take  the 
rifle  pits  at  the  foot  of  Missionary  Ridge, 
then  halt,  and  reform.  But,  carried  away 
by  the  ardor  of  the  charge,  they  swept 
forward  in  broken  lines,  up  the  slope, 
over  rocks  and  chasms,  heedless  oi 
the  tempest  of  bullets  hurled  into  their 
faces.  While  this  was  enacting,  Grant 
caught  the  inspiration  and  ordered  a 
grand  charge  along  the  whole  line. 
This  was  promptly  executed.  The  fed- 
erals rushed  up  to  the  batteries  on  the 
summit,  captured  them,  and  turned  them 
on  the  retreating  foe.  That  night  the  fed- 
eral camp  fires  on  the  mountains  pro- 
claimed a  brilliant  victory.  Grant  or- 
dered an  immediate  pursuit.  At  Ring- 
gold  Bragg's  rear  made  a  feeble  resist- 
ance, and  then  fled.  But  the  pursuit  was 
soon  abandoned,  because  Burnside  was 
being  crowded  by  Longstreet,  and  needed 
aid.  Gi-ant's  loss  was  nearly  six  thou- 
sand. Bragg's  loss,  including  prisoners, 


670 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


was  about  nine  thousand,  with  the  usual 
loss  of  arms  and  provisions.  Could 
Grant  have  followed  up  this  victory  the 
entire  confederate  army  would  have 
been  captured  or  cut  up  in  detail.  As 
it  was,  another  door,  besides  that  at 
Vicksburg,  was  opened  into  the  heart  of 
the  confederacy. 


1863.  Nov.  27.  A  confederate  mili- 
tary prison  was  this  day  established  by 
Capt.  W.  S.  Winder,  at  Andersonville, 
Ga.,  on  the  side  of  a  small  hill  which 
had  a  stream  running  past  its  foot.  A 
strong  stockade  was  built,  and  a  band  of 
earthworks  established  around  it.  The 
famous  "dead-line"  was  a  low  rail 
running  around  the  prison  ground  about 
nineteen  feet  from  the  stockade,  on  the 
inside.  The  object  of  it  was  to  prevent 
any  prisoner  from  coming  near  the  stock- 
ade for  the  purpose  of  escaping  over  it. 
The  whole  number  of  prisoners  regis- 
tered here  was  49,485.  The  full  number 
of  deaths  recorded  was  12,462.  On  Aug. 
9,  1864,  there  were  33,006  prisoners 
there.  The  number  of  escaping  prison- 
ers was  328.  The  confederates  investi- 
gated the  condition  of  the  prison  at  dif- 
ferent times,  by  medical  examiners. 
'  Henry  Wirz  was  in  charge  of  the  prison 
as  superintendent.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  the  cemetery  was  taken  in  charge 
by  the  national  government,  and  laid 
out  with  care. 

1863.  Dec.  4.  Close  of  the  Siege  of 
Knoxville.  When  Longstreet  departed 
for  East  Tennessee,  Grant  oi'dered  Burn- 
side  to  lure  the  confederate  leader  away 
as  far  as  possible,  while  the  siege  of 
Chattanooga  was  going  on,  and  halt  for 
a  siege'  in  some  vicinity  which  could 


furnish  him  plenty  of  supplies.  Burnside 
succeeded  in  drawing  Longstreet  as  far 
away  as  Knoxville,  where  Longstreet 
shut  him  up.  Longstreet's  men  were 
now  in  a  deplorable  state — ragged^  half- 
fed,  and  without  any  tents.  Yet  he 
pressed  the  siege  with  great  faith,  hoping 
to  starve  the  entrenched  army.  Burnside 
had  but  one  avenue  for  supplies,  across 
a  pontoon  bridge,  and  this  was  finally 
cut  off.  But  he  struggled  manfully,  con- 
fident that  Grant  would  send  him  prom- 
ised aid.  When  the  news  of  the  battle 
of  Chattanooga  reached  Knoxville,  Long- 
street  raised  the  siege;  for  he  knew  that 
troops  from  that  source  would  soon 
be  upon  him.  Gen.  Granger,  with 
twenty  thousand  men,  was  ordered  to 
Burnside's  relief.  Sherman  was  also 
sent,  to  make  sure  of  success.  At  the 
appearance  of  these  troops  Longstreet's 
army  filed  out  of  their  earthworks,  on 
the  4th  of  Decembei',  thus  closing  the 
siege  of  Knoxville.  This  practically 
ended  the  third  year  of  the  war.  The 
federals  had  won  victories  in  the  battles 
and  campaigns  of  Vicksburg,  Gettysburg, 
Chattanooga,  and  Port  Hudson  ;  had 
opened  the  Mississippi,  and  had  won  to 
the  Union  large  portions  of  many  seceded 
states.  It  was  now  plain  that  if  Leer 
in  Virginia,  and  Jos.  E.  Johnston,  in 
Georgia,  were  captured,  the  isn-isea. 

r  '  December  2i. 

confederates  would  be  effect-  rhackerav. 
ually  conquered.  To  accomplish  this 
the  federal  armies  were  to  move  in  con- 
cert. The  confederates  had  gained  the 
great  battles  of  Chancellorsville  and 
Chickamauga,  resisted  every  attack  on 
Charleston,  and  had  seized  the  city  of 
Galveston. 

1863.  Dec.  8.  A  great  fire  in  San- 
tiago, S.  A.,  destroyed  the  church  of  the 
Campania,  and  burned  about  two  thou- 


1863-1808.] 

sand  persons,  the  greater  part  of  whom 
were  women. 

1863.  The  confederate  flag  was 
changed  this  year  from  the  "  Stars  and 
Bars,"  to  a  white  flag,  having  the  battle 
flag  on  it  as  a  union. 

1863.  Mangas  Colorado,  a  desperate 
Apache  chief,  who  for  a  half  a  century 
had  led  the  war  parties  of  that  tribe 
against  the  settlers,  and  had  given  vast 
trouble,  was  taken,  and  upon -trying  to 
escape,  was  shot.' 

tf  MONSTER  CANNON. 

1863.  The  Fort  Pitt  iron  works, 
Pittsburg,  Penn.,  cast  a  Rodman  gun 
which  weighed  when  finished,  115,000 
pounds.  When  first  cast,  it  weighed 
1 70,000  pounds.  It  was  243  inches  long, 
and  had  a  bore  210  inches  long.  It  had 
a  diameter  from  34  to  64  inches,  and  a 
2O-inch  caliber.  It  would  throw  a  solid 
shot  of  one  thousand  pounds,  or  a  700 
pound  shell.  In  casting  it  three  furnaces 
were  chai'ged  with  eighty-six  tons  of 
metal.  Six  hours  were  employed  in 
the  melting,  and  twenty-five  minutes  in 
drawing  off  the  great  mass  into  the 
mould.  A  gigantic  lathe  was  specially 
constructed  for  finishing  this  gun.  Other 
guns  of  this  same  caliber  have  been 
since  made  for  sea-coast  defence. 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


1863.  The  Lalande  prize  from  the 
French  Academy  of  Sciences  was  given 
to  Alvan  Clark  of  Cambridge,  Mass., 
for  the  discovery  of  a  new  star  near 
Sirius,  with  a  great  reflecting  telescope 
of  his  own  manufacture.  Mr.  Clavk  has 
attained  a  world-wide  reputation  for  the 
manufacture  of  objectives. 

1863.  The  Eureka  mower,  the  first 
machine  ever  invented  which  worked 
with  a  direct  draft,  was  patented  by  John 


671 

* 

D.  Wilbur  of  New  York.     It  has  since 
won  many  decided  triumphs. 

1863.  The  New  England  Hospital 
for  Women  and  Children  was  incorpo- 
rated at  Boston,  largely  through  the  efforts 
of  Dr.  Marie  Elizabeth  Zakrzewska,  the 
daughter  of  a  Prussian  physician,  who, 
after  having  studied  medicine  at  home, 
came  to  this  country  and  studied  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  order  to  be  admitted 
to  the  profession. 

1863.  Gen.    Penalosa,   who   for   the 
last  two  years  had  led  an  insurrection  in 
three  provinces  of  the  Argentine  Repub- 
lic, was  captured  and  executed. 

1864.  Jan.  23.     Red  River  Expedi- 
tion Planned.     Halleck  ordered   Banks 
to  proceed  up  the   Red   River  with  his 
force  and  the  gunboats.     The  confeder- 
ate numbers  were  from  twenty-five  thou- 
sand to  thirty  thousand,  scattered  from 
Galveston,    under    Magruder,    nearly   to 
Little  Rock,  under  Price.     The  confed- 
erates soon  surmised  the  intentions  of  the 
federals,  and  began  movements  to  meet 
them. 

1864.  Jan.  30.  Gen.  Rosser  made 
a  successful  confederate  raid  in  Harding 
County,  in  the  Shenandoah,  capturing 
cattle,  provisions,  and  two  hundred  and 
seventy  prisoners.  Other  raids  followed 
this,  of  varying  success  for  each  side. 

1864.  Feb.  3.  Sherman's  March 
through  Mississippi.  Toward  the  close 
of  January  Sherman  was  ordered  to 
make  an  expedition  eastward,  to  destroy 
public  property,  and  disperse  a  force  of 
confederates  which  was  being  collected 
to  recapture  Vicksburg.  He  advanced 
to  Jackson  on  the  3d  of  February,  thence 
to  Meridian,  devastating  the  country  as 
he  went.  Here  he  waited  for  a  cavalry 
force,  deeming  it  imprudent  to  go  farther 
without  it.  The  cavalry  was  delayed 


672 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


several  days,  and  Sherman  fell  back  to 
Canton,  followed  by  hundreds  of  Union 
refugees,  and  negroes  of  all  ages.  He 
finally  dispersed  the  organizing  bands, 
and  did  not  leave  a  railroad  or  public 
building  in  his  course. 

1864.  Feb.  5.  Wistar's  Raid.  A 
raid  of  fifteen  hundred  men  was  made 
toward  Richmond,  in  accordance  with  a 
plan  formed  by  Gen.  Butler.  Gen. 
Wistar  led  it,  but  the  attempt  was  fruit- 
less, because  information  concerning  it 
had  been  conveyed  to  the  confederates 
beforehand. 

KNIGHTS  OF  PYTHIAS. 

1864.  Feb.  19.  The  first  lodge. of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  was  oi'ganized  in 
Washington,  D.  C.,  and  known  as  Wash- 
ington Lodge  No.  i.  J.  H.  Rathbone 
prepared  the  ritual  of  the  order,  which 
was  original  in  America. 


1864.  February.  Survey  of  Mexico 
and  Central  America.  An  imperial  de- 
cree of  Napoleon  III.  authorized  a  com- 
mission of  twenty-five  eminent  scientists 
to  make  a  complete  survey  from  the  Rio 
del  Norte  to  the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  in- 
cluding the  geography,  geology,  mineral- 
ogy, climatology,  and  ethnology  of  the 
region.  The  committee  was  divided 
into  four  sections,  and  work  was  begun. 
A  report  in  two  volumes  was  issued  con- 
taining the  official  acts  of  the  commission, 
and  their  preparatory  labors.  The  com- 
plete work  was  never  cai'ried  through. 

1864.  Feb.  20.  Florida  Expedition. 
Battle  of  Olustee.  While  Sherman  was 
raiding  through  Mississippi,  Gen.  Gill- 
more  sent  a  fleet  of  twenty  steamers  and 
one  gunboat,  under  Gen.  Seymour,  to 
repossess  Florida.  Seymour  landed  at 
Jackson  on  the  6th  of  February,  but  was 


met  by  a  body  of  confederates  under 
Finnegan,  at  Olustee,  and  sevei'ely  de- 
feated. He  then  returned  to  Virginia. 

1864.  Feb.  22.  A  state  election 
was  held  in  Louisiana  according  to  a 
proclamation  of  President  Lincoln  issued 
Dec.  8,  1863.  It  was  confined  to  the 
portion  within  the  lines  of  the  United 
States  army.  Michael  Hahn  was  elected 
governor,  and  was  inaugurated  on  the 
4th  of  March.  He  was  afterward  in- 
vested with  military  powers.  At  this 
election  11,414  votes  were  cast. 

1864.  Feb.  28.  Kilpatrick's  Raid. 
A  raid  was  made  from  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  by  Gen.  Kilpatrick,  with  five 
thousand  cavalry,  to  advance  on  Rich- 
mond, and  if  possible  to  re-  1864.  Feb.  29. 
lease  the  Union  prisoners  Pfab°f d™11- 

ings  for  poor  of 
Upon      Belle       Isle      and      in      London  opened. 

Libby  Prison,  who  were  reported  as 
suffering  extremely.  Considerable  harm 
was  done  to  confederate  property  and 
railroads.  The  chief  aim  of  the  raid 
could  not  be  reached,  but  five  hundred 
prisoners  were  taken.  A  detachment 
was  sent  off  at  one  point  in  the  raid  led 
by  Col.  Ulric  Dahlgren,  son  of  Admiral 
Dahlgren,  who  was  killed  in  a  severe 
encounter. 

FIRST  ACCIDENT  INSURANCE. 

1864.  March.  The  first  insurance 
against  accident  occurred  in  Hartford, 
Conn.,  upon  the  street.  A  company  had 
been  organized  in  1863  by  Mr.  James  G. 
Batterson,  who  had  studied  the  working 
of  similar  insurance  in  Europe.  In  June, 
1863,  it  was  chartered  as  the  Travelers' 
Insurance  Company,  but  it  was  not  easy 
to  get  it  into  acceptance  with  the  public. 
But  at  this  time  Mr.  James  Bolter  initi- 
ated the  movement  by  a  question  to  Mr. 
Batterson,  as  follows  :  "  What  will  you 


1863-1868.] 

take  to  insure  me  for  $5,000,  if  I  get 
killed  by  accident  in  going  from  here 
to  my  house  on  Buckingham  Street  ? " 
"  Two  cents,"  was  the  answer.  The  two 
cents  were  paid,  and  are  exhibited  now 
as  the  premium  for  the  first  accident 
insurance  in  America,  where  now  the 
thing  is  so  popular. 

THOMAS  STARR  KING. 

1864.  March  4.  Thomas  Starr  King, 
an  American  clergyman  of  the  Unitarian 
denomination,  died  in  San  Francisco,  at 
the  age  of  forty  years.  He  was  born  in 
New  York,  Dec.  16,  1824,  and  was 
forced  in  his  youth  to  support  his  mother 
and  the  rest  of  the  children,  after  the 
death  of  his  father.  For  this  reason  he 
obtained  no  college  education,  but  while 
earning  money  by  teaching  or  serving  as 
clerk,  he  began  to  read  theology.  He 
settled  over  a  church  in  Charlestown, 
Mass.,  at  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and 
at  twenty-four  became  pastor  of  Hollis 
Street  church,  Boston,  where  he  became 
widely  known  for  his  eloquence,  both  as 
a  preacher  and  a  lecturer.  He  was  a 
great  lover  of  nature,  and  studied  the 
White  Mountains  of  New  Hampshire  in 
their  history,  scenery,  legends,  and  poetry, 
finally  publishing  a  work  which  is  the 
delight  of  every  visitor  thither.  In  1860 
he  took  a  church  in  San  Francisco,  and 
did  much  good  through  California 
during  the  war,  by  his  burning  appeals 
for  the  Union.  His  life  was  brief  but 
brilliant,  and  his  fame  well  deserved. 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


673 


1864.  March  4.  Grant  Made  a 
Lieutenant- General.  The  office  of 
Lieutenant-General  of  all  the  United 
States  armies,  which  had  expired  with 
Gen.  Washington,  was  created  by  act 
of  congress,  and  Gen.  Grant  was  chosen 

43 


for  the  high  position.  The  federal  armies 
now  numbered  about  eight  hundred  thou- 
sand. The  confederate  armies  numbered 
about  four  hundred  thousand. 

1864.  March  14.  Bed  River  Ex- 
pedition.— Capture  of  Fort  de  Russy. 
Banks'  part  of  the  Red  River  expedition 
was  at  last  ready,  and  on  the  loth  of 
March  it  left  Vicksburg  for  Shreveport. 
On  the  approach  of  the  fleet  to  Fort  de 
Russy,  Taylor  determined  to  attack  the 
land  force  before  aid  could  come  to  it. 
Accordingly,  on  the  I4th  of  March,  he 
moved  out  of  his  entrenchments  to  attack 
the  federal  rear.  Gen.  Franklin,  the 
federal  commander,  seized  the  opportu- 
nity,  refused  battle,  and  slipped  into 
Taylor's  entrenchments,  capturing  £ 
large  amount  of  munitions  of  war  and 
ordnance  stores,  and  over  three  hundred 
prisoners.  Meanwhile  the  fleet  passed 
by  unmolested,  and  on  the  following  day 
seized  Alexandria,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  up  the  river. 

1864.  March  14-15-16.  A  loyal  con- 
stitution which  had  been  framed  by  a 
convention  in  Arkansas,  was  submitted 
to  a  vote  of  the  people,  and  received 
12,177  votes  for  jt,  and  226  against  it. 
A  state  government  was  now  speedily 
organized. 

1864.  April  8.  Red  River  Expedi- 
tion. Battle^  of  Sabin  Cross  Roads. 
The  confederates  became  alarmed  at  the 
unimpeded  advance  of  the  federals  up 
the  Red  River.  At  Cane  River  the 
federal  advance  met  the  confederates  in 
considerable  numbers,  but  a  sharp  skir- 
mish, followed  by  a  general  charge,  put 
them  to  flight  with  the  loss  of  six  hun- 
dred prisoners.  On  the  8th  of  April  the 
federal  advance  met  the  confederates  at 
Sabin  Cross  Roads,  drawn  up  in  a 
wedge-shaped  ambuscade.  The  federals 


674 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


attacked  them,  supposing  them  to  be 
only  skirmishers,  when  the  wings  of  the 
wedge  closed  around  the  attacking  party, 
which  fled  in  wild  confusion.  The  panic 
*  was  communicated  to  the  reinforcements 
coming  up,  and  a  miniature  Bull  Run 
ensued.  In  vain  Gen.  Ransom  tried  to 
rally  the  bewildered  fugitives.  However, 
by  the  timely  arrival  of  reinforcements, 
the  army  was  saved  from  utter  destruc- 
tion. The  loss  was  two  thousand  of  the 
eight  thousand  engaged.  At  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day  the  pur- 
suing confederates  came  up  to  them,  but 
were  driven  back  in  a  rout.  .  The  ex- 
pedition then  returned  to  Vicksburg. 
The  river  was  now  so  shallow  that  dams 
had  to  be  built,  so  that  the  fleet  could 
float  away  over  the  bars. 

1864.  April  13.  Massacre  at  Fort 
Pillow.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1864 
Gen.  Forrest  made  a  second  raid  through 
Kentucky,  with  about  five  thousand  con- 
federate guerillas,  under  the  guise  of 
cavalry.  At  Paducah  he  was  repulsed 
by  the  garrison,  with  a  loss  of  three  hun- 
dred. He  then  marched  to  Fort  Pillow, 
where  there  was  a  garrison  of  five  hun- 
dred men  and  the  gunboat  New  Era. 
On  the  morning  of  the  I3th  of  April  he 
made  several  assaults,  but  failed  to  cap- 
ture the  garrison.  He  then  demanded  a 
surrender,  under  cover  of  a  flag  of  truce. 
While  negotiations  were  being  made  he 
secretly  pushed  a  part  of  his  troops  down 
a  ravine,  behind  some  old  buildings  and 
felled  trees,  that  they  might  fall  upon, 
and  surprise  the  fort.  When  a  negative 
reply  was  returned  by  Gen.  Bradford  of 
the  fort,  a  signal  was  given,  and  the  most 
savage  massacre  followed.  All  day  it 
was  kept  up  in  the  most  barbarous 
manner.  Soldiers  and  citizens  were 
butchered,  regardless  of  race,  sex,  or  age. 


Fully  three  hundred  people  were  mur- 
dered in  cold  blood.  In  the  modes  of 
killing,  butchering,  and  burning,  the 
affair  compared  favorably  with  the 
Wyoming  massacre  in  the  Revolution. 
After  Forrest  had  satisfied  his  thirst  for 
blood,  he  began  to  retrace  his  route,  to 
avoid  being  intercepted.  The  wrath  of 
the  confederates  seemed  to  terminate  on 
the  negroes.  Forrest  especially  exc-in- 
plified  this,  hoping  to  prevent  them  from 
enlisting  in  the  Union  armies.  But  his 
conduct  had  only  the  opposite  effect. 
Thousands  escaped  from  their  masters, 
and  enlisted. 

BATTLE  OF  THE  WILDERNESS. 

1864.  May  5-6.  As  soon  as  Grant 
took  command  of  the  federal  armies  he 
determined  to  crush  out  the  rebellion  by 
rapid  and  decisive  blows.  He  decided  to 
advance  on  Richmond  with  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  while  Sherman  should  ad- 
vance on  Atlanta,  against  Johnston,  with 
the  army  of  the  Mississippi.  Both  armies 
were  to  move  in  concert,  to  prevent 
cooperation  of  the  confederate  armies. 
On  the  4th  of  May  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac crossed  the  Rapid  Anna,  and 
Grant  pencilled  a  telegram  to  Sherman 
to  start.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac 
plunged  into  the  Wilderness  and  bivou- 
acked that  night  near  the  old  battle  field 
of  Chancellorsville.  The  confederates 
watched  this  movement  with  great  anxi- 
ety. On  the  5th,  just  after  the  federal 
army  was  in  motion,  making  its  way 
through  the  narrow  recesses  and  almost 
impenetrable  undergrowth  of  the  Wilder- 
ness, Swell's  division  was  met,  drawn  up 
to  dispute  the  path.  A  great  slaughter 
followed.  The  Union  lines  dashed  into 
the  woods  and  commenced  the  struggle 
hand-to-hand  and  face-to-face  with  the 


1863-1868.] 

confederates.  The  dense  woods  forbade 
any  general  movement.  Attempts  to 
mass  and  flank  were  undertaken,  and 
given  up  by  both  sides.  The  tide  of  vic- 
tory surged  to  and  fro  along  the  lines. 
In  the  compact  forest,  clothed  with  great 
clouds  of  smoke,  no  human  eye  could 
trace  the  movements.  Finally,  darkness 
closed  the  battle.  By  this  time  both 
armies  were  concentrated.  Early  on  the 
morning  of  the  6th  the  terrible  butchery 
was  resumed.  The  federals  charged 
over  their  dead  and  wounded  comrades, 
driving  the  enemy  a  mile.  They  held 
this  position  till  noon,  when  they  were 
slowly  pressed  back.  Excited  to  desper- 
ation, Lee  ordered  a  flank  movement. 
Longstreet  and  Jenkins  undertook  the 
task.  But  they  were  defeated  just  at  the 
point  of  attack  by  a  volley  from  a  con- 
federate brigade  which  fired  into  them 
by  mistake.  Jenkins  was  killed,  Long- 
street  rendered  senseless,  and  the  move- 
ment broken  up.  The  contest  again 
closed  with  the  day.  Neither  army  was 
conquered ;  nor  were  the  commanders 
willing  to  continue  the  struggle  on  the 
third  day.  Both  claimed  to  have  "re- 
pelled the  fierce  attacks  of  the  enemy," 
and  both  held 'the  same  ground  in  the  end 
as  at  the  beginning.  Grant's  loss  -was 
nearly  twenty  thousand  men,  while  Lee's 
was  only  ten  thousand. 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


675 


1864.  May  9.  Sheridan's  Raid  To- 
ward Richmond.  .Gen.  Sheridan  was 
sent  by  Grant  to  cut  Lee's  communica- 
tions. He  took  a  large  cavalry'  force  and 
destroyed  a  portion  of  the  Virginia  Cen- 
tral railway,  considerable  rolling  stock, 
1,500,000  rations,  and  set  free  400  Union 
prisoners  who  were  being  taken  to  Libby 
Prison.  In  one  of  his  engagements  on 
this  raid  the  brave  and  energetic  confed- 


erate general,  Stuart,  was  mortally 
wounded.  An  assault  was  made  on  the 
outer  works  around  Richmond,  and  suc- 
cessfully for  a  time,  but  afterward  the 
Union  force  was  driven  back,  and  forced 
to  turn  away.  The  25th  of  May  saw 
Sheridan  back  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac. 

1864.  May  10-12.  Battle  of  Spott- 
sylvania  Court  House.  Grant  surprised 
his  officers  by  ordering  a  movement  of 
the  whole  army  by  way  of  Spottsylvania 
Court  House,  to  turn  Lee's  flank.  Lee 
perceived  the  object  of  his  antagonist,  and 
dispatched  a  force  to  obstruct  the  prog- 
ress. Three  days  of  continuous  ma- 
nceuvering  and  skirmishing  had  passed 
away,  when  everything  was  prepared  for 
a  decisive  battle.  On  the  morning  of  the 
nth  Grant  sent  his  famous  dispatch  to 
the  War  Department,  closing  with  the 
words,  "  I  propose  to  fight  it  out  on  this- 
line,  if  it  takes  all  summer."  The  govern- 
ment fully  sustained  him  in  his  resolu- 
tion; but  it  took  all  summer  and  the  fol- 
lowing winter.  That  day  passed  away 
with  severe  skirmishing.  The  next 
morning,  while  the  confederates  were 
breakfasting,  Hancock  made  a  dash  and 
captured  three  thousand  prisoners  and 
several  guns.  Lee  massed  his  troops 
against  him,  but  Grant  gave  a  strong 
support.  Hancock  held  the  ground  he 
had  gained,  notwithstanding  the  ti-e- 
mendous  attacks  made  by  Lee,  with  a 
fearful  carnage  to  both  sides.  The  fight 
continued  till  midnight,  when  Lee  hope- 
lessly withdrew  his  shattered  columns. 
The  losses  were  heavy,  being  about  ten 
thousand  for  each  side.  The  effect  of 
this  battle  was  momentous.  Great  ex- 
citement resulted  in  both  South  and 
North.  All  eyes  were  now  turned  upon 
Grant  and  Lee.  Daily  bulletins  were 


676 


NATIONAL  CRISES, 


sent  forth  all  over  the  country  to  announce 
results. 

NATHANIEL  HAWTHORNE. 

1864.  May  19.  Nathaniel  Haw- 
thorne, an  American  writer  of  great  repu- 
tation, died  at  Plymouth,  N.H.,  aged  fifty- 
nine  years.  He  was  born  in  Salem,  Mass., 
July  4,  1804.  A  father's  care  was  but 
little  felt  by  him  when  a  boy.  When 
Nathaniel  was  but  four  years  old,  Mr. 
Hawthorne  the  elder  died  in  South 
America.  Although  he  was  much  from 
home  upon  the  sea,  yet  his  death  brought 
a  great  cloud  over  the  widow,  whose 
keen  sensibility  to  such  a  bereavement 
was  an  index  to  the  characteristics  which 
she  had  bequeathed  to  her  son.  Mrs. 
Hawthorne  is  said  to  have  eaten  alone  in 
her  room  for  thirty  years  after  her  hus- 
band's death.  Nathaniel  was  frail,  but 
was  fitted  for  college  in  due  time,  and 
took  his  course  at  Bowdoin  in  the  class  of 
i825,with  Henry  W.  Longfellow,  George 
B.  Cheever,  John  S.  C.  Abbott,  and  other 
well-known  men.  An  intimacy  was 
formed  with  Franklin  Pierce  of  the  class 
of  1824,  afterward  President  of  the 
United  States,  which  never  slackened  in 
its  interest  to  either  party.  The  life  of 
Mr.  Hawthorne  took  a  literary  turn  soon 
after  graduation,  his  first  published  article 
being  "  Fanshawe,"  in  1828.  From  this 
time  he  wrote  quite  steadily.  At  one 
time  he  was  an  employee  in  the  custom 
house  at  Boston,  and  at  another  was  sur- 
veyor for  the  port  of  Salem.  After 
graduation  from  college  he  lived  in 
Salem,  then  in  Boston,  then  at  "  Brook 
Farm,"  which  he  helped  found,  then  at 
Boston,  afterward  in  the  Old  Manse  at 
Concord,  then  in  Salem,  then  at  Lenox, 
finally  in  Concord  again,  which  place 
was  his  home  until  he  died,  while  taking 


a  journey  through  New  Hampshire  for  his 
health,  with  President  Pierce.  He  died 
in  the  night,  without  warning  or  rousing 
any  one.  At  each  of  his  homes  some- 
thing of  his  literary  work  was  done.  He 
was  of  a  shy  disposition,  tending  toward 
a  secluded  life.  His  work  was  not  fully 
understood  at  first,  save  by  a  few  discern- 
ing ones.  But  each  year  has  added  to 
his  power.  It  is  now  recognized  that  he 
had  a  genius  as  unique  as  it  was  remark- 
able. 

RADICAL  CONVENTION. 

1864.  May  31.  A  convention  was 
held  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  by  a  class  of 
northern  men  who  believed  in  taking 
harsher  measures  toward  the  South,  and 
in  stamping  out  opposition  more  vigor- 
ously. John  C.  Fremont  of  California, 
was  nominated  for  president,  and  John 
C.  Cochrane  of  New  York,  for  vice- 
president.  These  men  subsequently  with- 
drew their  names,  and  advised  adhesion 
to  the  regular  republican  nominees. 


1864.  June3.   Battle  of  Cold  Harbor. 

Finding  it  impossible  to  force  the  enemy's 
front,  Grant  began  another  flank  move- 
ment. While  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania 
was  being  fought,  Sheridan  had  made 
his  destructive  cavalry  raid  in  the  rear  of 
the  confederates,  capturing  a  number  of 
prisoners;  and  Gen.  Butler,  with  thirty 
thousand  troops,  ascended  the  James, 
under  cover  of  the  gunboats.  Butler  met 
a  signal  defeat  on  the  Chickahominy  by 
Beauregard,  who  had  come  up  from 
Charleston  to  aid  Lee.  He  now  joined 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  On  the  22d 
of  May  Grant  crossed  the  North  Anna,' 
as  a  movement  toward  Lee's  rear.  But 
Lee  dropped  back,  and  was  strongly 
posted  when  Grant  reached  1864-  Ju™-Oct. 

Cattle  plague  in 

the  river.    Finding  the  con-    England. 


1863-1868.] 

federate  position  too  strong,  Grant  re- 
crossed,  kept  well  to  the  east,  making 
the  Pamunkey  his  objective  point.  Lee 
•was  entrenched  near  Cold  Harbor  when 
Grant  arrived,  on  June  1st.  Some 
skirmishing  that  evening  resulted  in  the 
possession  of  Cold  Harbor  by  the  federal 
forces,  and  the  confederates  were  pushed 
back  to  their  entrenchments,  which  were 
faced  by  a  plowed  field  and  a  pine  forest. 
The  federal  line  of  battle  was  eight  miles 
long,  reaching  from  Bethseda  Church  to 
Cold  Harbor.  At  four  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  3d  the  federals  advanced 
to  the  attack  with  great  impetuosity,  but 
were  hurled  back  with  as  much  force  by 
a  terrible  fire.  Though  the  battle  lasted 
five  hours,  the  first  twenty  minutes  de- 
cided it.  In  that  twenty  minutes,  "  fully 
ten  thousand  men  were  stretched  writh- 
ing on  the  sod  or  still  and  calm  in  death, 
while  the  enemy's  loss  was  little  over  one 
thousand."  Other  daring  assaults  were 
made,  and  footholds  gained  on  the  confed- 
erate works,  but  they  could  not  be  held. 
At  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  General 
Meade  issued  an  order  to  advance  again ; 
but  "  the  whole  army,  as  if  controlled  by 
a  single  will,  refused  to  stir!"  Thus 
'ended  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor. 

1864.  June  7.  A  republican  na- 
tional convention  was  held  at  Balti- 
more, and  took  a  decided  stand  upon  the 
question  of  the  war.  -It  opposed  any 
compromise.  Abraham  Lincoln  of  Illi- 
nois, was  nominated  for  president,  and 
Andrew  Johnson  of  Tennessee,  for  vice- 
president. 

EMPEROR  MAXIMILIAN  I. 

1864.  June  12.  Maximilian,  Arch- 
duke of  Austria,  had  accepted  the  crown 
of  Mexico,  which  had  been  offered  him 
in  1863,  and  had  arrived  in  the  New 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


677 


World  at  Vera  Cruz,  May  28, 1864.  He 
was  on  this  day  invested  with  royal 
power  in  the  City  of  Mexico.  France 
and  Austria  were  taking  measures  to  aid 
in  the  establishment  of  his  rule.  The 
church  party  in  Mexico  was  looking  for 
a  revival  of  its  rights  upon  his  elevation 
to  the  government.  But  the  republicans 
under  Juarez  were  still  undiscouraged  in 
their  contest  against  the  French  and 
their  allies,  the  clergy.  They  had  met 
with  reverses,  but  still  maintained  the 
government.  Maximilian  at  once  took 
steps  for  the  administration  of  affairs  in 
the  interest  of  all  parties,  and  soon  alien- 
ated the  clergy  by  failing  to  restore  their 
estates,  which  had  been  confiscated  when 
Juarez  was  elevated  to  the  presidency. 
The  great  masses  of  people  began  to 
unite  against  him  very  strenuously,  and 
his  pathway  became  a  difficult  one. 
During  the  remainder  of  this  year 
numerous  movements  between  the  troops 
took  place  without  decisive  result. 

1864.  June  14.  Alabama  and  Kear. 
sage.  The  Alabama,  which  was  built, 
equipped,  and  manned  by  British  aid  and 
authority,  was  the  most  formidable  ship 
ever  fitted  out  for  privateering.  At  the 
beginning  of  1864  confederate  cruisers 
had  captured  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
three  American  merchant  vessels,  sixty 
of  which  were  taken  by  the  Alabama. 
These  cruisers  had  practically  destroyed 
American  commerce.  The  Alabama 
was  constructed  for  Capt.  Semmes,  who 
had  commanded  the  Sumter.  Semmes 
carried  no  flag,  and  when  once  on  the 
track  of  a  prize  he  would  secure  it  by 
any  means,  fair  or  foul,  and  evade  being 
captured.  He  sailed  the  high  seas  of  the 
Atlantic,  hunting  down  merchant  vessels 
like '  a  lion  after  his  prey.  Vainly  did 


678 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


the  United  States  minister  to  England 
protest  against  these  unfriendly  acts  on 
the  part  of  Great  Britain.  For  more 
than  two  years  the  Alabama  pursued 
her  work.  Finally,  in  June,  1864,  she 
cast  anchor  in  the  harbor  at  Cherbourg, 
France.  Informed  of  the  fact  by  the 
American  consul  to  France,  Capt. 
Winslo,w  appeared  with  the  Kearsage 
in  the  English  channel,  from  the  Dutch 
harbor  of  Flushing.  The  Alabama 
pushed  out  and  offered  battle.  It  was 
accepted,  but  not  until  the  Kearsage  had 
lured  her  out  to  sea  seven  miles,  beyond 
territorial  waters.  The  Kearsage  then 
began  to  describe  a  series  of  circles. 
While  doing  this  Capt.  Winslow  trained 
his  guns  upon  the  Alabama  most  effect- 
ually. Struck  several  times  by  an 
•eleven-inch  gun  which  the  Kearsage 
carried,  the  Alabama  ran  up  the  white 
flag,  when  the  firing  ceased.  Then  the 
Alabama  began  firing  again,  and  steered 
for  neutral  waters,  three  miles  distant. 
But  she  was  soon  brought  to  a  stop  by  a 
few  well-aimed  shots  from  the  Kear sage, 
which  sunk  her.  The  Kearsage  rescued 
a  number  of  the  men  on  board  the  sinking 
vessel,  and  by  request,  the  Deerhound, 
which  had  come  out  professedly  to  see 
the  battle,  saved  the  remainder.  The 
Deerhound  took  Semmes  and  his  offi- 
cers to  England,  where  they  were  enter- 
tained with  all  the  pomp  and  glory  of 
heroes. 

1864.  June  18.  Attack  on  Peters- 
burg. Grant  remained  ten  days  at  Cold 
Harbor,  to  give  his  troops  rest.  His 
prime  object  being  the  capture  or  disper- 
sion of  Lee's  army,  he  concluded  to  re- 
peat the  flank  movement,  cut  off  the  con- 
federate communication,  and  shut  up 
Lee's  army  in  Richmond,  by  an  attack 
on  Petersburg.  By  the  evening  of  the 


1 6th  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  had 
crossed  the  James,  under  cover  of  a  cav- 
alry feint  on  Richmond.  When  this 
was  accomplished,  Grant  made  a  hasty 
visit  to  General  Butler  to  arrange  cooper- 
ation between  Meade's  army  and  the 
Army  of  the  James,  from  Bermuda 
Hundred.  Lee  had  not  fully  credited  the 
federals  with  the  advance  they  had  made. 
The  feint  was  successful.  On  the  i5th 
Smith's  troops,  from  Butler's  army,  ad- 
vanced and  confronted  Petersburg  in  the 
evening.  Strong  redoubts  had  been  cast 
up  there,  but  they  were  manned  by  a 
feeble  force.  Deceived  by  the  bold  front 
presented,  Smith  waited  till  morning  to 
make  the  attack.  That  delay  was  fatal. 
Lee  arrived  with  the  main  army  during 
the  night,  and  strengthened  the  entrench- 
ments. The  following  day  an  attack 
was  made  by  Smith  and  Burnside,  but  it 
ended  in  disastrous  results.  The  main 
federal  army  having  arrived,  a  general 
advance  along  the  whole  line  was  gal- 
lantly made  on  the  i8th,  and  as  bravely 
repulsed,  with  heavy  loss  to  the  federals. 
It  was  now  evident  that  the  confederate 
lines  could  not  be  taken  by  storm.  The 
campaign  here  ended,  being  resolved 
into  a  general  siege,  in  which  endurance 
and  support  should  be  the  test.  The 
federals  had  lost  in  the  campaign  nearly 
seventy  thousand  men;  and  the  confed- 
erates about  forty  thousand.  Nearly  ten 
thousand  had  fallen  m  the  movements 
before  Petersburg,  but  it  was  scarcely 
noticed.  This  shows  what  enormous 
proportions  the  war  had  achieved — when 
ten  thousand  men  could  be  slain  without 
attracting  the  public  attention.  The 
skirmishes  in  West  Virginia,  which 
created  so  much  excitement  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  war,  could  not  be  compared 
to  the  wholesale  slaughter  now  going  on. 


1863-1808.] 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


679 


1864.  June  24.  Attempt  to  Seize 
the  Weldon  Railway.  Grant  detached 
a  cavalry  force  of  eight  thousand  to  seize 
the  Weldon  railway.  On  the  24th  the 
cavalry  was  met  by  superior  numbers, 
defeated,  and  turned  back.  The  Lieu- 
tenant-General  then  quietly  sat  down 
before  Lee  to  entrench  and  drill  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  This  army  had  under- 
gone nearly  an  entire  change  within 
eight  or  nine  weeks.  The  veterans  had 
been  slain,  and  raw  recruits  had  flocked 
in  to  fill  the  vacant  ranks.  Not  much 
could  be  done  till  the  new  troops  were 
drilled  into  the  service. 

1864.  June  29.  Grand  Trunk  Rail- 
way Accident.  A  train  upon  the  Grand 
Trunk  containing  over  500  German  and 
Norwegian  emigrants  who  had  landed 
at  Quebec,  ran  into  an  open  draw  in  the 
iron  bridge  over  the  Richelieu  River,  and 
plunged  through  into  the  canal  by  the 
side  of  the  river,  a  distance  of  about  50 
feet.  There  were  thirteen  cars,  and  one 
after  the  other  they  fell  into  the  abyss. 
A  hundred  persons  were  killed,  and  nearly 
all  on  the  train  injured.  The  danger  sig- 
nal was  up  but  was  not  seen  by  the  engi- 
neer, who  was  unaccustomed  to  the  road. 

1864.  July  2.  Important  Congres- 
sional Action.  Congress  adjourned  after 
having  at  this  session  repealed  the  Fugi- 
tive Slave  bill  of  1850,  passed  an  Income 
Tax  law,  laying  a  tax  of  5  per  cent,  on 
all  incomes  over  $600,  an  Internal  Rev- 
enue law  for  raising  a  tax  on  domestic 
manufactures,  and  a  National  Bank  law 
by  which  state  banks  should  be  replaced 
by  national  banks,  with  a  national  cur- 
rency. It  also  at  this  time  set  apart  the 
old  hall  occupied  formerly  by  the  House  of 
Representatives,  as  a  hall  of  statuary,  to 
be  filled,  with  contributions  from  the 
states  or  other  sources. 


1864.  July  9.  Early 's  Raid  in  the 
North  Checked.  While  Grant  was 
prosecuting  the  whole  campaign  against 
Richmond,  General  Sigel,  with  ten  thou- 
sand troops  in  the  Shenandoah,  was  play- 
ing an  important  part  by  operating 
against  the  railroads  running  into  Rich- 
mond. But  he  was  totally  routed  by  the 
confederates  at  New  Market,  on  the  I5th 
of  May.  General  Hunter  superseded 
him,  and  defeated  tTie  confederates  at 
Piedmont.  Hunter  then  moved  on 
Lynchburg,  but  finding  it  too  stoutly 
defended,  he  retired  into  West  Virginia. 
Lee  anxiously  awaited  this  turn  of  affairs 
to  make  a  demonstration  on  Washington, 

O  ' 

and  thus  draw  off  a  part  of  Grant's  army 
from  before  Petersburg,  and  also  replen- 
ish his  empty  larder.  About  the  middle 
of  June  Early  was  started  toward  Wash- 
ington, with  twenty  thousand  men. 
Grant  directed  Hunter  to  hasten  from  the 
Kanawha  to  Harper's  Ferry.  Early 
pushed  rapidly  down  the  Shenandoah, 
and  by  the  4th  of  July  was  at  Williams- 
port.  General  Wallace,  who  command- 
ed the  troops  around  Washington,  was 
aware  of  Ea/ly's  advance,  and  chose  a 
position  on  the  Monocacy  to  check  it. 
Early  met  and  defeated  him,  on  the  9th. 
The  National  capital  was  now  in  peril. 
But  reinforcements  from  Pennsylvania 
and  New  York  arrived,  convalescent 
veterans  were  taken  from  the  hospital, 
Grant  sent  Smith's  corps  to  the  defense, 
and  a  large  army  was  soon  raised.  Early 
now  prudently  retreated,  having  a  large 
booty.  But  he  sent  a  cavalry  detachment 
up  into  the  Susquehanna  region  to  com- 
plete the  foraging  expedition. 

1864.  July  i;:.  A  great  accident  oc- 
curred to  a  train  on  the  Erie  R.  R.,  near 
Port  Jervis.  There  were  eighteen  cars 
containing  eight  hundred  and  fifty  con- 


680 


NATIONAL  CRISES, 


federate  soldiers  and  their  guard.  While 
rounding  a  shurp  curve  the  train  collided 
with  a  coal  train  of  fifty  cars.  Sixty 
soldiers  were  killed,  and  twice  that  num- 
ber injured.  Several  train  hands  were 
also  killed. 

1864.  July.  Peace  Attempts.  Hor- 
ace Greeley  became  interested  in  trying 
to  secure  peace  through  a  letter  which 
he  received  from  some  confederate  sym- 
pathizers at  the  Clifton  House,  on  the 
Canada  side  of  Niagara  Falls.  He  ob- 
tained the  promise  of  President  Lincoln 
that  any  one  bringing  from  Jefferson 
Davis  definite  terms,  including  the  res- 
toration of  the  Union,  and  the  surrender 
of  slavery,  should  be  protected  and  heard. 
Mr.  Greeley  went  to  Niagara,  but  .the 
effort  failed  when  it  was  known  that 
President  Lincoln  would  listen  to  no 
terms  involving  the  independence  of  the 
South.  At  the  same  time  two  men 
visited  Richmond  and  had  several  inter- 
views with  Davis  and  some  of  his  officers, 
but  the  confederates  insisted  upon  having 
their  independence  recognized.  So  these 
attempts  came  to  nothing. 

HALLS  SECOND  ARCTIC  TRIP. 

1864.  July  30.  Charles  Francis  Hall 
sailed  from  New  London,  Conn.,  upon 
his  second  trip,  in  a  vessel  commanded  by 
Capt.  Buddington.  He  was  accom- 
panied by  the  two  Esquimaux  whom  he 
had  brought  home  from  his  first  trip,  and 
who  had  become  very  much  attached  to 
him.  He  pushed  far  north,  and  spent 
four  winters  in  learning  the  habits  and 
language  of  the  natives.  No  full  account 
has  ever  been  published.  He  returned 
in  1869. 

1864.  July  30.  Chambersburg,  Pa., 
Burned.  Early's  cavalry  entered  the 


defenceless  village  of  Chambersburg  ?»nd 
demanded  $200,000  in  gold,  or  $500,000 
in  greenbacks.  The  demand  being  stern- 
ly refused,  the  cavalry  fired  the  town  and 
escaped  southward,  joining  the  main 
army  in  the  Shenandoah  valley. 

1864.  July  30.  Mine  Explosion  at 
Petersburg.  One  of  the  most  important 
events  which  marked  the  siege  of  Rich- 
mond was  a  mine  explosion  at  Peters- 
burg, About  two  hundred  yards  from 
where  General  Burnside's  corps  was  en- 
trenched, was  one  of  the  strongest  forts 
in  the  Petersburg  lines.  A  mine  was 
commenced  in  a  hollow  within  Burn- 
side's  lines.  The  affair  was  entirely  con- 
cealed from  the  unsuspecting  confeder- 
ates. The  main  gallery  of  the  mine  was 
five  hundred  and  ten  feet  long,  four  and 
a  half  feet  high,  and  four  feet  wide  at  the 
bottom.  Eighteen  thousand  cubic  feet  of 
dirt  was  carted  out  of  the  mine  on  bar- 
rows made  of  cracker  boxes.  The  cav- 
ity was  lined  with  plank,  to  keep  it  from 
caving  in.  Eight  thousand  pounds  of 
powder  were  carried  in  and  placed  in 
eight  magazines,  connected  with  the 
main  gallery  by  three  fuses.  The  main 
fuse  was  ready  for  the  torch  on  the  night 
of  the  29th.  At  dawn  on  the  morning 
of  the  3Oth  the  explosion  took  place.  The 
fort  and  the  garrison  of  three  hundred 
men  were  instantly  annihilated,  and  the 
country  around  was  terribly  shaken  by 
the  earthquake.  The  federal  guns  im- 
mediately opened  fire,  and  the  lines 
advanced  on  the  panic-stricken  enemy» 
The  advance  was  slow  at  first,  because 
of  the  many  obstructions  encountered. 
Just  as  the  assailants  had  passed  the  cra- 
ter where  the  fort  had  stood,  the  confed- 
erates turned  upon  them  with  fearful 
impetus.  For  shelter  from  the  galling 
fire  the  federals  crowded  into  the  crater. 


1868-1868.] 

The  confusion  was  worse  confounded  by 
a  heavy  fire  from  the  confederate  artil- 
lery. In  this  disastrous  failure  not  less 
than  four  thousand  federals  were  buried 
in  one  heap,  in  that  fatal  bloody  hole; 
while  the  entire  loss  of  the  confederates 
did  not  exceed  one  thousand. 

1864.  Aug.  5.  Blockade  of  Mobile 
Port.  Mobile  was  ably  defended  by 
several  forts,  a  squadron  of  confederate 
rams,  spiles  driven  down  into  the  ship 
1864.  August,  channels,  and  torpedoes 

AbJ-el  -  Kader 

visited  England,  profusely  sown.  On  the 
5th  of  August  Admiral  Farragut  ap- 
peared for  operations  against  the  fort. 
For  mutual  aid  the  vessels  were  lashed 
together  in  pairs.  Farragut  tied  himself 
to  the  mainmast  of  his  flag-ship,  the 
Hartford,  in  order  that  he  might  have  a 
better  view  of  the  engagement.  After 
an  hour's  heavy  fighting  the  fleet  passed 
forts  Morgan  and  Gaines,  at  the  south- 
east entrance,  and  there  engaged  the 
iron-clad  fleet  in  the  channel.  The 
Monongahcla,  and  other  vessels,  fiercely 
assailed  the  Tennessee  ram,  a  most  pow- 
erful armored  vessel,  and  she  soon  put 
out  the  white  flag.  The  rest  of  the  con- 
federate fleet  was  speedily  dispersed  or 
captured.  The  two  forts  then  surren- 
dered, with  fourteen  hundred  men,  and 
one  hundred  and  four  guns;  and  the 
port  was  effectually  closed  to  blockade 
runners. 

1864.  Aug.  18.  Seizure  of  the  Wei- 
don  Railway.  For  over  a  fortnight  after 
the  mine  explosion,  everything  was  quiet 
at  Petersburg.  Then  Grant  put  a 
column  in  motion  to  threaten  Richmond, 
and  thus  draw  on  Lee's  force.  The 
movement  was  successful,  with  the  loss 
of  five  thousand  men.  Grant  took  ad- 
vantage of  the  absence  of  Lee's  troops, 
and  on  the  iSth  of  August  pushed  War- 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


681 


ren's  corps  out  to  seize  the  coveted  rail- 
way. The  seizure  was  accomplished 
without  opposition.  The  surprised  con- 
federates made  several  vain  attempts  to 
regain  the  railway.  The  siege  of  Rich- 
mond then  wore  on  for  several  months, 
before  anything  of  importance  occurred. 

1864.  Aug.  29.  The  democratic 
national  convention  was  held  at  Chi- 
cago, and  nominated  George  B.  Mc- 
Clellan  of  New  Jersey,  for  president, 
and  George  H.  Pendleton  of  Ohio,  for 
vice-president.  The  platform  of  the 
party  at  this  meeting  was  chiefly 
moulded  by  the  Peace  Faction,  in  declar- 
ing that  the  further  continuance  of  the 
war  would  be  attended  by  unjustifiable 
violations  of  right. 

1864.  Sept.  1.  Sherman's  Cam- 
paign in  Georgia. — Capture  of  Atlanta. 
While  Grant  was  carrying  on  the  siege 
of  Richmond,  Sherman  was  prosecuting 
some  vigorous  movements  in  the  West. 
He  left  Chickamauga  Creek  with  one 
hundred  thousand  men  for  Atlanta.  In 
the  afternoon  of  May  I5th,  a  desperate 
engagement  was  fought  with  Johnston, 
but  the  situation  of  affairs  was  so  un- 
favorable to  Johnston  that  he  fled  to 
Altoona  Pass  during  the  night.  Bloody 
battles  were  fought  at  Lost  Mountain 
and  Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  then  a  lively 
race  for  the  Chattahoochee  was  made. 
Having  started  first,  Johnston  came 
out  ahead,  and  retired  to  the  de- 
fences at  Atlanta.  Sherman's  steady 
advance  was  sensitively  felt  by  the 
confederate  authorities  at  Richmond. 
Davis  ordered  Johnston  to  surrender  his 
command  to  the  more  dashing  and  reck- 
less general,  J.  B.  Hood.  Sherman 
rested  his  troops  till  the  :8th  of  July, 
and  then  completely  invested  Atlanta. 
Four  days  later,  as  McPherson's  Armv 


682 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


of  the  Tennessee  was  moving  against  the 
confederates  by  an  obscure  route,  Hood 
dashed  boldly  out  and  attacked  him.  The 
federals  wavered  at  first,  but  held  their 
ground.  Gen.  McPherson  was  shot  dead. 
Meanwhile  Stoneman  made  a  disastrous 
failure  with  his  cavalry  in  an  attempt 
to  capture  Macon,  and  liberate  the  suffer- 
ing Union  prisoners  at  Andersonville. 
In  the  last  days  of  July  Sherman  shifted 
his  whole  army  upon  Hood's  line  of  sup- 
plies. After  a  month,  when  the  rail- 
ways had  all  been  seized,  Hood  found  it 
impossible  to  hold  Atlanta,  and  on  the 
night  of  September  ist,  evacuated  it, 
burning  military  stores,  and  blowing  up 
magazines  of  powder.  The  next  day 
Sherman  entered,  and  took  possession. 
The  campaign  thus  ended,  was  long  and 
severe;  and  the  battles  had  been  fought 
with  the  desperation  of  death.  The 
loss  on  both  sides  was  heavy.  Sher- 
man's loss  for  the  whole  campaign 
was  thirty  thousand.  The  confeder- 
ates, whose  loss  was  about  forty  thou- 
sand, were  completely  exhausted;  and 
the  heart  of  the  region  which  had  fur- 
nished them  military  stores  and  army 
supplies,  was  paralyzed. 

PAPAL  NUXCIO  TO  MEXICO. 

1864.  October.  A  papal  nuncio  was 
sent  to  Mexico,  with  a  denunciation  of 
republican  principles,  and  demanding  the 
exclusion  of  all  forms  of  religious  wor- 
ship, except  the  Catholic.  This  was  still 
further  followed  up  in  December  by  the 
"  encyclical  letter,"  reiterating  this  con- 
demnation, and  repudiating  all  freedom 
of  faith  and  conscience. 


1864.  Oct.  7.  The  Capture  of  the 
Florida.  The  confederate  privateer 
Florida  did  not  venture  out  upon  the  At- 


lantic, but  accomplished  her  work  solely 
in  American  waters.  Late  in  September 
she  ran  into  the  port  at  Bahia,  S.  A. 
Captain  Collins,  of  the  U.  S.  steamer 
Wachusett,  detei'mined  to  end  her  career. 
On  the  7th  of  October  he  ran  alongside 
and  captured  her  while  a  part  of  her 
crew  were  ashore.  The  Florida  was 
lashed  to  the  Wachusett  and  taken  to 
Newport-Newce,  in  Hampton  Roads, 
where  she  was  sunk.  The  capture  pro- 
duced great  excitement.  The  U.  S.  gov- 
ernment promptly  disavowed  the  act,  and 
punished  Collins.  The  consul  to  Brazil 
was  recalled,  having  been  an  accomplice 
in  the  affair,  but  the  United  States  did  not 
allow  the  Brazilian  government  to  inter- 
fere, as  that  nation  had  in  a  measure 
imitated  Great  Britain. 

ROGER  B.  T?LNEY. 

1864.  Oct.  12.  This  eminent  Ameri- 
can jurist  and  chief-justice  of  the  United 
States  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  aged 
eighty-seven  years.  He  was  born  in 
Maryland,  March  17,  1777.  His  parents 
were  Roman  Catholics,  and  he  was  given 
a  good  education.  Having  graduated  at 
Dickinson  College  in  Pennsylvania,  he 
began  the  practice  of  law  in  1799-  He 
was  noticed  for  his  ability,  and  was  sent 
to  the  Maryland  legislature.  He  held 
various  positions  till  he  was  made  attor- 
ney-general of  the  United  States  by 
President  Jackson  in  1831.  He  was  two 
years  later  appointed  secretary  of  the 
treasury,  but  having  issued  the  orders  for 
the  removal  of  the  United  States  funds 
from  the  government  bank,  he  failed  to 
be  confirmed.  In  1836  he  was  appointed 
and  confirmed  as  chief-justice  of  the 
United  States,  in  place  of  Mr.  Marshall, 
who  had  just  died.  He  began  his  duties 
in  January,  1837.  He  held  the  place 


1863-1868.] 

•during  stormy  times  in  the  slavery  agita- 
tion. The  Dred  Scott  decision  caused 
rejoicing  on  one  side,  and  lamentation  on 
the  other.  Mr.  Taney  attempted  to  sup- 
port constitutional  power  very  consci- 
entiously, and  in  his  decisions  showed  the 
great  mental  power  he  possessed.  But 
his  views  of  constitutional  power  were 
contrary  to  those  held  by  other  eminent 
jurists.  He  possessed  a  vigorous  and  cul- 
tured mind. 

1864.  Oct.  19.  Sheridan's  Cam- 
paign.— Battle  of  Cedar  Creek.  To 
avoid  any  further  troubles  in  the  Shenan- 
doah,  and  drive  Early  back,  an  army  of 
thirty  thousand  was  raised  near  Wash- 
ington, in  August,  under  General  P.  H. 
Sheridan.  Sheridan  made  the  first  step 
by  marching  to  Berryville.  Early  was 
between  this  place  and  Winchester. 
Sheridan  advanced  on  the  ipth  of  Sep- 
tember and  defeated  Early,  sending  him 
"  whirling  through  Winchester "  to  the 
entrenchments  at  Fisher's  Hill.  Again 
on  the  22d  he  drove  Early  back  in  wild 
disorder,  capturing  his  train  of  seventy- 
five  wagons  at  Port  Republic.  At  Cedar 
1864  Oct  is.  Creek  Early  concentrated 
LordPaimer-  his  army,  but  was  again 
stondied.  routed  and  chased  twenty- 

six  miles.     Sheridan  now  thought  it  safe 

O 

to  visit  Washington  on  some  very  urgent 
business,  and  left  his  army  posted  on 
Cedar  Creek,  with  General  Wright  in 
temporary  command.  But  Early  rallied 
his  men,  and  on  the  night  of  the  iSth  of 
October  slipped  stealthily  back  toward 
the  federal  lines.  At  dawn  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  1 9th  the  order  for  an  attack 
was  given,  and  the  confederates  rushed 
forward  and  drove  the  surprised  federals 
in  great  disorder  for  five  miles,  capturing 
their  camp  and  a  number  of  prisoners. 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


683 


Sheridan  had  returned  from  Washington 
and  was  at  Winchester,  twenty  miles  dis- 
tant. He  heard  the  cannonading,  but  sup- 
posed it  to  be  a  reconnoisance,  and  gal- 
loped leisurely  out  of  the  town.  But 
when  he  met  the  van  of  the  fugitives  he 
took  it  all  in  at  a  glance.  He  put  spurs 
to  his  splendid  steed,  darted  down  the  lines 
waving  his  hat,  and  shouted,  "Turn,  boys! 
Turn!  We're  going  back  to  our  camp. 
We'll  lick  them  out  of  their  boots !"  The 
effect  was  magnetic.  Hats  swung, 
cheers  went  up,  the  "boys"  faced  about, 
rushed  forward  to  the  attack,  and  utterly 
routed  the  enemy  with  tremendous 
slaughter,  recapturing  the  lost  camp  and 
cannon,  and  taking  the  confederate  bag- 
gage. This  virtually  destroyed  Early's 
army.  Sherman  had  lost  seventeen 
thousand  men  in  the  campaign;  but  he 
so  thoroughly  devastated  the  Shenandoah 
valley  as  he  went  along,  that  it  was  said, 
"  If  a  crow  wants  to  fly  down  the  Shenan- 
doah, he  must  carry  his  provisions  with 
him."  This  devastation  put  an  end  to 
any  further  raids  toward  Washington. 
A  few  skirmishes  occurred  in  the  valley 
afterward,  but  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek 
was  the  last  general  engagement. 


1864.  Oct.  25.  Last  Invasion  of 
Missouri.  Hoping  to  receive  great  aid 
from  the  secret  societies  of  the  North 
that  were  in  sympathy  with  the  war, 
Sterling  Price  attempted  to  win  Missouri 
back  to  the  confederacy.  In  September 
he  marched  into  the  state.  He  did  not 
receive  the  expected  aid,  and  was  met  at 
Little  Osage  River  on  the  25th  of  Octo- 
ber by  Generals  Curtis  and  Pleasanton, 
who  defeated  him.  He  then  retreated 
into  Arkansas,  and  left  the  state  to  the 
Union. 

1864.    Oct.  31.   Nevada  was  admitted 


684 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


to  the  Union  as  the  thirty-sixth  state.  It 
has  112,090  square  miles,  and  62,265 
inhabitants  in  1880.  Its  motto  is  "  Vo- 
lens  et  Potens."  "  Willing  and  Able." 

TWENTIETH  PRESIDENTIAL   CAMPAIGN. 

1864.  Nov.  8.  The  twentieth  presi- 
dential campaign  was  narrowed  down  to 
the  vote  for  Lincoln  and  Johnson,  or  for 
McClellan  and  Pendleton.  The  former 
received  212  electoral  votes,  ana  2,216,067 
popular  votes.  The  latter  received  21 
electoral  votes,  and  1,808,725  popular 
votes.  Eleven  states  in  the  confederacy 
were  not  represented  in  this  election. 
They  had  Si  electoral  votes,  which  would 
not  have  changed  the  result,  even  if  they 
had  all  been  cast  for  the  democratic 
candidates. 

1864.  Nov.  16.  Sherman's  March  to 
the  Sea.  When  Hood  evacuated  Atlanta 
he  struck  westward  toward  Decatur, 
thence  northward,  hoping  to  draw  Sher- 
man back  by  an  invasion  of  Tennessee. 
Sherman  was  a  little  puzzled  at  first  by 
this  movement;  but  when  he  discovered 
Hood's  object,  he  encouraged  it,  saying, 
"  If  Hood  will  go  there,  I  will  give  him 
rations  to  go  with."  On  the  i6th  of 
November  he  burned  Atlanta  and  started 
on  his  march  for  the  sea,  a  step  long 
meditated.  Georgia  was  the  "  foundry, 
workshop,  storehouse,  and  granary  of  the 
confederacy."  The  object  of  the  expe- 
dition was  to  destroy  property  and  lay 
waste  the  rich  agricultural  region  in  that 
state  and  Alabama,  and  strike  Savannah 
or  Charleston,  on  the  coast.  The  army 
moved  in  three  grand  columns,  preceded 
by  skirmishers,  and  cavalry  under  Kil- 
patrick.  The  confederates  soon  became 
alarmed  at  Sherman's  undisputed  prog- 
ress. He  swept  on  unimpeded,  with 


his  lines  spread  out  sixty  miles  wide,  over 
a  fertile  region  three  hundred  miles  long, 
living  on  the  product  of  the  country,  and 
leaving  desolation  in  his  track.  On  the 
1 3th  of  December  he  reached  Fort  Mc- 
Allister, and  stormed  it.  The  mayor  and 
citizens  of  Savannah  thought  it  useless 
to  resist,  and  surrendered  that  city  on  the 
following  day.  On  the  26th  of  De- 
cember Sherman  sent  the  following-  dis- 

o 

patch  to  President  Lincoln:  "  I  beg  to 
present  to  you,  as  a  Christmas  gift,  the 
city  of  Savannah,  with  one  hundred 
and  fifty  guns  and  plenty  of  ammunition, 
and  also  about  twenty-five  thousand 
bales  of  cotton."  Railroads  were  de- 
stroyed, a  large  amount  of  provisions 
gathered,  and  the  conquest  of  Georgia  se- 
cured, with  the  loss  of  only  five  hundred 
men  from  an  army  of  sixty  thousand. 

HENRY  R.  SCHOOLCRAFT. 

1864.  Dec.  1O.  Mr.  Schoolcraft,. 
known  very  widely  as  an  American 
writer  upon  Indian  affairs,  died  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  aged  seventy-one  years. 
He  was  born  at  Watervliet,  N.  Y.r 
March  28,  1793.  He  was  well  educated, 
and  traveled  in  the  West  in  the  interest 
of  scientific  exploration,  and  became  in- 
terested in  Indian  tribes,  with  whom  he 
was  brought  into  contact  in  1821,. 
as  Indian  commissioner.  The  grand- 
daughter of  an  Indian  chief  was  married 
by  him  in  1823.  His  studies  into  Indian 
life  and  characteristics  now  became  the 
principal  work  of  his  days,  and  resulted 
in  those  works  which  have  such  a  stand- 
ard value  for  all  who  investigate  such 
things  now.  He  was  employed  by  the 
U.  S.  government  in  its  dealings  with 
the  Indians.  The  sources  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River  were  found  in  1832  by  a 
party  under  his  charge. 


1863-1868.] 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


689 


which  continued  till  the  close  of  his  life. 
Over  $100,000  were  raised  by  his  oration 
upon  Washington,  in  aid  of  the  Mt. 
Vernon  fund.  This  oration  -was  deliv- 
ered about  one  hundred  and  fifty  times. 
For  other  objects  he  also  raised  large 
amounts  of  money  by  his  eloquent  ad- 
dresses. His  last  political  nomination 
was  for  vice-president  in  1860.  His 
death  was  the  occasion  of  widespread 
expressions  of  esteem.  His  life  was  an 
extremely  useful  one,  and  his  powers 
were  of  a  superior  sort. 


1865.  Jan.  16.  Capture  of  Port 
Fisher.  After  Farragut's  possession  of 
the  harbor  at  Mobile,  the  attention  of  the 
navy  was  directed  to  the  last  great 
seaport  of  the  confederacy,  Wilmington 
Harbor,  N.  C.  Late  in  the  autumn  of 
the  previous  year,  fifty-eight  war  vessels 
were  gathered  in  Hampton  Roads. 
Commodore  Porter  commanded  the 
fleet,  and  General  Weitzel  was  commis- 
sioned to  accompany  the  expedition  with 
a  land  force;  but  General  Butler,  through 
whom  the  commission  was  given,  pock- 
eted the  document,  and  went  himself. 
Grant  allowed  him  to  go,  supposing  his 
journey  to  be  a  visit  to  witness  a  powder 
explosion  which  was  intended  to  shake 
the  walls  of  Fort  Fisher,  defending  the 
inlet.  The  expedition  pushed  out  with 
as  much  secrecy  as  possible,  arrived  in 
time,  and  on  the  24th  was  ready  to  re- 
duce Fort  Fisher.  The  powder  explosion 
was  a  miserable  failure.  Porter  opened 
upon  the  fort  with  his  guns,  and  con- 
tinued shelling  it  for  several  hours.  A 
feeble  reply  led  him  to  believe  that  all 
that  was  needed  was  a  few  troops  to 
occupy  the  fort.  On  the  afternoon  of  the 
next  day  the  batteries  some  distance  up 
the  shore  were  silenced,  and  a  landing 

44 


was  effected.  Satisfied  that  the  garrison 
was  able  and  well  defended,  and  know- 
ing that  it  was  soon  to  be  increased  by  a 
division  of  confederates  from  Petersburg, 
Butler  ordered  a  withdrawal.  The  next 
day  the  transport  departed  for  Hampton 
Roads,  leaving  the  fleet  lying  off  the 
port.  Grant  was  disappointed  by  this 
fruitless  attempt,  and  requested  Porter  to 
remain.  General  A.  H.  Terry  was  put 
in  command  of  a  land  force  of  eight 
thousand,  and  returned  to  the  fort  on  the 
1 3th  of  January.  On  the  following  day 
the  fort  was  greatly  disabled  by  another 
heavy  bombardment  from  the  fleet.  On 
the  1 5th  two  thousand  sailors  and  a  divi- 
sion of  soldiers  made  an  assault  under 
cover  of  a  cannonade  from  the  fleet.  The 
sailors  were  soon  repulsed  by  a  fire  from 
the  fort,  and  the  fleet  was  compelled  to 
cease  firing  on  account  of  the  proximity 
of  friend  and  foe.  The  capture  of  the 
fort  then  devolved  upon  the  soldiers. 
These  burst  into  the  fort  and  drove  the 
garrison  out,  after  a  hand-to-hand  strug- 
gle of  several  hours.  After  the  troops 
had  entered  the  fort  a  concealed  maga- 
zine exploded,  killing  two  hundred,  and 
wounding  one  hundred,  Union  soldiers. 
Step  by  step  the  hold  upon  the  region 
was  extended  until  the  whole  vicinity 
was  in  the  possession  of  the  federal 
troops. 

1865.  Jan.  31.  The  XHIth  Amend- 
ment to  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States  passed  congress,  and  was  submitted 
by  them  to  the  states  for  ratification.  It 
embodied  the  emancipation  proclamation 
by  forbidding  the  existence  of  slavery  on 
any  soil  occupied  by  the  United  States. 
It  went  into  force  at  the  close  of  this  year. 
The  final  passage  of  this  bill  by  the  house 
produced  intense  exultation.  The  senate 
had  previously  passed  it. 


690 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


1865.  Feb.  1.  Robert  E.  Lee  was 
made  general-in-chief  of  all  confederate 
armies.  This  was  brought  about  because 
of  some  dissatisfaction  with  the  measures 
of  President  Davis. 

1865.  Feb.  1.  Sherman's  March 
through  the  Carolinas.  Sherman's 
course  was  now  turned  northward 
through  the  Carolinas.  On  evacuating 
Savannah,  Hardee  fled  to  Charleston. 
Leaving  General  Foster  at  Savannah, 
after  a  month's  rest,  Sherman  started, 
on  the  ist  of  February,  northward  to 
Columbia  through  the  swamps  of  South 
Carolina.  The  confederates  strained 
every  nerve  to  check  this  march,  but 
Sherman  swept  on  with  the  fury  of  a  gale. 

1865.  Feb.  3.  Peace  Conference  in 
Hampton  Roads.  Finding  that  the  con- 
federates were  so  anxious  for  peace,  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  his  secretary  of  state  con- 
sented to  meet  A.  H.  Stephens,  J.  A. 
Campbell,  and  R.  M.  T.  Hunter,  in  a 
peace  conference,  on  board  a  ship  in 
Hampton  Roads.  After  an  amicable 
debate  of  several  hours,  Mr.  Lincoln  told, 
the  confederate  commissioners  plainly 
that  he  would  accept  no  other  terms  than 
the  disbanding  of  their  armies,  and  the 
domination  of  the  National  Government 
in  the  Southern  States.  This  closed  the 
conference,  and  the  commissioners  re- 
turned, fully  determined  to  fight  out  the 
difficulty. 

1865.  Feb.  17.  Columbia,  S.  C.,  was 
surrendered  to  Sherman  on  his  tri- 
umphal march.  By  order  of  Wade 
Hampton,  a  large  amount  of  cotton 
which  was  stored  in  the  city,  was  taken 
into  the  streets  and  fired.  The  bales 
were  cut,  the  flames  spread,  and  the  en- 
tire city  was  soon  wrapped  in  the  con- 
flagration. 

1865.     Feb.  18.     Charleston,  having 


been  evacuated  by  the  terrified  confeder- 
ates, was  occupied  by  Sherman's  troops. 
The  city  was  in  flames,  and  the  soldiers 
•set  at  work  as  stoutly  as  possible  to  ex- 
tinguish the  conflagration,  and  save  the 
property.  But  the  city  was  much  in- 
jured. It  suffered  terribly  by  the  war, 
and  with  the  efforts  of  the  confedei'ates,  at 
their  departure  was  almost  a  city  of  ruins. 
Several  squares  were  completely  de- 
stroyed, and  an  explosion  of  powder  at  a 
depot  killed  about  two  hundred  persons. 
Flags  were  raised  by  the  national  troops 
over  Fort  Sumter  and  other  surrounding 
works,  and  the  attempt  was  made  to 
bring  peace  and  order  to  the  distressed 
citizens. 

1865.  Feb.  20.  The  Battle  of  Old 
Town  Creek  was  fought  between  the 
garrison  of  confederates  who  „ 

1865.     Fenian 

had  evacuated   Fort  Ander-  agitation  in 
son,  and  a  Union  force  under  Ireland- 
General  Cox.     The  former  were  defeated 
with  a  loss  of  three  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  men.      This    led   the   way   in    the 
evacuation  of  all  works  along  the  Cape 
Fear  River. 

1865.  Feb.  22.  Wilmington  having 
been  evacuated  by  the  confederate  troops, 
was  occupied  by  General  Schofield  and 
his  men.  This  had  been  one  of  the  chief 
ports  for  blockade  running  in  the  entire 
South. 

1865.  February.  The  defence  of 
Canada  was  the  subject  of  some  very 
earnest  debates  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons. There  seems  to  have  been  a  fear 
that  the  United  States  would  retaliate  by 
trying  to  annex  that  country. 

THE  FREEDXAWS  BUREAU. 

1865.  March  3.  A  "  bureau  of  freed- 
men,  refugees  and  abandoned  lands  "  was 
established  by  act  of  congress  for  the 


1863-1868.] 

purpose  of  relieving'  the  wants  of  the 
emancipated  and  keeping  them  from 
starvation,  as  well  as  enabling  them  to 
learn  how  to  become  good  citizens.  Gen- 
eral O.  O.  Howard  was  made  commis- 
sioner. Schools  were  established,  and 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  poor  people,  in 
some  way,  came  within  reach  of  these 
influences  through  succeeding  years. 
There  was  great  opposition  to  some  of 
its  operations,  but  it  did  great  good  to 
many.  A  "freedman's  bank"  was  es- 
tablished, and  much  reproach  was  after- 
ward brought  on  the  "bureau"  by  the 
failure  of  this  bank,  although  investiga- 
tions failed  to  prove  any  charge  against 
the  commissioner. 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


691 


1865.  March  4.  Abraham  Lincoln 
-was  inaugurated  president  of  the  United 
States,  and  Andrew  Johnson  was  made 
vice-president. 

1865.  March  7.  An  accident  oc- 
curred on  the  Camden  and  Amboy  rail- 
way in  New  Jersey,  in  which  an  express 
train  plunged  into  the  rear  of  another 
train,  and  killed  and  injured  about  fifty 
persons,  mostly  soldiers  returning  home. 

1865.  March  8.  Battle  of  Fayette- 
ville.  General  Kilpatrick  was  nearly 
captured  by  a  sudden  attack  by  Wade 
Hampton.  But  the  former,  after  having 
taken  to  a  swamp,  gathered  his  men  and 
•dashed  again  upon  the  confederates,  with 
the  entire  defeat  of  the  latter.  The 
Union  force  had,  however,  lost  183  men. 

1865.  March  16.  Battle  of  Averas- 
Tsoro'.  Here  Hardee  was  drawn  up  to 
retard  Sherman's  progress  till  Johnston 
could  prepare  for  him  at  Raleigh.  But 
^.  few  volleys  drove  Hardee  back,  and 
Sherman  felt  freed  from  any  further  re- 
sistance or  impediment.  The  army  now 
marched  along  in  a  loose,  easy  manner. 


1865.  March  19.  Battle  of  Bentons- 
ville.  Johnston  completely  surprised  the 
federal  army,  striking  their  flank  a  terri- 
ble blow.  If  this  battle  had  been  lost 
it  would  have  well-nigh  ruined  for  a 
time  the  Union  army.  However,  the 
bravery  and  coolness  of  the  federals  won 
the  battle.  At  this  time  Gen.  Schofield 
was  entering  Goldsboro'.  There  Sher- 
man joined  him  in  a  few  days,  giving 
him  the  command  of  the  whole  force, 
while  he  himself  visited  headquarters. 
The  army  remained  at  Goldsboro'  for 
some  time,  to  receive  clothing,  etc.  This 
ended,  in  complete  triumph,  Sherman's 
second  grand  march. 

1865.  March  25.  Capture  of  Fort 
Steadman.  Grant  held  Lee  quiet  during 
the  winter,  while  Sherman  and  Thomas 
were  making  the  final  movements  in 
the  West  and  South.  Lee's  position 
was  now  extremely  perilous,  and  even 
desperate.  Sheridan  had  come  from 
the  Shenandoah,  swept  around  in  the 
rear  of  Richmond,  destroying  the  James 
River  canal — the  chief  means  of  get- 
ting supplies  from  Columbia,  and 
had  joined  the  main  army. 

J  3        1865.     Cholera 

Lee  now  nervously  beheld  upon  the  conti- 
his  last  hope  of  holding  his  nent  °f  Eur°P*- 
position  expire  with  the  increase  of 
Grant's  army  by  a  part  of  the  Army 
from  Tennessee.  His  once-proud  army, 
now  much  reduced  by  desertion,  was  on 
the  verge  of  starvation.  He  strongly 
recommended  an  Emancipation  Procla- 
mation, and  the  arming  of  the  slaves. 
Johnston  was  held  in  tow  by  Sherman. 
If  a  junction  with  Johnston  could  be 
made  by  Lee,  the  struggle  might  be  pro- 
longed. To  do  this  was  a  bold  and  dan- 
gerous step ;  but  it  was  the  only  hope. 
It  was  now  the  evening  of  the  24th  of 
March,  and  Grant's  orders  for  an  attack 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


on  the  29th  were  already  out.  Lee  must 
make  the  junction  immediately,  or  all 
would  be  lost.  On  the  25th  he  attacked 
Fort  Steadman,  on  Grant's  extreme 
right,  hoping  to  draw  troops  from  the 
left,  and  thereby  slip  out.  At  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning  the  advance  was 
made  on  the  unsuspecting  garrison, 
which  instantly  evacuated  it.  Had  Lee 
pushed  on  promptly,  then  and  there,  vic- 
tory would  have  been  the  result.  But 
during  the  delay  the  federal  artillery 
made  fearful  havoc  among  his  troops, 
cutting  off  the  attacking  party  from  their 
lines.  As  it  was,  less  than  half  the 
number  (five  thousand)  returned  to  the 
lines.  Meade  ordered  an  advance,  and  the 
confederates  were  pushed  back  still  further. 
By  this  operation  Grant  held  Lee's  army 
more  firmly  than  ever,  and  the  grand 
finale  was  neither  hastened  nor  delayed. 

1865.  March  31.  The  General  Ly on, 
of  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  was  lost  off  Cape 
Hatteras,  with  five  hundred  lives. 

1865.  April  1.  Battle  of  Five 
Forks.  With  nine  thousand  cavalry, 
supported  by  Warren's  corps  of  infantry, 
Sheridan  pushed  out  from  the  federal  left 
wing  on  the  29th  of  March,  and  gained 
Lee's  rear  at  Five  Forks,  twelve  miles 
from  Petersburg.  The  last  of  the  con- 
federate communications  was  now  sev- 
ered, and  the  federal  army  was  ready  to 
make  a  movement  in  concert  for  the  final 
1804-1865.  result.  A  heavy  rain  storm 

Richard  Cobden.  delayed  an  immediate  at- 
tack. On  the  morning  of  April  ist  the 
garrison  was  assaulted  in  flank  and  rear 
by  Warren's  veterans,  and  in  front  by 
Sheridan's  cavalry.  A  few  escaped,  but 
the  greater  number  was  killed,  while 
five  thousand  were  taken  prisoners.  This 
was  the  key  to  Lee's  position,  which  im- 
mediately became  untenable. 


1865.  April  2.  Wilson's  March, 
through  Alabama  and  Georgia.  While 
the  federal  armies  were  gathering  around 
Richmond,  Gen.  Wilson  roamed  at  large, 
with  a  large  cavalry  force,  through  Ala- 
bama and  Georgia.  He  defeated  Forrest 
at  Selma  on  the  2d  of  April,  and  dis- 
persed small  confederate  forces  wherever 
they  rose  up  for  resistance.  "  He  cap 
tured  five  fortified  cities,  two  hundred 
and  eighty-eight  pieces  of  artillery,, 
twenty-three  stands  of  colors,  and  six 
thousand,  eight  hundred  and  twenty  pris- 
oners. He  lost  seven  hundred  and 
twenty-five  men,  of  whom  ninety-nine 
were  killed." 

CAPTURE  OF   PETERSBURG  AND  RICH- 
MOND. 

1865.  April  2-3.  While  the  hills 
were  echoing  the  shout  of  victory  at 
Five  Forks,  on  the  night  of  the  ist  the 
federal  artillery  before  Petersburg  opened 
a  tremendous  fire,  and  kept  it  up  all 
night.  At  daybreak  in  the  morning  the 
long-expected  and  fully-prepared  assault 
was  made  along  the  whole  line.  By 
noon  the  confederate  line  was  broken  in 
many  places,  and  several  thousand  pris- 
oners were  captured.  Sherman  cut 
Lee's  last  avenue  of  resources  that  after- 
noon. The  goal  for  which  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  had  struggled  four  long,, 
bloody  years,  was  almost  within  its  grasp. 
That  night  (Sabbath),  after  a  desperate 
effort  to  hold  his  position,  Lee  evacuated 
Petersburg.  He  had  already  dispatched 
to  Davis  at  the  confederate  capital,  that 
"  Richmond  must  be  evacuated  this 
evening."  Davis  was  attending  services 
at  the  Episcopal  church  when  the  mes- 
sage reached  him.  Deathly  pale,  he 
arose,  and  silently  walked  out.  An  awful 
silence  prevailed  through  the  church,  and 


1863-1808.] 

the  service  was  closed.  The  sad  news 
needed  no  announcement; — the  fearful 
work  of  "  fleeing  before  the  enemy  "  was 
soon  commenced.  Suddenly  the  streets 
began  to  flow  with  carts  of  baggage,  and 
a  hurrying  mass  of  fugitives.  The  con- 
federate historian,  Pollard,  says :  "  Night 
came,  and  with  it  confusion  worse  con- 
founded. There  was  no  rest  for  human 
eyes  in  Richmond  that  night.  About 
the  hour  of  midnight  hundreds  of  barrels 
of  liquor  were  rolled  into  the  street  and 
the  heads  knocked  in,  to  prevent  a  worse 
disorder.  As  the  work  progressed,  some 
straggling  soldiers  managed  to  get  hold 
of  a  quantity  of  liquor.  From  that  mo- 
ment law  and  order  ceased  to  exist." 
The  tobacco  houses  were  fired,  and  at 
dawn  "an  immense  conflagration  sounded 
in  their  ears;  tongues  of  flame  leaped 
from  street  to  street;  and  in  this  baleful 
glare  were  to  be  seen  the  figures  of  busy 
plunderers,  moving,  pushing,  and  rioting 
through  the  black  smoke,  bearing  away 
every  conceivable  sort  of  plunder."  The 
federal  army  entered  that  day  (the  3d), 
and  the  city  was  put  under  military  rule. 
The  loyal  people  at  the  North  could  not 
give  expression  to  their  joy.  All  busi- 
ness was  closed  in  the  large  cities.  Im- 
posing public  demonstrations  were  made, 
and  public  officials  were  called  out  to 
address  large  and  enthusiastic  crowds. 
That  the  civil  war  was  ended,  was 
evident;  and  all  that  was  needed  to  sup- 
press further  hostilities  was  a  military 
display  of  the  national  armies.  This 
took  place  a  few  days  later  at  Appomat- 
tox  Court  House. 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


693 


1865.     April   4.     President   Lincoln 

visited  Richmond  the  day  after  the  evac- 
uation. He  went  up  from  City  Point  in 
the  Malvern,  and  when  it  was  known 


at  his  landing  that  President  Lincoln  was- 
actually  before  them,  the  colored  people 
collected  in  crowds  to  gaze  upon  him, 
and  if  possible,  to  take  his  hand.  He 
spent  the  day  in  visiting  the  principal 
parts  of  the  city,  and  then  departed.  In 
two  days  he  returned  and  held  confer- 
ences with  leading  confederates  in  regard 
to  the  establishment  of  peace. 

1865.  April  5.  Selma,  Ala.,  was 
captured  by  Gen.  Wilson,  and  with  it 
2,700  prisoners,  32  guns,  and  many  sup- 
plies. The  confederate  Gen.  Forrest  was- 
now  being  pushed  from  point  to  point. 

1865.  April  6.  Sheridan  captured  a 
large  lot  of  Lee's  supplies  and  a  portion 
of  his  men  near  Appomattox  Station, 
These  losses  made  Lee's  situation  a  des- 
perate one. 

1865.  April  7.  The  surrender  of 
Lee  was  demanded  in  a  note  sent  by 
Gen.  Grant  to  that  commander.  The 
officers  of  Lee  saw  that  capitulation  must 
soon  take  place,  but  he  did  not  agree 
with  them,  and  replied  to  Grant  that  if 
he  would  send  terms  they  would  be 
learned  with  pleasure.  Lee  immediately 
continued  his  flight,  and  Grant  pushed 
after  him.  Further  correspondence  took 
place,  but  to  no  purpose,  until  Lee  made 
one  more  attempt  to  escape  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  9th. 

LEE'S  SURRENDER. 

1865.  April  9.  While  the  capture 
of  Petersburg  and  Richmond  was  con- 
suming the  attention  of  the  federals,  Lee 
stealthily  escaped.  The  place  at  which 
he  aimed  to  concentrate  his  troops  was  at 
Amelia  Court  House,  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Appomattox  River,  where  he  ex- 
pected to  receive  commissary  stores,  and 
then  continue  his  flight  southward  by  the 
Danville  road.  Grant  ordered  Sherman, 


694 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


with  his  cavalry  and  a  corps  of  infantry, 
to  intercept  the  retreat.  Sheridan  moved 
quickly  and  got  possession  of  the  railway, 
capturing  the  supplies.  Lee  then  passed 
off  in  a  northwesterly  direction,  while 
hundreds  of  his  men  were  dropping  off 
and  deserting — too  weak  to  carry  their 
muskets.  The  federal  cavalry  hung  like 
a  millstone  on  Lee's  front,  flank,  and  rear, 
and  the  confederate  soldiers  were  com- 
pelled to  fight,  when  really  too  weak 
to  walk.  Finally,  Sheridan  planted  his 
army  squarely  across  Lee's  path  of  re- 
treat. Lee  ordered  a  charge;  but  the 
cavalry  moved  aside,  disclosing  solid 
columns  of  infantry,  and  the  order  was 
reversed.  Lee  had  concluded  to  accept 
the  generous  terms  of  surrender  which 
Grant  had  proposed,  i.  e.,  that  the  officers 
and  soldiers  were  to  be  released  on  parole, 
not  to  take  up  arms  against  the  Union 
until  exchanged.  The  capitulation  was 
made  near  Appomattox  Court  House. 
The  officers  were  allowed  to  retain  their 
private  baggage  and  horses,  and  those  of 
the  soldiers  who  rode  their  own  horses 
were  permitted  to  keep  them. 


1865.  April  11.  Evacuation  of  Mo- 
bile. Mobile  did  not  fall  when  Farragut 
closed  its  harbor.  The  city  was  yet  ably 
defended  by  forts  Spanish  and  Blakely. 
The  former  was  a  formidable  structure, 
defended  by  rifle  pits,  torpedoes,  trenches, 
and  two  bastions.  General  Dick  Taylor 
had  marched  from  Louisiana  with  fifteen 
thousand  men  to  the  assistance  of  the 
garrison,  with  General  Maury  in  the 
field.  The  federal  force  consisted  of 
Steele's,  Smith's  and  Granger's  com- 
mands— about  forty  thousand  in  all — 
under  General  Canby.  The  federals 
were  camped  on  Fish  River.  On  the 
2yth  of  March  the  federals  advanced  and 


began  a  skirmish,  which  lasted  till  the 
3d  of  April,  when  Fort  Spanish  was 
completely  invested.  Siege  guns  were 
erected,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  8th  the 
entire  artillery  force  of  the  army  and 
navy  opened  upon  the  fort.  At  nine 
o'clock  that  night  the  federal  troops 
pressed  forward  and  pushed  the  enemy 
out,  taking  possession  at  two  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  9th.  Fort  Blakely 
fell  likewise,  and  the  confederates  evacu- 
ated Mobile  on  the  nth.  The  Union 
forces  marched  in  and  took  possession, 
ignorant  that  the  great  events  in  Virginia 
had  virtually  ended  the  war. 

LINCOLN'S  LtiST  SPEECH. 

1865.  April  11.  An  illumination 
took  place  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  in  honor 
of  the  surrender  of  Richmond.  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  addressed  a  large  concourse 
at  the  White  House  upon  the  principles 
of  reconstruction. 


1865.  April  12.  Montgomery,  the 
original  capital  of  the  confederacy,  was 
surrendered  to  the  Union  troops  under 
General  Wilson. 

1865.  April  13.  The  closing  of  the 
draft,  the  curtailment  of  the  operations 
for  procuring  military  supplies,  and  simi- 
lar steps,  were  announced  by  the  secre- 
tary of  war  for  immediate  execution. 

1&65.  April  14.  The  anniversary  of 
the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter  was  chosen 
as  an  occasion  upon  which  to  raise  the 
old  flag  which  had  been  pulled  down  at 
its  evacuation,  once  more  above  its  walls. 
Distinguished  men  were  present.  Henry 
Ward  Beecher  delivered  an  address,  and 
Major  Anderson,  who  held  command  of 
the  fort  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  run 
up  the  flag.  It  was  an  occasion  of  great 
rejoicing. 


1863-1868 .J 

imASSlftATiOX  OF  LINCOLN. 
1865.   April  14.    The  country  upon  the 
morning  of  this  day,  was  all  unconscious 
of  the  impending  tragedy.     The  victim 
of  it  likewise  dismissed  all  suggestions  of 
possible  danger  which  had  been  repeat- 
edly urged  upon  him  by  faithful  friends. 
Mr.  Lincoln  felt  that  in  his  case   there 
could  not  possibly  be  any  plots  against 
his  life.     He  therefore  lived  in  great  con- 
fidence and  simple  trust.     He  was  in  ex- 
cellent health  and  spirits  at  the  time.    On 
the  morning  of  the  I4th  he  was  occupied 
at  breakfast,  and  after,  in  hearing  from 
his  son,  Capt.  Robert  Lincoln,  a  member 
of  General  Grant's  staff,  the   details   of 
Lee's  surrender.     He  then  received  some 
of  the  prominent  men  of 'the  government, 
and  at  eleven  o'clock  attended  a  cabinet 
meeting  in  which  reconstruction  was  the 
great  theme.      A  very  full  consultation 
was  held  upon  it,  General  Grant  being 
present,   and  participating.     At   a   later 
hour    Mr.    Lincoln   arranged   to   go   to 
Ford's  Theater  for  the  evening.     He  did 
so  partly  because  he  knew  that  the  peo- 
ple wished   to  see  him  in  some  public 
gathering.     For  a  similar  reason  he  had 
arranged  to  be  accompanied  by   General 
Grant,  but  the  latter  left  town  late  in  the 
day,  and  was  therefore  not  present.     Mr. 
Lincoln  was  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Lin- 
coln, Major  Rathbone,  and  Miss  Harris, 
daughter  of  Senator  Harris.  John  Wilkes 
Booth  entered  the  door  of  the  President's 
box  a  little  past  ten  o'clock,  and  before  he 
was  noticed,  fired  a  pistol,  the  ball  from 
which  entered  the  back  of  Mr.  Lincoln's 
head,  passed  through  the  brain , and  stopped 
just  back  of  the  right  eye.     At  the  time, 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  intently  gazing  upon  the 
stage,  and  did  not  change  his  position  after 
the  fatal  stroke,  except  by  the  dropping  of 
his  head  forward.     Booth,  after  a  brief 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


695 


wrestle  with  Major  Rathbone,  in  which 
he  wounded  the  latter  with  a  dagger, 
leaped  over  the  front  of  the  box,  down 
upon  the  stage,  crying  out  "  Sic  sem- 
per tyrannis!"  His  spur  caught  in 
the  United  States  flag  in  front  of  the  box, 
and  he  fell,  but  rising  quickly  he  ran  to 
a  rear  door,  and  mounting  a  horse  which 
stood  there  for  him,  fled  from  the  place. 
It  was  afterward  found  that  by  his  fall  on 
the  stage  he  had  fractured  a  limb.  The 
theater  was  now  in  confusion.  Mr.  Lin- 
coln was  taken  across  the  street  to  Mr. 
Peterson's  house,  and  examined  by  sur- 
geons. The  wound  was  seen  to  be  fatal, 
and  there  was  nothitig  to  do  but  watch  the 
slowly  ebbing  life.  There  was  no  con- 
sciousness, and  an  increasing  difficulty  of 
breathing.  The  leading  persons  of  the 
government  spent  the  time  by  his  bedside, 
and  could  scarcely  realize  the  deed.  Mr. 
Lincoln  breathed  his  last  at  twenty-two 
minutes  past  seven  the  next  morning. 
This  terrible  news  shocked  the  land 
as  it  had  never  been  shocked  be- 
fore. Men  were  appalled.  The  glad- 
ness of  the  last  few  days  was  turned 
into  extreme  blackness  and  mourning. 
Multitudes  gathered  everywhere  to  find 
common  sympathy.  Business  was  par- 
alyzed, and  pleasure  annihilated.  The 
country  was  in  inexpressible  grief.  Much 
of  the  South  was  shocked  deeply,  for  an 
expectation  had  begun  to  rise  there  that 
his  wisdom  would  help  it  out  of  the  diffi- 
culty into  which  it  had  fallen.  But  the 
end  so  much  feared  by  some  had  come, 
and  the  country  was  left  desolate  and 
afflicted. 

ATTEMPT  UPON  SEWtiRD. 
1865.     April  14.     The  horror  at  Lin- 
coln's fall  was  doubled  when  it  was  an- 
nounced that  an  attempt  had  been  made, 
at  the  same  time,  upon  the  life  of  Secre- 


696 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


tary  William  H.  Seward,  who  was  con- 
fined to  his  bed  from  the  effects  of  a  fall 
from  his  carriage  a  few  days  before.  Mr. 
Seward's  condition  was  one  of  great 
weakness.  A  little  past  ten  o'clock  a 
man  named  Lewis  Payne  Powell,  push- 
ing past  the  colored  boy  who  had  opened 
the  door  at  his  ring,  made  his  way  to  the 
chamber  where  Mr.  Seward  was  lying. 
Mr.  Frederic  W.  Seward,  the  son  of  the 
secretary,  met  him  in  the  hall  on  the 
third  floor,  and  refused  him  admission  to 
the  sick  room.  Powell  had  told  the  boy  at 
the  door,  and  now  told  the  young  man 
that  he  had  some  medicine  which  he  must 
personally  deliver.  '  When  resisted  he  at- 
tempted to  fire  at  young  Mr.  Seward, 
but  the  pistol  snapped.  He  then  felled 
him  to  the  floor  with  a  blow  from  the  pis- 
tol, fracturing  his  skull.  Powell  rushed 
to  the  bedside  and  plunged  with  a  bowie- 
knife  three  times,  at  the  throat  of  Mr. 
Seward,  inflicting  severe  wounds,  when 
an  invalid  soldier  named  Robinson,  act- 
ing as  nurse,  seized  the  assassin  and  was 
himself  wounded  in  the  wrestle.  Mr. 
Seward  in  this  interval,  rolled  himself  off 
the  farther  side  of  the  bed,  and  Powell, 
realizing  that  there  would  be  instant 
help,  for  Miss  Seward  was  calling  from 
the  window,  and  the  colored  boy  from 
the  door,  pulled  himself  away  from  Rob- 
inson, rushed  through  the  hall,  on  his 
way  striking  Major  Augustus  Seward, 
another  son  of  the  secretary,  and  stabbing 
Mr.  Hansell,  an  attendant,  and  mount- 
ing a  horse  at  the  door,  rode  away.  A 
conspiracy  was  at  once  evident.  Wash- 
ington was  instantly  put  under  military 
care.  It  was  not  known  what  further 
efforts  might  be  made.  A  tempest 
seemed  to  have  burst,  and  its  lightning 
might  shiver  some  other  structure  at  any 
moment.  Saturday,  the  I5th  of  April, 


was  a  day  of  conflicting  emotions.  But 
the  Sabbath  soon  came,  and  brought 

*  O 

something  of  reflection.  The  services  of 
that  day  were  everywhere  turned  to  this 
theme. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

1865.  April  15.  At  twenty-two 
minutes  after  seven  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, our  beloved  martyred  president 
bi'eathed  his  last,  and  a  nation  was  left 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  one  who  had  carried 
it  safely  through  the  most  critical  period 
of  its  history,  a  gigantic  civil  war  which 
had  threatened  to  overthrow  it. 

Abraham  Lincoln,  the  sixteenth  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Hardin  county,  Ky.,  Feb.  12,  1809.  His 
father  was  very  poor,  and  the  future 
president's  birthplace  was  a  rough  log 
cabin.  Though  so  poor,  Mr.  Lincoln  did 
not  utterly  neglect  the  education  of  his 
son,  but,  mindful  of  his  own  deficiency, 
gave  him  every  advantage  his  circum- 
stances would  allow. 

When  Abraham  was  eight  years  old, 
his  fathei",  compelled  by  poverty  and  his 
inability  to  cope  with  slave  labor,  left  his 
home  in  Kentucky,  and  in  Spencer 
county,  Ind.,  found  a  new  home,  where 
he  could  labor  under  more  favorable  cir- 
cumstances, and  where  his  children  might 
in  time,  by  industry  and  perseverance, 
become  honorable  members  of  society. 
Two  years  later  Abraham's  mother  died. 
It  is  impossible  to  estimate  her  influence 
in  molding  the  character  of  her  son;  but 
it  is  certain,  from  his  own  words,  that  she 
taught  him  to  read  and  love  the  Bible; 
that  also,  under  her  instruction,  he  learned 
to  write,  and  encouraged  by  his  father, 
became  able  to  put  his  thoughts  on  paper, 
so  that  after  his  mother's  death  he  wrote 
a  letter  to  a  former  friend  of  his  mother, 
a  traveling  preacher,  asking  him  to  preach 


1868-1868.] 

a  funeral  sermon  over  her  grave.  In  the 
autumn,  or  early  winter  of  1819,  Mr. 
Lincoln's  father  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Sally  Johnston,  a  former  friend  in  Ken- 
tucky, who  proved  a  kind  stepmother  to 
Abraham  and  his  sister. 

As  he  grew  older  Abraham  was  very 
helpful  on  the  farm,  often  also  doing  an  odd 
day's  work  for  the  neighbors.  His  leisure 
time  was  devoted  to  reading  such  books 
as  he  could  procure  from  any  source. 
Those  with  which  he  was  most  familiar 
during  these  early  years,  were  the  Bible, 
the  Pilgrim's  Progress,  and  ./Esop's 
Fables.  He  had,  besides,  Weem's  Life 
of  Washington,  and  a  Life  of  Henry 
Clay.  Later,  he  read  a  Life  of  Franklin, 
and  Ramsay's  Life  of  Washington. 
Molded  by  such  books,  his  character 
could  not  become  otherwise  than  pure 
and  -noble. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  conceived 
and  executed  the  project  of  building  a 
flat-boat,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the 
farm  produce  down  the  river  to  market. 
The  next  year  he  took  a  boat-load  of  prod- 
uce down  the  Mississippi  to  the  planta- 
tions near  New  Chileans. 

Just  after  Mr.  Lincoln  had  attained  his 
majority,  his  father,  becoming  tired  of  the 
slow  process  necessary  in  the  getting  of 
land  ready  for  cultivation  in  the  forests  of 
Indiana,  sold  out  his  claim  there,  and  with 
oxen  to  carry  the  family  goods,  directed 
his  course  toward  the  prairies  of  Illinois. 
After  a  very  tedious  journey  through 
swollen  streams  and  the  prairie  mud,  he 
reached  Macon  county,  and  selected  a  spot 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Sangamon,  at 
the  junction  of  the  timber  land  and 
prairie,  for  the  new  home.  Abraham 
assisted  his  father  in  the  building  of  the 
hewed  log  cabin,  split  enough  rails  to  in- 
close a  ten-acre  lot,  and  fenced  it,  and, 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


697 


after  breaking  the  ground  and  seeing  to 
the  planting  of  it,  left  the  new  home,  and 
started  out  for  himself. 

Mr.  Lincoln's  experience  for  the  next 
few  years  was  varied;  working  for  the 
neighbors;  again  taking  a  boat-load  of 
produce  down  the  Mississippi;  clerking 
in  a  store;  serving  in  the  Black  Hawk 
War;  a  candidate  for  the  legislature;  in 
business  for  himself.  At  last  he  was 
hired  by  John  C.  Calhoun  to  assist  him 
in  surveying,  which  occupation,  after  ac- 
quainting himself  with  the  science,  he 
followed  steadily  for  one  year,  and  took 
up  afterward  whenever  he  needed  to  in- 
crease his  means  of  support. 

In  1834,  two  years  after  a  former  nom- 
ination for  the  legislature,  he  was  again 
nominated,  and  this  time  elected.  At  the 
close  of  the  canvass  he  borrowed  some 
law  books  of  Mr.  Stuart,  a  lawyer  of 
Springfield,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
law.  On  the  assembling  of  legislature, 
Mr.  Lincoln  shouldered  his  pack,  and 
went  on  foot  to  Vandalia,  the  capital 
of  the  state  at  that  time,  and  about  one 
hundred  miles  distant  from  his  home. 
During  this  session  he  said  little,  but 
was  a  close  observer,  was  always  in 
his  place,  and  performed  faithfully  such 
duties  as  devolved  upon  him.  At  its  close 
he  went  home  as  he  came,  and  resumed 
his  study  of  law.  In  1836  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  re-elected,  and  was  then  recognized 
as  one  of  the  most  able  in  a  legislature 
which  was  composed  of  men,  many  of 
whose  names  have  since  become  well 
known  in  that  state,  or  in  the  country. 
At  this  session  began  Mr.  Lincoln's  anti- 
slavery  history;  he  and  Dan  Stone,  his 
colleague,  entering  upon  the  journal  of 
the  house  their  reasons  for  not  voting  for 
some  extreme  pro-slavery  resolutions 
which  had  passed. 


698 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


On  the  1 5th  of  April,  1837,  Mr. 
Lincoln  took  up  his  abode  in  Springfield, 
having  been  invited  by  Mr.  Stuart  to  be- 
come his  partner  in  the  practice  of  law 
there.  His  influence  in  securing  the  re- 
moval of  the  capital  to  that  place  had 
given  him  a  favorable  introduction,  and 
Mr.  Stuart's  willingness  to  receive  him 
as  a  partner  was  a  sufficient  indorse- 
ment of  his  powers  and  acquisitions  as  a 
lawyer. 

In  1840  Mr.  Lincoln  was  again  elected 
to  the  legislature,  and  it  was  the  last  term 
he  consented  to  serve.  Two  years  later 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Todd,  of 
Lexington,  Ky.  In  1846  he  accepted  a 
nomination  to  congress  from  the  Sanga- 
mon  district,  and  was  elected  by  a  larger 
majority  than  was  ever  before  given  to 
any  candidate.  He  remained  but  one 
term,  and  on  his  return  devoted  himself 
with  assiduity  to  his  business  for  a  num- 
ber of  years. 

In  1854  commenced  Mr.  Lincoln's 
great  discussion  with  Mr.  Douglas  on 
the  slavery  question.  In  the  same  year 
he  was  nominated  by  the  whig  party,  to 
the  United  States  senate,  but  at  his  own 
request,  in  order  to  defeat  the  regular 
democratic  candidate,  this  party  united 
with  the  Anti-Nebraska  democrats,  and 
elected  their  candidate,  Mr.  Lyman 
Trumbull. 

In  the  organization  of  the  republican 
party  of  Illinois  in  1856,  Mr.  Lincoln 
took  an  active  part,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  the  leaders  in  that  party.  Mr. 
Lincoln's  speeches  in  opposition  to  Sen- 
ator Douglas  in  the  contest  of  1858  for 
a  seat  in  the  United  States  senate,  form  a 
most  notable  part  of  his  history.  The 
issue  was  on  the  slavery  question;  Mr. 
Douglas  was  indifferent  to  it;  while  Mr. 
Lincoln,  taking  the  broad  ground  of  the 


Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all 
men  are  created  equal,  and  believing  the 
negro,  as  a  man,  included  in  this  asser- 
tion, was  opposed  to  the  extension  of 
slavery,  and  wished  it  to  be  put  where  it 
would  be  in  the  course  of  ultimate  ex- 
tinction. Mr.  Holland  says:  "It  is  in 
vain  to  look  for  any  better  presentation 
of  the  principles  of  the  republican  party, 
or  a  better  definition  of  the  issues  which 
divided  it  from  the  democratic  party  of 
the  time,  than  are  to  be  found  in  these 
speeches  of  Mr.  Lincoln."  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  defeated  in  the  contest  for  a  seat  in 
the  senate  owing  to  the  unfair  apportion- 
ment of  legislative  districts,  but  received 
a  majority  of  the  popular  vote.  His 
speeches,  however,  and  his  debates  with 
Mr.  Douglas,  diffused  throughout  the 
country  by  the  press,  brought  him  before 
the  public,  and,  through  the  West 
especially,  he  was  thought  of  as  a  very 
probable  presidential  candidate  for  the 
republican  party  in  the  campaign  of  1860. 
During  the  season  of  1858  there  were 
seven  joint  debates  held  upon  the  chal- 
lenge of  Mr.  Lincoln.  At  the  close  of 
his  speech  in  the  first  debate,  Mr.  Lincoln 
spoke  as  follows: 

"  Henry  Clay,  my  beau-ideal  of  a  statesman, 
the  man  for  whom  I  have  fought  all  my  hum- 
ble life — Henry  Clay  once  said  of  a  class  of  men 
who  would  repress  all  tendencies  to  liberty  and 
ultimate  emancipation,  that  they  must,  if  they 
would  do  this,  go  back  to  the  era  of  our  inde- 
pendence, and  muzzle  the  cannon  which  thun- 
ders its  annual  joyous  return;  they  must  blow 
out  the  moral  lights  around  us;  they  must  pene- 
trate the  human  soul,  and  eradicate  there  the 
love  of  liberty;  and  then,  and  not  till  then,  could 
they  perpetuate  slavery  in  this  country !  To 
my  thinking,  Judge  Douglas  is,  by  his  example 
and  vast  influence,  doing  that  very  thing  in  this 
community,  when  he  says  that  the  negro  has 
nothing  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 
Henry  Clay  plainly  understood  the  contrary. 
Judge  Douglas  is  going  back  to  the  era  of  our 
Revolution,  and,  to  the  extent  of  his  ability, 
muzzling  the  cannon  which  thunders  its  annual 
joyous  return.  When  he  invites  any  people 
willing  to  have  slavery,  to  establish  ;t,  he  is 


1863-1868.] 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


699 


blowing  out  the  moral  lights  around  us.  When 
he  says  he  '  cares  not  whether  slavery  is  voted 
down  or  voted  up,'  that  it  is  a  sacred  right  of 
self-government,  he  is,  in  my  judgment,  pene- 
trating the  human  soul,  and  eradicating  the 
light  of  reason,  and  the  love  of  liberty  in  the 
American  people." 

In  the  second  joint  debate,  Mr.  Doug- 
las attempted  to  meet  this  idea  in  the 
following  language: 

"  The  fourth  question  of  Mr.  Lincoln  is,  Are 
you  in  favor  of  acquiring  additional  territory, 
in  disregard  as  to  how  such  acquisition  may 
affect  the  Union  on  the  slavery  question?  This 
question  is  very  ingeniously  and  cunningly  put. 
The  Black  Republican  creed  lays  it  down  ex- 
pressly, that  under  no  circumstances  shall  we 
acquire  any  more  territory  unless  slavery  is 
first  prohibited  in  the  country.  I  ask  Mr.  Lin- 
coln whether  he  is  in  favor  of  that  proposition. 
Are  you  opposed  to  the  acquisition  of  any  more 
territory  unless  slavery  is  prohibited  in  it?  That 
he  does  not  like  to  answer.  When  I  ask  him 
whether  he  stands  up  to  that  article  in  the  plat- 
form of  his  party,  he  turns,  Yankee  fashion,  and 
without  answering  it,  asks  me  whether  I  am  in 
favor  of  acquiring  territory  without  regard  to 
how  it  may  affect  the  Union  on  the  slavery 
question.  I  answer  that  whenever  it  becomes 
necessary,  in  our  growth  and  progress,  to 
acquire  more  territory,  that  I  am  in  favor  of  it 
without  reference  to  the  question  of  slavery,  and 
when  we  have  acquired  it,  I  will  leave  the  peo- 
ple free  to  do  as  they  please,  either  to  make  it 
slave  or  free  territory,  as  they  prefer.  It  is  idle 
to  tell  me  or  you  that  we  have  territory  enough. 
Our  fathers  supposed  that  we  had  enough  when 
our  territory  extended  to  the  Mississippi  River, 
but  a  few  years'  growth  and  expansion  satisfied 
them  that  we  needed  more,  and  the  Louisiana 
territory,  from  the  west  branch  of  the  Missis- 
sippi to  the  British  Possessions,  was  acquired. 
Then  we  acquired  Oregon,  then  California  and 
New  Mexico.  We  have  enough  now  for  the 
present,  but  this  is  a  young  and  growing  nation. 
It  swarms  as  often  as  a  hive  of  bees,  and  as  new 
swarms  are  turned  out  each  year,  there  must 
be  hives  in  which  they  can  gather  and  make 
their  honey.  In  less  than  fifteen  years,  if  the 
same  progress  that  has  distinguished  this  coun- 
try for  the  last  fifteen  years,  continues,  every 
foot  of  vacant  land  between  this  and  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  owned  by  the  United  States,  will  be  oc- 
cupied. Will  you  not  continue  to  increase  at 
the  end  of  fifteen  years  as  well  as  now?  I  tell 
you,  increase,  and  multiply,  and  expand,  is  the 
law  of  this  nation's  existence.  You  cannot 
limit  this  great  republic  by  mere  boundary 
lines,  saying  'Thus  far  shalt  thou  go  and  no 
farther.'  Any  one  of  you,  gentlemen,  might 
as  well  say  to  a  son  twelve  years  old  that  he  is 
big  enough,  and  must  not  grow  any  larger,  and 
in  order  to  prevent  his  growth,  put  a  hoop 
around  him  to  keep  him  to  his  present  size. 
What  would  be  the  result?  Either  the  hoop 


must  burst  and  be  rent  asunder,  or  the  child 
must  die.  So  it  would  be  with  this  great  na- 
tion. ^  With  our  natural  increase,  growing  with 
a  rapidity  unknown  in  any  other  part  of  the 
globe,  with  the  tide  of  emigration  that  is  fleeing 
from  despotism  in  the  Old  World  to  seek  refuge 
in  our  own,  there  is  a  constant  torrent  pouring 
into  this  country  that  requires  more  land,  more 
territory  upon  which  to  settle,  and  just  as  fast 
as  our  interests  and  our  destiny  require  addi- 
tional territory  in  the  North,  in  the  South,  or 
in  the  islands  of  the  ocean,  I  am  for  it,  and  when 
we  acquire  it,  will  leave  the  people,  according 
to  the  Nebraska  bill,  free  to  do  as  they  please 
on  the  subject  of  slavery,  and  everv  other 
question." 

In  a  subsequent  debate,  Mr.  Lincoln 
clearly  showed  the  position  of  the  repub- 
lican party  upon  this  point,  in  the  follow- 
ing language: 

"  We  have  in  this  nation  this  element  of  do- 
mestic slavery.  It  is  a  matter  of  absolute  cer- 
tainty that  it  is  a  disturbing  element.  It  is  the 
opinion  of  all  the  great  men  who  have  ex- 
pressed an  opinion  upon  it,  that  it  is  a  danger- 
ous element.  We  keep  up  a  controversy  in  re- 
gard to  it.  That  controversy  necessarily 
springs  from  difference  of  opinion,  and  if  we  can 
learn  exactly — can  reduce  to  the  lowest  elements 
— what  that  difference  of  opinion  is,  we  perhaps 
shall  be  better  prepared  for  discussing  the  dif- 
ferent systems  of  policy  that  we  would  propose 
in  regard  to  that  disturbing  element.  I  sug- 
gest that  the  difference  of  opinion,  reduced  to 
its  lowest  terms,  is  no  other  than  the  difference 
between  the  men  who  think  slavery  a  wrong, 
and  those  who  do  not  think  it  a  wrong.  The 
republican  party  think  it  a  wrong — we  think  it 
a  moral,  a  social,  and  a  political  wrong.  We 
think  it  is  a  wrong  not  confining  itself  merely 
to  the  persons  or  the  states  where  it  exists,  but 
that  it  is  a  wrong  in  its  tendency,  to  say  the  least, 
that  extends  itself  to  the  existence  of  the  whole 
nation.  Because  we  think  it  wrong,  we  pro- 
pose a  course  of  policy  that  shall  deal  with  it  as 
a  wrong.  We  deal  with  it  as  with  any  other 
wrong,  in  so  far  as  we  can  prevent  its  growing 
any  larger,  and  so  deal  with  it  that  in  the  run  of 
time  there  ma}'  be  some  promise  of  an  end  to  it. 
We  have  a  due  regard  to  the  actual  presence  of 
it  amongst  us,  and  the  difficulties  of  getting  rid 
of  it  in  any  satisfactory  way,  and  all  the  consti- 
tutional obligations  thrown  about  it.  This  gen- 
tlemen, as  well  as  I  can  give  it,  is  a  plain 'state- 
ment of  our  principles  in  all  their  enormity." 

These  seven  great  debates  gave  a  clear 
exhibition  to  the  principles  of  the  two 
parties,  and  their  effect  has  never  ceased 
to  be  felt  in  Illinois. 

In  February  of  1860  Mr.  Lincoln  visited 
the  East.  He  delivered  in  New  York 


700 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


on  the  25th  of  February,  the  speech 
which  by  many  is  regarded  as  his  ablest. 
It  exhibited  such  a  depth  of  historical  re- 
search that  weeks  were  required  by 
those  who  were  afterward  engaged  in 
preparing  it  for  a  campaign  document, 
to  find  the  works  which  verified  his  con- 
clusions. The  speech  was  followed 
with  the  closest  attention  by  his  great  au- 
dience, and  many  went  away  convinced 
that  if  they  were  obliged  to  give  up  their 
favorite  candidate,  Mr.  Seward,  Mr.  Lin- 
coln would  be  well  worthy  their  support. 
Wherever  he  spoke  at  the  East  he  was 
received  in  the  same  way,  and  he  found 
that  at  the  East  as  at  the  West,  a  man  is 
judged  by  what  he  is,  and  what  he  can 
do.  Rev.  J.  P.  Gulliver  told  Mr.  Lin- 
coln that  it  was  the  most  remarkable 
speech  he  had  ever  heard,  and  on  being 
asked  what  was  remarkable  in  it,  said, 
"  The  clearness  of  your  statements,  the 
unanswerable  style  of  your  reasoning, 
and  especially  your  illustrations,  which 
were  romance  and  pathos,  and  fun  and 
logic  all  welded  together."  A  professor 
of  rhetoric  in  Yale  College  took  notes  on 
his  lecture  at  New  Haven,  and  gave  a 
lecture  on  it  to  his  class  the  next  day,  and 
the  next  day  followed  him  -to  Meriden  for 
the  same  purpose. 

«The  convention  which  nominated  Mr. 
Lincoln  for  president,  met  at  Chicago  on 
the  1 6th  of  June.  Two  prominent 
names  were  before  it,  each  of  whose  ad- 
herents were  many  and  strong.  Mr. 
Seward,  widely  known  throughout  the 
country  from  a  prominent  public  life  of 
thh'ty  years,  and  recognized  both  at  home 
and  abroad  as  a  man  of  marked  ability; 
and  Mr.  Lincoln,  much  less  widely 
known  in  this  country,  and  scarcely  at  all 
abroad,  yet  almost  idolized  by  his  party 
in  his  own  state,  and  wherever  well 


known.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  nominated  on 
the  third  ballot  during  the  second  day  ot 
the  convention.  He  received  the  formal 
announcement  on  the  following  day,  and 
sent  his  acceptance  on  the  twenty-third- 

Although  it  was  almost  certain  from 
the  first  that,  on  account  of  the  break  in 
the  opposing  party,  Mr.  Lincoln  would 
be  elected,  yet  he  took  up  the  honors  of 
his  new  position  quietly,  losing  none  of 
his  old  heartiness  and  simplicity.  He  ac- 
cepted as  his,  the  platform  of  the 
party  which  nominated  him,  and  wisely 
awaited  the  results. 

When  the  result  of  the  election  in  the 
electoral  college  was  announced  before 
congress,  it  was  found  that  Mr.  Lincoln 
had  received  one  hundred  and  eighty  out 
of  the  two  hundred  and  three  votes  cast, 
and  was  the  constitutionally  elected  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States. 

On  the  nth  of  February,  1861,  Mr. 
Lincoln  started  for  Washington,  stopping 
at  all  the  large  cities  on  his  way.  In 
his  addresses  at  these  places  he  appeared 
at  his  very  worst,  from  the  fact  that  he 
had  determined  not  to  make  his  policy 
known,  and  felt  on  that  account  that  he 
had  nothing  to  say;  hence  the  speeches 
lacked  that  life  which  was  usually  their 
most  striking  feature.  The  whole  jour- 
ney was  fraught  with  much  danger. 
Many  of  the  Southern  States  had  already 
seceded.  Several  attempts  at  assassina- 
tion were  afterward  brought  to  light. 
At  Philadelphia  he  was  informed  by  a 
detective  of  a  plot  to  assassinate  him 
while  passing  through  Baltimore;  the 
information  being  seconded  at  Harrisburg 
by  a  message  from  General  Scott  and 
Senator  Seward,  through  the  son  of  the 
latter,  it  seemed  best  that  he  leave  Har- 
risburg on  the  evening  of  the  2 3d  of 
February  instead  of  the  next  morning  as 


1863-1868.] 

previously  arranged.  By  this  plan  he 
passed  through  Baltimore  in  safety,  and 
arrived  in  Washington  on  Saturday 
morning,  February  23. 

In  the  inaugural  address,  Mr.  Lincoln 
announced  his  policy  as  clearly  as  pos- 
sible. Its  tone  was  conciliatory  and 
friendly  toward  the  South,  while  at  the 
same  time  it  showed  his  firm  determina- 
tion to  protect  United  States  property,  and 
to  uphold  the  constitutional  government. 
He  followed  strictly  his  policy  as  laid 
down  in  the  inaugural;  doing  all  in  his 
power  in  the  first  place  to  prevent  the 
war — leaving  to  the  South  the  initial 
steps;  and  when  he  saw  that  war  was 
inevitable,  using  every  means  to  prevent 
the  border  states  from  joining  the  enemy. 
This  latter  part  of  the  policy  was  severe- 
ly censured  by  a  party  at  the  North,  as 
compromising  with  slavery ;  but  its  wis- 
dom must  now  be  acknowledged,  as  it  is 
not  probable  that  these  states  could  have 
been  retained  in  the  Union  in  any  other 
way. 

In  the  nomination  of  cabinet  officers, 
to  Mr.  Seward  was  given  the  first  place, 
not  simply  as  a  compliment  to  the  party 
who  had  been  desirous  that  he  be  nomi- 
nated to  the  presidency  instead  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  but  because  he  saw  that  his  wis- 
dom and  large  experience  eminently 
fitted  him  for  the  position. 

Throughout  his  entire  administration 
Mr.  Lincoln's  fixed  purpose  was  to  abide 
by  the  constitution,  and  from  this  pur- 
pose he  never  for  a  moment  swerved. 
Believing  that  the  constitution  recog- 
nized as  property  those  who  were  held 
as  slaves  in  the  Southern  States,  though 
he  had  always  hated  slavery,  he  could 
not  make  the  emancipation  of  them  jus- 
tifiable on  any  other  ground  than  as  a 
war  measure,  and  did  not  feel  that  he 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


701 


could  on  this  ground  issue  the  Proclama- 
tion any  sooner  than  he  did.  Feeling 
then  that  the  country  was  ready  for  it, 
and  that  the  position  of  the  war  demand- 
ed it,  he  issued  it  with  the  firm  convic- 
tion that  he  was  following  the  direction 
of  Providence. 

During  no  other  administration  have 
the  duties  devolving  upon  the  president 
been  so  manifold,  and  the  responsibilities 
so  great,  as  those  which  fell  to  the  lot  of 
President  Lincoln.  Knowing  this,  and 
feeling  keenly  his  own  weakness  and  ina- 
bility to  meet,  and  in  his  own  strength  to 
cope  with,  the  difficulties,  he  learned  early 
to  seek  divine  wisdom  and  guidance 
in  determining  his  plans,  and  divine  com- 
fort in  all  his  trials,  both  personal  and  na- 
tional. "  I  should  be  the  most  presumpt- 
uous blockhead  upon  this  footstool,"  he 
says,  "if  I  for  one  day  thought  that  I 
could  discharge  the  duties  which  have 
come  upon  me  since  I  came  into  this 
place,  without  the  aid  and  enlighten- 
ment of  One  who  is  wiser  and  stronger 

O 

than  all  others."  The  thought  that  the 
prayers  of  Christians  throughout  the  na- 
tion were  constantly  going  up  for  him, 
was  always  a  great  source  of  consola- 
tion. Yet  the  cares  wore  upon  him; 
through  all  the  abuse  heaped  upon  him 
during  the  senatorial  campaign  discussions 
with  Mr.  Douglas,  he  never  lost  his  tem- 
per; yet  in  .his  presidency  often  very 
small  things  would  make  him  exceed- 
ingly irritable.  His  fund  of  stories,  and 
hearty  enjoyment  of  those  told  by  others, 
did  much  to  keep  up  his  spirits.  He  said 
at  one  time,  "  If  it  were  not  for  this  occa- 
sional vent,  I  should  die."  He  never  was 
anxious  for  his  personal  safety.  Full  of 
the  kindest  feelings  toward  every  one,  he 
could  not  understand  how  any  one 
should  feel  that  enmity  toward  him 


702 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


which  would  lead  to  his  assassination. 
His  custom  was  to  walk  the  streets  of 
Washington  at  night  with  but  one 
unarmed  companion ;  and  he  often  drove 
out  to  the  Soldiers'  Home,  his  summer 
residence,  alone.  On  the  day  after  the 
surrender  of  Richmond  he  walked  its 
streets  with  no  guard  except  the  sailors 
who  had  rowed  him  up  the  river.  And 
yet  from  the  time  he  left  Springfield  in 
February  of  1861,  his  enemies  did  not 
cease  making  plans  for  his  assassination 
until  he  had  fallen  a  victim  to  one  of 
them.  He  fell  just  as  he  had  reached  the 
pinnacle  of  his  fame,  mourned  by  many 
of  his  foes  as  well  as  by  his  friends,  Eng- 
land vying  with  America  in  expressions 
of  sympathy  for  those  most  nearly  affected 
by  his  loss.  His  was  a  life  which  will 
fitly  become  a  model,  its  blemishes  grow- 
ing dim,  and  its  virtues  shining  with  in- 
creasing luster.  His  name  as  the  savior 
of  his  country  will  live  with  that  of 
Washington,  its  Father ;  his  countrymen 
being  ever  unable  to  decide  which  is  the 
greater. 

1865.     April  15.      Andrew  Johnson 

was  sworn  in  as  president  of  the  United 
States  by  Chief-justice  Chase,  about  six 
hours  after  Mr.  Lincoln  breathed  his  last. 
1865.  April  16.  Columbus,  Ga., 
was  seized  by  Gen.  Wilson,  and  a  vast 
amount  of  property  was  destroyed,  in- 
cluding a  confederate  ram.  On  the  same 
day  La  Grange  seized  West  Point,  Ga., 
capturing  Fort  Tyler  by  a  brave  assault. 

SHERMAN'S  ATTEMPTED  AGREEMENT. 

1865.  April  18.  Sherman  had  moved 
with  great  rapidity  after  the  evacuation 
of  Richmond,  in  pursuit  of  Johnston. 
When  at  a  later  day  he  heard  of  the  sur- 
render of  Lee  he  pushed  on  still  more  rap- 


idly, and  soon  received  a  note  from  John- 
ston, suggesting  a  truce  till  affairs  could 
be  submitted  to  Gen.  Grant.  A  conference 
was  finally  arranged,  and  Sherman  made 
known  to  Johnston  that  he  had  power  to 
make  terms  similar  to  those  made  by 
Grant  to  Lee.  But  Johnston  wished 
some  political  elements  introduced  into 
the  surrender,  and  finally  on  this  date  a 
paper  was  drawn  up  which  embodies  his 
ideas.  It  contained  statements  in  regard 
to  the  recognition  of  the  governments  of 
the  states  in  rebellion,  and  in  regard  to 
political  franchises.  A  copy  was  sent  to 
Washington,  where  it  was  at  once  indig- 
nantly repudiated.  Grant  immediately 
communicated  with  Sherman,  ordering 
him  to  close  all  truce  with  Johnston, 
unless  the  terms  of  surrender  made  to 
Lee  were  accepted  by  him. 

LINCOLN'S  FUNERAL. 

1865.  April  19.  The  funei'al  cere- 
monies at  Washington  were  held  in  the 
East  Room  of  the  White  House,  Rev. 
Dr.  Hall  of  the  Episcopal  church,  Bishop 
Simpson  of  the  Methodist  church, 
taking  part,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Gui'ley  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  pronouncing  a  dis- 
course. At  two  o'clock  a  vast  procession 
was  formed,  and  escorted  the  remains  to 
the  capitol,  which  was  draped  in  black 
in  all  its  parts,  where  they  were  laid  in 
state  in  the  rotunda,  until  the  2ist.  The 
scene  during  these  days  was  indescriba- 
ble. On  the  2  ist  the  remains  were  re- 
moved, to  -be  carried  to  Springfield,  111. 
Now  began  an  experience  never  had  in 
this  country  before.  The  body  of  the 
president  lay  in  state  in  Philadelphia, 
New  York,  and  Chicago,  and  other 
great  cities,  while  along  the  entire  route 
was  one  constant  crowd  testifying  by 
looks  and  tears  to  their  overwhelming 


1863-1868.] 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


703 


grief.  The  train  was  everywhere 
watched  with  sorrow.  People  assembled 
at  all  points  to  see  it  pass.  Never  were 
there  greater  outbursts  of  affection  for  a 
dead  ruler. 

1865.  April  20.  Macon,  Ga.,  was 
surrendered  to  Gen.  Wilson.  Over  a  thou- 
sand men  were  here  taken  prisoners.  Gen. 
Wilson  was  told  of  the  surrender  of  Lee, 
by  Howell  Cobb,  the  confederate. 

DEATH  OF  BOOTH. 

1865.  April  26.  The  party  in  pur- 
suit  of  Booth  got  upon  his  track  and 
came  up  with  him  at  Garrett's  farm, 
twenty  miles  from  Fredericksburg,  where 
he  concealed  himself  in  a  barn.  He  re- 
fused to  yield  himself  up,  and  the  barn 
having  been  fired,  he  was  shot  in 
attempting  to  escape,  by  Boston  Corbett. 
He  was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  in  a 
short  time. 

VALENTINE  MOTT,  M.  D. 

1865.  April  26.  This  eminent  sur- 
geon declined  in  health  very  rapidly  after 
the  shock  occasioned  by  learning  of 
the  death  of  Lincoln,  and  died  in  New 
York  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 
He  was  born  on  Long  Island,  Aug.  20, 
1785,  and  after  a  severe  course  of  study 
in  New  York  and  London,  and  Edin- 
burgh, entered  Columbia  College  in  the 
chair  of  surgery.  His  life  was  devoted  to 
this  branch  of  medical  work.  Sir  Astley 
Cooper  said  of  him,  "  He  has  performed 
more  of  the  great  operations  than  any 
man  living,  or  that  ever  did  live."  He 
was  eminent  in  the  world  of  his  day  both 
as  a  man  and  as  a  surgeon.  His  life  was 
full  of  the  finer  traits  of  manhood. 

JOHNSTON'S  SURRENDER. 
1865.     April  26.     Gen.  Johnston  sur- 
rendered   to    Gen.    Sherman    with    the 


terms  which  had  been  accorded  to  Lee. 
A  body  of  cavalry  under  Wade  Hamp- 
ton withdrew  and  refused  to  unite  in  the 
surrender.  The  number  of  troops  given 
up  was  about  25,000.  The  capitulation 
included  all  the  troops  in  the  southern 
seaboard  states  which  formed  Johnston's 
department. 

1865.  April  28.  The  Sultana  ex- 
ploded upon  the  Mississippi,  with  a  loss 
of  1,320  lives,  most  of  them  returned 
Union  prisoners.  There  were  2,106  on 
board. 

SOUTH  AMERICAN  ALLIANCE. 

1865.  May  1.  A  secret  alliance  was 
formed  against  Paraguay  by  Brazil,  the 
Argentine  Republic,  and  Uruguay.  They 
resolved  to  overthrow  the  government  of 
Lopez  at  any  cost  whatever,  and  never 
to  disband  till  that  was  accomplished. 
Lopez  had  already  made  hostile  move- 
ments, and  had  declared  the  provinces  of 
Corrientes  and  Entre  Rios  annexed  to 
Paraguay. 

1865.  May  2.  Proclamation  of  Re- 
ward. A  proclamation  was  issued  by 
President  Johnson,  stating  that  there  was 
"  evidence  in  the  Bureau  of  Military  Jus- 
tice "  that  the  assassination  of  Lincoln 
and  the  attempt  upon  Seward,  were  parts 
of  a  conspiracy  formed  by  the  heads  of 
the  confederacy,  and  therefore  offering  a 
reward  of  $100,000  for  Jefferson  Davis, 
$25,000  each  for  Jacob  Thompson,  C.  C. 
Clay,  George  N.  Saunders,  and  Beverly 
Tucker,  and  $10,000  for  William  C. 
Cleary.  It  was  afterward  made  clear 
that  these  men  knew  nothing  of  the 
plans  which  the  assassins  tried  to  execute. 

1865.  May  4.  Gen.  Richard  Taylor 
surrendered  the  confederate  forces  in  Ala- 
bama to  Gen.  Canby,  at  Citronelle,  on 


704 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


the  same  terms  as  made  to  Lee  and  John- 
ston. The  confederate  vessels  on  the 
Tombigbee  River  were  also  given  up. 

LINCOLN'S  INTERMENT. 

1865.  May  4.  The  remains  of  Lin- 
coln, after  having  been  viewed  by  thou- 
sands at  Springfield,  were  placed  in  the 
tomb  which  awaited  them.  Bishop 
Simpson  pronounced  a  funeral  oration. 
A  choir  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  voices 
sang  requiems  fitting  the  occasion.  The 
final  leave  was  taken,  and  the  great  les- 
sons of  his  life  were  borne  away  to  a 
multitude  of  homes. 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS  CAPTURED. 

1865.  May  11.  The  knowledge  that 
Davis  had  fled  from  Richmond  caused 
the  troops  through  the  Southern  States  to 
be  on  the  watch  for  him.  He  at  first  fled 
with  his  family,  and  then  separated  from 
them,  but  again  rejoined  them  through  a 
report  that  they  would  be  maltreated. 
He  tried  to  reach  the 

ISoo.     Cattle 

plague  in  Eng-  Florida  coast,  but  was 
awakened  in  the  morning 
by  the  approach  of  cavalrymen  whom  he 
recognized  to  be  federals,  and  in  attempt- 
ing'to  get  from  his  tent  to  his  horse,  was 
hastily  rigged  up  by  his  wife  and  wife's 
sister  in  a  female  disguise.  But  he  was 
detected  and  made  a  prisoner,  and  after- 
ward sent  to  Fortress  Monroe.  The  cap- 
ture was  made  near  Irwinsville,  Ga.,  by 
two  parties  of  cavalry  under  Lieut.-Col. 
Pritchard  and  Lieut.-Col.  Hardin. 

LAST  BATTLE  OF  THE  WAR. 

1865.  May  13.  The  battle  of  Pal- 
metto Ranche  was  fought  near  the  Rio 
Grande,  in  Texas,  between  a  Union 
force  under  Col.  Barrett  and  a  confeder- 
ate force  under  Gen.  J.  E.  Slaughter. 


The  former  were  forced  back  with  con- 
siderable loss,  but  the  battle  was  inde- 
cisive. A  colored  regiment  of  United 
States  troops  fired  trje  last  volley  in  this 
battle,  and  therefore  in  the  war. 


1865.     May  22-23.     A  grand  review 

of  the  national  army  of  the  United 
States  took  place  in  Washington,  D.  C., 
where  the  troops  had  been  concentrated. 
It  was  a  great  spectacle,  and  was  viewed 
by  all  the  officers  of  government,  for- 
eign ministers,  and  also  thousands  of 
civilians. 

1865.  May  25.  A  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer  on  account  of  the  death  of 
Lincoln,  was  observed  in  the  United 
States,  in  accordance  with  a  proclamation 
by  President  Johnson. 

UPRISING  IN  BOLIVIA. 

1865.  May  25.  An  uprising  took 
place  under  one  Castro  Urquedas, 
against  the  government  of  Gen.  Mel- 
garejo,  who  had  himself  obtained  the 
power  by  insurrection.  For  the  rest  of 
the  year  the  province  was  in  great  com- 
motion. 

1865.  May  26.  Gen.  Kirby  Smith, 
surrendered  his  command  to  Gen.  Canby,, 
and  thus  ended  the  last  regular  army 
movements  of  the  war. 

1865.  May  29.  An  amnesty  proc- 
lamation was  issued  by  President  John- 
son, declaring  that  the  great  body  of  citi- 
zens of  the  Southern  States  could  receive 
full  pardon.  He  reserved  a  list  of  four- 
teen exceptions. 

DISBANDING  OF  THE  ARMY. 

1865.  June  2.  Gen.  Grant  issued  an 
address  to  the  "  Soldiers  of  the  Armies  of 
the  United  States."  and  the  work  of  mus- 


1863-1808.] 

tering  out  of  service  began.  This  was  a 
task  which  took  several  months,  and  in 
its  peaceful  character  surprised  the  world. 
By  Jan.  20,  1866,  there  had  been  mus- 
tered out  918,722  volunteers.  At  the 
time  the  disbanding  began  there  were 
upon  the  rolls  1,034,064  volunteers.  This 
vast  army  was  speedily  absorbed  into  the 
private  ranks  of  life.  There  were  in  the 
army  at  different  dates: 

July  i,  1 86 1, 186,571  volunteers. 

Jan.  i,  1862,  575,917         " 

Jan.  i,  1863,918,191          « 

Jan.  i,  1864,  860,737 

Jan.  i,  1865,  959,460         " 

The  total  number  of  enlistments  in 
the  Union  army  was  2,678,967.  The 
number  in  the  confederate  cause  was 
probably  near  2,000,000.  About  300,000 
men  upon  each  side  lost  their  lives  by 
being  killed  on  the  field  or  from  wounds 
and  diseases  in  hospitals.  About  400,- 
ooo  in  all  upon  both  sides  were  dis- 
abled and  crippled.  A  full  million  able- 
bodied  men  were  destroyed  or  perma- 
nently injured.  In  the  navy  department, 
7,600  men  at  the  opening  of  the  war 
were  increased  to  51,500  at  its  conclusion. 
The  government  built  208  war  vessels, 
and  bought  418.  Cornelius  Vanderbilt 
gave  the  United  States  a  steamer  worth 
near  $1,000,000,  which  he  had  with- 
drawn from  the  Pacific  service.  The 
navy  captured  1,504  vessels  attempting 
to  run  the  blockade  with  supplies  for  the 
confederates. 

PAY  DEPARTMENT. 

The  pay  department  of  the  U.  S. 
army  disbursed  in  money  during  the  war, 
up  to  the  time  when  the  soldiers  had 
been  mustered  out,  $1,100,000,000.  The 
loss  from  defalcat-ions  and  accidents  was 
less  than  $1,000,000.  The  entire  ex- 

45 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


705 


pense  of  paying  the  army  was  $6,000,- 
ooo,  or  less  than  three-quarters  of  one 
per  cent,  on  the  entire  amount.  In  the 
war  of  1812  it  cost  4.36  per  cent,  of  the 
entire  amount  for  expenses  and  defalca- 
tions. 

ARMY  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT. 

From  May,  1861,  until  the  soldiers 
were  all  mustered  out  in  1866,  the  army 
medical  department  treated  5,825,000 
cases  in  field  and  hospital.  Of  these, 
166,623  were  fatal.  There  were  273,175 
wounded  men,  of  whom  33,777  died. 
The  other  cases  were  of  all  kinds  of 
sickness.  In  this  service  a  vast  supply  of 
ambulances,  railway  trains,  steamers,  and 
general  hospital  tents  had  been  employed. 
Many  circulars  of  great  value  had  been 
issued  to  the  world.  The  operations  of 
the  department  are  confessedly  original 
in  much  of  the  work,  and  are  therefore 
veiy  valuable  to  all  nations.  The  Army 
Medical  Museum  at  Washington  grew 
out  of  this  department. 

SANITARY  COMMISSION. 

During  the  civil  war  an  instrumentality 
grew  up  which  was  outside  the  gov- 
ernment, and  of  great  aid  to  it.  It 
took  the  name  of  Sanitary  Commission, 
because  its  aim  was  to  do  everything 
possible  for  the  health  and  vigor  of  the 
men  in  arms,  and  the  comfort  and  resto- 
ration of  those  who  were  sick.  The  first 
society  for  this  purpose  was  formed  in 
Bridgeport,  Conn.,  on  April  15,  1861, 
the  day  of  President  Lincoln's  first  call 
for  troops.  A  lady  named  Miss  Almena 
Bates  proposed  a  similar  step  in  Charles- 
town,  Mass.,  on  the  same  day,  and  a  so- 
ciety was  soon  formed.  Soon  other 
places  were  forming  like  societies.  Be- 
fore April  closed  one  was  formed  in  New 


706 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


York  City.  Rev.  Henry  W.  Bellows, 
D.  D.,  was  prominent  in  suggesting  this 
one,  and  drew  up  its  constitution.  In  a 
short  time  the  associations  linked  them- 
selves together,  and  obtained  the  sanction 
of  the  government.  On  June  9,  1861, 
Dr.  Bellows  and  others  were  appointed  by 
the  secretary  of  war  a  "  Commission  of 
Inquiry  and  Advice  in  respect  to  the 
Sanitary  Interests  of  the  'U.  S.  Forces." 
They  were  to  be  aided  by  the  war  de- 
partment, and  to  work  in  conjunction 
with  the  medical  force  of  the  army. 
Frederic  Law  Olmsted  was  to  serve  as 
resident  secretary.  Soon  its  supplies  and 
attention  were  going  everywhere  the 
soldiers  went.  It  maintained  forces  of 
wagons,  tents,  and  other  necessities. 
Fairs  were  held  in  all  the  principal  cities, 
in  aid  of  this  great  enterprise.  At  a  fair 
in  New  York  $1,181,500  were  realized 
above  expenses.  Correspondingly  great 
sums  were  obtained  wherever  they  were 
held.  The  grand  sum  total  of  money 
given  to  this  commission  reached  the  sum 
of  $5,000,000,  and  of  supplies,  the  sum 
of  $15,000,000.  By  this  means  soldiers 
in  all  the  forces  when  sick  and  wounded, 
were  supplied  with  ti'ained  nurses  who 
had  at  hand  the  delicacies  and  helps  of 
all  kinds  for  innumerable  cases  of  need. 
The  work  was  one  of  vast  blessing. 

CHRISTIAJf  COMMISSION. 

Another  great  power  operating  for  the 
good  of  the  army  was  the  United  States 
Christian  Commission.  Such  a  work  as 
it  afterward  did  was  first  suggested  by 
Vincent  Colyer,  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  of  New  York.  Mr. 
Colyer,  with  two  others,  entered  into 
Christian  labor  in  the  camps  and  hospitals 
after  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run.  Meet- 
ings were  held  wherever  it  was  possible 


to  hold  them,  and  Bibles,  etc.,  distributed 
in  great  numbers.  The  United  States 
government  gave  every  aid.  Nov.  14, 
1861,  a  national  organization  was  formed 
in  New  York  at  a  convention  called  from 
all  the  North.  George  H.  Stuart  of 
Philadelphia  was  made  president.  It 
was  to  aim  at  elevating  the  moral  and 
religious  welfare  of  the  troops.  Laborers 
were  found,  and  chapels  erected,  and  con- 
stant moral  restraint  exercised.  Nor  did 
its  labors  end  here.  Like  the  Sanitary 
Commission,  it  supplied  also  the  physical 
needs  of  the  soldiers  with  many  things. 
The  Christian  Commission  laborers  were 
the  distributors  of  many  bounties  sent  by 
loving  hearts  at  home.  The  money  and 
supplies  of  this  commission  are  thought 
to  have  aggregated  $6,000,000.  During 
the  first  year  of  its  existence  it  had  "  1,069 
ministers  and  laymen  at  work  in  the  field, 
held  3,945  meetings  in  camp  and  hospital, 
distributed  102,560  Bibles  and  Testa- 
ments, 115,757  miscellaneous  books,  34,- 
653  magazines  and  pamphlets,  130,697 
soldiers'  and  sailors'  hymn  and  psalm 
books,  384,781  newspapers,  10,953,706 
pages  of  tracts,  300,000  temperance  docu- 
ments, and  3,691  boxes  and  barrels  of 
stores  and  publications."  This,  and  the 
great  work  done  by  the  Sanitary  Com- 
mission, are  simply  indications  of  the  way 
in  which  the  loyal  people  of  the  North 
poured  forth  their  best  treasures  for  the 
cause  they  loved.  Gifts  of  all  kinds  were 
bestowed  upon  the  government  unstint- 
ingly.  Wealthy  men  came  to  its  aid  at 
such  times  as  to  be  great  helpers,  and  the 
steady  flow  of  bounties  marked  a  perma- 
nent source. 

1865.  June  10.  A  great  fire  at  Nash- 
ville consumed  Union  supplies  worth 
nearly  $10,000,000. 


1863-1868.] 

1865.  June  23.  The  blockade  of 
the  Southern  ports  was  declared  at  an 
end  in  a  proclamation  issued  by  President 
Johnson.  He  afterward  issued  other 
proclamations  removing  restrictions  upon 
internal  commerce,  paroling  state  prison- 
ers, and  annulling  the  suspension  of 
habeas  corpus. 

THE  SHENyLXDOAH. 

1865.  June  28.  The  Shenandoah 
•was  the  last  confederate  vessel  to  commit 
depredations  upon  American  commerce. 
She  cruised  around  the  world  and  cap- 
tured thirty  vessels,  worth  $1,354,958. 
She  was  built  in  Scotland,  and  was 
manned  with  Englishmen.  After  having 
been  at  Australia,  her  course  was  turned 
up  to  Behring's  Straits,  where  on  this 
date  she  appeared  among  a  whaling  fleet, 
and  captured  ten  vessels,  destroying  eight 
of  them.  Her  horrid  work  was  well- 
nigh  done.  Information  that  the  war  had 
ended  had  already  been  received  by  the 
captain  of  the  Shenandoah,  but  on  Aug.  2 
another  report  reached  him,  and  he  there- 
fore sailed  to  England,  and  delivered  up 
his  vessel  at  Liverpool. 

EXECUTION  OF  dssassws. 

1865.  July  7.  The  accomplices  of 
Booth  had  been  arrested  and  tried  by  a 
military  commission.  The  evidence  had 
been  worked  up  by  Col.  Baker,  chief  of 
the  United  States  detective  force.  David 
E.  Harold,  George  A.  Atzerott,  Lewis 
Payne  Powell,  and  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Sur- 
ratt,  at  whose  house  the  plans  seemed  to 
have  been  formed,  were  hung  on  this  day. 
Michael  O'Laughlin,  Samuel  A.  Mudd, 
and  Samuel  Arnold  were  sentenced  to 
hard  labor  for  life  upon  the  Dry  Tortugas. 
Edward  Spangler  was  sentenced  to  hard 
labor  for  six  years. 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


707 


1865.  July  11.  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee- 
was  made  president  of  the  Washington 
University  in  Virginia.  He  served  until 
his  death,  when  the  institution  took  his 
name,  in  addition  to  that  of  Washington. 

1865.  July  13.  A  great  fire  destroyed 
Barnum's  Museum  in  New  York. 

1865.  Aug.  9.  The  propeller  Pewa- 
bic  was  lost  in  Lake  Huron,  with  one 
hundred  lives. 

1865.  Aug.  14.  A  great  forgery  by 
one  Ketchum  .of  New  York,  to  the 
amount  of  $2,000,000,  was  discovered. 

1865.  Aug.  16.  An  accident  occurred 
on  the  Housatonic  railroad  in  Connecti- 
cut, in  which  an  engine  making  a  trial 
trip  dashed  into  the  rear  of  a  passenger 
train,  and  killed  and  wounded  about  thirty 
persons. 

1865.  Aug.  22.  Mississippi  repealed 
her  ordinance  of  secession  in  a  constitu- 
tional convention,  which  had  on  the  day 
before  declared  slavery  abolished. 

1865.  Aug.  25.  The  Brother  Jona- 
than, of  San  Francisco,  was  lost  in  the 
Pacific,  with  146  lives. 

1865.  Sept.  10.  Alabama  held  a  con- 
stitutional convention,  which  met  this  day, 
and  ^during  its  session  nullified  her  ordi- 
nance of  secession,  repudiated  the  state 
war  debt,  and  declared  slavery  abolished. 

1865.  Sept.  13.  South  Carolina  held 
a  constitutional  convention,  which  met 
this  day,  and  during  its  session  nullified 
her  ordinance  of  secession,  and  declared 
slavery  abolished. 

1865.     Oct.  2.     North  Carolina  held 
i 

a  constitutional  convention,  which  met 
this  day,  and  during  its  session  nullified 
her  ordinance  of  secession,  declared 
slavery  abolished,  and  repudiated  the 
state  war  debt. 

1865.  Oct.  11.  Alexander  H.  Ste- 
phens, and  other  confederate  prisoners, 


708 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


were  released  from  Fort  Warren,  Boston 
harbor,  on  parole. 

1865.  Oct.  25.  Florida  held  a  con- 
stitutional convention  which  met  this  day, 
and  on  the  zSth  nullified  her  ordinance  of 
secession. 

1865.  Oct.  25.  Georgia  held  a  con- 
stitutional convention  which 
Lord  Palmer-  met  this  day,  and  during  its 
session  nullified  the  ordi- 
nance of  secession,  repudiated  the  state 
war  debt,  and  declared  slavery  abolished. 

1865.  October.  A  destructive  earth- 
quake occurred  in  California,  and  resulted 
in  the  loss  and  injury  of  much  property. 

1865.  October.  A  general  insurrec- 
tion occurred  among  the  negroes  of  Ja- 
maica, W.  I.  True  peace  had  not  been 
enjoyed  since  the  slaves  were  freed  in 
1833.  Great  bloodshed  took  place  before 
the  rebellion  was  suppressed.  The  leaders 
were  hung  or  shot. 

1865.  Nov.  1.  A  day  of  national 
thanksgiving  was  held,  in  view  of  the 
restoration  of  the  Union. 

1865.  Nov.  3.  The  reverses  of  the 
Paraguayan  army  were  so  great  that 
Lopez  was  obliged  to  withdi'aw  his  forces 
from  the  Argentine  territory,  and  hence- 
forth, for  two  years,  the  war  was  carried 
on  within  his  own  province.  It  was  now 
a  question  of  endui^ance  on  his  part. 

EXECUTION  OF  WIRZ. 

1865.  Nov.  10.  Henry  Wirz,  who 
had  been  put  in  charge  of  Andersonville 
prison  by  Gen.  Winder,  and  had  been 
tried  by  a  military  commission  of  the 
United  States  on  charges  of  cruelty  to 
Union  prisoners  in  his  hands,  was  hung 
in  Washington. 

1865.  Nov.  24.  The  Niagara  was  lost 
on  the  Mississippi  River,  with  100  lives. 


1865.  Nov.  26.  The  Spanish  gun- 
boat, Covadonga,  was  captured  by  the 
Chilian  steamer,  fesmeralda.  The  cor- 
respondence of  Admiral  Pareja  was  ob- 
tained by  the  capture,  and  he,  because  of 
his  ill-success,  committed  suicide  on  the 
28th.  Chili  was  willing  to  help  Peru  in 
her  struggle  with  Spain.  During  this 
month  the  treaty  which  Peru  had  formed 
with  Spain  in  January,  was  rejected  by 
Prado,  dictator.  In  December,  Peru  and 
Chili  formed  a  treaty  of  alliance  against 
Spain. 

1865.  Dec.  4.  [Reconstruction  Com- 
mittee. A  committee  of  fifteen  was 
appointed  by  congress  to  inquire  into  the 
condition  of  Southern  affairs,  and  report 
upon  it.  Besides  other  matters,  it  took 
up  the  condition  of  Union  prisoners  in 
the  confederate  prisons  during  the  war, 
and  heard  elaborate  testimony  upon  the 
question.  The  existence  and  work  of  this 
committee  annoyed  the  president,  and 
helped  to  precipitate  the  rupture  which 
soon  came. 

1865.  Dec.  18.  The  ratification  of 
the  Thirteenth  Amendment  by  three- 
fourths  of  the  states  was  officially  de- 
clared by  Secretary  Seward,  and  it  there- 
fore became  part  of  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States. 

THOMAS  CORWIX. 

1865.  Dec.  18.  Thomas  Corvvin,. 
an  American  politician,  died  at  Washing- 
ton, aged  seventy-one  years.  He  was  born 
in  Kentucky  July  29,  1794,  and  grew  up 
amid  the  scenes  and  labors  of  farm  life, 
in  which  he  took  a  faithful  part.  He  ob- 
tained a  common  school  edu-  1865-  Recog-m- 

,  lion  of  confeder- 

cation,  and  being  naturally  ateffOVernmeHt 
bright,  he  was   profited  by  by  England 

J     and  France 

all  his  advantages.     He  be-  rescinded. 
gan    the    study     of   law,    and    was    ad- 


1863-1868.J 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


mitted  to  the  bar  in  1818.  He  soon 
gained  a  reputation  for  great  wisdom  as 
an  advocate,  and  was  thought  of  as  a  valu- 
able candidate  for  political  office.  In 
1840  he  ran  as  the  candidate  of  the  whigs, 
for  governor  of  Ohio.  His  canvass, 
which  was  brilliant,  was  successful. 
The  year  1845  found  him  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate.  Under  President 
Fillmore  he  served  as  secretary  of  the 
treasury  for  three  years.  After  a  season 
of  practice  in  his  profession,  he  was  re- 
turned to  congress,  but  in  1861  was  sent 
as  minister  to  Mexico.  He  left  that 
country  when  Maximilian  arrived.  Mr. 
Corwin  was  wise  and  witty. 

SOLDIERS'  HOMES. 

1865.  Congress  arranged  for  institu- 
tions for  disabled  soldiers.  They  were  at 
first  called  asylums,  but  in  1873  were 
designated  as  u  Homes."  Soldiers  of  the 
war  of  1812,  and  the  Mexican  war,  are 
also  admitted.  The  Homes  are  sup- 
ported by  the  United  States  government, 
and  are  supplied  with  the  comforts  of  life 
in  fair  measure.  A  national  Home  had 
already  been  established  near  Washing- 
ton, after  the  Mexican  war. 


1865.  Virginia  City,  Nevada,  situ- 
ated over  the  Comstock  silver  mine,  had 
become  a  place  of  20,000  inhabitants  in 
four  years.  The  wonderful  growth  of 
mining  towns  is  illustrated  by  this  place. 

1865.  Cholera  raged  in  the  United 
States,  and  destroyed  about  12,000  lives. 

1865.  The  first  general  Unitarian 
convocation  for  the  "country  was  held  at 
New  York.  A  great  discussion  arose  as 
to  whether  the  body  should  adopt  a 
creed,  but  it  was  finally  agreed  that  it  be 
left  to  each  one  "  to  judge  for  himself 
what  Christianity  is." 


1865.  During  this  year  there  were 
354  fires,  each  of  which  destroyed  prop- 
erty worth  over  $20,000,  and  all  of 
which  destroyed  property  worth  $43,- 
419,000.  Between  1855  and  1865  losses 
by  fire  aggregated  $214,588,000.  The 
Smithsonian  Institution  at  Washington, 
met  with  losses  by  fire  this  year. 

1865.  An  insurrection  was  fomented 
in  San  Salvador  by  Barrios,  who  had 
been  concerned  in  some  previous  troubles. 
He  was  defeated  in  battle,  and  was  taken 
prisoner  by  the  government  of  Nicaragua. 
The  prisoner  was  delivered  to  San  Sal- 
vador upon  condition  that  he  be  not  shot, 
but  after  a  time  he  was  executed. 

1865.  A  constitution  was  promul- 
gated in  Honduras,  which  has  since  been 
the  foundation  of  the  government  of  that 
province. 

1865.  A   Patagonian  colony  was  at- 
tempted this  year,  but  unsuccessfully.     It 
was  to  be  of  Welsh  people,  and  its  loca- 
tion was  to  be  on  the  Rio  Chupat.     The 
Argentine  Republic  undertook  to  accom  - 
plish  it.     Within  a  year  previous  the  con- 
gress of  Chili  had  attempted  to  promote 
colonization  by  giving  a  Mr.  Tornero  75,- 
ooo  square  miles,  if  he  would  bring  10,000 
colonists  and  provide  four  steam  tugs  for 
constant   service    in    Magellan's    Straits. 
But  this  has  never  been  carried  out. 

1866.  Jan.  1.      Emancipation  Day, 
the  third  anniversary  of  the  great  proc- 
lamation, was  widely  celebrated   by  the 
colored  people  in  the  South. 

1866.  Jan.  12.  Henry  Clay's  old 
home  was  purchased  by  the  University 
of  Kentucky. 

1866.  Jan.  14.  A  treaty  of  alliance 
against  Spain  was  formed  by  Peru,  Chili, 
Ecuador,  and  Bolivia.  This  treaty  led 
to  the  settlement  of  some  standing  differ- 
ences between  the  allied  countries,  espe- 


710 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


dally  that  relating  to  the  boundary  be- 
tween Chili  and  Bolivia.  By  the  terms 
of  the  treaty  all  Spaniards  were  to  be 
banished. 

18661.  Jan.  23.  The  legislature  of 
New  Jersey,  which  had  the  previous  year 
rejected  the  Thirteenth  Amendment,  re- 
considered and  passed  it. 

ELIPHALETT  XOTT. 

1866.  Jan.  29.  Eliphalett  Nott, 
prominently  known  as  president  of  Union 
College,  N.  Y.,  died  at  Schenectady, 
aged  ninety-two  years.  He  was  born  in 
Ashford,  Conn.,  June  25,  1773,  and  was 
reared  under  the  fashion  of  New  England. 
His  early  years  were  devoted  to  work  on 
the  farm,  until,  gaining  a  passion  for  an 
education,  he  made  his  way  to  a  brother 
who  was  a  minister,  and  studied  as  far  as 
possible  under  his  direction.  He  worked 
at  his  lessons  incessantly,  and  followed  the 
course  pursued  in  colleges  at  that  day 
with  such  thoroughness  that  he  aftei"- 
ward  received  a  degree  from  Brown 
University  without  having  attended  col- 
lege at  all.  He  then  studied  theology, 
and  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two.  With  this  prepara- 
tion he  started  out  into  Central  New  York 
to  labor  in  the  newly  settled  portions. 
For  two  years  he  labored  in  Cherry  Val- 
ley, and  was  then  called  to  Albany  to  a 
Presbyterian  church.  At  the  death  of 
Alexander  Hamilton,  Mr.  Nott  preached 
a  sermon  which  brought  him  a  wide 
reputation.  It  was  a  masterpiece  of  elo- 
quence. In  1804  Mr.  Nott  was  made 
president  of  Union  College,  and  remained 
such  for  sixty-one  years.  During  this 
period  his  inventive  genius  displayed 
itself  in  helping  to  solve  the  great  prob- 
lem of  the  early  part  of  this  century,  in 
the  burning  of  coal  and  warming  of 


rooms.  He  invented  a  stove,  the  patents 
upon  which  brought  him  a  large  revenue. 
His  stoves  were  sold  everywhere.  When 
he  was  eighty  years  old  he  gave  Union 
College  $610,000,  providing  for  great 
additional  usefulness  by  enlarging  the 
institution  in  many  directions.  Dr.  Nott 
was  a  marked  man  as  an  educator  in  his 
generation,  and  possessed  a  high  order  of 
wisdom.  His  life  passed  into  many  stu- 
dents, and  lives  to-day  in  their  lives. 

1866.  Jan.  31.  A  great  fire  con- 
sumed the  commissary  and  quartermas- 
ter's stores  at  Fort  Riley,  Kansas,  at  a  loss 
of  $1,000,000. 

1866.  Feb.  7.  A  naval  battle  occurred 
between  the  Spanish  and  Peruvian  and 
Chilian  fleet,  in  which  no  severe  losses 
were  inflicted  upon  either  side.  The 
Spanish  fleet  however,  sailed  away. 

1866.  Feb.  10.  Texas  held  a  con- 
stitutional convention  which  met  at  this 
date,  and  during  its  session  declared  the 
ordinance  of  secession  null,  repudiated  the 
state  war  debt,  and  declared  slavery 
abolished. 

1866.  Feb.  11.  An  anniversary  of 
the  Sanitary  Commission  was  held  at 
Washington,  and  closed  the  labors  of 
that  efficient  body. 

1866.  Feb.  12.  Memorial  services 
in  honor  of  President  Lincoln,  were  held 
in  the  capitol  at  Washington,  it  being  the 
anniversary  of  his  birthday.  Hon.  George 
Bancroft,  the  well  known  statesman  and 
historian,  delivered  an  address. 

1866.  Feb.  22.  The  famous  speech 
of  President  Jehnson,  in  denunciation  of 
members  of  congress  by  name,  and  in 
condemnation  of  the  republican  party, 
was  mads  in  front  of  the  White  House, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

1866.  Feb.  26.  President  John- 
son's policy  of  reconstruction,  which 


1863-1808.] 

had  resulted  in  the  rupture  between  him- 
self and  the  republican  party,  was  in- 
dorsed in  a  meeting  called  at  Richmond 
for  the  purpose. 

1866.  March  19.  The  reciprocity 
treaty  between  the  United  States  and 
Canada  expired. 

1866.  March  25.  The  army  of 
Juarez  in  Mexico  took  Chihuahua,  and 
soon  followed  this  victory  with  others. 
Since  September,  1865,  Juarez  had  main- 
tained the  republican  government  at  El 
Paso.  Fortune  had  been  against  him, 
but  now  it  turned  in  his  favor.  The 
United  States  now  began  a  series  of 
remonstrances  with  France  for  interfer- 
ing in  Mexican  affairs. 

1868.  March  31.  Valparaiso,  Chili, 
was  bombarded  by  a  Spanish  fleet  under 
Admiral  Nunez  in  spite  of  remonstrances 
by  foreign  ministers  and  consuls.  Dur- 
ing three  and  one  half  hours  about  3,000 
shot  and  shell  were  thrown  into  the  city, 
and  many  of  the  best  public  and  private 
buildings  were  completely  destroyed. 
The  loss  was  $20,000,000,  most  of  which 
fell  upon  foreign  residents.  In  April 
the  Spanish  vessels  left  the  vicinity  of 
Chili,  and  the  war  became  nominal. 

1866.  April  2.  The  close  of  the 
war  was  formally  announced  to  have 
taken  place,  by  a  proclamation  issued  by 
President  Johnson. 

1866.  April  5.  The  secretary  of 
foreign  affairs  in  France,  in  response  to 
the  remonstrances  of  the  United  States, 
announced  that  the  French  troops  in 
Mexico  would  be  withdrawn  within  a 
certain  time,  thus  practically  repudiating 
Maximilian,  and  leaving  him  to  fight  his 
own  battles. 

CIVIL  RIGHTS  SILL. 

1866.  April  9.  The  Civil  Rights 
bill  which  had  passed  congress  March 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


711 


1 5th,  and  had  been  vetoed  by  President 
Johnson,  March  27th,  was  now  passed 
by  the  house  of  representatives  above 
the  veto,  by  a  vote  of  122  to  41,  and  be- 
came a  law.  It  had  passed  the-  senate 
April  2d,  by  a  vote  of  33  to  15.  This 
bill  made  the  freedmen  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  and  gave  them  the  powers 
of  legal  resort  in  case  their  rights  were 
infringed.  It  did  not,  however,  give 
the  right  to  vote.  An  amendment  to  the 
Constitution  was  afterward  made  for  this 
object. 

1866.     April  30.     Incendiary  fires  at 

Richmond,  Va.,  destroyed  two  churches 
belonging  to  the  colored  people. 

1866.  May  2.  The  bombardment  of 
Callao  was  begun  by  the  Spanish  fleet. 
After  several  hours'  conflict  the  fleet 
withdrew,  probably  for  lack  of  ammuni- 
tion. The  Spanish  loss^vas  between  400 
and  500.  Admiral  Nunez  was  badly 
wounded.  The  Peruvians  had  about  So 
killed  and  wounded.  It  was  practically 
a  decisive  defeat  for  the  Spanish. 

1866.  May  10.  The  Spanish  fleet 
withdrew  from  Peruvian  waters,  and  the 
war  was  virtually  ended,  because  it  had 
already  given  up  its  attempts  upon  the 
Chilian  coast. 

1866.  May  21.  A  fire  destroyed  the 
Academy  of  Music  and  the  University 
Medical  College  in  New  York. 

QEJf.  WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

1866.  May  29.  This  well-known 
American  general  died  at  West  Point, 
N.  Y.,  aged  nearly  eighty  years.  He 
was  born  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  13, 
1786.  He  was  educated  for  the  law,  to 
the  practice  of  which  he  was  admitted  in 
1806.  His  college  course  was  passed  at 
William  and  Mary  College.  His  labor 


712 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


in  the  law  was  short.  In  1808  he  was 
appointed  captain  in  the  light  artillery. 
A  fondness  for  military  tactics  led  to 
thorough  study  of  the  same,  and  resulted 
in  his  promotion  before  a  long  time.  He 
was  made  lieutenant-colonel  in  July, 
1812,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  war 
of  1812,  mostly  along  the  Canadian 
frontier  near  Niagara  Falls,  where  some 
severe  struggles  occurred.  He  was  taken 
prisoner  at  Queenstown  Heights  after  he 
had  won  the  field,  through  the  failure  of 
troops  to  come  to  his  support.  He  was 
exchanged,  and  was  active  in  the  rest  of 
the  war.  The  explosion  of  a  magazine 
at  Fort  George  severely  injured  him,  and 
he  was  wounded  twice  at  Lundy's  Lane. 
His  services  were  deemed  so  valuable 
1794-1866.  wil-  that  the  position  of  secre- 

Kam  Whewell.          (-aly     of     war     was      offered 

him  by  the  president,  when  peace  re- 
turned, but  he  declined  to  accept  it.  Con- 
gress voted  him  thanks  and  a  gold  medal 
for  his  services.  He  now  spent  a  year  or 
two  in  Europe,  and  led  a  comparatively 
quiet  militai-y  life  after  his  return,  but 
worked  closely  upon  military  studies. 
His  first  public  service  of  value  was  in 
1832  in  Charleston,  S.  C.,  during  the 
nullification  attempt.  His  wisdom  then, 
as  well  as  at  the  time  of  the  dispute  with 
England  over  the  Maine  boundary,  did 
much  to  prevent  war.  In  1841  he  be- 
came commander-in-chief  of  the  army  of 
the  United  States.  During  the  Mexican 
war  he  added  to  his  reputation  in  the 
country  at  large.  The  whig  party  nom- 
inated him  for  president  in  1852,  but  he 
was  defeated  by  Franklin  Pierce,  the 
democratic  candidate.  His  tact  and  dis- 
cretion were  again  shown  in  the  settle- 
ment in  1859,  of  the  boundary  between 
the  United  States  and  England  on  the 
northwest,  running  through  the  Straits 


of  Fuca.  When  the  civil  war  broke  out 
he  was  devoted  to  the  Union,  but  his 
vigor  was  gone,  and  age  prevented  him 
from  assuming  military  duties.  He  re- 
tired Oct.  31,  1861,  but  lived  to  see  the 
end  of  tke  war.  Gen.  Scott  was  very 
large,  and  of  good  proportions.  His  ser- 
vice in  maintaining  the  military  service 
of  the  country  was  very  great. 

FENIAN  RAID  ON  CANADA. 

1866.  June  1.  The  Fenian  excite- 
ment in  Ireland  had  a  great  effect  in  this 
country  to  stir  up  the  Irish  soldiers  let 
loose  by  the  disbanding  of  the  U.  S. 
army.  A  congress  had  been  held  in 
January,  and  a  military  convention  in 
February,  in  which  there  was  a  large 
sentiment  in  favor  of  making  some 
demonstration.  Meanwhile,  a  conflict 
arose.  Col.  William  R.  Roberts  was 
elected  head  center  of  the  American 
body  in  place  of  O'Mahony,  who  was 
removed.  An  attempt  was  made  to 
gather  arms  and  men  for  an  advance  on 
New  Brunswick.  Five  hundred  men 
assembled  at  Eastport,  Me.,  but  the 
United  States  authorities  interfered,  and 
the  prospective  aid  from  New  York  and 
Boston  was  not  sent.  •  The  arms  which 
had  been  sent  from  Portland  were  seized, 
and  the  men  at  Eastport  disbanded.  Dur- 
ing this  time,  through  April  and  May, 
preparations  were  being  made  to  cross 
the  Canada  line  from  New  York.  On 
May  1 9th  the  United  States  authorities 
seized  1,200  stand  of  arms  at  Rouse's 
Point.  At  St.  Albans  on  the  3Oth,  a 
seizure  was  made.  On  the  first  of  June 
about  1,500  men  crossed  into  Canada  at 
Buffalo.  The  Canadian  militia  had  been 
called  out,  and  on  June  2d  a  severe 
skirmish  occurred,  in  which  the  Fenians 
lost  heavily  in  prisoners  and  wounded 


1863-1868.] 

men,  though  not  many  were  killed.  The 
way  was  deemed  too  hard,  and  in  the 
night  they  attempted  to  recross  into  the 
United  States.  A  United  States  steamer 
captured  700  of  them.  Others  were  ar- 
riving at  the  frontier,  but  no  further  at- 
tempt was  thought  to  be  wise  at  the 
time.  Gen.  Meade,  with  United  States 
troops,  guarded  the  frontier  in  Vermont. 
Money  had  been  raised  in  large  amounts, 
but  the  enterprise  now  lost  its  vigor  for  a 
time,  through  the  resolute  action  of  the 
United  States  and  Canadian  authorities. 

FOURTEENTH  AMENDMENT. 

1866.  June  16.  The  "fourteenth 
amendment "  to  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States  was  proposed  by  congress 
for  the  ratification  of  the  states.  It  had 
passed  the  senate  on  the  8th  by  a  vote  of 
33  to  n,  and  the  house  on  the  I3th,  by  a 
vote  of  1 20  to  32.  The  president  disap- 
proved it,  but  it  was  ratified  by  the  neces- 
sary number  of  states,  and  became  a  part 
of  the  constitution  July  28,  1868.  This 
amendment  simply  put  the  Civil  Rights 
Bill  into  the  constitution. 

LEWIS  CASS. 

1866.  June  17.  This  American 
statesman  died  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  aged 
eighty-four  years.  He  was  born  in  Ex- 
eter, N.  H.,  Oct.  9,  1782.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and 
in  1806  entered  the  Ohio  legislature.  For 
six  years,  from  1807,  he  served  as  state 
marshal.  The  war  of  1812  found  him 
ready  to  fight,  and  he*  went  through  it 
with  honor,  rising  from  colonel  of  the 
Third  Ohio  Volunteers  to  brigadier-gen- 
eral. From  1813  to  1831  he  was  gov- 
ernor of  the  territory  of  Michigan,  and 
at  the  same  time  was  superintendent  of 
Indian  affairs.  He  was  secretary  of  war 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


713 


for  two  years  under  Jackson,  and  was 
sent,  in  1836,  as  minister  to  France.  For 
some  years  thereafter  he  served  in  the 
United  States  senate,  and  in  1848  was  the 
democratic  candidate  for  president  of  the 
United  States.  President  Buchanan  ap- 
pointed him  secretary  of  state  in  1857, 
which  position  he  held  till  the  pi'esident 
refused  to  reinforce  Fort  Sumter  in  1860, 
when  he  resigned.  His  national  sympa- 
thies were  very  strong,  and  his  private 
character  unspotted.  He  was  a  man  of 
wealth  and  hospitality.  His  public  career 
of  fifty-four  years  was  one  of  great  use- 
fulness. 

PORTLAND,  ME.,  BURNED. 

1866.  July  4.  A  great  fire  swept 
nearly  one-third  of  Portland  out  of  exist- 
ence, including  a  large  part  of  the  best 
business  portion.  A  fire-cracker,  care- 
lessly used  by  a  boy  in  a  cooper-shop, 
set  fire  to  some  shavings,  and  it  seemed 
impossible  to  check  the  flames,  from  the 
very  first.  Property  to  the  amount  of 
$15,000,000  was  destroyed, 
and  many  fine  buildings 
ruined.  The  United  States 
government  lost  largely.  The  city,  which 
was  known  as  the  Forest  City,  because 
of  its  streets  arched  with  magnificent  elm 
trees,  was  stripped  of  its  beauties.  1,600 
buildings  fell,  including  the  city  hall, 
which  was  burned  out  inside.  Engines 
and  help  were  sent  from  the  surrounding 
region,  but  the  fire  was  not  checked  till 
the  next  day.  Aid  for  the  poor  was  sent 
in  from  many  quarters,  and  the  city  has 
been  largely  rebuilt. 

GREAT  TRIP  UP  THE  YUKON. 

1866.  July  23.  A  party  of  Ameri- 
cans arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yukon 
River,  after  a  trip  of  about  nine  months 


m(.  y^ 
Battle  of  Sa- 
d™a- 


714 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


into  the  interior.  They  had  descended 
the  river  1,300  miles,  from  a  trading  sta- 
tion which  they  had  reached  by  going 
overland  to  Nulato,  and  thence  partly  by 
canoe  and  partly  by  foot  to  Fort  Yukon. 
The  Yukon  River  runs  through  Russian 
America,  or  Alaska,  as  it  is  more  prop- 
erly called  now,  and  is  one  of  the  great- 
est streams  of  the  world.  Frederic 
Whymper,  the  artist,  was  one  of  the  ex- 
plorers, and  their  trip  was  in  the  interest 
of  the  company  which  proposed  to  erect 
a  telegraph  northward  along  the  Pacific 
coast,  thence  across  Behring's  Straits, 
thence  across  Asia,  a  distance  of  about 
25,000  miles,  to  England.  The  company 
was  formed  with  the  idea  that  it  would 
never  be  possible  to  lay  a  cable  across  the 
Atlantic.  The  information  gathered  on 
this  trip  was  very  abundant.  The  winter 
was  spent  in  the  interior  without  diffi- 
culty. Mr.  Whymper  thought  that  the 
river  would  be  navigable  for  1,800  miles. 


1866.  July  23.  The  first  state  to  be 
formally  readmitted  to  the  Union  from 
the  South,  was  Tennessee.  Her  senators 
and  representatives  were  admitted  to  con- 
gress upon  this  date. 

1866.  July  24.  A  great  fire  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  destroyed  property 
worth  $1,000,000. 

1866.  July  25.  The  title  of  Gen- 
eral  of  the  Armies  of  the  United  States 
was  created  by  congress,  and  conferred 
upon  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant.  This  was  the 
first  existence  of  such  an  officer  in  the 
military  system  of  the  United  States. 
Gen.  William  T.  Sherman  was  promoted 
to  be  lieutenant-general  in  place  of  Grant. 

SUCCESSFUL  ATLANTIC  CABLE. 

1866.  July  27.  At  last,  after  tri- 
umphing over  almost  insuperable  diffi- 


culties, the  great  victory  was  won  in 
laying  an  Atlantic  cable.  A  strong, 
flexible  cable  was  shipped  on  board  the 
Great  Eastern,  which,  after  a  prosperous 
voyage  arrived  at  Heart's  Content,  New- 
foundland. It  then  returned  to  the  mid- 
Atlantic,  when  the  end  of  the  cable  of 
1865  was  grappled,  a  splice  was  made, 
and  the  line  continued  to  Newfoundland 
by  the  side  of  the  other.  These  lines 
have  never  failed,  and  at  once  led  to 
great  efforts  in  other  directions.  Marine 
cables  have  increased  very  rapidly  since 
that  day.  Mr.  Field,  whose  perseverance 
had  brought  success,  received  flattering 
notice  from  the  United  States,  from  Eng- 
land, and  from  France.  He  me.  July  26. 
had  worked  heroically  for  f™'-"  <**"'? 

J  bet-ween  Prussia 

the  end  attained.  The  first  and  Austria. 
message  which  passed  over  this  success- 
ful line  was  the  announcement  of  peace 
between  Prussia  and  Austria.  The  suc- 
cess of  this  cable  led  to  the  abandonment 
of  the  scheme  for  a  great  northwestern 
telegraph  by  way  of  Behring's  Straits. 


1866.  July  30.  A  great  riot  oc- 
curred in  New  Orleans,  in  which  many 
whites  and  negroes  were  killed.  It 
arose  from  the  reassembling  of  a  con- 
vention which  had  met  two  years  before 
to  form  a  state  constitution.  It  was 
claimed  by  the  whites  to  be  illegal,  and 
brought  on  an  issue  between  themselves 
and  the  blacks,  who  believed  in  the 
convention. 

1866.  July.  A  great  scientific  trip 
was  made  during  the  year  ending  at  this 
time  by  Prof.  Agassiz  through  the  Ama- 
zon valley  in  South  America.  He  left 
for  the  trip  on  April  i,  1865,  and  was 
afforded  every  assistance  by  the  govern- 
ment of  Brazil.  His  researches  were 
very  carefully  made,  especially  into  the 


1803-1868.]  THE  RETURN 

varieties  of  fishes  which  inhabit  those 
waters.  The  collections  made  were  very 
extensive,  and  are  now  a  part  of  the 
treasure  of  the  museum  at  Cambridge, 
Mass. 

1866.  July.  Several  cabinet  offi- 
cers who  had  served  under  Lincoln  and 
been  retained  by  Johnson,  resigned  their 
positions,  because  of  complete  disagree- 
ment with  the  president's  policy. 

1866.  Aug.  8.  Queen  Emma  of  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  widow  of  Kame- 
hameha  IV.  arrived  at  New  York  on  a 
visit  to  the  United  States,  and  was  re- 
ceived with  honor  as  the  guest  of  the 
nation. 

1866.  Aug.  14.  A  great  convention* 
was  held  at  Philadelphia  according  to  a 
call,  and  an  attempt  made  to  found  a  new 
party  as  a  support  for  President  Johnson, 
but  no  harmony  was  possible,  and  the 
whole  affair  ended  without  result. 

1866.  Aug.  31.  Several  piratical 
Chinese  junks  were  destroyed  in  the 
East  Indies  by  a  combined  American  and 
English  force,  and  many  of  the  pirates 
were  captured. 

"SWINGING  AROUND  THE  CIRCLE." 

1866.  Sept.  6.  The  corner-stone  of 
the  Douglas  monument  at  Chicago  was 
laid  by  President  Johnson,  who  seized 
this  trip  as  an  occasion  for  making 
speeches  at  different  places  in  relation  to 

1866.  September.      tllC    C°nfl5ct     Between     him- 

Revolt  of  Greeks  self  and  congress.  In  one 
of  these  speeches  he  used 
the  expression  above,  and  the  country 
was  soon  alive  with  it  as  a  name  for  the 
presidential  tour. 

1866.      Oct.  2.    The   Evening  Star, 

of  New  York,  was  lost  on  Tybee  Island, 
Ga.,  with  253  lives. 


TO  PEACE. 


715 


1866.  Oct.  7.  Several  severe  riots 
occurred  in  Jamaica,  W.  I. 

1866.  Oct.  23.  The  Stonewall  Jack- 
son cemetery  at  Winchester,  Va.,  was 
dedicated  with  suitable  ceremonies. 

1866.     Nov.  20.     The    Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  organized  for  perpetu- 
ating  the    friendships   and    isee.   Nov.  7. 
friendly  services  of  the  offi-     ™°r  Emanuei 

<  publicly  entered 

cers  and  soldiers  of  the  late     Venice. 
war,  held  a  national  convention  at  In- 
dianapolis, Ind. 

1866.  Nov.  22.  Raphael  Semmes, 
who  commanded  the  confederate  cruiser 
Alabama,  which  was  sunk  by  the  United 
States  steamer  Kearsage,  off  Cherbourg, 
was  made  professor  of  moral  philosophy 
in  the  Louisiana  State  Seminary. 

1866.  Dec.  21.  A  massacre  of 
United  States  troops  by  Indians,  took 
place  at  Fort  Kearney.  Nearly  100  men 
were  killed. 

1866.  A  terrible  hurricane  took 
place  in  the  Bahamas,  moving  upon  its 
axis  at  the  rate  of  a  hundred  miles  an 
hour,  and  moving  forward  at  the  rate  of 
thirty  miles  an  hour.  It  swept  its  path 
of  whatever  stood  in  the  way. 

1866.  The  American  Asiatic  Society 
made  great  efforts  to  promote  the  forma- 
tion of  a  ship-transit  across  the  Isthmus, 
either  by  canal  or  railroad.  The  society 
laid  their  researches  before  the  United 
States  government,  drew  up  an  imaginary 
treaty,  introduced  the  matter  into  con- 
gress, memorialized  Napoleon  III.,  and 
did  much  to  stir  up  attention  to  the  matter. 

1866.  The  first  successful  "Water 
Color  Society"  was  organized  in  New 
York.  The  society  of  1850  had  died. 
Since  this  date  it  has  been  steadily  grow- 
ing in  favor. 

1866.  The  Elect  Surds,  a  society  for 
the  mutual  improvement  of  deaf-mutes, 


716 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


was  founded,  and  now  has  lodges  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  United  States. 

1866.  The  National  Temperance 
Society  was  organized,  its  special  object 
being  a  literary  one.  It  has  done  much 
to  circulate  a  sound  temperance  literature. 

1866.  American  oil  was  for  the  first 
time  shipped  to  Syria  by  a  Boston  mer- 
chant. 

1866.  A  yacht  race  from  Sandy 
Hook  to  Cowes  took  place  for  a  sweep- 
stakes of  $90,000.  The  Henrietta,  Fleet- 
wing,  and  Vesta  sailed,  and  the  first- 
named  made  the  trip  in  1 3  days,  2 1  hours, 
and  55  minutes,  winning  the  prize.  This 
is  one  of  the  most  exciting  races  ever  put 
on  record. 

1866.  Vancouver  was  added  to  Brit- 
ish Columbia. 

1866.  Several  provinces  of  the  Ar- 
gentine Republic  tried  to  secede  from  it 
because  of  some  of  the  terms  of  the  great 
alliance  of  1865.  The  effort,  however, 
was  not  very  violent,  and  no  serious  dif- 
ficulty occurred.  The  war  went  on 
steadily  against  Paraguay. 

1866.  Santo  Domingo,  after  a  strug- 
gle of  about  twenty  years,  became  estab- 
lished in    its   independence  from   Spain, 
and  had  put   Baez   into   the  presidency 
near  the  end  of  1865.    He  was,  however, 
overthrown   this   year   by  a  conspiracy, 
and  the  government  was  assumed  by  a 
triumvirate. 

IMPEACHMENT  PROPOSED. 

1867.  Jan.  8.     The  right  of  suffrage 
was    given   by    act   of  congress   to   the 
colored  men  in  the  District  of  Columbia. 
This   bill    was   passed   over  the  veto  of 
President    Johnson.       When    it   became 
known  the  day  before  that  the  bill  had 
been  vetoed,  Mr.  Ashley,  representative 
from  Ohio,  arose  and  presented  a  resolu- 


tion that  President  Johnson  be  impeached, 
and  that  the  judiciary  com-  1793.1867. 
mittee  be  directed  to  inves-  victor  Cousin. 
tigate  the  matter.  The  resolution  was 
adopted  by  a  vote  of  137  to  38.  But 
upon  report  the  house  did  not  feel  war- 
ranted in  proceeding  to  impeachment,  and 
the  matter  dropped  for  a  time. 


1867.  Jan.  11.  A  convention  of  col- 
ored men,  belonging  to  the  National 
Equal  Rights  League,  met  at  Washing- 
ton, and  adopted  an  address  to  congress, 
which  received  it,  and  referred  it  to  a 
committee. 

JV.  P.  WILLIS. 

•  1867.  Jan.  21.  Nathaniel  Parker 
Willis,  an  American  writer,  died  at  his 
home  on  the  Hudson,  aged  sixty-one 
years.  He  was  born  in  Portland,  Me., 
Jan.  20,  1806,  and  after  his  youthful 
training  was  over,  studied  at  Yale,  where 
he  graduated  in  1827.  His  literary  ten- 
dencies were  visible  during  his  student 
career,  and  as  soon  as  he  struck  out  into 
the  world,  they  were  confirmed.  He 
worked  upon  various  publications,  and 
during  a  visit  to  Europe  wrote  a  series 
of  letters,  since  gathered  into  a  volume. 
A  volume  of  poetry  appeared  in  1835,  and 
from  this  time  on  he  was  constantly  en- 
gaged in  literaiy  labors.  He  is  best  known 
by  some  poems  upon  Scriptural  themes,  in 
which  the  descriptive  element  is  very  ex- 
cellent. Mr.  Willis  was  very  widely  and 
acceptably  known,  however,  as  a  journal- 
ist and  essayist  of  fine  abilities. 


1867.  January.  The  amnesty  power 
of  President  Johnson  was  taken  away  by 
act  of  congress,  in  the  attempt  to  limit 
him  in  the  carrying  out  of  his  policy  of 
reconstruction. 

1867.    January.    The  "  Credit  Mobil- 


1863-1868.] 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


717 


ier  of  America,"  which  was  organized 
as  a  banking  institution,  sold  out  its  char- 
ter to  the  company  which  proposed  to 
build  the  Union  Pacific  railroad.  The 
capital  stock  was  raised  to  $3,750,000. 

1867.  Feb.  5.  Maximilian  evacuated 
the  City  of  Mexico,  and  during  this 
month,  with  about  5,000  men,  went  to 
Queretaro.  The  republican  troops  imme- 
diately took  possession  of  the  city.  The 
patriot  cause  was  now  brightening.  The 
French  troops  were  being  withdrawn 
from  the  country. 

1867.  Feb.  7.  The  Peabody  fund, 
for  the  promotion  of  education  at  the 
South,  was  founded  by  George  Peabody, 
with  a  gift  of  $2,100,000. 

A.  D.  BACHE.    ' 

1867.  Feb.  17.  Alexander  Dallas 
Bache  died  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  aged  sixty 
years.  He  was  born  at  Philadelphia 
July  19,  1806.  Benjamin  Franklin  was 
his  great-grandfather.  Mr.  Bache  was 
educated  at  West  Point,  and  after  his 
graduation  in  1825,  he  taught  for  a  time 
in  the  academy.  He  began  astronomical 
work  at  an  early  day,  and  was  a  close 
student  of  magnetic  and  other  variations. 
He  went  to  Europe  in  1836  to  study  the 
educational  work  of  the  old  countries,  for 
the  purpose  of  aiding  in  the  establishment 
of  Girard  College,  of  whose  trustees  he 
was  president.  His  chief  value,  however, 
was  as  superintendent  of  the  coast  survey 
of  the  United  States.  He  gave  it  the 
best  of  his  wisdom  and  efforts,  the  result 
being  an  efficiency  which  brought  the 
department  into  the  possession  of  a  wide 
reputation.  The  scientific  societies  of  the 
country  honored  him  with  office,  and 
many  foreign  societies  with  membership. 
He  was  an  untiring  worker,  and  a  man 
of  vast  usefulness  in  the  scientific  world. 


He  left  a  legacy  of  $42,000  to  the  Na- 
tional Academy  of  Sciences,  for  scientific 
work. 

1867.  Feb.  22.  A  great  insurrection 
took  place  at  Port-au-Prince,  Hayti,  and 
President  Geffrard  fled  from  the  island. 
The  administration  had  been  exceedingly 
unwise,  and  gained  great  disfavor.  A 
triumvirate  took  the  power,  but  in  a  few 
months  Salnave  became  president.  A 
new  constitution,  still  in  existence,  was 
adopted. 

1867.  Feb.  26.  Prof.  Benjamin 
Peirce  was  appointed  superintendent  of 
the  Coast  Survey  of  the  United  States,  in 
place  of  Mr.  Bache,  who  had  died.  This 
work  has  been  pushed  with  the  utmost 
vigor  and  success.  Great  information  has 
been  collected  from  first  to  last  concern- 
ing tides,  shoals,  and  banks,  ocean  cur- 
rents, including  the  Gulf  Stream,  and 
other  matters  of  importance  to  mariners. 

1867.  March  1.  Nebraska  was  re- 
ceived into  the  Union  as  the  thirty-seventh 
state.  The  bill  to  admit  it  was  passed 
over  President  Johnson's  veto.  It  has 
75,995  square  miles,  and  452,532  inhabi- 
tants in  1880.  Its  motto  is  "Equality 
before  the  law." 

1867.  March  2.  The  military  gov- 
ernment bill  was  passed  in  the  United 
States  congress  over  the  president's  veto. 
It  created  a  number  of  military  districts 
covering  the  insurrectionary  states,  and 
declared  that  no  state  could  be  received 
into  the  Union  till  a  state  government 
had  been  formed  in  an  equal  rights  con- 
vention which  should  ratify  the  Four- 
teenth Amendment.  The  "tenure-of- 
office "  bill  was  passed  above  President 
Johnson's  veto,  the  same  day.  This  bill 
took  from  him  the  power  of  making  cer- 
tain appointments  and  removals.  After 


718 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


the  adjournment  of  congress  he  violated 
it,  as  well  as  other  bills. 

1867.  March  16.  The  last  French 
troops  evacuated  Mexico,  sailing  for 
home  from  Vera  Cruz.  Maximilian  was 
making  all  the  efforts  he  could  to  with- 
stand patriotic  sentiments,  but  the  tide 
was  now  setting  steadily  against  him, 
and  his  downfall  was  certain.  The 
republican  forces  invested  the  cities  still 
held  by  the  emperor's  party. 

CHICAGO  WATER  WORKS. 

1867.  March  25.  The  first  water 
through  the  great  tunnel  for  the  supply 
of  Chicago  was  admitted  on  this  day.  A 
tunnel  62  inches  high  and  60  inches  wide 
had  been  built  out  under  Lake  Michigan 
for  two  miles,  in  order  to  get  pure  water. 
This  work  was  over  two  years  in  being 
accomplished.  Enormous  engines,  capa- 
ble of  drawing  72^000,000  gallons  daily, 
on  the  North  Side,  pump  the  water  into 
an  iron  column  for  the  supply  of  the  city. 
Additions  have  been  since  made  to  these 
works. 

BRITISH  NORTH  AMERICAN  ACT. 

1867.  March  29.  A  bill  for  the 
formation  of  a  federal  union  in  Canada 
having  passed  parliament,  was  signed  by 
the  queen.  It  provided  for  the  "  Domin- 
ion of  Canada,"  which  was  afterward 
inaugurated.  The  two  provinces  of  On- 
tario and  Quebec,  with  Nova  Scotia  and 
New  Brunswick,  formed  the  dominion 
under  the  bill.  Other  provinces  have 
since  joined  it.  A  governor-general, 
appointed  by  the  crown,  carries  on  the 
government,  in  concert  with  a  privy  coun- 
cil and  a  dominion  parliament.  Consid- 
erable opposition  was  exhibited  in  some 
provinces  to  this  union,  but  it  has  been 
perfected. 


1867.  April.  The  Fenians  dispatched 
from  New  York  a  vessel  named  Erin's 
Hope,  with  military  supplies  for  Ireland. 
The  English  authorities  were  on  the 
watch  for  her,  and  she  was  unable  ta 
effect  a  landing,  and  returned  to  America. 
Another  vessel  was  being  fitted  up,  but 
never  sailed.  This  was  a  year  of  great 
agitation  in  Ireland,  but  the  efforts  in 
America  did  not  take  public  shape.  The 
position  of  the  United  States  government 
was  too  well  known. 

1867.  April  2.  The  city  of  Pueblo, 
Mexico,  was  taken  by  Gen.  Diaz,  and  63 
of  the  imperialists,  who  surrendered,  were 
put  to  death.  Gen,  Marquez,  who  was 
marching  with  4,000  troops  to  strengthen 
the  garrison,  was  met  and  defeated  by 
Diaz. 

1867.  April  13.  The  Ford  Theater 
in  Washington,  D.  C.,  in  which  President 
Lincoln  was  assassinated,  was  opened  as 
the  Army  Medical  Museum  of  the  United 
States.  It  was  not  occupied  ^  ^..^ 
as  a  theater  after  the  fatal  Paris  Exposition 
night,  and  soon  became  the  *****  ' 
property  of  the  government.  It  contains 
a  rare  collection  of  pathological  and  sur- 
gical specimens,  many  of  which  accumu- 
lated during  the  war. 

1867.  April  14.  A  frightful  rail- 
road accident  at  Carr's  Rock  on  the 
Erie  road  resulted  in  the  death  of  24  per- 
sons, and  injury  of  So  more.  The  disaster 
was  caused  by  a  broken  rail. 

1867.  May  13.  Jefferson  Davis  was 
bailed  in  the  sum  of  $100,000,  upon  being 
brought  before  the  United  States  Circuit 
Court  at  Richmond,  Va.  The  evidence 
of  his  connection  with  the  assassination 
of  Lincoln  was  not  sustained.  Horace 
Greeley  was  among  his  bondsmen.  Mr. 
Davis  had  now  been  confined  for  two 
years  in  Fortress  Monroe. 


1863-1868.] 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


719 


CAPTURE  OF  MAXIMILIAN. 
1867.  May  15.  The  -cause  of  the 
emperor  at  Queretaro  became  daily  more 
desperate.  The  republicans  maintained 
a  close  siege.  At  last  Maximilian  re- 
solved to  try  to  escape.  But  Colonel 
Lopez,  one  of  his  followers,  treacherous- 
ly admitted  General  Escobedo  to  the 
city,  and  the  emperor,  with  his  two  lead- 
ing generals,  Miramon  and  Mejia,  was 
arrested.  This  ended  opposition  to  the 
liberals,  who  now  held  the  country. 

PURCHASE  OF  ALASKA. 

1867.  May  20.  The  treaty  between 
Russia  and  the  United  States  for  the 
purchase  of  Alaska,  was  ratified.  The 
1867  Sultan  civilized  inhabitants  were  to 
of  Turkey  visited  have  three  years  in  which 
to  decide  to  remain,  or  to  re- 
turn to  Russia.  All  churches  built  by 
the  Russian  government  were  to  remain 
the  property  of  such  members  of  the 
Greek  church  as  chose  to  worship  in 
them.  This  treaty  added  500,000  square 
miles  to  the  public  domain,  making  near- 
ly 3,500,000  square  miles  in  all.  The 
price  paid  for  Alaska  was  $7,200,000. 
It  has  a  native  population  of  about  60,000. 
Mr.  Seward  regarded  this  purchase  as 
one  of  the  chief  successes  of  his  life. 


1867.  May  25.  Revolutionary 
troubles  in  Colombia,  S.  A.,  culminated 
in  the  arrest,  trial,  and  banishment  of 
President  Mosquera.  The  difficulties 
were  quieted.  The  arrest  of  Mosquera 
resulted  from  a  vote  of  impeachment 
which  was  passed  by  the  Colombian  con- 
gress April  29. 

HAJDEtf  SURVEYS. 

1867.  In  the  spring  of  this  year  the 
first  appropriation,  consisting  of  $5,000, 
was  made  by  congress  for  territorial  sur- 


veys in  the  United  States.  It  was  to  be 
spent  in  examining  Nebraska.  The  next 
year  a  similar  amount  was  appropriated 
for  Wyoming,  and  since  then  the  sums 
have  been  increased  till  in  later  years 
about  $100,000  have  been  appropriatedo 
The  surveys  began  at  once,  and  their  re- 
sults form  a  part  of  the  best  scientific 
work  of  the  world.  Ferdinand  V.  Hay- 
den  is  the  accomplished  head  of  the 
undertaking. 

1867.  June  13.  Maximilian  was 
tried  before  a  court  martial,  and  sen- 
tenced to  be  shot. 

1867.  June  19.  The  ill-fated  Maxi- 
milian, with  Generals  Miramon  and 
Mejia,  were  shot  according  to  their  sen- 
tence. The  body  of  the  emperor  was 
taken  to  Austria  and  put  into  the  royal 
vault.  In  the  meantime  the  emperor's 
wife,  who  was  in  Europe,  1867_  Reform 
had  been  made  insane  by  billin  England. 
the  troubles  of  her  husband.  The  grim 
tragedy  wrought  in  Mexico  during  these 
years  had  many  serious  effects. 

1867.  June  20.  The  City  of  Mexico 
surrendered  to  the  republican  troops. 

1867.  June  27.  Vera  Cruz  surren- 
dered to  the  republican  troops. 

1867.  July  1.  The  Dominion  of 
Canada  was  inaugurated  with  fitting 
ceremonies  at  Ottawa. 

1867.  July  1.  Freedom  was  de- 
clared by  an  act  of  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment, for  all  children  born  in  Cuba  after 
this  date. 

1867.     July   12.     Santa    1867.    July_ 
Anna,  who  was  trying  to    Sl-  Peter's 

T  f  ,      death    celebrated 

oppose  Juarez  for  personal    atRome_  lsootk 
reasons,  was  captured,  and    anniversary. 
banished  for  eight  years. 

1867.  July  16.  Juarez  made  an 
entry  into  the  City  of  Mexico,  and  was 


720 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


received  with  great  acclamations.  It  had 
been  several  years  since  he  had  been 
forced  to  flee  to  other  places  for  the 
maintenance  of  his  government. 

1867.  Aug.  12.  Secretary  Stanton 
of  the  War  Department,  who  had  re- 
tained his  position  in  spite  of  disagree- 
ment with  President  Johnson,  and  had 
refused  to  resign  at  the  latter's  request, 
was  removed  in  violation  of  the  "  tenure- 
of-office  "  act  forbidding  the  president  to 
make  any  removal  without  consent  of 
the  senate.  General  Grant  was  appointed 
in  his  place,  and  Mr.  Stanton  passed  over 
the  office,  under  protest. 

1867.  Aug.  20.  A  proclamation 
was  issued  by  President  Johnson  declar- 
ing that  the  United  States  were  once 
more  in  full  possession  of  peace  and  good 
order. 

1867.  Sept.  7.  A  proclamation  was 
issued  by  President  Johnson  granting 
amnesty  and  the  franchise  to  almost  all 
the  white  citizens  of  the  South. 

1867.  Sept.  11.  A  national  ceme- 
tery at  Antietam  was  dedicated. 

1867.  September.  An  Indian  coun- 
cil was  held  on  the  North  Platte  River, 
with  General  Sherman.  The  Indians 
demanded  that  several  roads  should  be 
discontinued,  and  that  work  on  the 
Southern  Pacific  railroad  be  stopped,  be- 
cause it  interfered  with  their  game  privi- 
leges. General  Sherman  declared  that 
these  demands  could  not  be  met,  but  that 
any  actual  loss  that  the  Indians  should 
suffer  would  be  made  up  to  them.  The 
council  accomplished  nothing. 

ELMS  HOWE. 

1867.  Oct.  3.  Elias  Howe,  the  in- 
ventor of  the  first  completely  successful 
sewing  machine,  died  at  Brooklyn  at  the 
age  of  forty-eight  years.  He  was  born 


in  Spencer,  Mass.,  July  9,  1819,  and  un- 
til he  was  sixteen  years  old  worked  with 
his  father,  attending  school  at  times.  He 
afterward  worked  in  a  machine  shop  in 
Boston,  having  first  been  employed  in  a 
cotton  mill  in  Lowell.  He  seems  to 
have  had  a  native  aptness  for  understand- 
ing machinery.  After  he  had  conceived 
the  idea  of  a  sewing  machine  he  labored 
incessantly  to  carry  it  out.  Lack  of 
funds  crippled  him,  but  through  the  kind- 
ness of  an  old  school  acquaintance  named 
George  Fisher,  who  loaned  him  money, 
he  was  enabled  to  finish  his  first  machine 
and  patent  it,  in  spite  of  much  ridicule. 
He  then  went  to  England,  but  found  no 
great  encouragement.  Mr.  William 
Thomas  took  some  interest  in  the  inven- 
tion, and  offered  to  put  some  machines  into 
his  manufactory.  In  two  1867.  Attempt 
years  Mr.  Howe,  after  '«'»«*«*«" 

*  the  Czar  in 

great  exertions  to  raise  a  Pan*-. 
little  money,  came  home  to  America 
with  an  empty  pocket.  His  wife  died 
almost  immediately  after  he  reached  her, 
at  Cambridge.  In  his  absence  attention 
had  been  attracted  to  his  invention,  and 
its  success  was  made  by  some  trial  of  it. 
The  victory  in  bringing  it  before  the 
public  was  gained,  but  Mr.  Howe  still 
experienced  the  hai'd  way  of  an  inventor. 
He  received  aid  from  parties  who  were 
quite  willing  to  become  sharers  of  his 
effort,  now  that  it  seemed  likely  to  suc- 
ceed financially.  He  received  nothing 
for  several  years  because  of  lawsuits,  but 
his  income  finally  reached  $200,000  a 
year,  from  royalties  and  licenses.  He 
acquired  $2,000,000  worth  of  property. 
Mr.  Howe  was  patriotic,  and  when  a 
Connecticut  regiment  was  being  raised^ 
he  entered  it  as  a  private.  During  some 
financial  stress  of  the  government  the 
men  could  not  be  paid  off  at  the  ap- 


1863-18(58.] 

pointed  time,  and  Mr.  Howe  advanced 
the  money,  taking  his  little  share  of  it 
afterward  as  a  private  soldier  among 
the  rest. 

1867.  Oct.  6.  Juarez  was  elected 
president  of  Mexico  over  Diaz,  his  com- 
petitor. 

1867.  Oct.  9.  A  terrible  hurricane 
swept  along  the  Rio  Grande  River.  At 
Matamoras  twenty-six  persons  perished, 
and  many  others  in  other  places. 

1867.  Oct.  29.  A  terrible  hurricane 
devastated  parts  of  the  West  Indies.  At 
the  island  of  St.  Thomas  about  seventy 
vessels  in  the  harbor  were  swept  away. 
About  1,000  lives  were  lost.  Other 
islands  suffered  in  the  same  way. 

JOH.V  A.  ANDREW. 

1867.  Oct.  30.  John  Albion  An- 
drew, widely  known  as  the  governor  of 
Massachusetts  during  the  Civil  War, 
died  at  Boston,  aged  forty-nine  years. 
He  was  born  in  Windham,  Me.,  a  town 
a  short  distance  north  of  Portland,  May 
31,  1818.  He  fitted  for  college,  and 
graduated  at  Bowdoin  in  the  class  of 
1837.  His  mind  at  once  sought  the 
study  of  the  law,  and  the  vigor  of  his 
efforts  was  noticeable  from  the  first. 
Having  been  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1840, 
he  entered  upon  practice,  and  pursued  an 
even  course  for  many  years.  In  politics 
he  was  guided  very  largely  by  his  oppo- 
sition to  slavery.  He  had  steadily  gained 
a  hold  upon  the  persons  who  had  come  to 
know  him,  and  in  1860  the  people  chose 
him  by  a  very  large  majority  to  fill  the 
chief  magistracy  of  the  Old  Bay  State. 
His  eye  caught  the  coming  conflict,  and 
he  began  those  herculean  labors  which 
aided  the  United  States  government  so 
much.  He  caused  the  militia  of  the 

46 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


721 


state  to  be  examined  and  prepared  for 
emergencies.  Troops  from  that  state 
were  among  the  first  to  respond  to  the 
call  of  April  15  , 1 86 1,  because  of  his  exec- 
utive ability.  Throughout  the  war  he 
maintained  the  same  untiring  zeal.  The 
great  efforts  told  upon  his  system,  and  laid 
him  liable  to  disease.  After  five  terms  of 
service  as  governor  he  went  back  to  his 
profession.  His  was  the  example  of  a 
man  filling  a  place  for  which  he  was 
raised  up,  and  showing  by  his  capabili- 
ties that  he  was  the  exact  man  for  the 
place.  He  gained  a  wonderful  hold  on 
his  state. 

1867.     Nov.  6.     The  first  parliament 
of  the  Dominion  of  Canada  was  opened  . 
at  Ottawa. 

1867.  Nov.  11.  Severe  earthquake 
shocks  set  in  through  the  West  Indies, 
and  continued  for  a  week.  They  had 
been  predicted  by  M.  Dellisier,  a  French- 
man. Several  small  islands  were  sub- 
merged, and  the  United  States  war 
steamer  De  Soto  was  dashed  up  on  the 
shore  at  Santa  Cruz. 

1867.  Nov.  13.  A  brilliant  shower 
*of  meteors  was  witnessed  by  a  great 
many  in  America. 

FITZ-  GREENE  HylLLECK. 

1867.  Nov.  17.  This  well-known 
American  poet  died  at  Guilford,  Conn., 
aged  seventy-seven  years.  He  was  born 
at  the  same  place  July  8,  1790.  He  was 

without  an  extended  educa- 
te?.   November. 

tion,  and    was  engaged  in     Capture  of 
business  for  a  great  part  of    Gartbaldl- 
his  life.      He  found  time  to  cultivate  lit- 
erature  quite  assiduously,  and  was   inti- 
mate with  Joseph  Rodman  Drake  and 
other     men     of     letters     of    the     clay. 
His    "  Marco  Bozzaris  "   and  "  Alnwick 


722 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


Castle  "  are  widely  known.  A  bronze 
statue  has  been  erected  to  him  in  Cen- 
tral Park,  New  York. 

1867.  Dec.  2.  Charles  Dickens 
gave  the  first  reading  from  his  own 
works  in  America,  to  a  Boston  audience. 
He  was  eagerly  sought  for  in  all  the 
leading  cities,  and  read  steadily  until 
April  20,  when  he  closed  with  a  reading 
in  New  York.  He  received  a  great 
financial  reward  from  this  tour. 

PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY. 

1867.  Dec.  4.  The  National  Grange, 
for  the  promotion  of  the  farming  inter- 
ests of  the  country,  was  organized  at 
Washington,  D.  .C.,  by  William  Saund- 
ers  and  several  other  persons  who  had 
consulted  about  it  in  the  preceding  August. 
Mr.  Saunders  was  superintendent  of  the 
gardens  of  the  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture in  Washington.  A  lower  grange 
was  organized  soon  afterward  in  the 
same  city.  Since  then  the  order  has 
spread  all  over  the  Union,  till  in  1876  it 
was  estimated  that  there  were  19,000 
granges  in  existence.  The  professed  ob- 
ject of  the  grange  is  purely  the  work  of 
elevating  the  condition  of  the  farmer,  and . 
increasing  the  value  of  his  products,  be- 
sides putting  him  into  more  direct  com- 
munication with  the  consumer.  A 
prominent  element  in  its  work  was  the 
improvement  of  the  social  life  of  farming 
communities.  It  was  to  be  strictly  non- 
political.  The  enthusiasm  over  it  has  to 
a  great  extent,  died  out. 


1867.  Dec.  18.  The  Angola  disaster 
on  the  Lake  Shore  railroad,  was  caused 
by  a  bent  axle,  which  derailed  a  car  in  ap- 
proaching a  bridge.  Forty-two  persons 
were  killed,  and  several  injured.  The 
accident  was  rendered  possible  by  lack 


of  modern  improvements,  for  the  fact 
that  a  car  had  been  derailed  was  known 
long  before  the  bridge  was  reached,  but 
the  appliances  then  in  use  were  not 
sufficient  to  stop  the  train  within  the 
distance. 

1867.  Howard  University,  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  was  organized.  It  is  open 
to  students,  without  distinction  of  race, 
color,  or  sex,  though  specially  intended 
to  present  opportunities  for  the  colored 
people  to  acquire  academic  and  profes- 
sional training.  It  was  named  for  Gen- 
eral O.  O.  Howard,  who  assisted  in 
forming  it. 

1867.  The  first  «  Phosphate  Mining 
Company "  in  America  was  organized. 
It  resulted  from  the  discovery  of  beds  of 
bone  in  the  soil  of  South  Carolina.  The 
nodules  of  phosphate  of  lime  were  discov- 
ered by  Professor  S.  F.  Holmes,  between 
the  Ashley  and  the  Cooper  Rivers.  He 
was  a  young  planter,  and  was  searching 
for  marl.  Large  beds  were  found  before 
long.  His  first  trace  of  it  was  found 
about  thirty  years  ago.  The  bones  of 
large  numbers  of  extinct  animals  have 
been  dug  up  from  these  beds.  Thou- 
sands of  tons  of  fertilizers  have  been 
made  from  these  accumulations. 

1867.  Three  men  on  a  raft  went 
across  the  Atlantic,  from  New  York  to 
Southampton.  They  called  their  vessel, 
which  was  12^  feet  wide  by  24  feet  long, 
made  of  three  pointed  cylinders  lashed 
together  with  boards,  and  canvas  over 
them,  the  Nonpareil,  or  American  Life- 
Raft.  The  voyage  was  safely  made. 

STUYFESAJiT  PEAR  TREE. 

1867.  The  pear  tree  which  was  plant- 
ed in  the  door  yard  of  Governor  Stuyve- 
sant  of  New  Amsterdam,  and  stood  at  the 
corner  of  Third  Avenue  and  Thirteenth 


1863-1868.] 

St.,  New  York,  died  at  the  age  of  more 
than  two  hundred  years.  It  bore  fruit  till 
shortly  before  this  date. 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


723 


1867.  The  yellow  fever  raged  in  the 
Southern  states.  There  were  a  score  of 
deaths  every  day  in  New  Orleans.  Por- 
tions of  Texas  were  ravaged  by  it  also. 

1867.  Mrs.  Myra  Clark  Gaines  re- 
ceived a  decision  in  her  favor  from  the 
United  States  Supreme  Court,  declaring 
her  title  to  certain  property  held  by  the 
city  of  New  Orleans,  to  be  good.  She 
had  been  fighting  for  this  for  years,  and 
immediately  began  suits  of  ejectment. 
Several  millions  were  recovered  by  her 
within  the  next  few  years. 

1867.  St.  Thomas  and  St.  John,  two 
Danish  islands  in  the  West  Indies,  were 
sold  to  the  United  States,  but  congress 
never  ratified  the  contract,  and  it  lapsed. 

1867.  A  revolution  occurred  in  Bo- 
livia with  the  aim  of  overthrowing  Mel- 
garejo  and  restoring  Acha,  but  it  was  un- 
successful, and  the  former  i-egained  his 
dictatorial  power.  Bolivia,  during  this 
year,  ceded  ten  thousand  square  leagues 
of  fine  territory  to  Brazil. 

1867.  The   present   constitution  of 
'Peru  was  adopted. 

1868.  Jan.  6.      Samuel   Nicholson, 
the  inventor  of  the  Nicholson  pavement, 
died  in  Boston  at  the  age  of  seventy-six. 
The  pavement  was  constructed  of  spruce 
blocks,  and  was  first  used  in   Boston  in 
1848. 

1868.  Jan.  10.  The  Peruvian  Bevo- 
lution  against  President  Prado,  which 
had  broken  out  in  December  of  1867, 
proved  successful,  and  the  president  re- 
signed, and  embarked  for  Chili.  Gen. 
Canesco  acted  as  president  until  April, 
when  Col.  Balta  was  almost  unanimously 
elected.  During  this  year  the  construc- 


tion of  a  railroad  from  Islay  to  Arequipa 
was  begun. 

1868.  Jan.  13.  Secretary  Stanton 
was  restored  to  the  War  Department  by 
the  United  States  senate,  and  Gen.  Grant 
gave  up  the  office  to  him  very  willingly. 
The  senate  declared  the  act  of  the  presi- 
dent in  removing  Secretary  Stanton  to 
have  been  illegal. 

1868.  Jan.  21.  The  jurisdiction  of 
the  president  over  the  Southern  states 
was  still  further  lessened  by  the  action  of 
congress,  in  providing  for  their  re-organ- 
ization. 

KU-KLUX  KLdN. 

1868.  January.  The  "Ku-Klux 
Klan"  was  organized  throughout  the 
Southern  states,  from  January  to  May. 
By  the  end  of  the  latter  month,  accord- 
ing to  the  best  authorities,  it  numbered 
500,000  men.  The  name  "Ku-Klux" 
was  applied  to  various  kinds  of  organi- 
zations which  existed  throughout  the 
South;  but  they  were  similar  in  character 
and  plan  of  operation.  Some  of  these 
organizations  were  named,  and  some  were 
nameless.  It  is  alleged  that  Gen.  N.  B. 
Forest  was  at  the  head  of  these  societies, 
and  was  known  as  the  "  Grand  Wizard 
of  the  Empire."  The  first  Ku-Klux 
parties  existed  in  Tennessee  about  the 
beginning  of  1868.  The  mysteries  and 
secrets  of  the  organization  were  never 
fully  known,  although  many  things  were 
disclosed  by  the  investigations  of  con- 
gress, and  a  history  of  the  various  organi- 
zations of  this  character  was  written  by 
A.  W.  Tourgee,  who  was  for  some  years 
judge  of  the  superior  court  of  North 
Carolina,  and  who  had  ample  means  of 
obtaining  thorough  information  concern- 
ing their  methods  of  working,  and  the 
extent  of  their  operations.  The  object  of 
the  "  Ku-Klux"  was  to  oppose  the  en- 


724 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


forcement  of  the  Reconstruction  acts,  and 
the  elevation  and  education  of  the  colored 
people ;  to  prevent  the  negro  from  exer- 
cising the  right  of  suffrage;  to  maintain 
the  dominion  of  the  white  race;  to  pre- 
vent the  introduction  of  Northern  immi- 
gration and  industry.  It  succeeded  in  the 
accomplishment  of  the  ends  undertaken. 
It  changed  the  political  complexion  of 
the  South  in  depriving  the  negro  of  his 
rights,  and  m  driving  out  Northern  immi- 
gration. Each  member  of  the  Ku-Klux, 
and  like  societies,  was  bound  by  the  most 
solemn  oath.  The  organization  was 
divided  into  districts  in  each  of  the 
Southern  states.  At  the  head  of  each 
division  was  a  "  Grand  Cyclops,"  or 
sometimes  a  "  grand  "  officer  under  a  dif- 
ferent term,  who,  with  numerous  assist- 
ants, was  given  power  to  appoint  the 
work  and  duty  of  each  man  in  his  division. 
The  heads  of  these  districts  had  various 
subordinate  divisions.  All  were  under 
the  dictation  of  the  "  Great  Grand  Cy- 
clops," or  "Grand  Wizard."  Their 
work  was  done,  for  a  time,  with  the 
utmost  mystery.  Men,  styling  them- 
selves "  Ghouls,"  armed  to  the  teeth,  and 
dressed  in  ghostly  disguises,  carried  on  a 
midnight  warfare  upon  the  weak  and 
helpless  colored  people.  Before  the 
nation  could  be  made  to  realize  the  fact, 
thousands  of  colored  men  and  "poor 
whites"  were  outraged  and  killed,  and 
their  homes  destroyed,  on  account  of  their 
political  opinions.  The  alleged  object  of 
the  Ku-Klux  was  to  "  redeem  the  South." 


1868.  Feb.  19.  The  assassination 
of  Gen.  Flores,  president  of  Uruguay, 
occurred  in  an  insurrection  at  Monte- 
video. Gen.  Lorenzo  Battle  became 
president  in  his  place. 

1868.   Feb.  19.    The  pass  of  Humaita, 


on  the  Parana  River,  held  by  the  Para- 
guayan fortresses,  was  forced  by  the 
allied  troops  of  Brazil,  Uruguay,  and 
the  Argentine  Republic.  The  Para- 
guayans numbered  about  23,000;  the 
allies,  40,000.  The  pass  was  defended 
by  one  hundred  and  eighty  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery, and  was  forced  by  six  iron  clads. 
The  same  day  the  allies  stormed  a  work 
north  of  Humaita,  capturing  the  stores 
and  cannon.  The  loss  on  each  side  was 
about  six  hundred.  This  was  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  actions  of  the  war.  It  re- 
sulted in  Cutting  Off  the  1868.  February. 

supplies  of  Lopez,  who  fled,    Dis™eli.  b?c™e 

7     prime  minister  of 

leaving  garrisons  in  the  England. 
fortresses.  The  women  of  Paraguay 
now  offered  their  services  to  Lopez,  and 
a  special  camp  was  arranged  for  them. 
A  regiment  of  them  soon  took  part  in  an 
action.  The  only  weapon  they  carried 
was  the  lance.  At  a  later  time  in  the 
war  they  were  conscripted,  and  made  to- 
do  the  work  of  the  camp. 

IMPEACHMENT  yLGIT&TIOX. 

1868.  Feb.  21.  The  conflict  between 
congress  and  the  president  was  intensi- 
fied by  another  attempt  of  the  latter  to 
remove  Secretary  Stanton  and  to  appoint 
General  Lorenzo  Thomas  in  the  place. 
These  steps  were  put  before  the  senate, 
when  it  again  voted  that  President 
Johnson  had  no  right  to  remove  the  sec- 
retary. General  Thomas  went  to  the 
war  office  and  demanded  its  surrender, 
but  Secretary  Stanton  refused  to  give  it 
up,  and  told  General  Thomas  to  confine 
himself  to  his  own  sphere  as  adjutant 
general.  President  Johnson  did  not  dare 
to  proceed  by  force,  and  the  affair  issued 
in  a  few  days  in  a  vote  to  impeach  him. 

1868.  Feb.  24.  It  was  voted  by  the 
house  of  representatives  to  impeach 


1863-1868.]  THE  RETURN 

Andrew  Johnson.  The  action  of  con- 
gress was  based  partially  upon  President 
Johnson's  violation  of  the  Tenure-of-Office 
bill  in  removing  Secretary  Stanton  from 
the  war  department,  after  the  senate 
had  declared  the  removal  illegal,  and 
partially  upon  several  passionate  speeches 
of  his,  denouncing  congress  in  strong  and 
bitter  terms.  The  latter  charges  were 
made  in  two  articles  which  were  adopted 
March  3. 

1868.  March  5.  An  impeachment 
court  was  organized  by  the  senate  for 
the  purpose  of  trying  the  case  of  Presi- 
dent Jphnson.  Chief-justice  Chase  pre- 
sided. The  trial  continued  until  May 
1 6th,  when  the  three  main  articles  were 
voted  on,  and  failed  to  receive  the  neces- 
sary two-thirds  majority.  The  result 
stood,  thirty-five  for  conviction,  and 
nineteen  for  acquittal;  five  republican 
senators  voted  with  fourteen  democrats 
for  acquittal.  Chief-justice  Chase  di- 
rected a  verdict  to  be  entered  according 
to  the  vote. 

1868.  May  13.  The  first  line 
steamer  sailed  from  Valparaiso,  Chili, 
through  the  Strait  of  Magellan  in  a  di- 
rect route  to  Europe. 

1868.  May  19.  A  Soldiers'  and 
Sailors'  Convention  was  held  at  Chicago, 
and  nominated  General  Grant  for  the 
•  presidency. 

1868.  May  20.  The  Republican 
National  Convention  met  at  Chicago 
and  nominated  Ulysses  S.  Grant  of 
Illinois,  and  Schuyler  Colfax  of  Indiana, 
as  candidates  for  president  and  vice-presi- 
dent. The  convention  congratulated 
the  country  on  the  success  of  the  recon- 
struction measures,  and  declared  it  to  be 
the  duty  of  congress  to  protect  all  citizens 
in  the  exercise  of  their  just  rights.  It 


TO  PEACE. 


725 


declared  against  repudiation,  and  con- 
demned the  administration  of  Andrew 
Johnson.  General  Grant  received  the 
unanimous  vote  of  the  convention;  six 
hundred  and  fifty  votes  were  cast. 

1868.  May  22.  A  Chinese  Embassy, 
under  the  leadership  of  the  Hon.  Anson 
Burlingame,  arrived  in  New  York.  The 
purpose  of  the  embassy  was  ises.  Queen  of 
to  secure  a  treaty  with  the  spai"  flfd ' her 

J  realm  into 

United  States.  The  re-  France. 
suit  was  successful,  and  commercial  rela- 
tions were  established  between  the  two 
countries.  The  treaty  was  ratified  by 
the  Chinese  emperor  on  the  following 
year.  It  is  known  as  the  Burlingame 
Treaty,  and  is  the  first  case  in  which 
China  agreed  to  the  principles  which 
regulate  western  nations. 

1868.  May  23.  "  Kit  Carson  "  died 
at  Fort  Lyon,  Colorado,  from  the  effects 
of  the  rupture  of  an  artery  in  the  neck,, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years.  He  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  Dec.  24,  1809,  but 
lived  while  young  with  his  parents  in 
Missouri.  He  subsequently  received  an 
appointment  as  hunter,  and  afterward 
became  a  guide  for  Fremont.  He  was 
active  in  the  West  during  the  Mexican 
war.  He  was  prominently  known 
among  the  Indian  tribes,  having  served 
as  agent  in  New  Mexico.  In  the  Civil 
War  he  became  brevet  brigadier-gen- 
eral. He  real  name  was  Christopher  Car- 
son. He  became  famous  throughout  the 

O 

United  States  as  a  frontier  leader  and 
scout. 

JAMES  BUCHANAN. 

1868.  June  1.  James  Buchanan,  the 
fifteenth  president  of  the  United  States,, 
died  at  Lancaster,  Penn.,  aged  seventy- 
seven  years.  He  was  born  at  Stony 
Batter,  Penn.,  April  22,  1791.  His 
father  was  a  poor  farmer,  who  emigrated 


726 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


Monument  to 
Luther,  at 
Worms. 


from  Ireland.  Although  his  advantages 
for  education  were  limited,  he  made  such 
progress  that  in  1809  he  graduated  from 
Dickinson  College,  and  four  years  later 
he  began  the  practice  of  law.  That  same 
year  the  war  with  England  broke  out. 
Mr.  Buchanan  was  enrolled  as  a  volun- 
teer for  the  defense  of  the  city  of  Balti- 
1868.  June.  more.  From  1814  to  1831 
he  was  one  of  the  legisla- 
tors of  his  native  state,  and 
upon  his  withdrawal  he  was  appointed 
minister-plenipotentiary  to  Russia.  After 
his  return,  in  1833,  he  was  elected  to  the 
national  congress.  Mr.  Buchanan  was 
prominent  in  all  debates — giving  his  sup- 
port to  the  southern  view  of  slavery. 
Under  President  Polk  he  served  as  secre- 
tary of  state.  At  the  close  of  that  admin- 
istration he  withdrew  for  several  years 
from  public  life.  He  was  appointed,  in 
1853,  minister  to  England.  He  remained 
abroad  for  three  years,  and  after  his  return 
to  America,  in  1856,  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  His  sympa- 
thies were  strongly  with  the  South,  and 
upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  he  did 
nothing  to  suppress  secession.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  term  he  withdrew 
wholly  from  public  life,  and  returned  to 
his  home  in  Lancaster. 


1868.  June  23.  Matthew  Vassar,  the 
founder  of  Vassar  College,  died  suddenly 
while  addressing  the  trustees  of  that  insti- 
tution. Mr.  Vassar  was  born  in  1792  in 
England.  He  gave  to  the  college  $800,- 
ooo  for  the  endowment  fund,  and  other 
college  expenses. 

1868.  July  4.  The  democratic 
national  convention  assembled  at  New 
York,  and  nominated  Horatio  Seymour 
of  New  York,  and  Francis  P.  Blair  of 
Missouri,  as  candidates  for  president  and 


vice-president.  The  platform  adopted 
by  the  convention  declared  the  Southern 
states  should  at  once  be  received  back 
into  the  Union.  It  demanded  that  the 
states  be  allowed  to  regulate  the  suffrage ; 
and  also  that  the  states  should  be  given 
the  power  of  self-government  guaranteed 
by  the  constitution.  Mr.  Seymour  was 
nominated  on  the  twenty-second  ballot. 

INDIANA  VIGILANCE  COMMITTEE  AND 
LYNCH  LAW. 

1868.  July  20.  Many  of  the  best 
citizens  of  Indiana  began  to  deplore 
the  ease  with  which  well-known  crim- 
inals could  evade  the  law  and  prolong 
their  trials,  or  be  discharged  altogether. 
A  notorious  band  of  robbers,  named  the 
"  Reno  gang,"  led  by  the  Reno  brothers, 
committed  several  fearless  robberies  this 
year.  Among  them  was  that  of  the  ex- 
press train  near  JefFersonville,  May  22, 
while  the  engine  was  taking  in  water. 
The  engineer  and  fireman  were  knocked 
down.  The  express  car  was  then  un- 
shackled from  the  passenger  cars,  and 
taken  by  the  engine  along  the  road  to  a 
safe  distance,  when  the  car  was  plundered 
of  $90,000  in  greenbacks.  Members  of 
the  same  gang  made  an  attempt  on  July 
10,  which  was  defeated  through  knowl- 
edge conveyed  to  the  express  company 
by  an  engineer,  who  had  shrewdly 
secured  the  information.  A  guard  on  the 
train  succeeded  in  capturing  several  of 
the  men,  who  were  committed  to  prison. 
The  vigilance  committee  which  was 
organized,  was  entirely  secret,  with  a  sys- 
tem of  signals.  Its  motto  was,  "  Law 
and  Order,  Peace  and  Protection  at  all 
Hazards."  On  July  20  the  men  who 
had  been  arrested  and  imprisoned,  were 
being  taken  by  train  to  Jackson  county 
for  trial.  The  vigilance  committee  way- 


1863-1868.] 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


727 


laid  the  train,  seized  the  prisoners,  and 
after  a  brief  interview,  in  which  they  were 
urged  to  confess,  they  were  hung  from 
a  beech  tree  till  dead.  The  next  day  a 
coroner's  inquest  was  held,  with  the  ver- 
dict of 'death  by  some  parties  unknown. 
The  next  morning  the  following  procla- 
mation was  issued : 

"ATTENTION,  THIEVES ! 

"  The  attention  of  all  thieves,  robbers, 
assassins,  and  vagrants,  together  with 
their  aiders,  abettors,  and  sympathizers,  is 
called  to  the  doings  of  the  Seymour  Vigi- 
lance Committee  last  night.  We  are 
determined  to  follow  this  up  until  all  of 
the  classes  above  named,  whether  im- 
ported, or  to  the  '  manor  born,'  are  driven 
forever  from  our  midst.  Threats  have 
been  made  of  retaliation  in  case  we  should 
resort  to  capital  punishment.  In  answer, 
we  say,  'Should  one  of  our  committee  be 
harmed,  or  a  dollar's  worth  of  any  honest 
man's  property  destroyed  by  persons  un- 
known, we  will  swing  by  the  neck,  until 
they  be  dead,  every  thieving  character 
we  can  lay  our  hands  on,  without  in- 
quiry whether  we  have  the  persons  who 
committed  that  particular  crime,  or  not. 
This  applies  not  only  to  Seymour,  but 
along  the  line  of  the  two  roads,  and 
wherever  our  organization  exists.  Law 
and  order  must  prevail. 

"  By  order  of  the  Committee. 
"Seymour,  Ind.July  21,  1868." 
Another  execution  was  soon  held.  In 
October  the  three  Reno  brothers,  and  an 
accomplice  who  had  fled  to  Canada,  were 
arrested  and  brought  into  the  state  under 
a  requisition.  They  were  placed  in  jail 
at  New  Albany,  Ind.  Dec.  12,  seventy- 
five  men  of  the  Seymour  Vigilance  Com- 
mittee surrounded  the  prison,  seized  the 
guards,  took  the  prisoners,  and  hung 
them  up  in  the  prison  corridors.  They 


immediately  departed  as  they  came.  The 
excitement  resulting  from  these  pro- 
cedures was  very  great.  The  men  who 
were  executed  were  from  families  of  good 
connections,  but  had  given  themselves  up 
to  rough  deeds.  The  state  was  filled 
with  the  terror  of  their  names.  The 
work  of  the  vigilance  committee  ceased 
through  the  fear  which  had  been  inspired 
by  their  acts. 

1868.  July  26.  The  fortresses  of 
Humaita,  on  the  Parana  River,  were 
evacuated  by  the  garrisons  left  in  them 
by  Lopez.  Their  supplies  had  been  ex- 
hausted, and  they  were  nearly  starved  to 
death.  The  river  was  now  under  the 
complete  control  of  the  allies. 

1868.  July  28.  The  Fourteenth 
Amendment  was  officially  declared  by 
the  secretary  of  state  to  have  been  rati- 
fied by  the  necessary  number  of  states, 
and  therefore  to  have  become  a  part  of 
the  constitution  of  the  United  States. 

THtiDDEUS   STEVENS. 

1868.  Aug.  11.  Thaddeus  Stevens,  a 
prominent  American  statesman,  died  in 
Washington,  aged  seventy-five  years. 
He  was  born  in  Peasham,  Caledonia 
county,  Vermont,  April  4,  1793.  He 
was  of  humble  birth,  and  was  sickly  in 
body,  but  strong  in  intellect.  He  entered 
Dartmouth  College,  where  he  graduated 
with  honor  in  1814.  He  ises.  Fenian 
pursued  the  study  of  law  "f±T' 

*  113,674  special 

with  much  difficulty.  Hav-  constables. 
ing  been  admitted  to  the  bar,  he  rose  to 
eminence  in  his  profession.  He  began 
to  practice  at  York,  Pa.  He  entered 
politics  in  1828,  in  the  exciting  contest 
between  Andrew  Jackson  and  John 
Quincy  Adams.  On  the  organization  of 
the  whig  party  he  became  a  devoted 


728 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


partisan,  and  added  to  the  declarations 
of  the  whig  platform,  which  he  sup- 
ported, an  undying  hostility  to  slavery. 
He  was  elected  to  the  legislature  in  1833 
by  the  whigs  of  Adams  county,  Penn. 
The  same  party  kept  him  in  this  position 
until  1841.  In  the  Pennsylvania  constitu- 
tional convention  in  1836  he  was  active 
in  the  debates,  and  prominent  in  forming 
the  constitution.  He  refused  to  sign  the 
constitution,  however,  because  suffrage 
was  restricted  on  account  of  color.  After 
the  adoption  of  the  constitution,  Mr. 
Stevens  was  re-elected  to  the  legislature, 
during  a  stormy  political  period.  For  a 
time  there  were  two  legislatures  in  ses- 
sion ;  but  at  length  they  quietly  united  in 
the  choice  of  a  speaker.  In  1838  Mr. 
Stevens  was  appointed  land  commission- 
er. Four  years  later  he  removed  to 
Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  he  afterward 
made  his  home.  He  was  elected  to 
the  thirty-second  congress,  and  opposed 
with  considerable  power  the  repeal  of 
the  Missouri  compromise,  the  fugitive 
slave  law,  and  Kansas-Nebraska  bill. 
He  remained'  in  congress  almost  seven 
terms,  until  the  time  of  his  death.  In 
every  session  he  was  a  recognized  leader. 
For  three  terms  he  was  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  ways  and  means,  and 
in  (he  thirty-ninth  and  fortieth  con- 
gresses he  was  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee on  reconstruction.  He  was  chair- 
man of  the  board  of  managers,  on  the 
part  of  the  lower  house,  in  the  trial  for 
the  impeachment  of  President  Johnson 
before  the  senate.  He  urged  upon 
President  Lincoln  the  emancipation 
proclamation.  He  hated  slavery,  and 
believed  in  no  compromise  with  the 
South.  He  would  concede  to  it  not  one 
right  motive  for  a  single  wrong  act.  He 
believed  in  and  labored  for,  the  extension 


of  equal  rights  to  every  man,  black  or 
white,  in  the  Union. 

VIOLENT  EARTHQUAKE. 

1868.  Aug.  13.  A  fearful  earth- 
quake  shock  rolled  through  Ecuador  and 
some  adjoining  portions  of  the  South 
American  continent,  causing  great  de- 
struction to  life  and  property.  It  extend- 
ed a  thousand  miles  along  the  coast  from 
Chili  north,  destroying  Arica,  Arequipa, 
and  other  cities.  Scarcely  a  house  was 
left  standing  in  many  of  these  places.  In 
Arica,  Peru,  five  hundred  lives  were  lost, 
$12,000,000  worth  of  property  destroyed, 
and  no  building  left  without  injury.  In 
Arequipa,  six  hundred  persons  perished, 
and  the  whole  town  was  overthrown. 
In  Ecuador,  a  lake  took  the  place  of  the 
city  of  Catocachy.  Several  other  cities 
were  engulfed,  with  all  their  inhabitants. 
Over  30,000  persons  perished,  and  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  others  were  left 
destitute.  The  shocks  were  at  first 
every  fifteen  minutes,  then  every  hour. 
A  tidal  wave  followed,  with  great  dam- 
age to  the  coast.  An  island  off  the  port 
of  Arica  was  completely  submerged 
three  times,  and  all  the  garrison  were 
drowned.  The  first  wave  was  forty  feet 
high.  The  United  States  steamer  Fre- 
donia  was  lost,  with  all  her  crew.  The 
United  States  steamer  Wateree  and  other 
vessels  were  driven  far  inland,  and  left 
when  the  wave  retreated. 


1868.  Sept.  7.  The  negro  mem- 
bers of  the  Georgia  legislature  were  ex- 
pelled because  of  their  color. 

1868.  Sept.  18.  A  battle  with  the 
Indians  occurred  on  Republican  River, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  Lieutenant 
Beecher  and  others  of  the  United  States 
army. 


1863-1868.] 

1868.  Sept.  19.  Many  negroes  were 
killed  in  a  riot  at  Camilla,  Ga.  It  was  a 
political  riot  arising  from  the  question  of 
granting  full  political  privileges  to  blacks. 

1868.  Sept.  22.  A  political  riot  oc- 
curred in  New  Orleans.  A  republican 
procession  of  two  thousand  negroes  was 
stopped  by  a  white  man,  who  rushed  in 
and  called  for  cheers  for  the  democratic 
candidates.  A  conflict  followed,  in  which 
quite  a  number  were  killed. 

1868.  Oct.  7.  CorneU  University, 
Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  was  open  for  instruction 
under  the  presidency  of  Andrew  D. 
White.  It  aims  to  educate  both  sexes 
equally.  This  institution  received  the 
land  given  by  the  United  States  to  indus- 
trial colleges,  amounting,  in  the  case  of 
New  York,  to  989,000  acres.  Mr.  Ezra 
Cornell,  for  whom  it  is  named,  has 
given  nearly  a  million  dollars  to  it,  and 
rich  gifts  have  come  from  other  gen- 
tlemen. A  large  library  has  already 
been  acquired,  and  the  equipment  of  the 
entire  institution  is  every  year  growing 
more  and  more  perfect. 

OUTBREAK  OF  CUBAN  REVOLUTION. 

1868.  Oct.  10.  The  fires  which  had 
been  confined,  at  last  broke  forth  with 
great  fierceness.  A  plan  for  overthrow- 
ing the  Spanish  power  in  Cuba,  had 
been  laid  by  a  few  earnest  hearts  and 
minds,  as  early  as  August  2,  1867. 
Three  men  met  at  that  date,  and  conse- 
crated themselves  to  the  cause.  They 
rapidly  increased  their  numbers,  and  the 
movement  was  soon  being  agitated  in  all 
parts  of  the  island.  It  was  at  last  agreed 
to  rise  in  October,  1868,  and  the  four- 
teenth day  was  appointed.  But  the 
Spanish  leaders  found  out  in  some  way 
about  the  outbreak,  and  therefore  the 
patriots  hastened  their  plans.  Manuel 


THE  RETURN  TO  PEACE. 


729 


de  Cespedes,  who  was  the  revolutionary 
chief  in  one  department,  with  two  hun- 
dred men  around  him  on  the  field  of 
Yara,  declared  the  island  independent  on 
this  date.  The  patriot  forces  at  once  at- 
tacked some  of  the  Spanish  positions 
with  success.  At  Bayamo,  Camaguey, 
and  other  places,  they  were  victorious. 
Efforts  were  soon  made  to  secure,  con- 
cert of  action,  and  some  form  of  govern- 
ment. Before  the  close  of  the  year  Spain 
had  greatly  increased  the  number  of  her 
troops  in  Cuba,  and  the  terrible  struggle 
grew  in  intensity. 

1868.  Oct.  21.  A  severe  earth- 
quake occurred  in  California.  In  San 
Francisco  business  was  suspended,  and 
much  damage  was  done  to  buildings  and 
property. 

TWENTY-FIRST  PRESIDENTIAL  CAM- 
PAIGN. 

1868.  Nov.  3.  The  election  of  this 
year  had  considerable  party  feeling  in  it. 
Four  Southern  states,  Virginia,  Georgia, 
Mississippi  and  Texas,  because  they  had 
not  yet  been  admitted  again  to  the  Union 
under  the  reconstruction  acts,  therefore 
could  not  join  in  the  election.  Grant 
and  Colfax,  the  nominees  of  the  repub- 
lican party,  received  214  electoral  votes, 
and  3,015,071  popular  votes;  while  Sey- 
mour and  Blair,  the  nomi- 

1868.     Ncrvem- 

nees  of  the  democratic  party,  ber.  Suez  canal 
received  80  electoral,  and  opmed- 
2,709,613  popular  votes.  Nine  of  the 
80  were  from  Georgia,  but  as  the  victory 
of  the  other  side  was  so  undoubted,  no 
contest  was  made  over  the  counting  of 
them. 

1868.     Nov.  25.     The  Hibernia,  from 

New  York  to  Glasgow,  was  lost  on  the 
Irish  coast,  with  eighty-five  lives. 


730 


NATIONAL  CRISES. 


1868.  Nov.  27.  A  band  of  Indians 
on  the  Washita  River  was  defeated  by 
General  Custer.  "Black  Kettle"  and 
nearly  one  hundred  warriors  were  killed. 

1868.  November.  War  against  Para- 
guay was  declared  to  be  at  an  end,  Lopez 
having  fled  to  the  mountains,  where  he 
maintained  himself  some  time  longer  in 
an  irregular  kind  of  warfare.  The  gov- 
ernment of  Paraguay  was  regulated  by 
a  commission. 

1868.  Dec.  14.  The  repudiation  of 
the  national  debt  was  denounced  by  the 
United  States  house  of  representatives. 

1868.  Dec.  27.  The  battle  of  Lomas 
Valentinas  occurred  in  Paraguay,  and 
although  Lopez  was  severely  beaten,  he 
did  not  give  up.  The  warfare  became 
now  more  of  a  wild  guerilla  fighting. 
This  struggle  continued  till  his  death  in 
battle  in  1870. 


JEFFERSON  DAVIS  DISCHARGED. 
1868.  December.  The  prosecution 
of  Jefferson  Davis,  which  had  been  be- 
gun in  the  United  States  district  court 
at  Richmond  in  1867,  on  1868.  December, 
the  charge  of  treason,  was  Gladstone 

became  prime 

ended,  with  his   discharge,   minister  oj 
which  was  secured  by  the   England. 
entrance  of  a  nolle  prosegui  in  his  case. 
He  retired    to    Memphis,    Tenn.,  where 
he  has  since  lived  in  the  retirement  of 
private  life. 

1868.  A  National  Bolivian  Naviga- 
tion Company  was  contracted  for  with 
the  Bolivian  government  by  Col.  Geo. 
E.  Church,  an  engineer  from  New 
York. 

1868.  A  submarine  cable  between 
Cuba  and  Florida,  was  opened  for  the 
use  of  the  public. 


PART  VII. 


DEVELOPMENT. 


1869-1882. 


*'  Look  up,  look  forth,  and  on  I 

There's  light  in  the  dawning"  sky  ' 
The  clouds  are  parting,  the  night  is  gone: 

Prepare  for  the  work  of  the  day  ! 

Fallow  thy  pastures  lie, 

And  far  thy  shepherds  stray, 
And  the  fields  of  thy  vast  domain 

Are  waiting  for  purer  seed 

Of  knowledge,  desire,  and  deed, 
For  keener  sunshine  and  mellower  rain  ! 

But  keep  thy  garments  pure  ' 
Pluck  them  back,  with  the  old  disdain, 

From  touch  of  the  hands  that  stain  I 

So  shall  thy  strength  endure. 
Transmute  into  good  the  gold  of  Gain, 
Compel  to  beauty  thy  ruder  powers, 

Till  the  bounty  of  coming  hours 

Shall  plant,  on  thy  fields  apart, 
With  the  oak  of  Toil,  the  rose  of  Art  I 

Be  watchful  and  keep  us  so : 

Be  strong  and  fear  no  foe  : 

Be  just  and  the  world  shall  know  ! 
With  the  same  love  love  us,  as  we  give; 

And  the  day  shall  never  come, 

That  finds  us  weak  or  dumb 

To  join  and  smite  and  cry 
In  the  great  task,  for  thee  to  die, 
And  the  greater  task,  for  thee  to  live!'1'' 

—BAYARD  TAYLOR. 


732 


SECTION    XXI. 


OF 


.    7869-7876. 


yyP  to  the  close  of  President  John- 
son's administration,  the  attention 
of  the  people  of  the  United  States 
was  wholly  occupied  with  the  con- 
flict between  congress  and  the  chief 
magistrate.  From  the  early  part  of 
1869  a  change  appears.  True  recon- 
struction of  thought  and  feeling  was  no 
nearer  than  before.  But  a  certain  in- 
tense strain  had  been  removed,  and  im- 
mediately a  hundred  hitherto  repressed 
or  unnoticed  desires  began  to  assert 
themselves,  and  struggle  for  power  in 
the  life  of  the  nation.  The  increase  in 
the  number  of  national  conventions  dur- 
ing 1869  verifies  this.  The  immediate 
issues  of  the  war  had  passed  by,  and 
other  issues  crowded  to  the  front.  Presi- 
dent Grant's  administration  had  not  been 
long  under  way  before  the  civil  service 
reform  problem  assumed  large  propor- 
tions, and  resulted  in  a  new  political  ex- 
perience during  the  next  ten  years.  It  is 
not  yet  settled.  The  problem  of  Indian 
civilization  came  forward  likewise,  and 
since  1869  a  policy  has  been  in  operation, 
which  has  accomplished  much,  but  whose 
full  work  is  not  yet  done.  The  problem 
of  education  received  a  new  statement  in 
the  situation  of  the  South,  but  the 


answers  are  not  yet  truly  written.  The 
best  people  of  the  South,  as  well  as  of 
the  North,  feel  that  the  recovery  of  the 
former  from  the  terrible  effects  of  the  dev- 
astation she  endured,  by  being  the  field 
on  which  millions  of  men  tramped  in 
war,  can  only  be  found  in  the  slow  and 
steady  training  of  the  young,  and  of  the 
freedmen  in  the  arts  of  peace.  These 
problems  are  not  helped  to  a  settlement 
by  rancor,  by  misrepresentation,  and 
kindred  instruments,  but  by  patience 
and  wise  attention.  Capital  and  labor, 
finance,  temperance,  and  social  demands, 
have  presented  themselves  for  discussion 
and  legislation.  The  greatly  increased 
travel  by  land  and  sea  has  caused  a  thou- 
sand questions  to  be  asked,  concerning 
the  conduct  of  railroads  and  steamships. 
Appliances  for  safety  have  been  exten- 
sively put  into  operation.  The  burning 
of  our  large  cities  has  roused  queries  as 
to  the  proper  construction  of  buildings. 
The  revelations  of  crime  have  given  new 
significance  to  moral  questions.  The 
problem  of  "  tramps  "  has  been  an  annoy- 
ance and  a  perplexity.  The  day  is  full 
of  emergencies.  The  same  things  exist, 
to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  in  the  rest  of 
the  continent.  The  problems  of  com- 

733 


734 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


merce  are  considered  widely  in  South 
America.  With  the  entrance  of  the 
great  modern  facilities  and  activities,  her 
population  becomes  more  stable,  and  her 
governments  more  secure.  The  New 
World  needs  wisdom  through  all  her 
borders.  Industry,  education,  home  life 
and  moral  convictions  must  prevail  every- 
where. Then  can  the  continent  live  its  life 
usefully,  and  solve  that  great  problem  of 
absorbing  the  members  of  foreign  nation- 
alities, who  seek  a  home  among  us. 


1869.  Jan.  10.  John  Cassin,  an 
American  ornithologist,  died  at  the  age 
of  fifty-six  years.  He  was  born  near 
Chester,  Penn.,  Sept.  13,  1813.  His 
early  education  was  not  extensive,  but  he 
very  early  obtained  a  zest  in  the  study  of 
birds.  He  was  at  one  time  in  trade  for 
several  years,  but  his  life,  on  the  whole, 
was  devoted  to  his  favorite  study.  Some 
of  his  relatives  were  honorably  connected 
with  the  military  affairs  of  the  United 
States  at  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century.  The  works  upon  ornithology 
which  Mr.  Cassin  issued,  form  a  valuable 
part  of  American  literature  upon  the  sub- 
ject. He  wrote  quite  extensively. 

1869.  January.  A  treaty  between 
the  United  States  and  Colombia,  S.  A., 
1869.  Jan.  24.  was  concluded,  granting  the 

-^    iQ    construct    a    canal 

across  the  isthmus  to  the 
former  power.  Don  Santas  Acosta  was 
the  Colombian  commissioner,  and  Caleb 
Gushing  the  United  States  commissioner. 
The  Colombian  senate  rejected  the  treaty, 
however,  through  some  adverse  influence 
brought  to  bear  on  the  question. 

1869.  Feb.  26.  The  XVth  Amend- 
ment to  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States  was  passed  by  congress,  and 
having  been  aftemvard  ratified  by  three- 


First  Protestant 
meeting  in 

Madrid. 


fourths  of  the  states,  was  declared  in 
force  March  30,  1870.  It  guaranteed  the 
right  of  suffrage  to  all  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  without  regard  to  race,, 
color,  or  previous  condition  of  servitude. 

1869.  March  4.  U.  S.  Grant  was- 
inaugurated  president,  and  Schuyler  Col- 
fax  vice-president  of  the  United  States. 

1869.  March  4.  William  T.  Sher- 
man was  made  general  of  all  the  armies 
of  the  United  States,  a  position  which 
had  been,  occupied  by  Gen.  Grant,  but 
was  now  vacant  by  the  latter's  assump- 
tion of  the  presidency.  Gen.  Sherman 
still  retains  the  place.  Washington 
was  lieutenant-general,  Winfield  S.  Scott 
was  brevet  lieutenant-general,  and  Grant, 
for  a  period  preceding  his  position  of  gen- 
eral, was  lieutenant-general. 

1869.  March  16.  A  female  suffrage 
resolution  was  presented  to  the  United 
States  house  of  representatives  by  Mr. 
Julian  of  Indiana,  with  the  intention  of 
having  it  added  to  the  United  States  con- 
stitution as  a  1 6th  amendment.  It  did 
not  secure  notice  before  the  house. 

JAMES  HARPER. 

1869.  March  27.  The  eldest  of  the 
brothers  belonging  to  the  celebrated  firm 
of  Harper  Bros.,  died  in  New  York  from 
the  effects  of  being  thrown  from  his  car- 
riage by  a  frightened  horse  two  days 
before.  The  shock  was  so  great  as  to 
render  him  insensible,  and  put  him  be- 
yond the  reach  of  help,  from  the  first. 
He  was  born  in  1795,  and  was  conse- 
quently seventy-four  years  old.  He  and 
his  brothers  were  brought  up  on  a  farm 
on  Long  Island.  The  two  eldest  left 
their  home  at  sixteen  years  of  age,  to 
learn  the  art  of  printing.  They  paid 
attention  to  their  task,  and  set  up  for 
themselves  when  their  time  was  their 


1869-1870.] 

own.  The  steady  extension  of  their  busi- 
ness is  known  to  the  world.  The  humble 
beginning  of  it  all  is  an  encouragement 
to  patience  and  industry.  James  Harper 
was  mayor  of  New  York  for  a  term, 
but  did  not  become  wholly  engaged  in 
political  life. 


THE  PROBLEMS   OF   TO-DAT. 


735 

island  was  in  a  fearful  condition.  There 
were  nearly  100,000  Spanish  soldiers  in 
the  island,  either  of  those  sent  from  the 
Old  World  or  raised  among  Spanish  citi- 
zens of  the  island,  who  entertained  a 
great  aversion  to  native  Cubans.  Men, 
women,  and  children,  since  Jan.  i  of  this 


WILLIAM   T.    SHERMAN 


1869.  March.  Schenck's  bill,  pro- 
viding for  the  payment  of  all  national  obli- 
gations in  coin,  was  passed  by  congress. 

1869.  March.  The  banishment  of 
three  hundred  political  prisoners  was  de- 
creed by  the  Cuban  authorities.  They 
were  sent  to  Fernando  Po,  an  island  west 
of  Africa.  The  Spanish  troops  were 
now  committing  great  atrocities,  and  the 


year,  had  been  shot  down  in  the  most 
defenceless  positions,  in  one  instance  in  a 
theater.  Different  districts  continued  to 
rise  against  Spanish  power. 

FIRE  IX  COMSTOCK  LODE. 

1869.  April  7.  A  great  conflagra- 
tion occurred  in  the  Yellow  Jacket,  Ken- 
tuck,  and  Crown  Point  mines  in  Com- 


736 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


stock  Lode,  Nevada,  and  burned  for 
months,  from  six  to  nine  hundred  feet 
under  ground,  in  the  timbers  of  support. 
It  destroyed  quite  a  number  of  lives. 

CUBAN  CONSTITUTION. 

1869.  April  10.  A  national  conven- 
tion of  Cuba,  held  at  Guaimaro,  adopted 
a  constitution  and  made  arrangements 
for  a  legislative  body  which  should  nom- 
inate a  president  of  the  republic,  and  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  army.  Four 
states  were  created  in  the  republic. 
Slavery  had  already  been  abolished  on 
Feb.  26,  by  an  assembly  of  Camaguey, 
which  was  merged  into  this  national 
convention.  Cespedes  was  present,  and 
was  prominent  in  affairs.  He  was  elected 
president  of  the  new  republic  on  the  day 
following  the  meeting  of  this  convention. 
The  Cubans  had  received  offers  of  nego- 
tiation from  Spanish  leaders,  but  all 
offers  of  independence  were  excluded. 
The  horrors  of  the  warfare  had  just 
begun. 

1869.  April  10.  A  "  board  of  Indian 
commissioners"  was  authorized  by  the 
congress  of  the  United  States.  The 
members,  nine  in  number,  were  to  serve 
without  salary  in  doing  what  they  could 
to  better  the  condition  of  the  Indians 
within  the  limits  of  the  United  States, 
and  reduce  the  extent  of  the  troubles 
between  them  and  the  government.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  the  so-called 
"peace  policy,"  which  has  worked  well 
in  practice. 

1869.  April  26.  The  presidency  in 
Venezuela  was  seized  by  Antonio  Guz- 
man Blanco,  who  had  been  leading  a 
revolution  for  a  year  or  two,  and  now  de- 
posed President  Falcon.  Blanco  assumed 
considerable  power,  but  on  the  whole, 


since  his  accession,  the  country  has  been 
prosperous. 

PACIFIC  RAILROAD  OPENED. 

1869.  May  10.  At  last  the  under- 
taking which  had  been  watched  by  the 
whole  country  with  such  eager  eyes,  was 
brought  to  a  happy  issue.  Everything 
had  succeeded  according  to  the  most 
sanguine  expectations,  and  the  greatest 
specimen  of  railroad  building  in  the  world 
was  thrown  open  as  a  highway  across  the 
continent.  Great  sums  of  money  and 
great  masses  of  material  had  been  con- 
sumed in  the  work.  The  first  congres- 
sional notice  of  this  enterprise  was  in 
1862,  when  a  bill  was  passed  granting  a 
subsidy  for  the  purpose.  This  was  fol- 
lowed up,  two  years  later,  by  another 
bill.  The  building  of  such  a  road  had 
been,  .however,  a  favorite  scheme  of  Asa 
Whitney  as  early  as  1846,  and  he  made 
it  the  subject  of  much  talk  and  lecturing. 
It  was  brought  to  the  notice  of  congress, 
and  certain  congressmen,  among  them 
Senator  Benton,  undertook  to  aid  the 
movement,  but  without  material  result. 
Surveys  were,  however,  provided  for  in 
1853  to  determine  which  of  three  routes 
would  be  best.  Not  much  work  was 
done  on  the  road  before  1865,  but  after- 
ward it  was  pushed  on  rapidly.  The 
greatest  amount  of  rails  laid  in  any  one 
day  was  eight  miles.  $1,000,000  were 
swallowed  up  in  making  the  necessary 
surveys.  The  road  crosses  nine  mountain 
ranges,  and  reaches,  at  its  greatest  alti- 
tude, 8,242  feet  above  the  sea,  which 
point  is  in  the  Black  Hills.  The  cost,  as 
given  to  the  secretary  of  the  interior,  was 
$108,778  per  mile,  or  a  total  of  $112,- 
259,360.  Fifteen  tunnels,  at  different 
points,  aggregate  a  length,  of  6,600  feet. 
The  highest  grade  is  1 1 6  feet  to  the  mile. 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS   OF  TO-DAT. 


737 


The  total  length  of  road  is  over  2,000 
miles,  and  makes  the  distance  from  New 
York  to  San  Francisco  a  journey  of 
about  one  week,  a  distance  of  3,337  miles. 
Over  a  hundred  thousand  tons  of  rails 
were  employed.  Bolts,  spikes,  and  cross- 
ties  were  used  by  the  million.  The  Union 
Pacific  was  built  west,  and  the  Central 
Pacific  was  built  to  the  east  from  Sacra- 
mento. They  were  joined  with  impres- 
sive ceremonies  at  Promontory  Point, 
Utah.  The  last  tie,  of  laurel  wood,  with 
a  plate  of  silver  upon  it,  was  laid,  and  the 
last  spike,  composed  of  iron,  silver,  and 
gold,  was  driven  in  the  presence  of  a 
crowd.  The  officers  of  the  roads  and 
others,  from  east  and  west,  were  present. 
The  telegraph  wires  were  attached  to  the 
last  rail,  and  the  last  blows  were  signaled 
upon  a  bell  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  in 
other  parts  of  the  continent.  In  many 
places  crowds  had  gathered  to  get  the 
first  intimation  of  the  completion  of  the 
great  task.  When  the  signal  went  forth, 
high  jubilation  took  place  in  San  Fran- 
cisco and  elsewhere.  Travel  began  upon 
this  line  within  a  couple  of  days,  and  has 
been  successfully  maintained  till  the  pres- 
ent time,  constituting  one  of  the  great 
achievements  of  the  century. 

POWELL'S  COLORADO  EXPEDITION. 

1869.  May  24.  An  expedition,  organ- 
ized by  Major  J.  W.  Powell,  for  the 
exploration  of  the  Colorado  River  and 
its  tributaries,  left  Green  River  city  upon 
the  perilous  undertaking.  There  were 
ten  persons  in  four  boats.  The  work  was 
performed  under  the  direction  of  the  late 
Professor  Henry,  secretary  of  the  Smith- 
sonian Institution,  and  consumed  a  great 
part  of  several  years.  The  vast  gorges 
and  tremendous  cliffs  of  this  region  were 
almost  unknown  hitherto,  and  the  record 

47 


of  their  exploration  given  in  Major 
Powell's  report  is  as  attractive  as  any 
romance.  At  times  their  situation  was 
very  critical,  but  by  wisdom  and  energy 
the  great  task  was  accomplished,  and  the 
valuable  information  given  to  the  world. 

FIRST  PEACE  JUBILEE. 

1869.  June  15-2O.  Under  the  lead- 
ership of  P.  S.  Gilmore  of  Boston,  a 
great  festival  was  arranged  for  and  held 
in  that  city,  in  a  vast  coliseum  erected  for 
the  purpose,  and  covering  nearly  four 
acres.  Mr.  Gilmore  had  labored  with 
great  zeal  to  make  his  celebration  a  suc- 
cess. He  contrived  it  in  honor  of  the 
cessation  of  the  American  Civil  War. 
In  spite  of  great  difficulties,  and  of  many 
faint  hearts,  the  scheme  was  elaborately 
planned,  and  fully  carried  out.  A  vast 
chorus  of  10,000  singers,  and  an  orchestra 
of  1,000  pieces,  were  organized.  Presi- 
dent Grant  was  present  during  a  part 
of  the  festival.  Boston  was  packed  with 
visitors.  Of  the  singers,  Parepa  Rosa 
made  the  great  impression  upon  all,  her 
voice  proving  sufficient  to  reach  the 
whole  of  the  great  audience,  and  bring- 
ing her  a  reception  which  no  other  be- 
fore her  ever  had.  The  celebrated  "Anvil 
Chorus"  was  introduced,  and  a  hundred 
anvils  were  beat  in  unison  by  a  hundred 
firemen.  A  battery  of  cannon  outside  the 
building  was  fired  by  electricity,  in  har- 
mony with  the  music  within.  At  times, 
the  scenes  in  the  audience  were  wild 
through  the  uncontrolled  enthusiasm 
shown. 

HENRY  J.  RAYMOND. 

1869.  June  18.  This  eminent  Ameri- 
can journalist  died  in  New  York,  aged 
forty-nine  years.  He  was  born  in  Lima, 
N.  Y.,  January  24,  1820,  and  graduated 
at  the  University  of  Vermont,  in  1840. 


738 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


He  had  in  the  meantime  worked  on  his 
father's  farm  more  or  less,  and  taught 
school  to  aid  in  getting  his  education. 
Mr.  Raymond  is  best  known  as  the 
founder  of  the  New  York  Times,  which 
he  put  before  the  public  September  18, 
1 85 1 .  But  in  the  years  just  preceding  he 
isea.  June  9.  nad  an  experience  with  Mr. 
Riots  in  Paris.  Greelcy,  in  the  establish- 
ment of  the  New  York  Tribune  in  1841, 
and  from  1843  to  1851  upon  the  "  Courier 
and  Enquirer."  His  ability  as  a  reporter 
and  journalist  was  very  great.  In  poli- 
tics he  took  decided  ground  in  favor  of 
the  Union,  but  after  the  death  of  Lincoln, 
favored  the  methods  of  reconstruction 
aimed  at  by  President  Johnson.  He 
served  his  own  state  at  times,  and  in  1864 
was  sent  to  congress.  He  wrote  a  "  Life 
of  Lincoln,"  and  minor  publications. 

EXPEDITION  FOR  CUBA. 

1869.  June  26.  A  secret  expedition 
set  out  from  New  York  to  aid  the  Cuban 
insurrectionists.  They  left  the  harbor  in 
several  companies  in  small  boats,  with- 
out arms,  expecting  to  meet,  at  the  ex- 
tremity of  Long  Island,  a  steamer,  which 
would  transport  them  to  their  destination. 
The  steamer,  named  the  Catherine  Whit- 
ing, was  seized  before  she  had  left  the  har- 
bor, and  subsequently  the  other  bands 
were  taken  by  United  States  orders,  for 
violating  neutrality  laws.  They  were 
afterward  released  upon  giving  written 
promises  not  to  engage  again  in  such  an 
enterprise.  About  this  same  time  two 
expeditions  actually  landed  in  Cuba,  one 
under  General  Thomas  Jordan,  a  West 
Point  graduate,  and  a  confederate  officer. 
General  Jordan  was  put  into  command 
of  all  the  armies  of  the  Cuban  revolution- 
ists. These  expeditions  added  consider- 
ably to  the  Cuban  strength. 


1869.  June.  An  Arctic  expedition 
of  two  vessels  left  Bremen,  and  sailed 
between  Greenland  and  Spitzbergen,  it 
being  thought  by  many  that  this  route 
would  the  soonest  afford  success  in  north- 
ern explorations.  The  Hansa  was 
wrecked  in  the  ice,  on  the  desolate  coast 
of  East  Greenland,  and  there  was  no  way 
of  escape  for  the  men,  save  upon  a  floe 
of  ice  drifting  southward.  The  ice  grad- 
ually diminished  as  it  floated,  till  they 
were  obliged  to  set  themselves  adrift  in  a 
boat  which  they  had  preserved.  They 
finally  reached  Cape  Farewell,  at  the 
southern  extremity  of  Greenland,  and 
found  transportation  to  Europe  in  1870. 
The  other  vessel  pushed  on  up  the  coast 
of  East  Greenland,  and  found  a  great  bay 
far  north,  but  could  go  no  further, 
and  therefore  returned.  It  is  supposed 
that  they  may  have  struck  the  northern 
shores  of  Greenland. 

1869.  July  12.  The  volcano  of 
Colima,  which  had  shown  no  signs  of 
life  for  forty  years,  began  to  emit  smoke. 
A  flood  of  melted  matter  poured  forth 
afterward,  covering  the  country  in  sever- 
al directions.  Its  activity  remained  great 
for  some  years. 

FRENCH  CABLE. 

1869.  July  14.  Telegraphic  com- 
munication was  opened  be- 
tween  France  and  the 
United  States,  by  the  com-  *«*'*'**«'• 
pletion  of  the  cable  from  near  Brest  to 
Duxbury,  Mass.  It  comes  by  the  way  of 
the  island  of  St.  Pierre,  and  has  a  length 
of  3857  miles. 

1869.  Aug.  7.  A  total  eclipse  of  the 
sun,  and  which  was  visible  in  portions 
of  the  United  States,  occurred  upon  this 
date. 


jaotf.    jiiiy  *o  • 
Irish  Church 


740 


P  RES  EN  T  DE  VEL  OPMENT 


1869.  Aug.  16.  A  national  labor 
convention  met  at  Philadelphia,  for  the 
purpose  of  considering  the  position  of 
workingmen. 

1869.  Sept.  1.  A  national  temper- 
ance convention  met  at  Chicago,  hav- 
ing the  object  of  promoting  the  forma- 
tion of  a  national  prohibitory  party. 

WILLIAM  PITT  FESSEXDEX. 

1869.  Sept.  8.  This  eminent  Ameri- 
can politician  and  statesman  died,  aged 
sixty-two  years.  He  was  born  in  Port- 
land, Me.,  October  16,  1806,  and  gradu- 
ated at  Bowdoin  College  in  1823,  two 
years  before  the  celebrated  class  which 
contained  Longfellow,  Hawthorne,  John 
S.  C.  Abbott,  and  other  eminent  men. 
After  practising  law  from  1827  to  1829 
at  Bridgeton,  Me.,  he  opened  an  office  in 
Portland,  and  gained  speedy  success.  It 
was  not  long  before  he  was  called  to 
enter  political  life,  by  an  election  to  the 
state  legislature,  given  him  by  the  whigs. 
He  served  a  number  of  terms  at  different 
times.  But  his  chief  service  was  in  the 
senate  of  the  United  States,  of  which  he 
was  a  member  a  great  part  of  the  time 
after  1854..  He  became  a  leading  sena- 
tor. By  his  powerful  opposition  to  the 
Kansas-Nebraska  bill  he  won  the  affec- 
tions of  thousands.  He  impressed  all  as 
a  man  of  great  integrity,  and  01  com- 
plete sincerity.  He  served  in  1864-5  as 
secretary  of  the  treasury  with  great  abil- 
ity, but  returned  to  the  senate,  where  he 
felt  more  at  home.  Many  of  his  old 
friends  were  alienated  from  him  because 
he  dared  to  vote  for  the  acquittal  of 
President  Johnson  on  his  impeachment 
trial.  But  men  afterward  saw  that  he 
had  acted  with  extreme  conscientious- 
ness, and  felt  that  they  could  not  afford 
to  lo«e  such  a  man  from  the  councils  of 


the   nation.      His  death  caused  a  wide- 
spread grief. 

BLACK  FRIDAY. 

1869.  Sept.  24.  A  great  blow  was 
given  to  the  commercial  interests  of  the 
United  States,  by  an  attempt  on  the  part 
of  Jay  Gould,  and  James  Fisk,  Jr.,  to 
create  a  corner  in  the  gold  market. 
Never  before  had  there  been  so  fearful  a 
determination  carried  to  such  a  disastrous 
extent.  The  value  of  greenbacks  had 
been  steadily  rising  since  the  war  closed. 
The  operators  in  this  panic  undertook  to 
secure  as  much  as  possible  of  the  $15,- 
000,000  in  gold  held  by  New  York 
banks,  and  hoping  that  the  United 
States  treasury,  which  held  about  $100,- 
000,000,  would  not  dare  to  afford  any 
relief,  endeavored  to  raise  the  price  of 
gold  very  high,  sell  out,  and  pocket  the 
gains.  They  began  their  scheme,  and 
kept  purchasing  successfully  for  several 
days.  On  Thursday  it  was  generally 
known  that  the  two  schemers  were  go- 
ing to  force  up  the  price  the  next  day,  if 
possible,  from  144  to  200.  The  gold 
room  of  New  York,  on  the  .morning  of 
Friday,  was  a  scene  which  beggars  de- 
scription, in  the  excitement  and  almost 
frenzy  at  times  during  the  bidding.  The 
price  was  steadily  rising,  and  the  bank- 
ers were  steadily  buying.  The  persons 
who  had  gold  at  their  command,  and  had 
reserved  it  till  this  moment,  made  great 
sums.  The  price  finally  reached  160. 
One  or  two  men  went  crazy,  and  had  to 
be  taken  away.  The  streets  around  were 
packed  with  a  mass  of  struggling,  push- 
ing men.  The  excitement  bade  fair  to- 
continue  until  all  business  would  have  to- 
be  suspended,  because  no  one  could  tell 
what  price  to  ask.  This  result  already 
began  to  be  felt.  Everything  was  dark. 


1869-187R.] 


THE  PROBLEMS   OF   TO-DAT. 


741 


But  word  came  in  the  midst  of  the  fury 
that  Secretary  Boutwell  of  the  United 
States  treasury,  had  placed  $4,000,000 
in  gold  on  the  market.  This  'broke  the( 
attempt.  The  price  at  once  fell  rapidly 
in  a  few  minutes,  and  the  operators  had 
to  forsake  their  scheme.  But  they  did  not 
come  out  of  it  with  injury  to  themselves, 
for  they  saved  $i  1,000,000  from  the  gains 
they  had  begun  to  accumulate  by  the 
plan.  They  did  not,  however,  get  the 
millions  they  had  hoped  to  obtain. 


1869.  September.  An  extensive 
flood  did  much  damage  in  Virginia.  In 
the  streets  of  Richmond  ferry  boats  were 
used,  and  the  loss  of  property  was  great. 
At  Harper's  Ferry  forty  lives  were  lost. 

1869.  Oct.  1.  The  bursting  of  a  port- 
able engine,  on  the  fair  grounds  at  In- 
dianapolis, killed  about  thirty  persons, 
and  injured  many  more. 

FRAXKLW  PIERCE. 

1869.  Oct.  8.  Franklin  Pierce,  four- 
teenth president  of  the  United  States,  died 
at  Concord,  N.  H.,  aged  sixty-four  years. 
He  was  born  at  Hillsborough,  in  the  same 
state,  November  23,  1804.  His  father 
was  a  general  during  the  Revolution,  and 
ever  a  prominent  politician,  so  that  from 
his  earliest  years  Mr.  Pierce  was  familiar 
with  political  discussions.  In  1824  he 
graduated  from  Bowdoin  College,  and 
then  passed  immediately  to  his  law  studies. 
In  1827  he  opened  an  office  in  his  native 
town.  From  1829  until  1842  he  served 
successfully  in  the  legislature  of  New 
Hampshire,  the  national  house  of  repre- 
sentatives, and  the  United  States  senate. 
The  breaking  out  of  the  trouble  with 
Mexico  called  him  from  his  pi'ofession, 
and  in  1847  ^e  enlisted  as  a  volunteer 
from  Concord.  He  was  subsequently 


made  brigadier-general  under  General 
Scott,  and  attained  considerable  promi- 
nence in  the  Mexican  campaign.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  his 
home,  where  he  prosecuted  his  profession 
until  1852,  when  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  His  adminis- 
tration upheld  slavery,  the 

*  '  1869.    Foreign 

fugitive  slave   law,  and  in    Bibles  admitted 
every  way  tried  to  strength-    ***  spain- 
en  Southern  measures.     Mr.  Pierce  failed 
of  a   reelection,  and  with  the  exception 
of  a  trip  in  Europe,  he  lived  quietly  at 
Concord    until    his  death.      During  the 
Civil  War  he  was  a  firm  friend  of  the 
South. 


1869.  Oct.  14.  The  severest  hurri- 
cane of  the  present  century  did  extensive 
damage  in  Cuba,  and  destroyed  two 
thousand  lives. 

1869.  Oct.  21.  A  national  capital 
convention  met  at  St.  Louis,  with  the 
object  of  securing  the  removal  of  the 
capital  of  the  United  States  from  Wash- 
ington to  some  city  near  the  Mississippi 
River. 

1869.  Oct.  27.  The  Stonewall,  of 
St.  Louis,  was  lost  near  Cairo,  111.,  with 
two  hundred  and  twenty-two  lives. 

GEORGE  PEtiBODY. 

1869.  Nov.  4.  George  Peabody,  the 
American  merchant  so  widely  known  for 
his  great  gifts  for  philanthropic  enter- 
pi-ises,  died  at  London,  aged  seventy-four 
years.  I^e  was  born  in  Danvers,  Mass., 
Feb.  18,  1795.  His  early  years  were 
spent  in  business  as  a  clerk  in  Thetford, 
Vt,  and  in  Newburyport,  Mass.  An 
opening  occurred  for  him  to  become 
partner  of  Elisha  Riggs,  at  Georgetown, 
D.  C.,  in  the  drygoods  trade.  In  1815 
the  business  was  removed  to  Baltimore, 

44 


742 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


and  in  seven  years  the  house  established 
branch  stores  in  New  York  and  Phila- 
delphia. Before  long  -Mr.  Peabody  be- 
came the  head  of  the  business,  and  in 
1837  moved  to  London,  that  he  might 
the  better  aid  its  commercial  interests. 
For  several  years  he  continued  his  con- 
nection with  the  house,  but  in  1843  he 
severed  his  relations  to  it  and  set  up  the 
London  banking  house  of  George  Pea- 
body  and  Company.  He  furnished 
money  to  meet  the  expense  of  showing 
American  go/xJs  at  the  Exposition  of 
1851.  The  large  gifts  of  his  beneficence 
now  began.  His  wealth  had  been 
rapidly  accumulating,  and  he  began  to 
give  rapidly  from  it.  He  gave  $10,000 
to  the  expedition  of  Dr.  Kane  in  1852, 
$200,000  for  Peabody  Institute  in  Pea- 
body,  Mass.;  $50,000  for  a  similar  insti- 
tute in  North  Danvers,  Mass.,  and  after 
a  visit  to .  the  United  States  in  1857,  he 
gave  $300,000  for  a  Peabody  Institute  in 
Baltimore,  a  sum  which  he  afterward 
made  $1,000,000.  He  gave  for  the 
benefit  of  the  poor  of  London,  to  be  used 
in  providing  suitable  dwellings  for  them, 
$2,500,000.  Again  coming  to  the 
United  States  he  gave  $150,000  to 
found  an  institute  of  archaeology  in  con- 
nection with  Harvard  College,  $150,000 
to  Yale  College,  to  be  used  for  scientific 
purposes,  and  $2,100,000  for  education  at 
the  South.  The  latter  was  increased  in 
1869  to  $3,500,000.  He  gave  in  1868,  a 
fund  to  be  used  for  supporting  an  art 
school  at  Rome,  and  upon  a  thifd  visit  to 
the  United  States  gave  $150,000  to  the 
Peabody  Institute  at  Salem,  $20,000  for 
a  public  library  at  Newburyport,  $30,- 
ooo  to  Phillips  Academy  at  Andover, 
$20,000  to  the  Maiyland  Historical 
society,  $10,000  to  a  public  library  at 
Thetford,  Vt.,  $25,000  to  Kenyon  Col- 


lege, Ohio,  and  $60,000  to  Washington 
College,Virginia.  In  the  meantime  W.W. 
Story,  the  sculptor,  had  made  a  statue  of 
him,  which'  had  been  erected  in  London, 
and  unveiled  by  the  Prince  of  Wales. 
At  an  earlier  day  he  had  declined  a  bar- 
onetcy at  the  hands  of  Queen  Victoria. 
He  arrived  in  London  from  the  United 
States  in  October,  about  a  month  before 
his  death.  His  funeral  was  held  in 
Westminster  Abbey,  and  at  the  direction 
of  the  Queen  a  royal  vessel  brought  his 
remains  to  America.  The  property  left 
by  him  amounted  to  $5,006,000.  He  set 
a  noble  example  of  great  giving. 


1869.  Nov.  24.  A  national  woman 
suffrage  convention  met  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  and  was  presided  over  by  Henry 
Ward  Beecher. 

SHOOTING  OF  A.  D.  RICHARDSON.  . 

1869.  Nov.  26.  A  melancholy  oc- 
currence took  place  in  the  office  of  the 
New  York  Tribune.  When  Albert  D. 
Richardson,  who  had  been  quite  closely 
connected  with  that  paper  as  writer  and 
war  correspondent,  stepped  into  the  office 
to  ask  for  letters,  a  lawyer  named  Mc- 
Farland  was  there  waiting  for  him,  and 
shot  him.  Mr.  Richardson  lived  about  a 
week.  The  cause  of  the  difficulty  was 
in  the  fact  that  Mr.  Richardson  had 
shown  kindness  to  Mrs.  McFarland,  who 
had  been  for  some  years  trying  to  secure 
a  separation  from  her  husband.  Mr. 
McFarland  had  in  1868  attempted  to 
shoot  Mr.  Richardson  while  he  was  es- 
corting Mrs.  McFarland  home  from  the 
theater,  where  she  was  serving  as  an 
actress.  Mrs.  McFarland  applied  for  a 
divorce,  and  had  secured  it  in  the  present 
autumn.  She  was  married  to  Mr.  Rich- 
ardson just  before  the  death  of  the  latter, 


1869-1876.] 

while  he  was  lying  mortally  wounded. 
Mr.  Richardson  was  a  brilliant  writer. 
He  was  only  thirty-six  years  old,  and  had 
written  for  newspapers  from  his  youth. 
During  the  last  part  of  the  war  he  was  a 
prisoner  among  the  confederates.  After 
his  return  north  he  wrote  several  books 
which  had  a  wide  sale.  His  death  and 
the  manner  of  it,  caused  a  wide  excite- 
ment. Mr.  McFarland  was  afterward 
tried,  but  was  acquitted  on  the  plea  .  of 
insanity. 

1869.  November.  The  people  of 
Newfoundland  refused  by  public  vote  to 
unite  with  the  Dominion  of  Canada. 
The  Newfoundland  legislature  .had  pre- 
viously voted  to  effect  the  union. 

1869.  Dec.  1.  The  Hudson  Bay 
company's  territory,  comprising  Prince 
Rupert's  Land,  which  they  owned  by 
original  grant,  and  Manitoba,  of  the  Red 
River  settlement,  was  transferred  to  the 
Dominion  of  Canada,  and  all  rights  in  it 
surrendered.  The  Dominion  parliament 
erected  it  into  the  Northwest  Territory, 
and  appointed  William  McDougall  as 
lieutenant-governor  of  it.  But  Manitoba 
forcibly  resisted  this  appointment,  and 
organized  a  provisional  government,  with 
a  demand  for  representation  in  the  Do- 
minion parliament.  This  was  finally 
conceded. 

1869.  Dec.  10.  A  national  labor 
convention  of  colored  people  meeting  in 
Washington,  D.  C.,  sent  a  delegation  to 
President  Grant,  pledging  him  their  sup- 
port since  he  had  opened  to  them  the 
higher  forms  of  skilled  labor  under  gov- 
ernment control,  among  them  being  ser- 
vice in  the  navy  yards. 

1869.  Dec.  16.  A  terrible  explosion 
of  all  kinds  of  combustibles  occurred  in  a 
torpedo  factory  at  Titusville,  Penn.  The 


THE  PROBLEMS   OF  TO-DAT. 


743 


effects  of  the  shock  were  visible  in  every 
direction,  and  the  whole  city  a  mile  away 
was  shaken.  But  one  man  was  in  the 
building  at  the  time  of  the  accident. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON. 

1869.  Dec.  24.  Edwin  McMasters 
Stanton,  a  prominent  American  states- 
man during  the  Civil  War,  died  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  aged  fifty-five  years. 
He  was  born  in  Steuben-  1869  spankh 
ville,  Ohio,  December  19,  Cortes  voted  for 
1814.  He  fitted  for  college,  ""»»'"''**• 
and  entered  Kenyon,  where  he  studied 
for  about  two  years  between  1831  and 
1833.  In  1^36  he  began  the  practice  of 
law  in  Cadiz,  Ohio,  and  soon  gained  a 
local  reputation.  His  first  public  position 
was  that  of  county  attorney.  He  after- 
ward began  practice  in  Steubenville, 
and  in  1845  was  brought  on  in  the 
criminal  court  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  to 
defend  Caleb  J.  McNulty,  clerk  of  the 
house  of  representatives.  The  charge 
was  embezzlement.  Mr.  Stanton  won 
his  case.  After  a  practice  of  some  years 
in  Pittsburgh,  he  began  to  receive  cases 
before  the  U.  S.  supreme  court  to 
such  a  degree  that  to  save  his  time  he 
took  up  his  residence  at  Washington^ 
He  assisted  in  the  defense  of  Daniel  E. 
Sickles  when  he  was  tried  for  shooting 
Philip  Barton  Key.  From  1860  to  1861 
he  served  under  Buchanan  as  attorney- 
general  of  the  United  States.  After  a 
few  months'  practice  of  his  profession  he 
was  called  by  President  Lincoln  to  as- 
sume the  duties  of  secretary  of  war. 
This  was  at  a  time  when  the  cares  of 
that  department  were  becoming  enor- 
mous. Through  all  the  war  he  stood  at 
the  head  of  this  department  without 
shrinking,  and  continued  at  the  post 
under  Johnson  until  the  question  of  the 


744 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT, 


legality  of  his  attempted  removal  by  the 
president  had  been  decided  in  his  favor, 
when  he  voluntarily  retired  at  the  ac- 
quittal of  Mr.  Johnson  from  the  impeach- 
ment charges.  A  highly  complimentary 
vote  of  thanks  was  given  him  by  con- 
gress for  his  ability  and  integrity  in  the 
management  of  the  war  department. 
Mr.  Stanton  was  very  much  worn  down 
by  his  long  labors,  but  he  was  almost 
absolutely  without  property,  and  had  to 
plunge  into  law  again  for  his  own  sup- 
port. President  Grant  nominated  him 
for  associate-justice  of  the  supreme  court. 
He  was  confirmed  without  question,  but 
his  vigor  was  gone,  and  he  died  of 
dropsy.  He  was  a  man  of  great  ability 
and  unwavering  integrity. 


1869.  December.  Babcock's  fire 
extinguisher  was  first  patented  in  the 
United  States,  and  has  obtained  a  wide 
sale. 

1869.  The  American  Museum  of 
Natural  History  was  incorporated  in 
New  York.  It  is  ultimately  to  have  a 
building  five  times  greater  than  the 
Capitol  at  Washington.  A  large  section 
of  it  has  already  been  erected.  It  is  to 
•afford  laboratories  for  the  use  of  scien- 
tists of  this  and  other  lands  who  may 
wish  an  opportunity  for  making  re- 
searches. 

1869.  The  Cincinnati  Base  Ball  Club 
played  during  the  season  with  all  first- 
class  clubs  in  the  United  States,  and  did 
not  lose  a  single  game,  making  one  of 
the  finest  tours  on  record. 

1869.  The  National  Woman's  Suf- 
frage Association  was  organized  for  the 
purpose  of  laboring  to  obtain  the  fran- 
chise for  women. 

1869.  The  Yellowstone  geysers  were 
visited  for  the  first  time  by  a  company 


led  by  Cook  and  Folsom.  No  other 
geysers  on  the  globe  compare  with 
these  in  size.  They  have  been  examined 
constantly  since  this  date  by  scientists 
and  others. 

1869.  The  first  census  ever  taken  in 
the  Argentine  Republic  was  concluded 
this  year. 

1869.  The  Araucanians  again  gave 
Chili  great  trouble  under  the  Frenchman 
who  called  himself  their  king,  but  in  a 
year  or  two  he  left  the  country,  and  the 
trouble  ceased. 

1869.  The  freedom  of  the  press  was 
granted  Cuba  by  Gen.  Dulce,  and  forty 
new  journals  started  up;  but  the  decree 
lasted  only  a  short  time,  and  they  were 
forced  to  succumb. 

1869.  Garcia  Moreno  was  elected 
president  of  Ecuador  for  six  years.  He 
had  gained  power  at  the  beginning  of 
this  year  by  a  revolution  which  over- 
threw Dr.  Javier  Espinosa,  president  of 
the  republic.  In  May  Rafael  Carvajal 
was  elected  president,  but  at  the  close  of 
the  year  another  election  was  held,  with 
the  above  result. 

1869.  Mexico   was  full,  during   this 
and  the  previous  year,  of  the   agitation 
which  always  succeeds  a  war.     Different 
leaders  attempted  to  gain  power,  but  on 
the  whole  the  presidency  of  Juarez  wa% 
quieting  the  country. 

1870.  Jan.  15.     Troubles  in  Hayti. 
Salnave,  who  had  been  trying  since  1867 
to  maintain  himself  as  president  of  Hayti, 
was  at  last  taken,  and  after  having  been 
tried  by  court-martial,  was  shot,  because 
of    his    arbitrary   tendencies.      He    had 
struggled   against    his   opponents    all  in 
vain.     The  unhappy  republic  was   torn 
with  dissensions.     But  with   his  death  a 
somewhat  better  state  of  affairs  began. 
Nissage-Saget    soon    became   president, 


1869-1870.] 


THE  PROBLEMS   OF   TO-DAT. 


745 


and  succeeded  in  ruling  to  the  satisfaction 
of  many.  Some  attempted  to  overthrow 
him,  but  to  no  purpose. 

1870.  Jan.  20.  The  first  colored 
United  States  senator,  H.  R.  Revels,  was 
elected  from  Mississippi.  He  was  admit- 
ted to  his  seat  on  Feb.  23,  when  that 
state  was  re-admitted  to  the  Union. 

GEORGE  D.  PRENTICE. 

1870.  Jan.  22.  Geo.  D.  Prentice, 
an  American  journalist  and  poet,  died  in 
Louisville,  Ky.,  aged  sixty-seven.  He 
was  born  in  Preston,  Conn.,  December 
18,  1802.  He  graduated  at  Brown  Uni- 
versity in  1823.  He  studied  law,  but 
never  practiced.  In  1825  he  was  editor 
of  the  Connecticut  Mirror,  and  he  at- 
tracted much  attention  on  account  of  the 
beauty  of  his  style.  He  was  a  contribu- 
tor to  various  periodicals.  In  1828,  in 
company  with  John  G.  Whittier,  he  pub- 
lished The  New  England  Review.  He 
became  managing  editor  of  the  Louis- 
ville Journal  in  1831.  This  paper 
under  his  management,  became  one  of 
the  leading  journals  of  the  West.  For 
many  years  the  Journal  was  an  untiring 
whig  advocate.  Later  it  became  the 
bold  and  brilliant  enemy  of  secession. 
As  a  writer  Mr.  Prentice  was  spicy  and 
bold,  brilliant  and  sarcastic,  and  in  depth 
and  beauty  of  pathos,  he  had  few  equals. 
His  greatest  poem,  "  Closing  Year,"  was 
written  for  the  Journal  in  1849.  His 
last  years  were  full  of  sorrow  and  trouble 
on  account  of  his  unfortunate  habits,  and 
also  his  domestic  and  financial  affairs. 


1870.     Jan.  23.     A  collision  off  the 

coast  of  Japan,  between  the  British 
steamer  Bombay,  and  the  United  States 
steamer  Oneida,  resulted  in  the  loss  of 
the  latter,  with  176  lives. 


1870.  Jan.  28.  The  steamer  City  of 
Boston,  from  New  York  to  Liverpool, 
was  lost  at  sea,  with  191  lives. 

WEATHER  BUREAU. 

1870.  Feb.  9.  The  weather  bureau 
in  the  signal  service  of  the  United  States 
was  established  by  act  of  congress. 
The  joint  resolution  passed  provided  for 
the  taking  of  meteorological  reports  and 
the  giving  of  storm  signals  by  the  war 
department.  The  secretary  of  war  at 
once  put  it  into  the  hands  of  Gen.  Myer. 
The  signal  service  bureau  did  not  exist  at 
that  time  as  such,  although  Gen.  Myer 
had  been  building  up  the  work  of  it  dur- 
ing the  Civil  War,  doing  some  weather 
work  in  connection  with  it.  Within  a 
year  from  this  time  the  work  was  being 
done  admirably.  The  system  has  extend- 
ed, and  embraces  everything  relating  to 
changes  of  weather  and  temperature. 
Millions  of  farmers'  bulletins  have  been 
issued.  The  taking  of  reports  began  on 
Nov.  i,  1870,  and  has  steadily  con- 
tinued. Gen.  Albert  J.  Myer,  who 
superintended  all  this  work  until  his  re- 
cent death,  obtained  the  sobriquet  of 
«  Old  Probabilities." 

1870.  Feb.  19.  At  a  trial  in  type- 
setting at  New  York,  George  Arensburg 
set  2,064  ems5  solid  minion,  six  break 
lines,  in  one  hour. 

ANSON  BURLINGAME. 

1870.  Feb.  23.  Anson  Burlingame, 
L.L.  D.,  an  American  diplomatist,  died  at 
St.  Petersburg,  Russia.  Mr.  Burlingame 
was  born  in  New  Berlin,  Chenango 
county,  New  York,  Nov.  14,  1822. 
While  he  was  quite  young  his  parents 
removed  west;  first  to  Ohio,  and  thence 
to  Michigan.  He  was  educated  at  a 
branch  of  Michigan  University  in  Detroit. 


746 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


In  1843  he  entered  Cambridge  law 
school.  There  he  became  interested  in 
politics,  and  was  an  active  whig.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Isaac  Liver- 
more  of  Cambridge,  and  opened  a  law 
office  in  Boston,  in  partnership  with  Geo. 
P.  Bnggs,  a  son  of  Governor  Briggs. 
In  1848  he  was  made  president  of  the 
Young  Men's  whig  republican  associ- 
ation, and  in  1849  and  1850  he  visited 
Europe.  He  was  elected  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts senate  from  Middlesex,  and  one 
year  later  was  a  member  of  the  constitu- 
tional convention.  He  was  elected 
to  the  thirty-fourth,  thirty-fifth,  and 
thirty-sixth  congresses.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  committee  on  foreign  affairs, 
and  showed  considerable  ability  in  the 
transaction  of  business.  He  figured 
prominently  in  the  great  struggle  in  the 
house  of  representatives,  when  the  mem- 
bers balloted  for  nine  successive  weeks 
for  speaker,  without  a  result.  He  was  a 
strong  friend  of  Senator  Charles  Sumner, 
and  when  Preston  S.  Brooks  made  that 
memorable  assault  upon  Mr.  Sumner,  the 
act  was  denounced  by  Mr.  Burlingame 
in  the  most  bitter  terms.  His  speech  was 
said  to  have  been  one  of  the  most  elo- 
quent made  on  the  floor  of  the  house 
during  this  session.  In  his  fourth  contest 
for  congress  Mr.  Burlingame  was  de- 
feated by  Hon.  William  Appleton.  He 
was  appointed  minister  to  Austria,  but 
the  Austrian  court  refused  to  receive  him. 
The  refusal  is  supposed  to  have  been  on 
account  of  his  able  and  eloquent  addresses 
in  favor  of  Sardinia,  and  the  unity  of  Italy. 
President  Lincoln  then  appointed  him 
minister  to  China,  which  position  he  filled 
with  marked  ability.  The  Chinese  author- 
ities trusted  him  as  they  had  trusted  no 
other  foreign  man.  He  visited  the  United 
States  in  1865,  but  soon  returned  to  his 


post.  While  here,  he  was  warmly  re- 
ceived by  his  friends,  political  and  per- 
sonal. In  1867  he  resigned  his  position, 
much  against  the  wishes  of  Prince  Kung 
and  the  Chinese  officials.  At  length  the 
imperial  officers  offered  to  send  him  at 
the  head  of  a  Chinese  embassy  to  make 
treaties  with  all  the  civilized  powers  of 
the  world.  Mr.  Burlingame  accepted. 
With  his  celestial  colleagues  he  arrived 
in  San  Francisco  Feb.  25,  1868.  He 
had  undertaken  this  mission  in  the  inter- 
ests of  mankind  and  civilization;  but  it 
was  reported  to  him  that  the  American 
people  were  dissatisfied  with  him  for 
having  accepted  a  foreign  trust.  He 
was  happily  surprised,  therefore,  to  find  ' 
the  citizens  of  San  Francisco  turn  out  en 
masse  to  greet  him.  The  remarkable 
success  of  this  embassy,  under  his  brilliant 
leadership,  is  well  known.  Just  as  his 
work  was  about  completed,  he  died  in 
St.  Petersburg  at  the  age  of  forty-eight. 
His  loss  was  mourned  on  three  conti- 
nents, by  Christian  and  pagan.  The 
power  of  Mr.  Burlingame  over  the 
Chinese  authorities  had  attracted  uni- 
versal attention.  His  sincere  interest  in 
their  government  led  the  Chinese  to  rest 
upon  his  suggestions  and  his  diplomacy. 
Had  he  lived,  the  relations  of  the  Chinese 
empire  to  other  governments  would,  in 
all  probability,  have  been  greatly  broad- 
ened and  strengthened.  His  work  was 
certainly  great  so  far  as  he  was  permitted 
to  perform  it.  His  death  was  from  pneu- 
monia, which  wrought  its  result  very 
quickly,  and  disappointed  the  land  he  was 
serving,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the  world. 

FRANCISCO  S.  LOPEZ. 

1870.  March  1.  In  a  battle  on  the 
Aquidaban,  General  Francisco  Solano 
Lopez,  the  last  president  of  the  republic 


1669-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS   OF  TO-DAT. 


749 


of  Paraguay,  fell,  and  the  last  band  of  the 
Paraguayan  forces  was  destroyed.  This 
was  the  final  conflict  between  the  repub- 
lic and  the  allied  armies,  and  the  country, 
which  had  been  almost  devastated  during 
the  progress  of  the  war,  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  latter.  But  the  Brazilian 
troops  refused  to  interfere  in  the  Para- 
guayan election  or  government,  any  fur- 
ther than  to  maintain  order.  After 
several  engagements  during  the  month 
of  January,  Gen.  Lopez  had  retreated 
with  1,500  men,  the  remnant  of  his  army, 
to  Panandero.  His  supplies  wei-e  ex- 
hausted, and  he  moved  from  this  place, 
leaving  behind  the  women  and  heavy 
cannon.  He  at  length  encamped  in  the 
mountains,  in  the  limits  of  the  Para- 
guayan territory.  His  camping  place 
was  on  the  Aquidaban,  and  three  miles 
from  the  Taquara.  Here  Gen.  Lopez, 
with  starved  followers,  was  completely 
surprised  and  overwhelmed;  the  greater 
portion  of  them  were  slaughtered.  Gen. 
Lopez  was  wounded  while  attempting  to 
escape,  and  died  immediately  on  being 
captured.  The  victorious  forces  were 
under  the  command  of  Gen.  Camara. 
Gen.  Lopez's  life  had  been  one  of  rash- 
ness and  indiscretion.  He  was  born  in 
Asuncion,  July  24,  1831.  His  father  was 
ruler  of  Paraguay  before  him.  When 
only  eighteen  years  of  age  he  was  given 
the  rank  of  general,  and  placed  at 
the  head  of  10,000  men.  In  1849,  in 
the  war  with  Rosas,  at  the  command 
of  his  father,  he  mercilessly  massa- 
cred the  missions  of  Corrientes.  He 
was  made  envoy  to  European  courts  in 
1852,  and  returned  in  1854.  He  suc- 
ceeded his  father  in  power  in  1862.  His 
career  from  this  period  is  well-known; 
how  he  precipitated  his  country  into  a 
conflict  with  Brazil  and  her  allies;  how 


he  started  at  the  head  of  a  magnificent 
army  of  70,000  men,  and  closed  his 
career,  almost  alone,  in  the  fight  on  the 
Aquidaban.  He  refused  to  surrender  to 
the  last,  and  died  with  his  sword  in 
hand.  He  left  his  country,  the  charge  of 
which  he  had  taken  in  so  prosperous  a 
condition,  destitute  and  weak. 

GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

1870.  March  28.  George  Henry 
Thomas,  major-general  of  the  United 
States  army,  died  in  San  Francisco,  Cal. 
He  was  born  in  the  county  of  South- 
hampton,  Va.,  July  31,  1816.  He  came 
from  one  of  the  old  families  of  Virginia. 
His  people  were  planters,  and  were  refined 
and  well-educated.  After  being  liberally 
educated,  he  began  the  study  of  law  at  the 
age  of  twenty ;  but  when  he  had  just  begun 
his  study  his  friends  secured  for  him  an 
appointment  as  cadet  at  West  Point.  He 
graduated  in  1840.  His  course  is  said  to 
have  been  thorough,  but  not  brilliant. 
He  ranked  twelfth  in  a  class  of  forty-two 
members.  In  this  class  were  such  men 
as  Sherman,  Ewell,  and  Jordan.  He  was 
commissioned  a  second  lieutenant,  on 
graduating,  in  the  third  artillery.  For 
twenty  years,  from  1840  to  1860,  he  was 
in  the  regular  army,  and  his  service 
was  in  the  highest  degree  honorable. 
He  made  a  good  record  in  the  Florida 
war  from  i84O-'42.  From  i842-'45  he 
commanded  various  forts  and  barracks. 
He  was  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  in 
Texas  from  1845  to  I^^~  He  was  in 
the  Seminole  war  from  1849  to  '5°»  and 
then  an  artillery  and  cavalry  instructor  at 
West  Point,  till  1854.  He  was  on  fron- 
tier duty  from  1855  to  1860.  He  rose  in 
rank  to  be  major  of  the  second  cavalry, 
and  commanded  that  regiment  for  three 
years.  In  August,  1860,  he  was  wounded 


750 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


at  Brazos  River,  and  came  east  in  Novem- 
ber. When  the  "American  Conflict" 
came,  he  stood  by  the  Union  and  made, 
it  is  well  claimed  by  some  of  his  many 
friends,  the  best  and  purest  record  in  the 
war.  On  the  day  the  flag  went  down  at 
Sumter  he  reported  for  duty  at  Carlisle, 
Pa.  On  the  i6th  of  June,  1861,  he 
crossed  the  Potomac  at  the  head  of  a  bri- 
gade to  combat  his  old  commanders,  and 
to  invade  his  native  state.  In  charge  of 
the  right  wing  of  Gen.  Patterson's  army, 
he  defeated  Stonewall  Jackson  at  Falling 
Waters.  After  the  campaign  of  the 
Shenandoah  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland.  This  army 
was  created  August  15,  1861.  Gen. 
Robert  Anderson  was  in  command. 
Thomas  and  Sherman  were  brigadier- 
generals.  Thomas  mustered  in  the  troops 
from  Indiana,  Ohio,  Kentucky,  and  Ten- 
nessee, that  afterward  formed  the  nucleus 
of  the  great  army  which  he  commanded. 
This  was  at  Camp  Dick  Robinson,  and 
the  troops  were  called  the  first  brigade. 
In  Buell's  campaign  Gen.  Thomas,  hav- 
ing been  placed  in  command  of  the  first 
division,  was  ordered  to  move  against 
Zollicoffer,  whom  he  defeated  at  Mill 
Springs,  Jan.  17,  1862.  During  May 
and  June  he  commanded  the  right  wing 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  On  Sept. 
30  he  was  appointed  second  in  command 
of  the.  Army  of  the  Ohio,  having  refused 
the  first.  He  served  in  this  command  at 
the  fight  at  Perryville.  In  Gen.  Rose- 
crans'  army  he  commanded  the  center. 
January  9,  1863,  he  was  placed  m  com- 
mand of  the  fourteenth  army  corps,  and 
led  it  through  the  famous  Chickamauga 
campaign.  Gen.  Sherman  having  started 
to  the  sea  in  October,  Thomas  was  left  to 
defend  Tennessee  against  Gen.  Hood. 
Thomas  had  30,000  soldiers;  Hood  57,- 


ooo  veterans.  The  remarkable  and 
famed  victory  of  Thomas  at  Nashville 
need  not  be  retold.  Honors  and  rewards 
without  number  were  pressed  upon  him, 
but  he  declined  them  all.  After  the  war 
he  was  placed  in  command  of  important 
military  departments.  His  charactei-,both 
private  and  military,  is  without  a  blemish. 


1870.  March  30.  The  XVth  amend- 
ment to  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States  was  officially  declared  to  have 
been  ratified.  Thus  the  constitution 
proclaims  that  every  man  shall  be 
allowed  the  exercise  of  his  rights — with- 
out regard  to  "  race,  color,  or  previous 
condition  of  servitude." 

EMMA  WILLARD. 

1870.  April  15.  Mrs.  Emma  (Hart) 
Willard  died  at  Troy,  New  York.  She 
was  born  in  Berlin,  Worthington  Parish, 
Conn.,  Feb.  23,  1787.  She  was  next  to 
the  youngest  of  a  familv  of  seventeen 
children.  She  attended  the  village 
academy  two  years,  and  mastered  many 
studies  outside  of  her  regular  school 
work.  It  is  said  that  she  pursued  her 
studies  with  great  eagerness,  and  under 
many  difficulties.  She  mastered  astron- 
omy in  her  fourteenth  year.  She  began 
the  teaching  of  a  district  school,  and  soon 
became  noted  throughout  that  portion  of 
the  state  for  the  thoroughness  and  pecu- 
liar methods  of  her  instruction.  She 
abandoned  teaching  in  1809,  and  married 
Dr.  John  Willard.  Four  or  five  years 
later,  owing  to  financial  reverses,  she 
opened  a  girl's  boarding  school  in  Mid- 
dlebury.  Her  progress  in  this  enterprise 
was  marked  and  rapid.  She  introduced 
the  advanced  studies,  and  especially  the 
sciences.  In  1818,  encouraged  by  her 
husband,  she  determined  to  open  on  the 


1869-1870.] 


THE  PROBLEMS   OF   TO-DAT. 


751 


head-waters  of  the  Hudson,  a  school  for 
the  education  of  women.  She  published 
.a  treatise  on  this  subject,  and  obtained  the 
sympathy  and  support  of  Gov.  Clinton, 
who,  in  his  message  of  1820,  recom- 
mended that  the  legislature  should  take 
action  in  regard  to  the  matter.  In  the 
spring  of  1819  Mrs.  Willard  opened  her 
school  in  Waterford.  This  was  the  first 
attempt  at  female  education.  In  1821 
she  removed  her  school  to  Troy,  the  citi- 
zens of  that  place  having  tendered  her  a 
building.  The  school  grew  in  numbers, 
and  its  facilities  increased.  In  1825  her 
husband  died,  and  the  management  was 
left  entirely  to  Mrs.  Willard.  She  man- 
aged it  until  1838,  when  she  placed  the 
institution  in  the  hands  of  her  son  and 
his  wife.  In  1846  she  traveled  8,000 
miles  through  Western  and  Southern 
states  in  the  interests  of  education.  She 
addressed  many  educational  meetings, 
and  was  greeted  by  many  old  students. 
A  school  for  women  was  established  by 
her  in  Athens,  and  in  1854  sne  attended 
the  World's  Educational  Convention  in 
London.  From  1823  to  18^7  she  pub- 
lished many  text  books  bn  history  and 
different  branches  of  science.  These 
were  translated  into  many  European  and 
Asiatic  languages,  and  had  an  immense 
•sale.  She  also  published  a  number  of 
•essays  and  poems.  She  contributed  to 
the  Literary  Magazine,  in  answer  to 
the  question,  "  Will  Scientific  Education 
Make  Woman  Lose  Her  Sense  of  De- 
pendence on  Man?  "  This  attracted  con- 
siderable attention  at  the  time.  In  1830 
she  published  a  volume  of  "  Poems." 
She  has  been  justly  called  the  "  pioneer 
•educator"  of  women  in  America. 


1870.     April  24.      Blossom  Bock,  at 

the   entrance   of  San  Francisco   harbor, 


was  blasted  so  effectually  that  a  depth  of 
thirty-eight  feet  below  the  water's  level 
was  attained.  Twenty-three  tons  of 
powder  were  employed,  and  40,000  tons 
of  rock  were  removed.  The  work  was 
done  at  a  cost  of  $75,000. 

1870.  April.  A  rebellion  broke  out 
in  the  province  of  Entre  Rios,  in  the  Ar- 
gentine Confederation.  Its  leader  and 
instigator  was  Gen.  Lopez  Jordan.  He 
first  surprised  Gen.  Urquiza,  his  father- 
in-law,  in  his  palace  in  San  Jose,  and 
having  murdered  him,  pillaged  his  palace, 
and  confiscated  his  property.  He  also 
murdered  two  of  Gen.  Urquiza's  sons. 
Gen.  Lopez  then  compelled  the  state  as- 
sembly to  appoint  him  governor.  He  at 
once,  on  accepting  the  position,  issued 
proclamations  in  favor  of  freedom,  and 
asked  the  general  government  to  grant 
him  immunity  from  punishment.  In  re- 
jecting this  request,  President  Sarmiento 
said :  "  Liberty  has  not  the  dagger  for 
its  instrument."  The  president  resolved 
to  put  down  the  insurrection.  After 
closing  the  ports  on  the  river  Uruguay 
he  dispatched  Gen.  Emilio  Mitre  with 
i.ooo  men,  with  artillery  to  Concepcion 
del  Uruguay.  The  majority  of  the 
states  recognized  the  right  attitude  of  the 
president,  and  supported  him  in  his  efforts 
to  suppress  the  rebellion.  The  efforts  of 
the  government  were  for  some  time,  how- 
ever, fruitless. 

1870.  April  27.  A  revolution  oc- 
curred in  San  Jose,  the  capital  of  Costa 
Rica,  one  of  the  five  republics  of  Central 
America.  It  resulted  in  overthrowing 
the  government  of  President  Jesus 
Jimenez,  and  the  establishment  of  a  new 
government,  with  Dr.  Bruno  Camanza 
at  its  head  as  provincial  governor.  The 
leader  of  the  movement  was  Thomas 
Guardia. 


752 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


187O.  May  12.  Manitoba  was  cre- 
ated by  an  act  of  the  Dominion  parlia- 
ment, a  separate  province,  and  allowed  a 
representation  in  the  Canadian  senate 
and  house  of  commons.  The  new  terri- 
tory was  taken  out  of  "  Rupert's  Land 
and  the  Northwestern  Territory,"  and 
contained  1 1 ,000  square  miles. 

1870.  May  24.  The  Fenians  as- 
sembled an  expedition  on  the  Canadian 
frontier.  President  Grant  immediately 
issued  a  proclamation  against  the  band, 
and  Gen.  Meade,  who  was  aided  by  vol- 
unteers, was  sent  to  enforce  it.  The 
Fenian  leader,  Col.  O'Neill,  together 
with  several  of  his  officers,  was  impris- 
oned. His  men  and  arms  were  seized 
by  the  U.  S.  government  officials.  Col. 
O'Neill  was  imprisoned  in  Windsor,  Ver- 
mont. This  put  an  end  to  the  Fenian 
attempts  at  raising  expeditions,  for  some 
time. 

1870.  June  17.  Jerome  Napoleon 
Bonaparte  died  in  Baltimore,  Md.  He 
was  born  at  Camberwell,  England,  July 
7,  1805.  His  father,  Jerome  Napoleon, 
was  married  to  Miss  Patterson,  of  this 
country,  but  the  bride  was  deserted  by 
Napoleon  in  a  short  time,  and  she  was 
never  able  to  establish  him  in  his  proper 
relations  to  the  French  court.  Her  son, 
Jerome,  was  a  man  of  ability.  He  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  with  honor  in  1826, 
and  studied  law,  but  never  practiced.  He 
married  a  lady  of  Roxbury,  Mass.,  and 
afterward,  by  inherited  property,  became 
the  wealthiest  citizen  in  Baltimore. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  JUSTICE. 

1870.  June  22.  An  act  was  passed 
establishing  an  executive  department  to 
the  United  States  government,  called  the 
Department  of  Justice,  with  the  attorney- 
general  at  its  head.  The  attorney-gen- 


eral henceforth  became  a  member  of  the 
cabinet. 

1870.  June  23.  A  Spanish  law 
against  slavery  in  Cuba  was  passed. 
All  born  after  its  passage,  and  all  over 
sixty  years  old,  were  to  be  free.  The  op- 
position to  it  was  so  great,  however,  that 
it  could  not  be  enforced. 

SAN  DOMINGO. 

1870.     June  30.     The  United   States 
senate  refused  to  comply  with  the  recom- 
mendations of  Gen.  Grant  regarding  the 
annexation   of    San  Domingo,   and    the 
treaty  to  this  effect  was  rejected.      Col. 
Fatens   was  appointed  to    communicate 
the  decision  of   the  senate    1870 
to   President    Baez   of  the    Great  fire  in 
San     Domingo    Republic,    c™^>'f^ 

7,ooo  buildings 

who  at  once  sent  a  mes-  and  2,000  lives 
sage  to  congress,  conclud-  destro.ved- 
ing  as  follows:  "The  measure  will,, 
nevertheless,  succeed  in  the  end,  for  it  is 
a  necessity  in  the  progress  of  humanity, 
whose  unseen  agent  is  Providence  itself." 
The  negotiations  for  this  treaty  were  re- 
newed, but  rejected,  but  the  Protectorate 
of  San  Domingo  was  extended  by  the 
United  States  one  year  from  the  subse- 
quent July. 

ADMIRAL  DAHLGREN. 

1870.  July  12.  John  A.  Dahlgren, 
a  rear-admiral  in  the  United  States 
navy,  died  in  Washington.  He  was  born 
in  Philadelphia  in  1810.  On  Feb.  i, 
1826,  he  was  appointed  midshipman  from 
the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  From  1827- 
'29  he  made  his  first  cruise  in  the  frigate 
Macedonian,  of  the  Brazil  squadron. 
From  i830-'32  he  was  with  the  Ontario, 
a  sloop  of -the  Mediterranean  squadron. 
In  1832  he  was  promoted  to  passed  mid- 


1869-1876.] 

shipman.  From  1836-42  he  served  in 
the  coast  survey.  In  1837  ^e  was  ma^e 
a  lieutenant.  From  i847-'57  he  was  en- 
gaged in  ordnance  duty.  During  these 
ten  years  he  perfected  the  invention  of 
the  Dahlgren  gun.  He  became  a  com- 
mander in  1855,  and  in  i858-'59  com- 
manded the  ordnance  ship  Plymouth. 
He  was  on  duty  at  the  Washington  navy 
yard  in  1860— 'i, of  which  President  Lin- 
coln appointed  him  cpmmandant  in  1862. 
At  the  same  time  he  was  commissioned 
captain.  He  was  shortly  afterward  ap- 
pointed chief  of  the  bureau  of  ordnance. 
Captain  Dahlgren  was  promoted  to  be 
rear-admiral  on  the  7th  of  February,  1863. 
He  remained  with  the  Union  in  the  Civil 
War,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  the 
summer  of  1863  in  the  memorable  oper- 
ations against  Charleston.  Admiral 
Dahlgren  commanded- the  naval  forces, 
and  General  Gillmore  the  land  troops.  In 
February,  1864,  he  commanded  a  success- 
ful expedition  which  ascended  the  St. 
John's  River  and  aided  in  placing  a  mili- 
tary force  in  Florida.  From  i866-'68 
Admiral  Dahlgren  commanded  the 
South  Pacific  squadron,  and  in  1869  he 
commanded  the  Washington  navy  yard. 
The  latter  position  he  held  until  his  death. 
He  made  several  improvements  and  in- 
ventions in  naval  guns,  and  was  loved  by 
all  those  under  his  command.  His  death 
was  a  great  loss  to  the  navy. 


THE  PROBLEMS   OF  TO-DAT. 


753 


1870.  July  15.  The  actual  transfer  of 
the  whole  Hudson  Bay  territory  took 
place.  This  included  Manitoba.  The 
transfer  had  been  delayed  on  account  of 
troubles  in  the  latter  territory. 

1870.  July  17.  George  Ashmun,  a 
leading  American  politician,  died  in 
Springfield,  Mass.  He  was  born  in 
Blandford,  Mass.,  December,  1804.  He 

48 


1870.    Organiza- 
tion of  English 
committee  to  re- 
vise authorized 
•version  of  the 
Bible. 


graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1823.  He 
attained  to  great  eminence  in  his  profes- 
sion, the  law.  He  was  in  the  Massachu- 
setts legislature  from  1833,- 
'39,  and  in  the  national  con- 
gress from  1845  to  '51'  ^e 
was  chairman  of  the  repub- 
lican convention  at  Chicago 
in  1860.  He  was  a  friend  and  defender 
of  Daniel  Webster.  He  was  also  a  warm 
supporter  of  President  Lincoln.  He  was 
noted  for  his  ability  and  wonderful  per- 
sonal magnetism.  He  is  said  to  have  per- 
suaded Stephen  A.  Douglas  to  support 
Lincoln's  administration. 

1870.  July  29.  Benjamin  Nathan, 
a  wealthy  New  York  citizen,  was  mur- 
dered in  his  own  chamber,  a  crime  which 
caused  the  greatest  excitement  because  of 
the  mysterious  circumstances  of  the  deed. 
The  utmost  silence  prevailed  all  night, 
and  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  windows 
of  his  room  were  open,  no  sound  was 
heard  by  watchmen  near  by.  The  mem- 
bers of  his  household,  some  of  whom  slept 
in  the  next  room,  were  not  awakened. 
But  a  terrible  wrestle  had  apparently 
taken  place.  The  room  was  stained  freely 
with  blood  indifferent  parts, and  the  head 
and  face  of  the  victim  revealed  nine  fear- 
ful wounds.  Heavy  rewards  were  of- 
fered ;  $30,000  by  the  mayor  of  New 
York,  for  the  arrest  and  conviction  of  the 
criminals.  One  thousand  dollars  were 
offered  for  the  recovery  of  each  of  the 
diamond  studs  from  the  bosom  of  Mr. 
Nathan's  shirt.  Other  rewards  were 
offered  for  watches,  etc.,  and  one  of  $  i  ,000 
for  the  identification  of  the  iron  strap 
found  in  the  vestibule  of  the  house.  The 
stock  exchange,  of  which  Mr.  Nathan 
was  a  member,  offered  $10,000  for  the 
criminals.  The  affair  was  one  of  great 
secrecy. 


754 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1870.     July.     Lopez  Jordan,  as  the 

leader  of  the  rebellion  of  Entre  Rios 
against  the  general  government  of  Argen- 
tine Confederation,  at  the  head  of  2,500 
men,  captured  Encamacion,  a  flourish- 
ing port  in  the  province  of  Entre  Rios. 
The  city  was  given  up  to  the  soldiers  for 
plunder  and  outrage.  Two  hundred 
prisoners  were  reported  to  have  been  put 
to  death  by  Gen.  Jordan,  who  was  assisted 
by  Gen.  Caccres,  of  the  province  of  Cor- 
rientes.  On  the  following  month  the 
rebellion  began  to  assume  more  alarm- 
ing proportions. 

1870.  July.  The  Southern  states 
had  all  been  now  virtually  readmitted  to 
the  Union  by  congress. 

1870.  July.  Gen.  Dulce,  leader  of 
the  Spanish  troops  in  Cuba,  was  expelled 
by  the  volunteers,  and  Gen.  de  Rodas 
was  put  in  command.  The  war  was  full 
1870.  July.  of  cruel  features,  and  the 

PopSs  infalliKl.  United  gtates  trfed  to  in_ 
ity  -voted  by  Vat- 
ican Council.  duce  Spain  to  close  the  ef- 
fort she  was  making,  but  all  to  no  pur- 
pose. Contests  had  taken  place  during 
the  year,  with  varying  results.  The 
Spanish  were  becoming  more  and  more 
merciless  to  all  whom  they  captured. 
De  Rodas  served  only  till  the  close  of  the 
year,  when  Gen.  Valmaseda  assumed 
command. 

187O.  July.  At  a  trial  of  steamboat 
speed  on  the  Mississippi  River,  the  R. 
E.  Lee  went  from  New  Orleans  to  St. 
Louis  in  3  days,  18  hours,  and  14  minutes. 

1870.  July.  Augustin  Morales,  the 
bitter  enemy  of  Melgarejo,  again  incited 
a  rebellion  in  Bolivia,  but  was  soon  sup- 
pressed in  his  attempts.  During  this 
month  the  discovery  of  the  rich  silver 
mines  in  the  Sierra  del  Limon  Verde 
produced  great  excitement  through  the 
republic. 


ADMIRAL  FARRAGUT. 
1870.  Aug.  14.  David  G.  Farragut 
died  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  aged  sixty- 
nine  years.  He  was  born  near  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn.,  July  5,  1801.  His  father 
was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  the 
young  David  was  entered  in  the  United 
States  navy,  on  board  the  illustrious  Essex 
as  a  midshipman,  at  the  age  of  eleven 
years.  This  was  the  beginning  of  a 
brilliant  naval  career.  During  the  war 
of  1812  he  continued  on  board  the  Essex, 
until  she  surrendered  to  the  Phoebe  and 
Cherub.  He  had  taken  an  honorable 
part  in  the  actions  in  which  the  Essex 
had  been  engaged.  In  1823  he  was 
with  Commodore  Porter,  who  had  com- 
manded the  Essex  in  his  descent  upon 
the  pirates  of  Cuba,  when  he  annihilated 
their  station  in  a  hot  contest  twelve  hours 
long.  Through  the  grades  of  rank  one 
after  the  other,  Farragut  passed,  until  he 
had  had  a  naval  experience  of  nearly 
half  a  century,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Civil  War.  This  was  a  time  for  the  ex- 
hibition of  his  patriotism  and  skill.  When 
Virginia  seceded  he  hastily  left  Norfolk 
with  his  family,  and  whatever  they  could 
carry,  and  located  in  .New  York,  on  the 
Hudson.  In  1862  his  first  service  took 
place  at  New  Orleans,  where  his  deed 
excited  the  astonishment  of  all  who  knew 
the  fortifications.  Some  old  officers, 
upon  hearing  it  had  been  1870.  Rome  an. 
done,  declared  that  it  could  nexed  to  Ita!i"n 

kingdom.     Pope 

not  be  done,  and  that  the  re-  excom>nuKiCated 
port  was  a  hoax.  He  those -who  did  it. 
served  on  the  Mississippi  and  the  coast 
of  Texas  with  great  assistance  to  the 
Union  troops.  His  next  deed  of  surpassing 
brilliance  was  in  Mobile  Bay,  where  he 
passed  the  forts  and  defeated  a  strong  con- 
federate fleet  of  iron  clads.  As  a  token 
of  esteem  for  this  great  achievement,  the 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS   OF   TO-DAT. 


755 


office  of  vice-admiral  was  created  by  con- 
gress, and  Farragut,  who  had  been  first 
rear-admiral  of  the  navy,  was  appointed  to 
it.  His  services  were  so  important  that 
congress,  in  1866,  created  the  office  of  ad- 
miral, and  placed  him  in  it.  After  the 
war  he  was  in  charge  of  the  European 
squadron,  and  was  everywhere  shown 
great  honor.  He  stands  on  the  highest 
round  of  naval  reputation  in  America. 


1870.  Aug.  22.  A  proclamation  of 
neutrality  in  the  Franco-German  war 
was  issued  by  President  Grant,  and  at  a 
later  day  other  steps  were  taken  to  pre- 
vent American  waters  from  being  used 
for  war  purposes. 

1870.  Sept.  7.  The  French  Repub- 
lic was  recognized  by  Mr.  E.  B.  Wash- 
burne,  minister  of  the  United  States  to 
France. 

1870.  September.  Insurrection  in 
Peru.  During  the  most  prosperous  and 
satisfactory  government  of  Colonel  Balta, 
in  Peru,  an  insurrection  of  imported 
Chinese  laborers  broke  out.  The  most 
isis-1870.  shocking  outrages  were  per- 

cimries  Dkkens.  petrated  by  the  Chinese  be- 
fore they  could  be  checked  by  an  armed 
force.  Men,  women  and  children  were 
subjected  to  their  tortures.  The  revolt 
resulted  in  the  killing  of  forty  whites,  and 
three  hundred  Chinese. 

1870.  September.  In  the  Argen- 
tine Republic  the  government  forces 
had  an  engagement  in  Entre  Rios  with 
the  whole  rebel  force  under  Lopez  Jor- 
dan, resulting  in  a  victory  for  Jor- 
1870.  Sept.  1-2.  dan.  The  losses  of  the 
BvU?,°fS™*'  government  forces  were 

Napoleon  III. 

taken.  heavy;    1,500    men     were 

killed  and  wounded  on  both  sides.  The 
official  report  stated  that  on  the  23d  the 
government  troops,  under  General  Rivas, 


fought  a  long  and  bloody  battle  with 
nearly  9,000  rebels  at  Santa  Rosa.  The 
result  was  the  overwhelming  defeat  of 
Jordan,  who  escaped  with  only  six  hun- 
dred out  of  his  entire  army,  all  else  being 
lost. 

GEN.  ROBERT  E.  LEE. 

1870.  Oct.  12.  Robert  Edward  Lee, 
commander-in-chief  of  the  confederate 
armies  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion, 
died  at  Lexington,  Va.  He  was  born 
at  Stafford,  Westmoreland  county,  Vir- 
ginia, Jan.  19,  1807.  He  was  the 
son  of  Col.  Henry  Lee,  known  as 
"  Lighthorse  Harry,"  of  Revolutionary 
fame.  In  1825  he  entered  West  Point, 
and  in  1829  he  graduated  second  in  his 
class  of  forty-six  members.  On  grad- 
uating he  was  appointed  lieutenant  in  the 
corps  of  engineers.  At  a  later  date,  Cap- 
tain Lee  was  selected  as  chief  engineer  in 
Gen.  Scott's  army  in  Mexico.  Owing 
to  brave  conduct  he  came  out  of  the  war 
a  brevet-colonel.  From  1852  to  1855  he 
was  superintendent  of  West  Point  Mili- 
tary Academy.  In  October,  1859,  he 
commanded  the  forces  that  were  sent  to 
suppress  John  Brown  at  Harper's  Ferry. 
When  Virginia  seceded  from  the  Union 
on  April  17,  1 86 1,  he  resigned  his  com- 
mission in  the  regular  army.  imo_  IsaMia> 
In  a  letter  to  Gen.  Scott,  he  &ueen  °f  Spain 

•  j      .,  o  .         ,     ~  ..     abdicated  in  fa- 

said:  "Save  in  defence  of  Torof/,erson 
my  native  state,  I  never  Alfonso. 
again  desire  to  draw  my  sword."  In 
writing  to  his  sister  the  same  day,  he 
said :  "  With  all  my  devotion  to  the 
Union,  and  the  feeling  of  loyalty  and 
duty  of  an  American  citizen,  I  have  not 
been  able  to  make  up  my  mind  to  raise 
my  hand  against  my  relatives,  my  chil- 
dren, and  my  home."  There  can  be  no 
doubt  that  Lee  was  entirely  sincere  in 
taking  this  step.  It  is  equally  true  that 


756 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


he  was  devoted  to  the  Union ;  but  the 
dictates  of  his  heart  and  the  noble  in- 
stincts of  his  soul  forbade  him  to  fight  in 
a  cause,  whether  right  or  wrong,  which 
he  knew  would  ultimately  bring  death 
and  desolation  to  the  homes  and  friends 
of  the  Southern  people.  For  the  sake 
of  his  fellow  men  he  was  willing  to  bear 
reproach,  and  lay  aside  the  feeling  of 
loyalty.  It  is  evident  that  he  hoped, 
even  to  the  last 
moment,  that  con- 
flict  might  be 
avoided.  Virginia 
had  not  yet  united 
with  the  confed- 
eracy, although 
having  with- 
drawn from  the 
Union.  Lee  was 
appointed  major- 
general  of  the 
forces  of  the  state. 
The  state  joined 
the  confederacy  in 
May,  and  the  con- 
federate capital 
was  removed  to 
Richmond.  Five 
major  -  generals 
were  created  by 
the  Southern  con- 
gress, in  the  following  order:  I.  Cooper, 
A.  S.Johnston,  R.  E.  Lee,  J.  E.Johnston, 
and  G.  T.  Beauregard.  On  June  3, 1862, 
the  confederate  army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia was  placed  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  Lee.  He  soon  had  an  army  equal  in 
numbers  to  the  forces  of  Gen.  McClellan. 
Lee  virtually  raised  the  siege  of  Rich- 
mond after  the  battle  of  Malvern's  Hill. 
Aug.  30  Pope  was  defeated  at  the  second 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  soon  after  Lee  in- 
vaded Maryland.  After  the  battle  of  An. 


GEN.    ROBERT   E.    LEE. 


tietam,  Sept.  16  and  17,  he  recrossed  the 
Potomac  into  Virginia.  Dec.  13,  Lee 
defeated  Burnside  at  Rappahannock,  and 
May  2-4  worsted  Hooker  at  Chancellors- 
ville.  Then  came  the  attempted  inva- 
sion of  Pennsylvania.  July  1-3  came 
the  "  inevitable  but  accidental  "  encounter 
which  took  place  at  Gettys- 

*  2o70'2o/o, 

burg.  In  the  three  days'  Prince  Amadeus 
conflict  Lee  lost  36,000,  Kinff°fsPa™- 
and  Gen.  Meade> 
the  Union  com- 
mander, 23,000 
men.  Lee  fell 
back  to  the  Rapi- 
dan.  During  the 
autumn  and  win- 
ter both  armies 
remained  in  Vir- 
ginia. In  the 
spring  Gen.  Grant 
having  assumed 
the  command  of 
the  fedei'al  armies,, 
came  to  Virginia 
to  conduct  the 
operations  against 
Lee,  and  to  move 
"on  to  Rich- 
mond." Grant 
had  about  140,000 
soldiers,  and  Lee 
60,000.  Grant  had  taken  the  position 
that  the  confederacy  must  be  destroyed 
by  destroying  its  armies.  From  this 
time  till  Appomattox  his  plans  and 
operations  were  directed  against  Gen. 
Lee,  who  outgeneraled  him  until,  over- 
come by  starvation  and  a  vastly  su- 
perior force,  he  surrendered.  After  the 
war  Lee  lived  for  a  time  in  seclusion 
and  in  comparative  poverty,  having 
lost  his  fortune  in  the  struggle.  In 
1865  he  became  president  of  Washing- 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


757 


ton  College,  Lexington,  Va.  He  died 
from  the  effects  of  a  stroke  of  paralysis. 
Gen.  Lee  was  a  man  of  great  nobility  of 
character,  and  superior  intellectual  pow- 
ers. As  a  soldier  he  was  brave,  and  pos- 
sessed great  ability.  He  is  rivaled  only 
by  his  conqueror  in  generalship.  It  is 
1870-1872.  claimed  that  he  was  at  one 

Franco-Pr*,-        time  offcred  the  command 

man  -war. 

French  empire     of  the   Union    armies,  but 

overthrown  ^  daim  ^    nQt    ^   ^  gub. 

Parts    ruled    by 

the  Commune.  stantiated.  His  death  was 
a  great  loss  to  the  South  and  Union,  as 
it  is  evident  that  his  policy  from  the  first 
would  have  been  in  favor  of  reconstruc- 
tion and  order  in  the  South. 


1870.  Oct.  19.  A  great  earthquake 
occurred  in  the  northern  and  eastern  por- 
tions of  the  United  States.  Although  in- 
comparable with  some  of  the  earth- 
quakes of  the  South  American  States,  it 
was  the  greatest  ever  known  to  have  oc- 
1870.  Reickstag  curred  in  that  part  of  the 

at  Berlin    voted     CQntinent       The  ghock  wag 
to  have  a    Ger- 
man empire.         greatest  in  the  larger  cities. 

Kinff  William  of  jt  was  fdt  jn  Canada  in 
Prussia  made 

emperor.  the  New  England  and  the 

Middle  States,  and  as  far  west  as  Michi- 
gan and  Chicago.  There  were  two 
shocks,  each  lasting  a  few  seconds.  The 
interval  between  the  two  was  brief.  It 
occurred  in  the  forenoon.  The  observed 
time  varied  at  different  places  from  1 1 145 
to  1 1  :oo.  This  earthquake  was  regarded 
as  quite  a  phenomenon,  and  became  the 
subject  of  much  scientific  investigation. 

1870.  Oct.  19.  The  Cambria,  of 
New  York,  was  lost  on  the  Irish  coast, 
with  170  lives. 

1870.  October.  Orelie,  a  pretended 
emperor  of  Chili,  attempted  to  place  a 
small  army  in  the  field,  but  as  soon  as  the 
government  began  to  take  action  in  the 


matter,  he  had  disappeared,  and  his  fol- 
lowers were  then  desirous  of  making 
peace. 

1870.  Nov.  4.  At  a  trial  of  brick- 
laying in  Philadelphia,  W.  D.  Cozzens 
laid  702  bricks  in  12  minutes. 

1870.  Dec.  13.  At  a  trial  of  strength 
in  New  York,  R.  A.  Pennell  put  up  a 
ten  pound  dumb  bell  8,431  times  in  4 
hours,  34  minutes. 

1870.  Dec.  24.  Rev.  Albert  Barnes, 
D.  D.,  an  American  author  and  clergy- 
man, died  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.  He  was 
born  in  Rome,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  i,  1798.  He 
graduated  at  Hamilton  College  in  1820. 
He  was  the  author  of  several  religious 
books;  was  an  able  and  eloquent  min- 
ister of  the  gospel.  Over  a  million  vol- 
umes of  his  "  Notes  on  the  New  Testa- 
ment" were  sold  at  home  and  abroad. 
At  the  division  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  into  "New  School"  and  the 
"  Old  School,"  he  was  one  of  the  active 
"New  School"  leaders. 

1870.  The  great  East  River  bridge* 
between  New  York  and  Brooklyn  was- 
begun,  and  is  not  yet  finished.  Its  span 
across  the  water  reaches  1,595  feet,  and  it 
hangs  135  feet  above  the  river  surface. 
It  is  swallowing  up  millions  of  money. 

1870.  The  first  narrow  gauge  rail- 
way, the  "  Denver  &  Rio  Grande,"  was 
constructed  between  Denver  and  Colo- 
rado city. 

1870.  The  American  steamship 
company  of  Philadelphia  was  formed. 
Four  iron  steamers  were  put  upon  the 
ocean,  and  composed  the  only  European 
line  carrying  the  American  flag. 

1870.  The  ninth  census  of  the  United 
States  was  taken,  and  gave  a  population 
of  38,558,371.  It  was  taken  at  a  cost  of 
$3»336,5 1 1 41.  The  increase  since  1860 
had  been  22.65  Per  cent.,  or  about  ten  per 


758 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT 


cent,  less  than  in  any  other  decade,  owing 
to  the  Civil  War. 

1870.  The  first  census  was  taken  in 
Colombia,  South  America. 

1870.  The  National  Association  of 
American  Colleges  for  Bowing  was 
organized,  and  arrangements  made  for 
contests,  which  are  held  annually  on  the 
commencement  reunion  at  Saratoga. 

1870.  The  congress  of  Colombia, 
S.  A.,  approved  a  new  treaty  with  the 
United  States,  for  an  inter-oceanic  canal 
across  the  Isthmus  of  Darien.  There  is 
mo.  Dec.  25.  a  clause  in  the  treaty  to  the 
Mont  Cent's  tun-  effect  that  Colombia  cannot 

nel  completed.  ^^  exclusive  right  to  the 

United  States,  or  any  other  power,  to 
send  armed  vessels  through  the  canal  in 
time  of  war.  The  president  of  the 
United  States  ordered  a  thorough  exam- 
ination of  the  Isthmus,  and  a  survey  of  a 

route. 

ISTHMUS  EXPLORATION. 

1870.  The  United  States  undertook 
two  quite  extensive  surveys  for  inter- 
oceanic  communication,  one  of  them 
across  the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  the  other 
across  the  Isthmus  of  Tehuantepec.  The 
report  upon  the  latter  route  was  that  a 
canal  could  be  cut  without  much  diffi- 
culty. A  route  was  found  across  the 
Isthmus  of  Darien  which  was  judged 
favorably  by  the  other  party. 


1870.  The  Swedish  Arctic  expedi- 
tion collected  a  number  of  aerolites  on 
the  coast  of  Greenland,  and  carried  them 
to  Stockholm.  The  following  year 
another  collection  was  made.  The 
largest  aerolite  weighed  twenty-five  tons; 
the  next  largest,  ten  tons.  These  were  the 
same  that  Captain  Ross  learned  of  from 
the  Esquimaux  in  1818.  Some  as  large 
have  been  found  in  Mexico  and  Brazil. 


1871.  Jan.  10.  The  great  miners' 
strike  began  in  the  coal  mines  of  Penn- 
sylvania. The  reduction  of  wages  by  the 
operators  was  the  cause. 

1871.  Jan.  11.  The  San  Domingo 
commission  bill  was  passed  by  congress. 
According  to  the  resolution  of  congress, 
President  Grant  appointed  three  commis- 
sioners, B.  F.  Wade  of  Ohio,  A.  D. 
White  of  New  York,  and  S.  G.  Howe  of 
Massachusetts,  to  visit  San  Domingo, 
and  report  upon  the  condition  of  affairs 
in  the  island.  The  report  made  to  con- 
gress, in  April,  1871,  was  highly  favor- 
able to  annexation,  but  it  did  not  meet 
with  any  success,  and  the  whole  matter 
lapsed. 

1871.     Jan.    12.      Italian  unity   was 
the  subject  of  a  great  meet-    18n_    January_ 
ing  held  in  New  York  to    Paris  bom- 
express  sympathy  with  the 
efforts  of  Italian  patriots,  and  to  record  the 
joy  at  the  progress  made  in  the  direction 
of  unifying  that  land. 

GEORGE  TICKNOR. 

1871.  Jan.  26.  George  Ticknor, 
LL.  D.,  one  of  the  greatest  scholars  of 
America,  died  in  Boston.  He  was  born 
in  that  city  on  August  i,  1791,  and  grad- 
uated from  Dartmouth  College  in  1807. 
He  made  a  special  study  of  the  classics 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  1813  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  but  never  practiced. 
From  1815  to  1820  he  visited  Europe. 
On  his  return  he  became  professor  of 
French  and  Spanish  in  Harvard  College, 
which  position  he  resigned  in  1835,  to 
again  go  abroad.  From  this  time  until 
1849  he  was  engaged  on  a  "History  of 
Spanish  Literature."  This  became  the 
standard  authority  on  the  subject  on 
which  it  treats,  and  was  translated  into 
the  Spanish  and  German  languages. 


1869-1870.] 

The  citizens  of  Boston  are  greatly  in- 
debted to  him  for  the  success  of  their 
public  library.  He  contributed  a  biog- 
raphy of  Lafayette  to  the  North  Ameri- 
can Review,  and  was  also  the  author  of 
a  number  of  other  papers.  He  was  the 
personal  friendiof  Prescott,  the  historian, 
and  while  in  Europe  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  many  distinguished  men.  He 
was  a  friend  of  Goethe,  Scott,  Madame 
DC  Stael,  Byron,  Southey  and  others. 
America  owes  to  him  a  debt  of  gratitude 
for  his  service  in  the  field  of  literature. 


THE  PROBLEMS   OF  TO-DAY. 


759 


1871.  January.  A  rebellion  broke 
out  in  the  state  of  Boyaca,  in  Colombia, 
S.  A.,  against  the  administration  of  Presi- 
dent Perez.  The  insurgents  prepared  to 
invade  Funja,  the  capital,  and  were  de- 
feated after  a  few  minor  engagements,  at 
Saruca,  in  February.  One  hundred  men 
of  the  rebel  forces  were  killed  and 
wounded. 

1871.  Feb.  1.  The  government  of 
Honduras  declared  war  against  Presi- 
dent Duenas,  of  San  Salvador.  Several 
leading  officers  of  San  Salvador  deserted 
their  president,  and  joined  the  forces  of 
the  Honduras  government.  President 
Duenas  was  also  obliged  to  contend 
against  revolution  at  home.  Minor  con- 
flicts took  place  occasionally  until  April 
yth,  when  a  decisive  battle  began  at  San- 
tana,  and  lasted  three  days.  The  troops 
of  San  Salvador  were  overwhelmed,  and 
anarchy  reigned  supreme  in  the  republic. 
The  citizens  formed  a  tem- 
porary government,  which 
within  a*~few  days,  having 
restored  something  like  or- 
der, gave  way  to  a  new  government, 
with  Gonzalez  at  its  head  as  provisional 
president.  The  new  administration  was 
enthusiastically  received  by  the  people. 


1871.    Feb.  26. 
Treaty    of  peace 
arranged  be- 
liveen  France 
and  Germany. 


Full  liberty  of  the  press  was  declared  at 
this  time  by  the  new  power. 

1871.     Feb.  6.     A  collision  occurred 
near  Hamburg,  N.   Y.,  on  the   Hudson 
River    railroad,  in    which    i87i    Feb  6> 
twenty-one    persons    were    Amnesty 

.  ...      ,  ,          ,  ,  declared  in 

killed,  and  a  large  number    Austriafor polit. 
wounded.      A  freight  train    ical  offenders. 
had  been  partially  thrown  from  the  track, 
and  was  run  into  by  an  express  train. 

1871.  Feb.  9.  A  United  States  fish 
commission  was  created  by  congress. 
Professor  Spencer  F.  Baird  was  ap- 
pointed commissioner.  The  object  was 
the  study  of  the  food  fishes  of  the  coast, 
the  promotion  of  fish  culture,  and  the 
stocking  of  exhausted  waters.  Many 
valuable  researches  have  been  made 
since  this  date.  Millions  of  shad,  salmon, 
and  white  fish  have  been  hatched  and 
placed  in  lakes  and  rivers. 

ALICE  CART 

1871.  Feb.  12.  Alice  Gary,  widely 
known  as  a  writer  of  poems  and  sketches, 
died  in  New  York  at  the  age  of  fifty 
years.  Her  birthplace  was  near  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  where  she  was  born  April 
26,  1820.  She  did  not  receive  much 
education  in  her  youth,  and  began  writ- 
ing poetry  when  eighteen  years  old. 
From  1850  she  and  her  gifted  sister, 
Phoebe,  lived  in  New  York  city,  and 
constantly  entertained  at  their  delightful 
home  the  literary  people  of  the  time. 
The  little  gatherings  in  their  pleasant 
rooms  were  a  source  of  great  pleasure  to 
a  large  circle.  There  is  nothing  artificial 
about  the  productions  of  Miss  Gary,  but 
they  are  always  sweet  and  tender,  and 
real.  She  was  a  great  sufferer  for  a  long 
time  at  the  last,  but  was  full  of  resigna- 
tion and  cheer.  Her  published  works 
number  about  thirteen  volumes. 


760 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1871.  Feb.  16.  A  Japanese  em- 
bassy arrived  in  San  Francisco.  One  of 
the  mission,  Mr.  Mori,  was  to  represent 
his  country  at  Washington  as  charge 
d"1  affaires.  He  was  the  first  minister 
sent  by  the  Japanese  government  to  re- 
side in  a  foreign  land. 

TREATY  OF  WASHINGTON. 

1871.  Feb.  27.  A  joint  high  com- 
mission, composed  of  five  British  and 
five  American  statesmen,  assembled  at 
Washington  for  the  purpose  of  settling 
the  Alabama  difficulty,  and  other  ques- 
tions. During  the  Civil  War  the  Eng- 
lish government,  in  plain  violation  of  in- 
ternational law,  had  permitted  cruisers  to 
assist  the  confederacy  in  naval  operations. 
Much  damage  was  done  by  these  British 
cruisers,  but  more  by  the  Alabama  than 
any  other  vessel.  The  result  of  the  dis- 
cussions of  the  committee,  which  came  to 
an  end  May  8th,  was  the  Treaty  of 
Washington,  by  which  the  claims  of  the 
two  nations  against  each  other  should  be 
submitted  to  four  boards  of  arbitration. 
The  Alabama  claims  were  to  be  sub- 
mitted to  a  tribunal  to  sit  at  Geneva, 
Switzerland;  the  general  claims  of  other 
kinds  to  a  tribunal  to  sit  at  Washington, 
D.  C.;  the  San  Juan  boundary  question 
to  the  decision  of  the  German  emperor, 
and  the  coast  fishery  question  to  a  tri- 
bunal to  sit  at  Halifax. 


1871.  February.  A  slave  insurrec- 
tion was  quelled  in  the  province  of 
Minas  Geraes,  Brazil. 

CIVIL  SERVICE  REFORM. 

1871.  March  3.  An  act  of  congress 
was  passed,  in  accordance  with  which  a 
board  of  seven  commissioners  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Grant  to  investi- 


gate the  question  of  making  reforms  in 
the  manner  of  government  appointments, 
and  of  establishing  a  set  of  rules  to  deter- 
mine qualifications  of  applicants.  George 
William  Curtis  of  New  York,  was  made 
chairman.  This  agitation  had  extended 
widely  among  the  people,  and  a  large 
number  of  voters  were  ready  to  be 
swayed  one  way  or  the  other,  according 
as  this  object  could  or  could  not  be  at- 
tained. 

1871.      March  6.     A  terrible    scene 

took  place  in  the  court  house  at  Meridian, 
Miss.  The  presiding  judge,  Brambette, 
and  several  negroes  were  killed. 

STANLEY  AND  LIVINGSTONE. 

1871.  March  21.  Henry  M.  Stan- 
ley, the  traveler,  set  out  from  Zanzibar  on 
his  first  trip  into  the  interior  of  Africa,  to 
make  a  determined  search  for  Dr.  Living- 
stone, as  he  had  been  commissioned  by 
Tames  Gordon  Bennett, pro- 

•J  1871.    March  1. 

prietor    of  the    New     York      Paris  entered  by 

Herald.  One  hundred  and  G"™*"™*- 
ninety-two  followers  accompanied  him. 
The  trip  was  successful,  though  many  long 
doubted  it.  Dr.  Livingstone  was  found 
on  Nov.  10,  at  Ujiji,  on  Lake  Tangan- 
yika. Stanley  returned  the  next  season, 
and  gave  his  information  to  the  world. 
Honors  were  conferred  upon  him  by 
many.  Stanley  was  born  near  Denbigh, 
Wales,  in  1840.  He  drifted  round  the 
world  from  an  early  age.  John  Row- 
lands was  his  true  name.  The  present 
name  he  took  from  a  merchant  who  em- 
ployed and  adopted  him  in  New  Orleans. 
He  traveled  extensively  before  his 
African  trips. 

1871.     March  31.     British  Columbia 

was  received  into  the  Dominion  of  Can* 


1869-1876.J  THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 

ada.  The  former,  before  giving  consent  to 
this  union,  made  an  express 

'March  1&. 


1871. 

Commune  at 
Paris. 


stipulation  that  the  latter 
should  build  a  railroad 
from  the  Province  of  Ontario  to  the  Pa- 
cific coast,  to  be  finished  in  1881.  It  was 
hoped  that  this  would  become  a  favorite 
line  for  Chinese  and  Japanese  trade. 

1871.  March.  The  yellow  fever 
raged  terribly  near  the  city  of  Buenos 
Ayres,  and  carried  off  26,000  people  in 
100  days.  Business  was  everywhere 
prostrated,  and  hundreds  of  people  fled 
for  their  lives. 

1871.  April  11.  A  treaty  of  indefi- 
nite truce  between  Chili  and  Peru  on  the 
one  hand,  and  Spain  on  the  other,  was 
signed  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

KU-KLUX  BILL. 

1871.  April  20.  Congress  passed  a 
bill  for  the  enforcement  of  the  XlVth 
amendment,  which  came  to  be  called  the 
Ku-Klux  bill,  because  it  provided  for  the 
bringing  of  offenders  against  the  recon- 
struction efforts  before  the  U.  S.  courts. 


1871.  April  30.  The  massacre  of 
.one  hundred  Apache  Indians  who  were 
United  States  captives,  was  committed  at 
Camp  Grant,  Arizona,  by  enraged  set- 
tlers, both  Mexican  and  American,  who 
had  suffered  from  them. 

1871.  May  1.  The  "legal  tender" 
act  of  the  United  States  was  declared 
constitutional  by  the  supreme  court. 

1871.  May  19.  A  terrible  explosion 
of  a  load  of  nitro-glycerine  took  place 
near  Titusville,  Penn.  The  explosive 
was  loaded  in  cans.  Everything  in  the 
vicinity  was  shattered,  and  a  large  exca- 
vation, twelve  feet  wide  and  five  feet 
deep,  was  made  in  the  road  beneath  the 
carriage. 


761 

1871.  May  27.  A  mine  disaster  oc- 
curred at  West  Pittston,  Pa.,  in  which 
about  twenty  men  perished  300  feet  be- 
low the  surface  of  the  ground. 

1871.  May.  A  revolution  in  Guate- 
mala, under  Granados,  overthrew  Presi- 
dent Cerna,  and  elevated  the  former  to 
the  presidency.  A  counter  revolution  in 
behalf  of  the  deposed  president,  led  to  the 
banishment  of  the  archbishop  of  Guate- 
mala, and  the  Jesuits  who  were  con- 
cerned in  kindling  it. 

1871.  May.  The  revolution  in  the 
United  States  of  Colombia  was  brought 
to  a  close  in  an  engagement  at  Tilpa, 
where  the  insurgents  were  completely 
routed,  and  many  of  them  slaughtered  by 
1,000  government  troops.  The  insur- 
gents numbered  eight  hundred. 

1871.  May.  An  attempted  revolu- 
tion in  Peru  was  checked. 

1871.  June  11.  Several  Corean 
fortifications  on  the  river  Ham,  were 
bombarded  and  captured  by  a  United 
States  squadron  under  Admiral  Rodgers, 
because  a  short  time  before  the  squadron 
had  been  fired  upon  by  Corean  batteries 
while  it  was  engaged  in  making  certain 
surveys  of  the  river  in  the  interests  of 
commerce.  Prisoners  were  taken  by 
Admiral  Rodgers,  but  were  freed  very 
soon. 

1871.  June  17.  Clement  L.  Val- 
landigham,  the  Ohio  democrat,  chiefly 
known  for  the  bold  stand  he  took  in  op- 
position to  the  Union  cause  in  the  war, 
and  his  subsequent  arrest  and  exile  in 
Canada,  died.  He  had  been  a  lawyer, 
and  an  editor,  and  at  times  held  political 
office.  The  last  years  of  his  life  were 
spent  in  Ohio,  and  he  became  known 
finally  for  supporting  the  idea  that  the 
democratic  party  should  take  a  "new 
departure." 


762 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1871.  June  18.  A  severe  earth- 
quake shock  was  felt  on  Long  Island 
and  Staten  Island,  N.  Y. 

1871.  June  29.  The  Polaris,  under 
Charles  Francis  Hall,  and  fitted  out  by 
an  appropriation  from  congress,  sailed 
from  New  York  to  make  an  attempt  to 
reach  the  open  polar  sea.  This  was  the 
last  voyage  of  the  lamented  leader,  who 
died  in  Greenland. 

1871.  June.  The  first  woman  ad- 
mitted to  the  American  Institute  of 
Homeopathy  in  Philadelphia  was  Dr. 
Mercy  B.  Jackson  of  Boston. 

1871.  July  5.  A  severe  earthquake 
shock  was  felt  at  Visalia,  Cal. 

1871.  July  9.  A  terrible  storm  did 
great  damage  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  de- 
stroyed many  lives. 

1871.  July  12.  A  great  riot  oc- 
curred in  New  York  between  the  Orange- 
men and  the  Irish  Catholics.  The 
Catholics  were  determined  to  prevent 
the  Orangemen  from  parading  on  the 
1 2th,  in  celebration  of  the  battle  of  the 
Boyne.  The  Orangemen  in  their  pa- 
rade were  lawlessly  attacked.  The 're- 
sult, as  reported  at  the  time,  was  sixty- 
seven  persons  killed,  and  one  hundred 
and  thirty-seven  wounded. 

1871.  July  18.  A  great  fire  in 
Gaudeloupe,  W.  I.,  left  nearly  30,000 
persons  homeless. 

1871.  July  30.  The  steamer  West- 
field  exploded,  and  nearly  100  persons 

were  killed. 

PHOEBE  CART 

1871.  July  31.  Phoebe  Gary,  younger 
sister  of  Alice  Gary,  died  in  Newport, 
R.  I.,  at  the  age  of  forty-seven  years. 
She  was  born  Sept.  4,  1824,  and  de- 
veloped considerable  talent  during  her 
life.  Her  experience  was  very  much  like 
that  of  her  sister,  and  in  their  New  York 


home  they  came  to  be  very  near  to  one 
another.  In  the  last  sickness  of  Alice, 
Phoebe  was  her  "  ministering  angel." 
The  latter  published  four  or  five  volumes, 
and  is  best  known  by  the  tender  hymn, 
"  Nearer  Home,"  which  she  wrote  in  1842. 


1871.  Sept.  13.  Whaling  Disaster. 
The  Arctic  whaling  fleet,  consisting  of 
38  vessels,  nearly  all  of  which  were  from 
New  Bedford,  Mass.,  became  packed  in 
the  ice,  and  thirty-one  were  either  crushed 
or  abandoned.  The  fleet  passed  Behring's 
Strait  in  June,  engaged  in  whale  fishing 
for  a  month,  and  then  worked  its  way 
north  as  far  as  Wainwright  Inlet,  Alaska. 
Here,  after  'whaling  for  a  time,  the  ice 
began  to  gather  around  them,  and  be- 
cause the  fleet  had  provisions  for  three  or 
four  months  only,  it  was  decided  to  escape 
by  row  boats  to  some  of  the  vessels  still  in 
open  water.  This  was  safely  done,  and 
the  seven  vessels  sailed  for  the  Sandwich 
Islands.  The  lost  ships  had  on  board 
14,255  barrels  of  oil. 

1871.  Aug.  2.  The  first  narrow 
gauge  cars  ever  built  or  used  in  America* 
arrived  at  Denver,  Col.,  to  be  placed  upon 
the  Denver  and  Colorado  railroad.  The 
cars  were  each  35  feet  long,  7  feet  wide, 
10^  feet  high,  and  carry  36  passengers. 
The  sills  of  the  car  were  27  inches  from 
the  ground,  instead  of  45  inches,  as  in  an 
ordinary  car. 

1871.  Aug.  20.  A  destructive  fire 
raged  at  Williamsport,  Penn.,  and  de- 
stroyed property  to  the  amount  of  $2,- 
000,000. 

1871.  Aug.  26.  A  terrible  railroad 
accident  occurred  near  Boston,  Mass.,  at 
Revere  Station,  in  which  thirty-three 
lives  were  lost,  and  many  persons  were 
injured.  A  crowded  local  train  was  run 
into  at  its  rear  by  an  express  train. 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  7'O-DAT. 


763 


1871.  August.  In  Peru  a  fruitless 
attempt  was  made  to  overthrow  the  gov- 
ernment of  President  Balta.  The  con- 
spirators were  arrested. 

1871.  September.  Slavery  was  abol- 
i87i.  Sept.i.  ished  in  Brazil  in  the  case 

Thiers  became  of  a\\  slaves    Owned   by  the 

President  of  , 

France  for  government,  by  an  act  de- 

ihreeyears.  daring  them  free  at  once. 

It  also  declared  all  colored  children  born 
thereafter,  to  be  free. 

1871.  Oct.  1.  A  military  revolt 
occurred  in  the  City  of  Mexico,  and  was 
only  suppressed  after  much  bloodshed. 

GREAT  FIRES. 

1871.  Oct.  8.  One  of  the  most  appal- 
ling calamities  that  our  history  records, 
befell  the  people  of  Northeastern  Wis- 
consin on  and  before  this  date.  A  con- 
flagration, the  occurrence  of  which  was 
itself  almost  a  phenomenon,  destroyed 
forests,  homes,  farms,  villages,  and  over 
one  thousand  lives;  it  made  three  thou- 
sand people  destitute.  The  surviving 
spectators  declare  the  fire  to  have  been 
accompanied  by  a  violent  hurricane.  It 
extended  over  a  district  ten  miles  wide, 
and  of  indefinite  length.  At  Peshtigo, 
one  of  the  towns  swept  out  of  existence^ 
and  vicinity,  six  hundred  lives  were  lost. 
The  people  were  suddenly  aroused  on 
going  from  church  by  a  loud  roar,  like 
the  coming  of  a  storm.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments the  heavens  were  lit  up  by  the 
light  of  the  approaching  fire,  and  almost 
before  the  people  were  aware  of  its  ap- 
proach, the  tornado  of  fire  enveloped 
them.  Unlike  the  city  of  Chicago,  enter- 
prise could  not  rebuild  forests  and  crops; 
consequently  the  devastation  was  terrible. 
The  actual  loss  would  probably  be  placed 
at  about  $4,000,000. 

1871.     Oct.  8-9.      The  Chicago  fire, 


the  greatest  conflagration  since  the  burn- 
ing of  Moscow  in  1812,  occurred.  The 
fire  broke  out  in  an  out-of-the-way  por- 
tion of  the  city,  on  De  Koven  street,  and 
originated  from  the  explosion  of  a  lamp 
kicked  over  by  an  angry  cow — probably 
the  most  noted  cow  in  the  world's  his- 
tory. The  flames,  fanned  by  the  wind, 
spread  over  the  city,  and  thousands  of 
homes  and  industries  were  changed  into 
blackened  and  desolate  ruins.  The  num- 
ber of  buildings  destroyed  was  17,450, 
covering  about  2,124  acres,  a  tract  of 
land  nearly  four  miles  long,  and  one  mile 
wide.  One  thousand  six  hundred  stores, 
28  hotels,  60  churches,  and  1,500  dwell- 
ings, were  burned.  The  loss  was  almost 
$175,000,000.  The  insurance  was  $98,- 
000,000,  and  was  distributed  among  two 
hundred  insurance  companies,  sixty -four 
of  whom  failed  in  consequence  of  their 
losses.  Ninety-eight  thousand  were  made 
homeless,  and  250  lives  were  lost.  Fifty 
thousand  of  the  homeless  inhabitants  left 
the  city  in  a  short  time.  Great  contri- 
butions were  sent  in  from  all  over  the 
country,  and  some  from  across  the  ocean. 
At  this  date  hardly  a  trace  of  the  fire  re- 
mains. Chicago  was  rebuilt  on  a  much 
grander  scale,  and  now  her  population 
has  doubled  itself. 


1871.  Oct.  12.  President  Grant  is- 
sued a  proclamation  commanding  the  Ku- 
Klux  bands  to  disperse  in  South  Car- 
olina. 

GEN.  ROBERT  ANDERSON. 

1871.  Oct.  26.  Major-general  Rob- 
ert Anderson,  known  for  his  connection 
with  Fort  Sumter,  died  at  Nice,  France, 
aged  sixty-six  years.  He  was  born  at 
"  Soldier's  Retreat,"  near  Louisville,  Ky., 
June  15,  1805.  At  twenty  years  of  age 
he  graduated  from  West  Point,  and  was 


764 


PRESENT  DE  VELOPMENT. 


steadily  connected  with  the  army.  His 
services  were  always  valuable.  He  went 
through  the  "Black  Hawk"  war,  the 
Florida  war,  and  the  Mexican  war.  He 
was  quite  badly  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Molino  del  Rey,  in  the  latter.  At  one 
time  he  instructed  at  West  Point.  Fail- 
ing health  prevented  him  from  serving 
through  the  Civil  War,  and  he  withdrew 

c5  ' 

with  a  brevet  as  major-general.  He  was 
in  Europe  from  1868  till  his  death.  A 
manual  of  his  preparation,  from  the 
French,  has  been  of  constant  use  in  the 
war  department. 

THOMAS  EWIXG. 

1871.     Oct.  26.     Thomas  Ewing,  an 
American  statesman  of  a  former  genera- 
tion,   died    at     Lancaster,    Ohio,    aged 
eighty-one  years.     He  was  born  in  Ohio 
county,  Va.,  December   28,  1789.     His 
early  days  were  like  the  days  of  many 
American  public  men,  days  of  hard  work 
and  small   means.      He   earned    money 
enough  to  enable  him  to  go  through  col- 
lege, by  working  in  the   Kanawha  salt 
works.      He  was   admitted  to   the    bar 
in  1816,  and  rapidly  took  rank  with  the 
leaders  of  those   days.     He  rose  in   his 
practice,  to  the   United    States   supreme 
court.     He  was  in  the  United  States  sen- 
ate   from     1831-1837,   and    was  promi- 
nent in  all  matters.    He  was  instrumental 
in  putting  the  postoffice  department  on 
a  reorganized  basis.     Under  Harrison  and 
Tyler  he  was  secretary  of  the  treasury. 
He  resigned  at  the  exodus  from  Tyler's 
cabinet.     The  department  of  the  interior 
was  oi'ganized  by  him,  and  he  became 
its  first  secretary,  under  President  Taylor. 
He  afterward  served  again  as  secretary 
of  the  treasury,  and  also  in  the  senate. 
He  was    an    able,   vigorous    man    and 
thinker,  and  a  whig  in  politics. 


TAMMA.VY  RLYG  BROKEN  UP. 
1871.  Oct.  28.  The  first  official 
action  was  taken  against  the  fraudulent 
"  Ring  "  in  New  York,  which  had  at  its 
head  Wm.  M.  Tweed.  Tweed  was  ar- 
rested, most  of  his  accomplices  having 
fled,  and  gave  bail  for  $  i  ,000,000.  By 
a  process  of  fraud,  w'hich  had  been  go- 
ing on  for  a  number  of  years,  millions  of 
dollars  were  stolen  from  the  public  treas- 
ury of  the  city.  The  wrath  of  the  citi- 
zens now  began  to  make  itself  felt. 


1871.      October.      Benito  Juarez,  in 

this  month,  was  reelected  president  of 
Mexico.  He  selected  an  able  cabinet  to 
assist  him  in  administering  the  affairs  of 
the  government,  which,  under  his  ad- 
ministration, wei'e  ably  and  efficiently 
managed. 

1871.  Nov.  5.  The  sinking  of  the 
floor  of  the  African  Baptist  church  at 
Louisville,  Ky.,  caused  a  serious  loss  of 
life.  In  the  struggle  to  escape  from  the 
building,  eleven  persons  were  killed,  and 
many  seriously  injured. 

CHARLES  FRAJWIS  HALL. 

1871.  Nov.  8.  Charles  F.  Hall,  the 
Arctic  explorer,  who  had  set  out  with 
such  high  hopes  in  the  Polaris,  died  sud- 
denly in  Greenland,  aged  fifty  years.. 
The  first  of  his  life  was  spent  in  black- 
smithing,  and  a  later  period  in  journal- 
ism. In  some  way  he  became  interested 
in  the  efforts  to  find  Sir  John  Franklin, 
and  by  his  first  experiences  in  the  Arctic 
regions,  became  very  fully  acquainted 
with  northern  life.  It  was  supposed  by 
some  that  he  was  poisoned,  but  it  is 
judged  by  the  best  authorities  that  he 
died  of  apoplectic  troubles.  His  death 
was  a  great  loss  to  Arctic  researches,  to 
which  he  had  contributed  largely. 


1869-1876.] 

1871.      Nov.    13.      A    severe   storm 

raged  in  the  Central  and  Southern  states. 
The  tide  reached  a  higher  point  than  at 
any  time  since  1851,  and  during  the 
storm  many  birds  which  were  native  to 
the  Arctic  regions  were  picked  up  on  the 
coast. 

1871.  Nov.  16.  A  mining  disaster 
occurred  by  the  falling  of  the  roof  of  the 
mine  under  Hyde  Park,  a  part  of  Scran- 
ton,  Penn.  The  props  had  given  way, 
.and  an  area  of  twenty  acres,  thickly  cov- 
ered with  buildings,  fell  three  feet.  The 
damage  amounted  to  $50,000. 

GRAND  DUKE  ALEXIS. 

1871.  Nov.  18.  The  Russian  fleet  ar- 
rived in  New  York  with  the  Grand  Duke 
Alexis.  On  the  2oth  a  reception  was 
given  to  the  Grand  Duke  in  New  York, 
and  on  the  23d  he  visited  the  president 
and  the  capitol  at  Washington.  His  tour 
was  one  of  great  pleasure  to  all  parties, 
leaving  pleasant  impressions. 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT.  765 

by  that  professional  revolutionist,  Morales. 


1871.  Nov.  22.  A  steamer  was 
burned  between  New  York  and  Nor- 
wich, Conn.  The  fire  was  discovered  as 
the  steamer  was  entering  the  Thames 
River,  and  after  being  once  extinguished, 
burst  forth  a  second  time  in  such  fury  that 
access  to  life  boats  and  preservers  became 
impossible,  and  the  passengers  and  crew 
attempted  to  save  themselves  by  swim- 
ming. A  portion  were  rescued,  but 
seventeen  lives  were  lost.  The  boat  and 
cargo  were  a  total  loss. 

1871.  Nov.  23.  Melgarejo,  the  Bo- 
livian dictator,  was  killed  by  his  son-in- 
law.  His  death  occurred  a  few  months 
after  he  had  been  deposed  and  succeeded 
by  Morales,  who  was  also  killed  within  a 
year.  This  was  the  final  result  of 
the  third  revolution  instigated  and  led 


He  had  returned  to  Bolivia,    i87i.   NOV.  28. 
while  President  Melgarejo    ^aders  °{ 

•>         Commune  shot  in 

was  absent  from  the  capital,  Paris. 
La  Paz,  crushing  rebellion  in  other  parts. 
The  President  returned  from  his  expedi- 
tion to  find  the  city  fortified,  and  in  arms 
against  him.  The  revolutionists,  being 
poorly  armed  to  contend  with  Melgarejo's 
well-armed  force,  incited  20,000  Indians 
to  attack  him,  while  Morales  should  set 
fire  to  the  city.  The  plan  was  successful. 
Melgarejo  was  defeated,  and  fled  into 
Peru.  Morales  took  charge  of  the  gov- 
ernment. The  city  was  first  plundered 
and  the  people  outraged  by  the  savages, 
who  had  been  for  many  years  held  in  ab- 
solute subjection. 

1871.  Nov.  28.  Mrs.  Bridget  Carroll 
of  New  York,  died  at  the  age  of  102  years. 
She  had  ten  children,  thirty-seven  grand- 
children, and  four  great  grand-children. 
Her  teeth  were  perfectly  sound  till  almost 
the  last  years  of  her  life,  and  her  eye- 
sight until  the  last  year  enabled  her  to 
thread  a  fine  needle  without  glasses. 

1871.  Dec.  16.  Catacazy,  Russian 
minister,  was  called  home  at  the  request 
of  the  United  States  government,  because 
of  discourtesy  to  the  authorities. 

1871.  December.  In  Mexico  many  of 
the  states  were  in  a  state  of  anarchy,  and  a 
complete  prostration  of  business  occurred 
in  many  places.  The  revolution  had 
taken  shape  from  numerous  minor  revo- 
lutions that  had  been  continually  arising 
during  the  year.  The  rebels  now  had 
almost  entire  control  of  the  states  of  Du- 
rango,  Coahuiha,  Nuevo  Leon,  Sonora, 
Oaxaca,  and  several  others.  1871-  ,,  Old 
The  government  was  op-  Cathoik "  mwe- 

i  11-1  i    •        ment  in  Ger- 

posed    on    all  sides,  and  it    many^ 
seemed  for  a  time  that    the    insurgents 
would  reduce  the  whole  republic  to  a  state 


766 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


of  anarchy,  although  the  government  was 
still  confident  of  success.  At  this  time 
the  question  of  annexation  to  the  United 
States  was  freely  discussed. 

OLEOMARGARINE. 

1871.  The  first  patent  for  this  sub- 
stance was  granted  to  H.  W.  Bradley. 
It  is  manufactured  by  churning  different 
kinds  of  fat  with  milk.  Sometimes  a  lit- 
tle cream  is  added.  The  sale  of  the  ar- 
ticle has  been  very  large,  because  it  could 
be  put  upon  the  market  at  a  cheaper  rate 
than  pure  butter  could  be.  Some  of  it 
can  be  told  from  genuine  butter  only  with 
difficulty. 

1871.     Dr.  Mary  P.  Jacob!  of  New 

York,  was  the  first  woman  to  graduate 
from  the  Paris  Ecole  de  Medicin.  She 
1871.  Rome  had  previously  been  the  first 
made  the  capital  woman  to  graduate  from 

of  Italy  by  Victor 

Emanuei.  the  College  of  Pharmacy, 

New  York.  The  second  prize  was  con- 
ferred upon  her  in  Paris  for  her  gradu- 
ating thesis. 

AVON  DALE  MINE  DISASTER. 

1871.  The  Avondale  disaster  in  the 
Wyoming  Valley,  Penn.,  originated  in 
the  ignition  of  some  overheated  timbers 
in  a  shaft,  and  the  consequent  burning  of 
manv  of  the  supports  of  the  tunnels. 
The  situation  was  one  of  great  difficulty, 
and  100  or  more  miners  lost  their  lives. 


1871.  At  a  yacht  race  in  New  York 
harbor  the  "  Magic,"  an  American  sloop, 
won  the  "  Queen's  cup  "  over  all  others, 
running  forty-three  miles  in  four  hours, 
seven  minutes,  and  fifty-four  seconds. 

1871.  Professor  Agassiz's  deep-sea 
dredging  expedition  in  the  steamer  Has- 
seler,  sailed  around  Cape  Horn.  Several 


eminent  scientists  accompanied  him. 
Worthy  results  were  obtained  from  the 
trip. 

1871.  The  first  free  public  schools  in 
Texas  were  opened  in  Austin. 

1871.  The  Province  of  Ontario  in 
Canada  became  very  active  in  the  build- 
ing of  factories.  Canadian  cheese  and 
butter  attained  a  great  reputation  in  the 
commercial  world,  and  the  exports  be- 
came large. 

1871.  The  Apache  Indians  killed 
during  the  year  a  large  number  of  white 
settlers.  The  number  is  estimated  at 
about  200.  Much  property  was  also 
destroyed. 

1871.  Several  riots,  resulting  in  the 
killing  of  many  Chinamen,  occurred  in 
California. 

1871.  A  great  interest  was  taken  in 
the  promotion  of  general  education  by 
Sarmiento,  the  illustrious  President  of  the 
Argentine  Confederation.  A  large  num- 
ber of  schools  and  colleges  were  estab- 
lished in  the  different  provinces.  Several 
railroads  and  telegraph  lines  were  also 
put  into  operation. 

1871.  At  the  beginning  of  the  year 
Lopez  Jordan,  the  rebel  commander,  had 
at  his  disposal  about  15,000  troops,  but  in 
April  he  was  routed  by  the  national  force, 
and  the  province  of  Entre  Rios  subju- 
gated and  pacified.  Only  Santiago  now 
remained  under  rebel  rule. 

1871.  The  English  Windward  Isl- 
ands were  put  under  the  governor  of 
Barbadoes.  The  latter  is  the  most  im- 
portant English  station  in  the  region.  It 
is  surrounded  by  coral  reefs,  and  has  a 
healthful  climate,  though  subject  to  hur- 
ricanes. 

1871.  At  a  snow-shoe  race  in  Mon- 
treal, Canada,  J.  F.  Scholes  went  one 
mile  in  5  min.,  39^  sec. 


1869-1876.]  THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 

THE  FISKE  TRAGEDY. 
1872.     Jan.  7.    James  Fiske  was  shot 


767 


by  Stokes.  A  crime  which  agitated  the 
whole  country  because  of  the  circum- 
stances which  caused  it,  and  the  peculiar 
history  of  the  victim,  took  place  at 
the  Grand  Central  Hotel,  New  York. 
James  Fiske,  the  great  speculator  and 
man  of  the  world,  had  become  entangled 
with  Edward  S.  Stokes,  with  whom  he 
had  had  business  relations,  over  an  actress 
named  Helen  Josephine  Mansfield.  For 
some  time  she  had  been  supported  by 
Fiske,  but  finally  an  intimate  acquaint- 
ance grew  up  between  her  and  Stokes, 
which  Fiske  greatly  resented.  This  led 
to  legal  actions  between  the  two  men, 
and  it  was  because  Stokes  heard  that  his 
rival  had  begun  a  hew  process  against 
him,  that  he  found  and  shot  Fiske  on  the 
stairway  of  the  Grand  Central  Hotel. 
Both  men  had  wives,  and  the  case  pre- 
sents one  of  those  terrible  revelations  of 
society  which  lead  to  the  greater  and 
more  sensitive  guarding  of  the  home  by 
all  pure  and  upright  hearts.  The  warn- 
ing of  this  crime  was  loud  and  clear. 
Stokes  was  tried  and  sentenced  to  be 
hung,  but  was  afterward,  upon  a  new 
trial,  sent  to  Sing-Sing,  whence  he  was 
released  in  1876. 

JAMES  FISKE,  JR. 

1872.  Jan.  7.  This  daring  New 
York  speculator,  who  came  to  such  an 
«nd,  was  born  in  Pownal,  Vt.,  April  i, 
1835.  His  boyhood  was  passed  amid 
1872.  Railway  surroundings  totally  unlike 
openedin  japan,  those  of  his  later  years,  for 
his  father  was  a  poor  peddler,  unable  to 
do  anything  for  the  boy,  who  received 
only  a  scanty  common-school  education. 
After  having  tried  life  as  a  hotel  waiter, 
and  later  as  a  member  of  a  circus  com- 


pany, James,  Jr.  bought  out  his  father 
and  traversed  the  country  for  himself, 
with  a  showy,  dashing  team.  Soon  after- 
ward he  became  salesman  in  the  Boston 
house  of  Jordan,  Marsh  &  Company, 
where  in  time  he  was  made  a  partner. 
His  next  appearance  was  in  New  York, 
where  he  opened  a  broker's  office,  having 
for  capital  a  borrowed  silver  watch. 
Soon  he  ingratiated  himself  with  Daniel 
Drew,  who  placed  him  in  partnership 
with  Belden,  and  used  the  firm  in  fight- 
ing Cornelius  Vanderbilt  for  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Erie  railroad.  In  1867 
Fiske  was  one  of  three  candidates  for  the 
office  of  director,  and  a  compromise  re- 
sulted in  the  election  of  Fiske  and  Gould 
as  directors  of  the  road.  From  this  time 
on  he  conceived  and  succeeded  in  carry- 
ing through,  speculations  in  which  the 
gain  was  reckoned  by  millions.  Black 
Friday  in  September,  1869,  wi^  l°ng  be 
remembered  on  Wall  Street,  New  York, 
as  having  been  largely  due  to  his  plans 
of  speculating  in  gold.  He  was  also 
manager  of  two  lines  of  Long  Island 
Sound  steamers,  and  colonel  of  the  9th 
Regiment  of  the  New  York  State  Guard. 

1872.  Jan.  15.  A  proclamation  in 
Cuba,  issued  by  Valmaseda,  the  Spanish 
commander,  declared  that  all  Cuban  in- 
surgents who  should  be  seized  after  this 
date,  should  be  shot ;  and  that  imprison- 
ment for  life  would  be  the  lot  of  all  who 
gave  themselves  up. 

1872.  Jan.  17.  An  ice-boat  sailed 
from  Poughkeepsie  to  Hamburg  on  the 
Hudson  River,  a  distance  of  nine  miles 
in  eight  minutes. 

1872.  Jan.  18.  A  great  storm  in- 
jured the  harbor  and  shipping  of  Aspin- 
wall  on  the  Isthmus,  to  the  extent  of 
$500,000. 


768 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1872.  Feb.  17.  The  five  states  of 
Central  America  met  in  convention  at 
La  Union,  San  Salvador,  to  consider  the 
question  of  forming  another  federation, 
but  they  were  not  able  to  come  to  any 
agreement.  A  treaty  was  signed,  how- 
ever, and  certain  national  purposes  and 
enterprises  were  declared.  But  the  de- 
sired result  was  never  reached. 

1872.  Feb.  23.  A  passenger  train 
fell  twenty-five  feet  by  the  giving  away 
of  a  bridge  near  Elliston  on  the  Cincinnati 
and  Louisville  railroad.  Of  the  sixty- 
five  passengers,  nearly  all  were  killed  or 
wounded. 

1872.  February.  A  "  labor  reform  " 
convention  was  held  at  Columbus,  Ohio, 
and  nominated  Judge  David  Davis  of 
Illinois,  for  president,  and  Joel  Parker  of 
New  Jersey,  for  vice-president.  Each 
nomination  was  declined,  and  a  conven- 
tion held  later  at  Philadelphia,  nominated 
Charles  O'Conor  of  New  York,  for  presi- 
dent. No  nomination  was  made  for  vice- 
president. 

1872.  March  7.  The  Westinghouse 
brakes  saved  many  lives  on  the  night 
train  between  Boston  and  New  York, 
which  was  partially  thrown  from  the 
track  near  Springfield,  Mass.  The  por- 
tion thrown  off  fell  to  the  ice  in  the  river, 
and  the  wreck  took  fire.  But  the  prompt 
action  of  the  brakes  had  prevented  any 
sleeping  car  from  leaving  the  rails. 

1872.  March  19.  Ole  Bull,  the  cele- 
brated violinist,  narrowly  esaaped  from 
the  Clinton  House,  Iowa  City,  as  it  was 
being  burned. 

1872.  March  26.  An  explosion  in 
a  colliery  near  Ashland,  Penn.,  fatally  in- 
jured ten  men. 

1872.  March  26.  An  earthquake 
destroyed  several  towns  in  Inyo  county, 
in  the  southern  part  of  California.  About 


three  hundred  shocks  were  noticed  within 
a  few  hours,  and  nearly  one  hundred  and 
fifty  persons  were  killed  or  injured.  This 
was  the  severest  earthquake  known  in 
California  since  1812. 

1872.  March  30.  A  destructive 
tornado  in  St.  Louis  overthrew  a  brick 
market  house,  and  injured  several  persons. 

1872.  March  30.  The  English  Lee- 
ward Islands  were  this  year  made  a  con- 
federation, and  put  under  a  governor-in- 
chief.  They  have  about  750  square  miles, 
and  125,000  inhabitants. 

8-  F.  B.  MORSE. 

1872.  April  2.  Samuel  Finley  Breese 
Morse,  the  inventor  of  the  electric  record- 
ing telegraph,  the  wires  of  which  well- 
nigh  encircle  the  globe,  died  in  New  York, 
aged  about  eighty-one  years.  He  was 
born  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  April  27, 
1791,  and  was  the  eldest  son  of  Jedcdiah 
Morse,  the  eminent  geographer.  His 
early  tastes  were  artistic,  and  after  gradu- 
ating at  Yale  College  in  1810  he  went  to 
Europe  and  studied  under  Washington 
Allston  and  Benjamin  West  for  four  years* 
He  then  returned  to  the  United  States,  and 
devoted  himself  to  his  profession.  In  com- 
pany with  other  artists  he  founded  in  1826 
the  National  Academy  of  Design  in  New 
York  city.  While  in  college  he  had 
been  much  interested  in  scientific  topics, 
and  had  become  familiar  isos-isra.  Rev. 
with  electro  -  magnetism.  F- D-  Ma^rice. 
Upon  his  return  from  Europe  in  1832,  on 
board  the  Sully,  to  accept  the  professor- 
ship of  the  Literature  of  Arts  and  De- 
signs in  the  University  of  New  York,  he 
heard  a  gentleman  describe  the  recent 
French  discovery  of  the  method  of  ob- 
taining the  electric  spark  from  a  magnet. 
He  always  claimed  that  this  suggestion 
enabled  him  to  conceive  the  system  of  re- 


1869-1876.] 

cording  telegraphy.  Upon  reaching 
New  York  he  began  to  carry  out  his 
conception,  and  as  early  as  1835  he  ex- 
hibited some  effects  produced  through  a 
wire  hung  on  the  walls  of  his  room. 
After  many  trials  and  some  disappoint- 
ment he  obtained  through  the  aid  of  con- 
gress, his  final  success.  In  all  of  this  he 
was  greatly  indebted  to  the  suggestions 
of  several  scientific  friends  whose  names 
are  not  usually  associated  with  the  tele- 
graph. Prof.  Morse  also  took  the  first 
daguerreotype  in  America.  He  had  re- 
ceived while  on  a  visit  to  Paris  some 
drawings  from  Daguerre,  describing  the 
apparatus  to  be  used.  The  close  of  the 
life  of  Prof.  Morse  was  crowded  with 
honors.  Almost  every  sovereign  in  the 
world  conferred  on  him  some  distin- 
guished title.  His  last  public  service  was 
in  unveiling  the  statue  of  Benjamin 
Franklin  in  New  York. 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


769 


1872.     April  11.     A  boiler  burst  on 

board  the  Mississippi  steamer  Oceanus, 
twenty  miles  above  Cairo,  and  from 
seventy-five  to  one  hundred  persons  were 
reported  killed. 

1872.  April  24.  A  fearful  plunge 
was  taken  by  three  unknown  men,  sup- 
posed to  be  from  Chippewa,  Ontario, 
who  were  carried  over  Niagara  Falls. 

1872.  May  1.  The  "  liberal  repub- 
lican" convention  met  at  Cincinnati, 
and  nominated  Horace  Greeley  of  New 
York,  for  president,  and  B.  Gratz  Brown 

1872.   Submarine      of  MlSSOUl'i,    for    vice-presi- 

dent.  The  convention  was 
composed  of  those  repub- 
licans who  at  this  time  were  so  vigor- 
ously opposing  the  administration  of  Gen. 
Grant,  and  those  democrats  who  were 
opposed  to  the  tendencies  and  principles 
of  their  own  party.  The  platform  de- 

49 


telegraph  to 
Australia  from 
India. 


clared  for  civil  service  reform,  specie  pay- 
ments, the  removal  of  political  disabili- 
ties at  the  South,  and  reliance  upon  the 
local  self-government  of  the  South,  to 
complete  the  work  of  reconstruction. 

1872.  May  12.  The  New  York 
Mercantile  Library  was  opened  for  the 
first  time  on  Sunday. 

1872.  May  15.  At  a  trial  of  rail- 
road speed  on  the  New  York  Central, 
the  directors'  car  ran  from  Rochester  to 
Syracuse,  a  distance  of  81  miles,  in  82 
minutes. 

1872.  May  15.  The  Tripoli,  of  the 
Cunard  Line,  went  ashore  off  the  Irish 
coast.  The  500  steerage  passengers 
were  saved,  but  the  valuable  cargo  was 
a  total  loss.  The  company  had  lost  but 
one  steamship  before. 

1872.  May  23.  A  statue  of  Shaks- 
pere,  by  J.  Q.  A.  Ward,  was  unveiled  in 
Central  Park,  New  York.  William 
Cullen  Bryant  delivered  an  address  on 
this  occasion. 

1872.  May  23.  A  destructive  tor- 
nado swept  over  a  part  of  Cincinnati, 
doing  considerable  damage. 

1872.  May  24.  Professor  Albert 
Hopkins  of  Williams  College,  died  at 
Williamstown,  Mass.  Although  a  stu- 
dent in  every  department  of  science,  he 
was  especially  devoted  to  astronomy,  and 
it  was  through  his  agency  that  the 
astronomical  observatory  at  Williams, 
the  first  ever  erected  in  the  country,  was 
built. 

1872.  May  27.  The  tug-boat  Ep- 
silon  exploded  at  her  pier  in  New  York 
harbor,  killing  every  man  on  board. 

JAME8  GORDON  BENNETT. 

1872.  June  1.  James  Gordon  Ben- 
nett, who  reared  a  monument  to  his 
name  in  founding  the  New  York  Herald, 


770 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


was   born    in    Scotland    in    1795.      His 
1806-1872  parents   educated    him    for 

diaries  j.  the  priesthood,  but  the  en- 
terprising, ambitious  spirit 
of  the  man  asserted  itself,  and  when  he 
was  twenty-four  years  old  he  came  to 
America  with  but  $25  in  money,  and 
his  mind  filled  with  the  experience  of 
Benjamin  Franklin.  His  wanderings 
finally  brought  him  to  Boston  friendless, 
penniless,  and  hungry,  where  he  found 
employment  as  proof-reader  in  the  house 
of  Wells  &  Lilly.  In  1822  he  went  to 
New  York,  and  had  a  varied  experience 
until  1835.  He  was  connected  from  time 
to  time  with  different  newspapers,  either 
as  reporter  or  correspondent.  At  one 
time  he  began  lecturing  upon  political 
economy,  but  failed  in  this  direction. 
His  first  success  was  as  a  correspondent 
from  Washington  to  the  Enquirer.  His 
letters  attracted  wide  attention.  After 
the  consolidation  of  the  Enquirer  with 
the  Courier,  he  became  associate  editor, 
but  at  the  end  of  three  years  dissolved 
his  connection,  because  of  political  differ- 
ences with  the  editor.  In  May,  1835,  the 
New  York  Herald  was  founded  with  a 
capital  of  $500,  and  in  a  cellar  on  Wall 
Street  for  a  publishing  office.  His  per- 
severance was  sadly  tried,  once  by  rob- 
bery, and  twice  by  fire  during  the  first 
fifteen  months,  but  his  indomitable  will 
carried  him  through  all  obstacles.  As 
the  capital  increased,  the  paper  was  en- 
larged. Bennett  knew  that  the  people 
wished  for  news,  and  he  gave  them  their 
desire,  regardless  of  expense.  He  once 
gave  $25  for  a  telegram  of  three  words. 
His  first  venture  was  in  sending  out  boats 
to  intercept  foreign  vessels  coming  into 
the  harbor,  and  get  from  them  news  and 
passenger  lists.  During  the  Civil  War 
he  employed  63  war  correspondents. 


Mazzini,  the 
Italian  revolu- 

coercive    tionift. 


One  of  his  last  and  best  known  enter- 
prises was  in  sending  Stanley  to  Africa 
in  search  of  Dr.  Livingstone.  He  died 
in  the  Catholic  faith,  bequeathing  the 
Herald,  which  had  brought  him  a  large 
fortune,  to  his  son  James  Gordon  Ben- 
nett, Jr. 

1872.  June  5.  The  national  repub- 
lican convention  met  at  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  and  nominated  Ulysses  S.  Grant  for 
president,  and  Henry  Wilson  of  Massa- 
chusetts, for  vice-president.  1805-1372. 
The  platform  favored  a 
continuance  of 
measures  in  the  South,  until  full  and 
equal  rights  should  be  given  to  the 
negroes.  There  was  at  this  time  a 
division  of  opinion  among  many  of  the 
party  leaders,  in  regard  to  the  attitude 
the  government  should  maintain  toward 
the  Southern  states.  Some  favored  the 
withdrawal  of  the  troops  from  these 
states,  and  leniency — a  policy  of  "  recon- 
ciliation." But  the  majority  favored  Pres- 
ident Gi'ant's  attitude.  The  result  was 
that  a  number  of  the  more  liberal  ones 
joined  the  liberal  republican  ranks. 

1872.  A  grand  campaign  attack 
upon  President  Grant's  administration  was 
made  in  congress  by  Carl  Shurz,  who 
moved  that  a  committee  be  appointed 
to  investigate  the  alleged  sale  of  arms  to 
French  agents  during  the  Franco-Prus- 
sian war,  by  the  war  department  of  the 
United  States,  in  violation  of  our  treaty 
with  Germany.  The  debate  was  hot 
and  extended.  The  committee  exoner- 
ated the  departments  of  all  wrong  in  the 
matter. 

1872.  June  10.  The  Weather  Bureau 
of  the  United  States  was  authorized  by 
act  of  congress  to  add  stations  and  re- 
ports to  its  service  for  the  special  benefit 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


771 


of  the  commercial  and  agricultural  in- 
terests of  the  country. 

1872.  June  17.  The  World's  Peace 
Jubilee,  planned  by  Gilmore,  was  opened 
in  Boston  at  the  Coliseum,  a  temporary 
building  covering  between  five  and  six 
acres.  The  musical  force  consisted  of  a 
chorus  of  20,000  voices,  and  an  orchestra 
of  2,000  musicians.  More  than  200  emi- 
nent vocalists  and  composers  were  pres- 
ent from  different  countries;  also  the  chief 
military  bands  of  England, 

1872.     June  72.  * 

Jesuits  expelled  France,  and  Germany,  and 
from  Germany.  ^  private  cornet  quartette 

of  the  emperor  William.  The  arrange- 
ments were  much  like  those  of  the  first 
great  peace  jubilee  held  under  the  same 
direction  in  1869. 

1872.  July  1.  Twenty  deaths  from 
sunstroke  occurred  in  Boston,  and  more 
than  seventy  in  New  York.  The  sun 
thermometer  at  Washington  indicated 
151°. 

1872.  July  9.  The  national  demo- 
cratic convention  met  at  Baltimore  and 
accepted  the  platform  and  candidates  of 
the  liberal  republicans.  The  object  of 
this  step  was  to  unite,  if  possible,  the  vote 
of  both  parties,  and  change  the  adminis- 
tration. This  also  virtually  committed 
the  democratic  party  to  the  results  of  the 
war,  and  the  carrying  out  of  the  work  of 
reconstruction. 

1872.  July  12.  Uxbridge  Bank 
Robbery.  The  house  of  the  cashier  of 
the  bank  in  Uxbridge,  Mass.,  was  en- 
tered, and  he  and  his  family  were  bound 
and  gagged.  A  young  man  who  served 
as  clerk  was  led  with  a  rope  around  his 
neck  to  the  bank,  and  forced  to  unlock 
the  safe.  The  robbers  secured  $13,000, 
after  which  they  took  the  young  man  back 
to  the  house,  gave  each  of  their  victims 
some  water,  re-gagged,  and  left  them. 


1872.     July  15.     A  part  of  the  roof 

of  the  Copper  Falls'  mine,  near  Lake 
Superior,  fell  in  200  feet,  killing  and  in- 
juring a  number  of  the  workmen. 

BENITO  JUAREZ. 

1872.  July  18.  Benito  Pablo  Juarez, 
president  of  the  Mexican  republic,  died 
in  the  City  of  Mexico,  aged  sixty-six  years. 
He  was  born  in  the  village  of  San  Pablo 
Guetatas,  in  the  state  of  Oajaca,  March 
21,  1806.  His  parents,  who  were  in  re- 
duced circumstances,  died  when  he  was 
quite  young,  and  Benito  was  left  in  the 
care  of  an  uncle.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
he  was  still  unable  to  speak  or  write 
Spanish,  but  being  impi'essed  with  the 
advantages  of  education  to  be  obtained  in 
the  city  of  Oajaca,  he  resolved  to  leave 
his  home,  and  seek  these  advantages.  He 
fell  in  with  the  family  of  a  friar  for 
whom  he  did  general  service,  and  was 
thus  enabled  to  obtain  his  first  education, 
which  he  completed  in  1825.  The  friar 
placed  him  in  a  seminary,  where  he  re- 
mained during  the  year  1826,  but  he  soon 
after  abandoned  it  for  the  study  of  law. 
It  is  said  that  he  was  thus  induced  to 
change  the  course  of  his  life  on  account  of 
the  political  condition  of  his  country,  the 
ignorance  of  the  people,  and  the  supersti- 
tion of  the  clergy.  He  graduated  from  the 
college  of  law  in  Oajaca  with  honor. 
While  prosecuting  his  studies  he  also  held 
the  chair  of  natural  philosophy  in  the  in- 
stitution. In  1836  he  was  unjustly  im- 
prisoned on  certain  charges  made  by  the 
conservatives.  From  1842  to  1845  he 
was  chief  judge  of  the  republic.  In  1845 
his  party,  which  was  opposed  to  the  cor- 
rupting influences  of  the  dominion  of  the 
clergy,  was  partially  triumphant,  and 
Juarez  became  secretary  of  state  in  Oaja- 
ca. This  office  he  gave  up  and  filled  the 


772 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


position  of  chief-justice  of  the  superior 
court  until  1846.  In  August  of  this  year 
the  state  of  Oajaca,  a  revolution  headed 
by  Salas  having  been  successful,  resumed 
its  sovereignty.  A  triumvirate  took 
charge  of  the  government,  and  the  con- 
stitution of  1824  was  restored.  Arteaga, 
one  of  the  triumvirate,  was  elected  gover- 
nor. Juarez,'  another  member,  was 
elected  to  the  general  constituent  con- 
gress of  1846,  where  he  supported  Presi- 
dent Farias  in  negotiating  a  loan  of  $14,- 
000,000  on  church  property  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  the  war  then  going  on  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  Mexico. 
He  succeeded  Arteaga  as  governor  in 
1847,  and  neld  this  position  till  1852. 
Many  valuable  reforms  were  introduced 
by  him  during  his  administration.  On 
retiring  he  left  a  surplus  of  $50,000  in 
the  treasury,  the  state  debt  and  contribu- 
tions to  the  national  government  having 
been  paid.  Soon  after,  that  implacable 
enemy  of  the  people  and  their  law,  Santa 
Anna,  seized  the  government.  One  of 
his  first  acts  was  to  have  Juarez,  whom 
he  hated,  seized,  and  secretly  taken  into 
exile.  He  lived  in  destitution  in  New 
Orleans  for  nearly  two  years,  when  a 
revolution  against  Santa  Anna  having 
broken  out,  he  returned  in  July,  1855, 
and  joined  the  insurgents  under  the 
leadership  of  Gen.  Alvarez.  Oct.  4  Al- 
varez was  proclaimed  president,  and  he 
immediately  appointed  Juarez  minister  of 
justice  and  religion.  He  performed  his 
duties  with  marked  ability  and  wisdom. 
When  Comonfort  became  president  on 
Dec.  ii,  1855,  he  appointed  Juarez  gov- 
ernor of  Oajaca,  in  order  to  remove  him 
from  the  cabinet.  In  September,  1857, 
he  was  elected  president  of  the  supreme 
court  of  justice,  which  position  is  equiva- 
lent to  vice-president.  In  October  Com- 


onfort made  him  minister  of  the  interior. 
Comonfort's  government  came  to  an  end 
in  1857.  Juarez  became  president  by 
virtue  of  his  office  of  chief-justice.  But 
his  enemies  opposed  him  with  such  vio- 
lence that  he  was  compelled  to  move 
his  government  from  one  point  to  another 
until,  Jan.  11,  1861,  having  defeated  the 
opposing  forces  under  Miramon,  he  en- 
tered Mexico.  In  March  he  was  con- 
firmed president  by  a  general  election  in 
which  Lerdo  de  Fejada  was  his  opponent. 
The  three  most  important  acts  of  his  ad- 
ministration are  as  follows:  The  suppres- 
sion of  religious  authority  in  govern- 
mental affairs,  the  confiscation  of  church 
property,  and  for  two  years  the  suspen- 
sion of  the  payments  on  ac- 

i     *  1872.    Pilgnm- 

count  of  the  foreign  debt,  ages  to  Lourdes 
and  of  all  national  liabilities.  '*  France- 
This  last  measure  resulted  in  the  forma- 
tion of  an  alliance  between  England,. 
France,  and  Spain,  and  an  invasion  of  the 
republic.  The  allied  forces  reached  Vera 
Cruz  on  Dec.  8.  Juarez  promised  to- 
protect  the  interests  of  the  creditors,  and 
the  English  and  Spanish  forces  were 
withdi-awn;  but  France  began  the  dreamy 
scheme  of  establishing  French  dominion 
in  the  Western  world.  Juarez  met  for 
a  long  time  with  nothing  but  reverses. 
In  June,'  1866,  his  arms  began  a  series 
of  victories  which  continued  until  July 
1 6,  when  he  reentered  the  capital.  In 
October  he  was  reelected  president,  and 
again  in  1871.  After  a  series  of  revolu- 
tions, peace  was  restored  in  1872.  He 
died  from  apoplexy.  His  life  had  been  a 
long  and  useful  one  to  his  country.  He 
was  the  one  great  obstacle  to  the  over- 
throw of  patriotic  hopes  and  institutions. 


1872.    July  24.     In  the   college  re- 
gatta at  Springfield,  Mass.,  the  Amherst 


1869-1876.] 

crew  of  six  oars  rowed  three  miles  in 
1 6  minutes,  32  seconds.  It  was  the  best 
college  time  on  record. 

1872.  July  24.  The  car  and  loco- 
motive shops  of  the  Erie  Railway,  at 
Jersey  City,  were  destroyed  by  fire,  sev- 
eral acres' being  burned  over. 

1872.  July  24.  Ralph  Waldo  Emer- 
son's house  at  Concord,  Mass.,  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire.  Mr.  Emerson  had  lived 
here  for  more  than  thirty  years. 

1872.  Aug.  5.  A  tornado  at  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.,  unroofed  a  large  number  of 
buildings,  and  did  other  damage. 

1872.  Aug.  10.  A  collision,  in  a 
dense  fog,  occurred  in  Long  Island 
Sound  between  the  Bristol,  of  the  Fall 
River  Line,  and  an  unknown  barque. 
The  bai'que  immediately  sunk,  but  the 
Bristol  proceeded  as  far  as  Newport, 
when  she  was  found  to  be  sinking,  and 
was  beached  without  any  loss  of  life. 

LOWELL  MASON. 

1872.  Aug.  11.  Lowell  Mason,  the 
eminent  musical  composer,  died  at 
Orange,  N.  J.,  aged  eighty-one.  Dr. 
Mason  was  born  in  Medfield,  Mass. 
When  twenty  years  old  he  went  to  Sa- 
vannah, Ga.,  and  it  was  while  here  that  he 
wrote  the  music  for  Heber's  Missionary 
Hymn,  and  published  his  first  compilation 
of  church  music.  This  attracted  the 
attention  of  gentlemen  in  Boston,  and  he 
was  induced  to  return  in  1827,  and  was 
given  the  charge  of  the  music  in  Dr.  Ly- 
man  Beecher's  church.  In  1855  he  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  Dr.  of  Music  from 
the  University  of  New  York  city,  which 
was  the  first  instance  in  which  an  Ameri- 
can college  had  conferred  the  degree. 

He  was  probably  the  author  of  more 
sacred  tunes,  and  the  compiler  of  more 
books,  than  any  other  man  in  this  country. 


THE  PROBLEMS   OF  TO-DAT. 


773 


1872.      Terrific  thunder  showers  did 

much  damage  in  Eastern  and  Central 
Massachusetts,  destroying  considerable 
property.  The  house  of  J.  G.  Whistler, 
in  Amesbury,  was  struck  by  lightning, 
and  the  poet  himself  prostrated. 

1872.  Aug.  18.  Burglars  entered 
the  Third  National  Bank  at  Baltimore, 
and  took  away  plunder  to  the  amount  of 
$500,000. 

THE  METIS  DISASTER. 

1872.  Aug.  30.  A  collision  occurred 
on  Long  Island  Sound,  a  little  south  of 
Watch  Hill,  between  the  propeller  Metis, 
and  an  unknown  schooner.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  the  schooner  sank  immedi- 
ately, but  the  Metis  was  thought  to  be  so 
slightly  injured  that  the  captain  refused 
all  assistance  from  the  Nereus,  and  headed 
for  Providence.  She  was  soon  found  to 
be  sinking,  however,  and  the  boats  were 
lowered,  but  only  two  of  them  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  shore.  As  the  Metis 
sank,  a  cargo  of  cotton  stowed  on  the 
main  deck  lifted  the  hurricane  deck  com- 
pletely off,  and  thus  formed  a  raft  on 
which  fifty-three  persons  drifted  toward 
the  shore.  When  it  was  half  a  mile 
from  land  the  raft  broke  up,  but  nearly 
all  were  saved.  Of  the  163  persons  on 
board  the  Metis,  twenty-two  were  lost. 


1872.  Sept.  3.  The  "straight-out" 
democrats,  who  were  dissatisfied  with 
the  regular  nomination  of  Greeley  and 
Brown,  met  in  convention  at  Louisville, 
Ky.,  and  nominated  Charles  O'Conor 
of  New  York,  for  president,  and  John  Q. 
Adams  of  Massachusetts,  for  vice-presi- 
dent. These  nominations  were  declined. 

1872.  Sept.  12.  Thirty  Chinese 
boys  arrived  in  San  Francisco  upon  a 
journey  to  this  country,  to  be  educated. 


774 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


They  were  placed  in  families   in   Con- 
necticut and  Massachusetts. 

ALABAMA  CLAIMS  AWARD. 

1872.  Sept.  14.  The  Alabama  Claims 
commission,  which  had  met  according  to 
the  terms  of  the  Treaty  of  Washington  to 
settle  the  difficulties  arising  from  the  in- 
juries inflicted  by  the  privateer  Alabama 
upon  American  commerce,  rendered  its 
decision,  awarding  $15,500,000  in  gold  to 
the  United  States.  The  commission  met 
at  Geneva,  in  Switzerland,  Dec.  15,  1871, 
and  was  composed  of  five  arbitrators,  viz., 
Charles  Francis  Adams,  appointed  by 
the  United  States,  Sir  Alexander  J.  E. 
Cockburn  by-England,  Marcos  Antonio 
d'Aranjo,  baron  d'ltajuba  by  Brazil,  Jacob 
Staempfli  by  Switzerland,  and  Count 
Paolo  Federigo  Sclopis  de  Salerano  by 
Italy.  Caleb  Cushing,  William  M. 
Evarts,  and  Morrison  R.  Waite,  acted  as 
counse1  for  the  United  States.  The 
award  was  based  upon  the  judgment  that 
the  cruises  of  the  Alabama,  Florida  and 
Shenandoah  had  violated  English  neu- 
trality in  the  American  Civil  War.  The 
award  was  soon  paid,  and  the  distribu- 
tion of  it  to  the  multitude  of  claimants 
has  been  a  source  of  great  perplexity 
since. 

1872.  Sept.  25.  Peter  Cartwright,  a 
prominent  Methodist  clergyman,  died 
near  Pleasant  Plains,  Sangamon  Co.,  111., 
at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  He 
was  born  in  Virginia,  September  i,  1785, 
but  removed  to  Kentucky  with  his  par- 
ents, where  he  joined  the  Methodist 
church  about  1801.  He  soon  entered  the 
ministry,  was  appointed  presiding  elder 
in  1812,  and  remained  such  for  a 
period  of  fifty  years.  He  delighted  to 
preach  to  the  backwoodsmen,  with 


whom  he  had  great  power.  He  was 
possessed  of  the  natural  qualities  which 
made  him  an  acceptable  companion  of 
the  "  rough  and  ready,"  and  won  his  way 
everywhere  by  his  gifts  of  heart  and 
tongue,  in  spite  of  a  lack  of  education. 
He  baptized  more  than  12,000'  persons 
during  his  long  and  active  career,  and 
preached  15,000  sermons.  He  was  once 
a  member  of  the  legislature  of  Illinois. 

1872.  Sept.  27.  The  State  Lunatic 
Asylum  at  Newburg,  Ohio,  was  burned, 
causing  a  loss  of  five  lives  and  $500,000 
in  property. 

1872.  Sept.  30.  Pauline  Lucca,  a 
great  German  vocalist,  sang  for  the  first 
time  in  this  country,  at  New  York.  She 
was  received  with  great  favor. 

"FniJfJfY  FERN." 

1872.  Oct.  10.  Mrs.  Sara  Payson 
Willis  Parton,  wife  of  James  Parton,  an 
American  writer,  and  herself  a  writer 
widely  known  as  "  Fanny  Fern,"  died  in 
New  York,  aged  sixty-one  years.  She 
was  born  in  Portland,  Maine,  July  7, 181 1, 
and  was  a  sister  of  N.  P.  Willis,  the  well- 
known  poet  and  journalist.  She  was  for 
several  yeai's  the  wife  of  Charles  H. 
Eldredge  of  Boston,  but  being  left  with- 
out means  by  his  death,  she  at  last  ven- 
tured upon  a  literary  line.  Her  first 
essay  was  disposed  of  with  difficulty  for 
half  a  dollar,  but  before  long  her  fame 
was  made.  Her  books  sold  by  thou- 
sands of  copies,  and  she  was  eagerly 
sought  for  as  a  contributor  to  the  press. 
Her  life  from  this  time  on  was  taken  up 
with  this  work.  In  January,  !856,  she 
became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Parton. 

WILLIAM  H.  8EWARD. 

1872.  Oct.  10.  William  Henry 
Seward,  a  prominent  American  states- 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DA  T. 


775 


man,  died  in  Auburn,  New  York,  aged 
seventy-one  years.  He  was  born  in  Flor- 
ida, Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  16,  1801. 
When  quite  young  he  ran  away  from 
home  to  attend  school.  Before  he  was 
fifteen  years  of  age  he  had  fitted  himself 
for  Union  College,  from  which  institution 
he  graduated  with  honor  in  1820.  In 
1822  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  be- 
gan the  practice  of  law  in  Auburn,  but 
his  political  taste  was  soon  developed. 
He  became  prominent  about  this  time  as 
a  political  orator.  He  made  several 
notable  speeches  against  the  democratic 
leaders  in  New  York.  In  1830  he  was 
elected  to  the  state  senate  by  an  anti- 
mason  vote.  His  majority  was  2,000. 
In  1833  he  made  a  short  tour  of  Europe. 
In  1834  he  was  defeated  by  W.  L.  Marcy 
for  governor  of  New  York,  but  in  1838 
he  was  elected  over  Marcy  by  a  majority 
of  10,000.  During  his  administration  he 
introduced  many  valuable  reforms.  Prom- 
inent among  these  were  the  extension  of 
general  educational  advantages,  and  the 
protection  of  fugitive  slaves.  He  was 
reelected  in  1840.  He  retired  from  office 
Jan.  i,  1843,  and  returned  to  the  practice 
of  law  in  the  State  and  United  States 
courts.  He  appeared  as  volunteer  coun- 
sel in  a  number  of  important  cases; 
among  these  was  the  case  of  Van  Zandt, 
who  was  charged  with  harboring  fugi- 
tive slaves  in  Ohio.  Mr.  Seward  was 
an  active  supporter  of  Henry  Clay  for 
the  presidency  in  1844,  and  also  of  Gen. 
Taylor  in  1848.  He  was  elected  United 
States  senator  from  New  York,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1849.  The  slavery  agitation  was 
now  becoming  prominent,  and  Mr.  Sew- 
ard soon  became  the  leader  of  the  admin- 
istration party  in  the  senate.  On  account 
of  the  avowal  that  he  would  make  no 
further  concessions  to  the  slave  power,  he 


was  denounced  for  sedition.  In  a  speech 
on  the  admission  of  California  into  the 
Union  on  March  n,  1850,  he  said:  "It 
is  true,  indeed,  that  the  national  domain 
is  ours.  *  *  *  But  there  is  a  higher 
law  than  the  constitution  which  regulates 
our  authority  over  the  domain,  and  de- 
votes it  to  the  same  noble  purposes.  The 
territory  is  a  part,  no  inconsiderable  part, 
of  the  common  heritage  of  mankind,  be- 
stowed upon  them  by  the  Creator  of  the 
universe.  We  are  his  stewards,  and 
must  so  discharge  our  trust  as  to  secure 
in  the  highest  attainable  degree,  their 
happiness."  This  speech,  from  which 
the  extract  is  taken,  caused  much  com- 
ment in  the  press,  and  by  the  public.  He 
was  the  recognized  leader  of  the  anti- 
slavery  wing  of  his  party,  and  ably  op- 
posed to  the  last  any  compromise  with 
the  slave  power.  He  made  speeches  on 
various  measures,  and  many  of  these  were 
widely  circulated.  In  all  he  expressed 
his  firm  determination  to  stand  by  the 
union,  in  peace  or  war,  at  whatever  cost. 
He  was  re-elected  senator  in  1855,  and 
continued  in  the  senate  through  his 
second  term,  which  expired  March  4, 
1 86 1.  He  actively  supported  John  C. 
Fremont,  the  republican  candidate,  in 
1856.  In  1859  he  again  traveled 
through  Europe,  and  visited  Egypt  and 
the  Holy  Land.  In  1860  a  majority  of 
his  party  favored  him  for  the  presidency, 
but  Mr.  Lincoln  was  nominated.  On 
the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln  Mr.  Seward 
was  appointed  secretary  of  state.  The 
Civil  War  had  virtually  begun,  but  for 
some  time  Mr.  Seward  thought  the  diffi- 
culties between  the  North  and  South 
could  be  peaceably  settled.  During  the 
progress  of  the  war  he  developed  a  re- 
markable diplomatic  ability  in  his  deal- 
ings with  foreign  powers.  His  skill  in 


776 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


such  matters  probably  saved  our  govern- 
ment from  foreign  entanglements  at  this 
period.  His  decisiveness  in  the  Trent  af- 
fair is  well  remembered ;  also  his  repres- 
sion of  the  intervention  of  the  proposed 
alliance  between  France,  Great  Britain 
and  Russia  to  settle  the  civil  disputes  in 
the  United  States.  His  course  in  regard 
to  the  French  in  Mexico  caused  the  down- 
fall of  French  dominion  there.  He  reor- 
ganized the  diplomatic  service  on  a  much 
better  basis.  He  continued  in  his  position 
as  secretary  of  state  on  Lincoln's  reelection 
to  the  presidency,  and  suffered  severely  in 
the  trying  scenes  of  the  assassination. 
After  his  recovery  Mr.  Seward  resumed 
his  duties  as  secretary  of  state ;  but  having 
supported  President  Johnson's  reconstruc- 
tion policy,  he  became  unpopular  with  his 
party.  In  1869  he  traversed  the  Western 
states  and  visited  Alaska,  which  had  been 
purchased  principally  through  his  efforts. 
In  August,  1870,  Mr.  Seward,  with  his 
family,  started  on  a  tour  of  the  world. 
He  was  received  abroad  with  marked 
distinction.  He  returned  in  October, 
1871.  A  book  on  his  foreign  travels, 
made  up  of  his  observations,  was  edited 
by  his  adopted  daughter,  Olive  Risley 
Seward.  Many  of  his  speeches  and  ad- 
dresses are  printed  in  separate  volumes. 
During  his  lifetime  he  wrote  extensively. 
He  wrote  a  popular  biography  of  John 
Quincy  Adams;  also  of  De  Witt  Clinton. 
His  life  was  one  of  sterling  quality. 


1872.  Oct.  15.  At  a  trial  of  ball 
throwing  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  John  Hat- 
field  threw  a  regulation  ball  133  yards, 
i  foot,  7^  inches. 

SAN  JUAN  BOUNDARY. 

1872.  "Oct.  21.  The  difficulty  be- 
tween England  and  the  United  States 


over  the  possession  of  several  islands  be- 
tween Washington  Territory  and  Van- 
couver Island,  among  them  San  Juan, 
was  decided  by  the  emperor  of  Germany, 
to  whom  it  had  been  referred  under  the 
Treaty  of  Washington,  in  favor  of  the 
United  States.  England  withdrew  under 
the  decision. 

1872.  Oct.  22.  The  steamship  Mis- 
souri, from  New  York  for  Havana,  took 
fire  off  Abaco,  and  the  flames  spread  so 
rapidly  that  of  the  one  hundred  persons 
on  board,  only  about  twelve  were  saved. 

EPIZOOTIC. 

1872.  Oct.  25.  This  disease  among 
horses  prevailed  all  through  the  United 
States.  In  New  York  40,000  horses 
were  attacked  by  it  in  ten  days,  and  13,- 
ooo  in  Brooklyn,  causing  almost'  an  en- 
tire suspension  of  street  cars  and  public 
conveyances.  The  drays  of  the  express 
companies  were  drawn  by  men,  and  in 
New  Bedford  a  bridal  couple  were  con- 
veyed to  the  depot  by  oxen.  The  dis- 
ease proved  to  be  of  ancient  date,  having 
been  known  in  the  third  century,  B.  C., 
and  at  different  times  since  then. 

TWENTY- SECOND  PRESIDENTIAL    CAM- 
PAIGN. 

1872.  Nov.  5.  The  campaign  which 
ended  in  the  election  of  this  date,  resulted 
in  the  election  of  Grant  and  Wilson,  the 
nominees  of  the  republican  party.  They 
received  286  electoral,  and  3,597,070  pop- 
ular votes.  The  democrats  and  liberal 
republicans  gained  47  electoral,  and 
2,834,079  popular  votes.  But  as  Greeley 
died  in  November,  the  votes  for  him  in 
the  electoral  college  were  cast  for  Thomas 
A.  Hendricks  and  others.  Small  popular 
votes  were  cast  for  Charles  O'Conor,  the 


1869-1876.] 

straight  democratic  nominee  for  president, 
and  for  James  Black,  the  temperance 
nominee.  Quite  a  number  of  scattering 
votes  in  the  electoral  college  were  cast, 
both  for  president  and  vice-president. 
The  campaign  was  one  of  great  heat, 
and  the  result  was  very  disappointing  to 
many  who  had  hoped  the  new  liberal 
republican  and  democratic  movement 
would  sweep  the  country. 

GEJf.  G.  G.  MEADE. 

1872.  Nov.  6.  General  George  Gor- 
don Meade  died  at  Philadelphia,  aged 
fifty-six  years.  He  was  born  at  Cadiz, 
Spain,  when  his  father  was  U.  S.  consul, 
Dec.  30,  1815.  In  1835  he  graduated  at 
West  Point,  and  was  immediately  tested 
in  the  Florida  war.  He  resigned  his 
commission,  and  after  five  years  of  com- 
paratively quiet  engineering  life,  the 
Mexican  war  broke  forth  in  which  he 
served  first  upon  the  staff  of  Gen.  Taylor, 
then  upon  that  of  Gen.  Scott.  His  con- 
duct in  this  war  was  very  honorable,  and 
his  gallantry  undisputed.  His  engineer- 
ing life  was  again  renewed  in  making 
surveys  of  the  northern  lakes  until  the 
Civil  War  burst  out.  He  was  now  made 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  served 
through  the  entire  war  with  great  fidel- 
ity. At  one  time  he  was  commander  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  was  in 
the  greatest  battles  of  the  East  and  dis- 

o 

played  high  military  qualities.  His  ser- 
vices at  Gettysburg  were  very  great. 
After  the  war  he  was  in  constant  mili- 
tary employ.  His  mind  was  scholarly, 
and  his  judgment  sound.  Harvard  con- 
ferred the  degree  of  L.L.  D.  upon  him. 

GREAT  BOSTON  FIRE. 

1872.     Nov.  9.     A  repetition  of  the 
great  Portland   and   Chicago  calamities 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


777 


occurred  in  the  burning  over  of  sixty-five 
acres  in  the  very  heart  of  the  business 
sections  of  Boston.  There  was  a  loss  of 
fourteen  lives,  four  hundred  and  forty-six: 
buildings,  and  $73,600,000.  The  most 
solid  blocks  went  down  before  the  blaze 
like  tinder,  and  streets  which 

1872.  November. 

had  been  thought  almost  Serious  illness  of 
fire-proof  because  of  the  p™«°f  Wales. 
mass  of  stone  in  the  buildings  on  either 
side,  were  swept  desolate.  It  was  a  great 
misfortune  to  thousands  of  persons  directly 
and  indirectly  connected  with  the  trade 
which  was  thus  terribly  interrupted.  Yet 
the  energy  of  business  men  began  at 
once  to  clear  away  the  smoking  ruins, 
and  Boston  is  rebuilt  in  finer  style  than 
ever  before: 

SsU)  FUN. 

1872.  Nov.  25.  A  large  lot  of  nitro- 
glycerine in  cans  was  stored  in  an  inclos- 
ure  near  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  and  a  high 
fence  put  around  it,  with  notices  upon  all 
sides  stating  that  it  was  dangerous  to  go 
near  or  meddle  with  the  inclosure  be- 
cause of  the  nitro-glycerine  within  it. 
Four  young  men  of  Yonkers  went  off 
fishing,  and  having  exercised  themselves 
till  they  were  tired,  started  on  a  tramp 
for  home,  in  a  mood  for  mischief.  Hav- 
ing arrived  at  the  nitro-glycerine  inclos- 
ure they  concluded  to  have  a  little  fun  in 
testing  the  thing  which  was  said  to  be  so 
deadly.  They  took  what  they  supposed 
to  be  a  safe  distance,  and  began  throwing 
stones  at  it.  In  a  few  minutes  an  ex- 
plosion occurred  which  shook  the  vicin- 
ity, blew  two  of  the  young  men  into 
fragments,  and  almost  fatally  injured  and 
crippled  the  other  two. 


1872.  Nov.  29.  The  largest  for- 
feiture ever  recorded  as  paid  to  the  U. 
S.  government  was  drawn  from  Weld  & 


778 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


Co.,  East  India  merchants,  who  were 
charged  with  an  extensive  system  of  cus- 
tom house  frauds,  and  settled  the  case  by 
paying  $480,000. 

HORACE  GREELEY. 

1872.  Nov.  29.  Horace  Greeley,  an 
American  politician  and  journalist,  died 
at  Pleasantville,  New  York,  aged  sixty- 
one  years.  He  was  born  in  Amherst,  New 
Hampshire,  Feb.  3,  1811.  He  was  of 
Scotch  -  Irish  de- 
scent. His  father 
was  character- 
ized by  his  ina- 
bility to  keep  out 
of  debt.  Indeed, 
financial  capacity 
was  something 
no  member  of 
the  family 


was 

ever  known  to 
possess.  By  the 
time  Horace  was 
six  years  of  age 
he  could  read 
anything  that 
came  within  his 
reach.  When 
quite  young  he 
possessed  a  re- 
markable fond- 
ness for  newspa- 
pers of  all  kinds,  and  he  early  expressed  a 
determination  to  become  a  printer.  In 
1821  his  father  removed  to  West  Haven, 
Vermont.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  Horace 
became  an  apprentice  in  the  office  of  the 
"  Northern  Spectator,"  in  East  Poultney. 
Outside  of  office  hours  he  kept  up  his 
studies  with  much  diligence.  He  learned 
his  trade  rapidly,  and  soon  became  an 
expert.  It  is  said  that  through  his 
entire  life  he  was  known  to  his  inti- 


HORACE  GREELEY. 


mate  friends  by  the  name  of  "  Print- 
er." During  his  apprenticeship  he  was, 
as  ever  after,  remarkable  for  his  ob- 
stinacy, and  his  familiarity  with  polit- 
ical statistics.  After  working  in  James- 
town and  Lodi,  N.  Y.,  and  Erie,  Pa.,  he 
went  to  New  York  in  search  of  employ- 
ment, in  August,  1831.  He  arrived  in 
the  city  with  $10  and  his  bundle  of 
clothes,  his  proceeds  from  former  work 
having  been  turned  over  to  his  father. 
By  undertaking  a 
job  on  a  small 
testament,  which 
no  other  printer 
would  or  could 
do,  he  managed 
by  working 
twelve  and  four- 
teen hours  a  day, 
to  earn  $5  or  $6 
a  week.  He 
worked  as  a  jour- 
neyman in  differ- 
ent offices  until 
1833,  when,  with 
Francis  V.  Story, 
he  be  g  an  the 
publication  of  the 
"  Morning  Post," 
the  first  penny 
daily  ever  pub- 

Dr.      H. 


D.  Shepard  was  its  editor.  In  July, 
1833,  Mr.  Story  was  drowned,  and  Jonas 
Winchester  became  Greeley's  new  part- 
ner. In  March,  1834,  the  firm  began 
"  The  New  Yorker,"  with  Mr.  Greeley 
as  editor.  This  continued  till  1841. 
During  this  time  Mr.  Greeley  wrote  for 
other  papers.  In  1840  he  edited  the 
"  Log  Cabin,"  a  Harrison  organ,  which 
reached  a  circulation  of  80,000.  In  1841, 
April  10,  Mr.  Greeley  became  "  Founder 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DA  T. 


779 


of  the  New  York  Tribune."  The  first 
issue  was  5,000  copies,  which  Mr. 
Greeley  said  he  "had  considerable  diffi- 
culty in  giving  away."  And  it  is  evident 
the  "  Tribune"  would  have  been  simply 
founded  and  nothing  more,  had  not  Mr. 
Greeley  taken  an  active  business  man  as 
partner.  This  was  Thomas  McElrath. 
The  paper  started  with  a  circulation  of 
500.  The  history  of  Mr.  Greeley's  won- 
derful career  and  that  of  the  "Tribune" 
are  inseparable.  Under  his  editorial 
management  it  became  the  leader  of 
public  opinion,  and  the  greatest  journal  in 
America.  To  his  power  and  ability  are 
due  the  attainments  and  influence  of 
American  journalism.  In  his  autobiog- 
raphy he  wrote,  "  Fame  is  a  vapor;  pop- 
ularity an  accident;  riches  take  wings; 
the  only  earthly  certainty  is  oblivion;  no 
man  can  foresee  what  a  day  may  bring 
forth,  while  those  who  cheer  to-day  will 
often  curse  to-morrow;  and  yet  I  cherish 
the  hope  that  the  journal  I  projected  and 
established  will  live  and  flourish  long 
after  I  have  moldered  into  forgotten 
dust,  being  guided  by  a  larger  wisdom,  a 
more  unerring  sagacity  to  discern  the 
right,  though  not  by  a  more  unfaltering 
readiness  to  embrace  and  defend  it  at  what- 
ever personal  cost ;  and  that  the  stone  which 
covers  my  ashes  may  bear  to  future  eyes 
the  still  intelligible  inscription,  *  Founder 
of  the  New  York  Tribune.' "  He  served 
in  congress  from  Dec.,  1848,  to  March, 
1849.  He  became  a  disciple  of  Charles 
Fourier,  and  vainly  attempted  to  found 
settlements  in  America  in  accordance 
with  the  ideas  of  that  philosopher.  He 
was  the  life-long  friend  of  the  laboring 
classes,  and  the  bitter  foe  of  the  slave 
power.  Besides  working  for  various  re- 
forms through  the  columns  of  his  great 
paper,  which  had  now  attained  an  enor- 


mous circulation,  he  delivered  many  lec- 
tures. The  winter  of  1855-56  he  spent 
in  Washington,  commenting  on  various 
matters  in  his  "Tribune"  letters.  In 
1859  he  made  an  overland  journey  to 
San  Francisco,  and  was  received  as  a 
hero  all  along  the  route.  In  1860,  at  the 
Chicago  convention,  he  was  largely  in- 
strumental in  securing  the  nomination  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  presidency. 
This  is  said  to  have  been  owing  to  a  per- 
sonal feeling  between  Mr.  Greeley  and 
Mr.  Seward.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
rebellion  Mr.  Greeley  favored  peaceable 
secession  if  the  majority  of  the  Southern 
people  would  vote  for  it.  When  the 
war  had  actually  begun  he  violently  de- 
manded its  prosecution,  and  started  the 
cry  of  "  On  to  Richmond."  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  favored  general  amnesty 
and  universal  suffrage,  and  when  Jeffer- 
son Davis  was  arrested,  signed  his  bond 
for  bail.  Mr.  Greeley's  motives  in  this 
conduct  were  undoubtedly  noble;  but  he 
nevertheless  received  the  severe  censure 
of  the  Northern  public.  In  1869  he  was 
defeated  for  the  office  of  comptroller  of 
the  state  of  New  York,  and  in  1870  was 
defeated  for  congress  by  S.  S.  Cox.  In 
1872  he  made  a  journey  to  Texas,  and 
made  several  notable  speeches.  In  1872, 
May  i,  Mr.  Greeley  became  the  liberal 
republican  candidate  for  president.  In 
the  election  he  received  the  electoral 
votes  of  a  majority  of  the  Southern  states. 
During  the  canvass  he  was  greatly  af- 
fected by  the  loss  of  his  wife.  His  polit- 
ical opponents  were  most  unsparing  in 
their  criticism  and  ridicule.  At  the  close 
of  the  struggle  Mr.  Greeley  was  almost 
a  mental  and  physical  wreck.  He  died 
in  a  private  asylum.  His  simple,  yet 
most  impressive  funeral  in  New  York 
was  attended  by  the  most  eminent  men 


780 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


in  the  land,  the  president  and  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  and  chief-jus- 
tice, being  present.  Among  his  works 
are,  "  The  American  Conflict,"  "  Polit- 
ical Economy,"  and  "Recollections  of  a 
Busy  Life."  His  writings  are  numerous. 
During  his  life  he  was  misunderstood  in 
many  of  his  motives  and  measures  which 
he  always  intended  should  work  for  the 
good  of  his  country. 

EDWIN  FORREST. 

1872.  Dec.  12.  This  eminent  Amer- 
ican actor  died  of  apoplexy,  aged  sixty- 
six  years.  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia 
in  1806.  His  dramatic  taste  developed 
so  early  that  when  a  mere  boy  he  became 
a  member  of  an  amateur  theatrical  club, 
and  appeared  on  the  regular  stage  when 
thirteen  years  old,  winning  even  then 
considerable  reputation.  Two  years  from 
this  time  he  first  attempted  the  charac- 
ters of  Shakespeare,  and  in  1826  was  so 
successful  as  Othello  that  he  was  engaged 
at  the  Bowery  theater  for  three  years. 
After  this  he  enjoyed  popularity  at  the 
Park  theater  for  many  years.  In  1825 
he  appeared  in  London,  where  he  re- 
ceived much  attention  from  eminent  men, 
and  made  the  friendship  of  Macready. 
They,  however,  afterward  became  much 
embittered  against  each  other.  Upon  his 
return  to  America  he  and  his  English 
wife  were  enthusiastically  received,  and 
upon  a  second  visit  to  England  in  1845 
the  best  society  of  London  and  Edinburgh 
received  them.  It  was  now  that  the 
friendship  between  Mr.  Forrest  and  Mr. 
Macready  was  broken,  and  two  years 
later  when  the  latter  was  playing  Mac- 
beth in  New  York,  a  mob  composed  of 
Forrest's  friends  assailed  the  opera  house, 
and  a  disgraceful  riot  followed.  In  1850 
Mrs.  Forrest  obtained  a  divorce  and 


$3,000  a  year,  which  for  twenty  years 
her  husband  resisted  paying.  In  1858 
he  retired  to  private  life,  but  several  times 
reappeared  upon  the  stage,  his  last  ap- 
pearance being  but  a  week  before  his 
death.  He  left  a  large  part  of  his  prop- 
erty  to  found  a  home  for  aged  and  desti- 
tute actors. 

GEORGE  CATLIN. 

1872.  Dec.  23.  George  Catlin, 
widely  known  for  his  studies  of  Indian 
life,  died  at  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six  years.  He  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1 796,  and  fitted  himself 
for  the  practice  of  law.  In  a  short  time 
he  took  up  painting.  In  1832  he  went 
West  and  entered  the  great  Indian  region 
of  the  country.  For  eight  years  he  vis- 
ited tribe  after  tribe,  studying  their  man- 
ners and  customs  until  he  had  a  record,  of 
forty-eight  different  tribes.  He  had  also 
painted  many  individuals  among  them. 
He  returned  from  the  mouth  of  the  Yel- 
lowstone River  down  the  Missouri  to  St. 
Louis  in  a  canoe  with  two  men,  steering 
the  frail  vessel  himself.  Having  finished 
his  paintings  he  went  to  England  in 

1840,  where  he  published  a  large  illus- 
trated work  on  the  American  Indians,  in 

1841.  He  exhibited   his   paintings,  and 
became  known  as  the  highest  authority 
in  the  world  upon  Indian  life.     He  pub- 
lished other  works  and  returned  to  the 
United  States  a  year  before  his  death. 


1872.  Dec.  25.  The  floor  of  a  Baptist 
church  near  Williamsport,  Pa.,  gave 
way,  and  three  hundred  persons  were 
precipitated  into  the  cellar.  Eleven  were 
killed,  and  many  more  wounded. 

1872.  Dec.  27.  An  ice-jam  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  above  Memphis,  destroyed 
much  shipping  and  other  property.  Sev- 


THE  PROBLEMS   OF  TO-DAT. 
with   valuable    cargoes 


1869-1876.] 

eral  steamboats 
were  sunk. 

1872.  Dec.  31.  A  passenger  train 
was  thrown  from  the  track  near  Pros- 
pect Station,  on  the  Buffalo  and  Pittsfield 
railway,  by  the  breaking  of  a  rail.  It 
was  thrown  over  an  embankment  twenty- 
six  feet  in  height,  and  the  passengers 
were  buried  in  the  ruins,  which  were 
soon  in  flames.  Nearly  all  perished. 

1872.  The  Silk  Association  of  Amer- 
ica was  formed.  After  various  vicissi- 
tudes the  silk  culture  of  America  is  on 
the  increase,  and  promises  to  be  large  at 
some  time  not  far  distant. 

1872.  A  speaking  automaton,  in- 
vented by  Faberman  of  Vienna,  was  ex- 
hibited in  the  United  States,  and  caused 
great  astonishment. 

1872.  The  first  census  in  Brazil  was 
taken  this  year. 

1872.  A  severe  sickness  visited  a  re- 
gion in  Brazil,  and  out  of  a  population  of 
1 8,000  in  various  towns,  carried  off  1 3,000. 

1872.  At  a  trial  of  strength  in  Bos- 
ton Dr.  Winship  lifted  2600  pounds  in 
harness. 

EIGHT  HOUR  MOVEMENT. 

1872.  The  agitation  among  the  work- 
ing classes  over  the  number  of  hours  in  a 
day's  labor  increased,  until  during  this 
year  it  reached  a  great  height.  Work- 
men through  all  the  large  cities  clamored 
for  a  reduction  from  ten  hours  to  eight; 
clinging  so  far  as  possible  to  a  demand 
for  the  same  pay  for  the  latter  as  they 
had  had  for  the  former.  Some  employ- 
ers were  inclined  to  favor  the  movement, 
others  favored  it,  but  insisted  upon  reduc- 
ing the  pay  in  the  same  proportion. 
Still  others  would  not  consent  to  a  re- 
duction of  the  hours,  whether  the  pay 
was  reduced  or  not.  Strikes  were  oc- 


781 


casioned  by  the  agitation,  and  the  problem 
looked  like  a  serious  one,  when  in  1873 
the  great  panic  came,  and  left  workmen 
glad  to  get  any  work  at  all,  without  ref- 
erence to  the  number  of  hours  they  la- 
bored. Nothing  has  been  heard  since  of 
the  "  eight  hour  movement." 


1872.  Ku-Klux  Investigation.  Dur- 
ing the  year  many  efforts  were  made  to 
expose  the  Ku-Klux  organizations  in  the 
Southern  states.  Congress  voted  $20,000 
to  defray  the  expense  of  an  investigating 
committee  appointed  for  this  purpose. 
The  press  discussed  the  matter  with 
much  excitement.  The  result  of  all  was, 
after  many  witnesses  had  been  examined 
by  the  congressional  committee,  the  ex- 
posure of  the  plans  and  workings  of 
these  mysterious  organizations.  The  ex- 
istence of  the  bands,  which  was  at  first 
regarded  by  the  country  as  a  huge  joke, 
proved  in  the  end  to  be  instead  a  horrible 
reality. 

1872.  In    Honduras,   Gen.    Medina 
was  deposed,  and  Don  Celeo  Arias  was 
made  provisional  president. 

1873.  Jan.  10.      Samana   Bay.     A 
United  States  company  leased  the  harbor, 
and  shore  of  Samana  Bay  in  San  Do- 
mingo, in  an  attempt  to  carry  out  some 
of  the  objects  sought  in  the  proposed  an- 
nexation  of  that   island   to   the    United 
States.     But  the  rights  of  the  company 
were  annulled  the  next  year  because  of 
the  non-payment  of  the  rent. 

1873.     Jan.   30.     An   extreme   cold 
wave  was  felt  throughout  New  England. 
Prof.  Loomis,  of  Yale  Col-    isoa-1873. 
lege,  reported  that  in  a  rec- 
ord  of   the    last    hundred 
had   been   no  colder  day. 
nine   Massachusetts  towns, 
was  21.9  deg.  below  zero. 


Napoleon  III. 

years    there 

In   twenty- 

the   average 


FIRST  STEAMER  ON  THE  ORINOCO 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


783 


LIEUT.  MAURT 

1873.  Feb.  1.  Lieut.  Matthew  F. 
Maury,  an  eminent  American  student  of 
marine  and  astronomical  phenomena, 
died  at  Lexington,  Va.,  aged  sixty-seven 
years.  He  was  born  in  Virginia,  Jan. 
14,  1806,  and  entered  the  naval  service 
at  nineteen  years  of  age.  His  studies 
began  almost  immediately  upon  this  ap- 
pointment, and  with  scholarly  tastes  he 
1803-1873.  pursued  them  all  his  life. 

Thomas  Gut/trie.  He  wrote  much  of  great 
value  in  relation  to  the  physical  geogra- 
phy of  the  sea,  also  in  relation  to  the 
Gulf  Stream  and  other  currents  in  the 
ocean.  From  1839  to  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  War  he  was  connected  with 
the  land  offices  of  the  navy  at  Washing- 
ton, being  in  charge,  for  a  time,  of  the 
charts  and  instruments,  and  then  superin- 
tendent of  the  National  Observatory,  in 
connection  with  which  the  former  were 
afterward  kept.  Lieut.  Maury  entered 
the  confederate  service,  and  was  made 
commodore.  His  writings  rank  very 
high  in  the  scientific  world,  and  his  in- 
vestigations were  acknowledged  to  be 
very  faithful. 

1873.  Feb.  14.  Tho  Mississippi 
steamer  Henry  A.  Jones  was  burned, 
with  a  loss  of  twenty  lives. 

PROGRESS  OF   VENEZUELA. 

1873.  Feb.  20.  Gen.  Guzman  Blanco 
was  elected  president  of  Venezuela  for 
four  years,  and  at  once  began  to  make 
changes  for  the  better  in  the  administra- 
tion of  all  affairs.  The  rivers  were 
opened  to  steam  navigation,  and  railways 
provided  for.  The  progress  of  the  coun- 
try became  quite  rapid,  and  its  political 
condition  well  settled.  Manufactures  are 
encouraged,  and  foreign  trade  is  sought. 


1873.  Feb.  25.  A  fire  destroyed 
the  Marshall  House  at  Alexandria,  Va., 
where  Col.  Ellsworth  was  shot. 

CREDIT  MOBILIER   EXPOSURE. 

1873.  Feb.  27.  A  report  was  made 
by  the  committee  of  congress  appointed 
to  investigate  the  "  Credit  Mobilier  "  scan- 
dal, which  had  grown  up  in  connection 
with  the  building  of  the  Union  Pacific 
railroad.  The  first  revelation  of  the  mat- 
ter was  brought  about  by  a  lawsuit  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1872,  in  which  it  ap- 
peared that  the  stock  of  this  road  had 
been  distributed  among  prominent  offi- 
cials of  the  United  States  1791.1313 
government,  in  order  to  Charles  Knight. 
gain  their  favor  in  congressional  action. 
The  country  was  amazed,  and  an  investi- 
gation, prolonged  and  intense,  was  the  re- 
sult. The  chief  witness  was  Oakes 
Ames,  whose  chief  reliance  in  verifying 
his  transactions  in  managing  the  stock, 
was  a  "  little  memorandum  book."  The 
exposure  damaged  the  reputation  of  some 
men  in  public  life.  The  report  recom- 
mended the  expulsion  of  one  senator,  but 
the  action  was  never  taken.  Oakes 
Ames  and  James  Brooks  of  the  house, 
were  censured. 

SALARY  GRAB. 

1873.  March  3.  A  law,  which  be- 
came known  to  the  people  as  the  "  salary 
grab,"  was  passed  by  the  forty-second 
congress,  increasing  the  pay  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  legislative,  executive,  and  ju- 
dicial, departments  of  the  government. 
This  law,  which  excited  such  universal 
condemnation  from  the  press  and  public, 
provided  that  the  increased  salaries  of 
representatives  and  senators  should  begin 
with  the  first  session  of  that  isos-i&s. 
congress,  two  years  before  Baron 


784 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


this  date.  Thus  the  representatives  of 
Both  branches  of  congress  became  en- 
titled to  two  years'  back  pay.  In  this 
bill  the  salary  of  the  president  of  the 
United  States  was  increased  from  $25,- 
ooo  to  $50,000  per  annum ;  the  salary  of 
the  cabinet  officers  was  increased  from 
$8,000  to  $10,000;  chief-justice  of  the 
United  States,  from  $8,000  to  $10,000; 
senators  and  representatives  in  congress 
from  $5,000  to  $7,500.  Various  courses 
we.re  pursued  by  congressmen  with  ref- 
erence to  their  back  pay.  Some  never 
drew  it,  and  others  drew  and  returned  it 
to  the  treasury  of  the  United  States.  The 
affair  caused  great  indignation,  and  the 
portion  relating  to  congressmen  was  after- 
ward repealed. 

1873.  March  4.  Ulysses  S.  Grant 
was  inaugurated  president  of  the  United 
States,  and  Henry  Wilson,  vice-presi- 
dent. 

1873.  March  4.  The  Alaska  mail 
steamer,  "George  S.  Wright,"  was 
wrecked  at  Portland,  Oregon,  with  a 
loss  of  twenty-three  lives. 

1873.  March  19.  An  earthquake 
destroyed  the  city  of  'San  Salvador. 
Eight  hundred  lives  and  $12,000,000 
worth  of  property  were  destroyed.  The 
Indian  name  for  this  region  was  Cuzcut- 
lan,  which  means,  "  The  land  that  swings 
like  a  hammock." 

1873.  April  1.  The  steamer  Atlan- 
tic, of  the  White  Star  line,  was  wrecked 
near  Halifax,  and  five  hundred  and  forty- 
six  lives  were  lost. 

MODOC  MASSACRE. 

1873.  April  11.  The  trouble  which 
the  United  States  government  had  been 
having  with  the  Modoc  Indians  of  Oregon 
over  their  removal  to  a  reservation,  cul- 


minated in  the  terrible  tragedy  of  the 
Lava  Beds,  in  which  Gen.  Canby  and 
Dr.  Thomas  were  killed,  and  Col.  A.  B. 
Meacham,  peace  commissioner,  almost 
killed.  The  Modocs  had  had  trouble 
among  themselves  over  their  chieftain- 
ship, a  large  party  under  Captain  Jack 
claiming  it  for  their  leader,  as  opposed  to 
Schonchin,  the  hereditary  chief.  Captain 
Jack's  band  left,  and  settled  on  Lost 
River,  and  it  was  the  attempt  to  remove 
them  to  the  reservation  which  ended  so 
disastrously.  Fighting  had  occurred  in 
the  fall  of  1872,  and  at  last  the  Modocs 
retreated  to  the  Lava  Beds,  extensive 
tracts  full  of  strongholds.  The  United 
States  troops  encamped  within  three 
miles  of  the  Indians,  and  an  attempt  was 
made  to  open  communication  with  them. 
This  was  done,  and  after  repeated  efforts 
it  seemed  to  be  apparent  that  success 
could  be  reached  only  with  difficulty. 
At  last  the  troops  were  taken  nearer  the 
camp  of  the  Indians,  which  Captain  Jack 
always  affirmed  was  in  violation  of  an 
express  agreement,  and  which  evidently 
precipitated  the  fearful  calamity.  A  final 
peace  council  was  arranged  for  in  spite 
of  the  remonstrances  of  Col.  Meacham, 
who  knew  that  a  massacre  was  in  all 
probability  impending.  The  United 
States  leaders  finally  went  forth  to  it,  and 
never  returned.  It  was  a  fearful  scene. 
After  considerable  solicitation  for  the  re- 
moval of  the  troops  to  a  greater  distance 
from  the  Indian  camp,  the  end  came,  and 
the  Modocs  with  their  hitherto  concealed 
weapons,  attempted  the  life  of  each  white 
man.  Col.  Meacham,  who  lived  through 
it,  received  about  a  dozen  shots  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  his  person,  and  an  Indian 
was  removing  his  scalp  when  the  cry  of 
"Soldiers!"  by  an'  Indian  woman  who 
wished  to  save  the  life  of  Col.  Meachair., 


1869-1876.] 

caused  the  Indian  to  flee  at  the  top  of  his 
speed.  The  sad  work  was  done,  and  the 
troops  could  not  undo  it.  A  close  pur- 
suit followed,  and  within  three  months 
Capt.  Jack  and  his  band  surrendered. 
The  leaders  in  the  massacre  were  put  on 
trial  and  sentenced  to  be  executed,  which 
order  was  carried  out  Oct.  3,  at  Fort 
Klamath.  Capt.  Jack  insisted  that  the 
catastrophe  was  brought  on  against  his 
own  sturdy  opposition  by  a  few  turbulent 
spirits  in  his  party,  and  that  it  could  have 
been  avoided  had  the  troops  been  kept 
at  the  distance  agreed  upon.  He  honestly 
deemed  himself  imposed  upon  by  the 
United  States  commander.  A  melan- 
choly interest  attaches  to  his  death.  He 
was  an  Indian  of  excellent  native  powers, 
and  of  considerable  intelligence.  The 
tragedy  in  which  he  had  a  part  is  one  of 
the  fearful  occurrences  of  Indian  warfare. 

PENIKESE  ISLAND. 

1873.  April.  John  Anderson  of  New 
York,  who  owned  Penikese  Island,  one 
of  the  Elizabeth  Islands  off  the  southern 
coast  of  Massachusetts,  and  occupied  it 
as  a  summer  residence,  gave  the  island, 
with  his  buildings  and  furniture,  to  Prof. 
Agassiz  of  Cambridge,  to  be  occupied  as 
a  summer  school  of  natural  history.  A 
fund  of  $50,000  accompanied  the  gift. 
Prof.  Agassiz  conducted  the  school 
through  its  first  summer  with  great  de- 
light to  himself  and  those  who  attended 
it.  But  since  his  death  some  difficulty 
occurred  in  reference  to  the  endowment 
of  the  school,  and  the  enterprise  has  been 
abandoned.  It  was  one  which  Prof. 
Agassiz  hoped  would  become  of  great 
importance. 

1873.  May  4.  An  iron  bridge  fell 
at  Dixon,  111.,  while  it  was  crowded  with 

50 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


785 


spectators  who  were  witnessing  a  bap- 
tism. Nearly  200  persons  fell  into  the 
river,  and  100  lives  were  lost. 

SALMON  P.  CHASE. 

1873.  May  7.  Salmon  Portland 
Chase,  chief-justice  of  the  supreme  court 
of  the  United  States,  died  in  New  York, 
aged  sixty-five  years.  He  was  born  in  Cor- 
nish, N.  H.,  Jan.  13,  1808.  In  1817  his 
father  died,  and  three  years  later  Salmon 
was  placed  in  charge  of  his  uncle,  Bishop 
Chase,  at  Worthington,  Ohio.  In  1826 
he  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College. 
He  then  taught  a  boy's  school  in  Wash- 
ington, and  having  diligently  studied  law 
during  his  vocation  as  a  teacher,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  1793.1373.  w. 

District      of      Columbia      in      C.Macready. 

1829.  In  1830  he  settled  in  Cincinnati,  . 
and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
During  the  first  three  years  of  his  resi- 
dence, while  struggling  to  obtain  a  lucra- 
tive practice,  he  prepared  in  three  vol- 
umes an  edition  of  the  statutes  of  Ohio 
with  valuable  notes,  and  a  preliminary 
sketch  of  the  history  of  the  state.  This 
work,  which  is  regarded  to  this  day  as  a 
standard  authority  in  the  courts,  gave 
immediately  what  he  desired,  a  reputa- 
tion and  a  practice.  He  became  solicitor 
for  the  bank  of  the  United  States  in  Cin- 
cinnati in  1834.  In  1837  he  became  in- 
terested in  a  number  of  fugitive  slave 
cases.  For  a  number  of  years  his  inter- 
est in  cases  of  this  character  continued. 
In  1846  he  was  associated  with  W.  H. 
Seward  as  counsel  in  the  famous  Van 
Zandt  case.  Mr.  Chase  argued  that 
slavery  depended  entirely  upon  state 
laws  for  its  existence  and  maintenance, 
and  claimed  that  congress  had  no  author- 
^ity  to  confer  any  powers  or  impose  any 
duties  on  state  magistrates  in  fugitive 


786 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


slave  cases.  He  asserted  that  the 
moment  a  fugitive  entered  Ohio  he  was 
free,  and  no  master  could  reclaim  him 
unless  he  came  from  one  of  the  original 
states;  that  according  to  the  constitution 
congress  had  no  power  or  authority  to 
legislate  in  this  matter,  which  was  in- 
tended to  be  left  exclusively  to  the  several 
states.  In  his  state  Mr.  Chase  had,  up 
to  1841,  voted  with  the  party  that  would 
declare  in  the  strongest  terms  against  the 
aggressions  of  the  slave  power,  some- 
times with  the  democrats,  and  often  the 
whigs.  He  took  an  active  part  in  an 
anti-slavery  convention  which 'assembled 
in  Columbus  in  December,  1841.  Mr. 
Chase  prepared  an  address  for  the  con- 
vention, defining  its  plans  and  purposes, 
which  was  sent  out  to  the  people.  He 
took  an  equally  active  part  in  the  na- 
tional liberty  convention  which  assembled 
at  Buffalo  in  1843.  Through  the  efforts 
of  Mr.  Chase  a  southern  and  western  lib- 
erty convention  assembled  at  Cincinnati 
in  June,  1845.  As  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee he  prepared  the  address  and  set 
forth  the  necessities  of  the  organization 
of  a  new  political  party  in  order  to  effect 
the  overthrow  of  the  slave  power.  In 
1848  he  issued  a  call,  signed  by  three 
thousand  voters  of  both  parties,  for  a  free 
territory  state  convention  to  be  held  at 
Columbus.  In  August  he  presided  over 
a  national  convention  which  assembled 
at  Buffalo,  and  which  nominated  Martin 
Van  Buren  for  president,  and  Charles 
Francis  Adams  for  vice-president.  On 
Feb.  22,  1849,  he  was  elected  United 
States  senator  from  Ohio  by  the  demo- 
cratic and  free  soil  members  of  the  legis- 
lature, the  democratic  party  in  that  state 
having  committed  itself  to  anti-slavery. 
When  the  Baltimore  convention  of  1852 
nominated  Franklin  Pierce  for  president, 


and  approved  the  compromise  acts  of 
1850,  Mr.  Chase  withdrew  from  the 
democratic  party,  and  advocated  the  for- 
mation of  an  independent  democratic 
party.  This  new  political  band  held  its 
first  convention  at  Pittsburgh  in  1852. 
Mr.  Chase  supported  it  until  the  new 
party,  which  based  its  organization  on 
the  principles  so  long  maintained  by  him, 
arose.  During  his  entire  term  Mr.  Chase 
ably  discharged  his  senatorial  duties.  In 
1850  he  delivered  a  speech  in  the  senate 
against  Mr.  Clay's  compromise  bill.  In 
1854  he  issued  an  appeal  to  the  people, 
opposing  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  com- 
promise. His  object  was  to  separate  the 
question  of  slavery  entirely  from  the  fed- 
eral government,  and  allow  the  states 
themselves  to  decide  it.  He  strongly  op- 
posed the  passage  of  the  Nebraska  bill, 
and  in  1855  he  was  elected  governor  of 
Ohio  by  its  opponents.  He  was  re- 
elected  in  1857  by  the  largest  vote  ever 
cast  for  any  governor  of  that  state.  In 
the  republican  convention  at  Chicago,  in 
May,  1860,  he  was  a  prominent  candi- 
date for  president.  In  1861  he  became 
secretary  of  the  treasury  in  Mr.  Lincoln's 
cabinet.  Here  he  proved  his  ability  as  a 
great  financier.  It  was  mainly  his  policy 
that  carried  the  nation  through  the  civil 
war.  He  resigned  this  position  June  30, 
1864.  On  the  death  of  Roger  B.  Taney 
in  the  latter  part  of  this  year,  Mr.  Chase 
was  appointed  chief-justice  of  the  United 
states.  He  presided  at  the  impeachment 
trial  of  Andrew  Johnson  in  March,  1868. 
Having  now  become  dissatisfied  with  the 
republican  party  he  was  prominently 
mentioned  as  the  candidate  of  frhe  democ- 
racy, but  the  movement  in  his  favor  sub- 
sided before  the  convention  assembled. 
He  opposed  the  reelection  of  Gen.  Grant 
in  1872.  No  charges  of  dishonesty  or 


1869-1876.] 

of  want  of  integrity  can  be  brought 
against  Mr.  Chase.  He  never  gained  a 
great  fortune,  but  died  comparatively 
poor.  He  was  steadfast  in  the  support 
of  his  principles,  a  true  man  to  the  end  of 

his  days. 

OAKE8  AMES. 

1873.  May  8.  Oakes  Ames,  the 
man  who,  more  than  any  other,  was  in- 
strumental in  building  the  Union  Pacific 
railroad  by  means  of  his  energy  and 
money,  died  in  Easton,  Mass.,  where  he 
had  been  for  years  a  prominent  manufact- 
urer. The  Ames  shovel  manufactory  is 
known  over  the  world.  Mr.  Ames 
owned  a  very  large  amount  of  the  Credit 
1784-1873.  Mobilier  stock,  and  was  the 

Manzoni.  one  whose  memorandum 
book  figured  so  prominently  in  the  in- 
vestigation into  the  procedures  of  that 
company.  He  and  James  Brooks,  mem- 
bers of  the  house  of  representatives,  were 
censured  by  vote  for  their  connection 
with  the  Credit  Mobilier  operations.  Yet 
Mr.  Ames  probably  intended  simply  to 
insure  in  ways  which  did  not  appear  to 
him  illegitimate,  the  completion  of  the 
great  task  to  which  he  had  put  his  hand. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  his  fortune  is 
thought  to  have  been  over  $5,000,000. 


THE  PROBLEMS   OF  TO-DAT. 


1873.  June  19.  The  burning  of  the 
woods  around  Michagamme,  Mich.,  set 
fire  to  the  village,  which  was  completely 
destroyed.  A  number  of  lives  were  lost. 

1873.  June.  The  cholera  prevailed 
throughout  the  Southern  cities  of  the 
United  States  to  an  alarming  extent. 

HIRAM  POWERS. 

1873.  June  27.  This  well-known 
American  sculptor  died  in  Florence, 
Italy,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  He  was  a 
native  of  the  Green  Mountain  state,  hav- 


ing been  born  at  Woodstock,  Vt.,  July 
29,  1805.  His  father  owned  a  farm  upon 
which  Hiram  remained  till  his  father's 
death.  Those  early  years  were  years 
of  ordinary  home  work  and  training. 
When  his  father  died  he  pushed  out  into 
the  world  for  himself,  and  served  for  a 
time  in  the  capacity  of  clerk  at  Cincin- 
nati. He  afterward  worked  for  a  clock- 
maker.  His  attention  was  in  some  way 
drawn  to  modeling  in  clay,  and  his  in- 
terest in  it  led  him  to  learn  the  first  steps 
from  a  German  who  understood  the 
work.  Very  soon  he  exercised  his  own 
originality,  and  very  worthily,  too.  For 
a  time  he  was  connected  with  the  mu- 
seum at  Cincinnati,  in  charge  of  the  wax- 
works. In  1835  a  broader  sphere  was 
entered  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  he 
began  working  upon  busts.  In  two  years 
he  went  to  Florence,  Italy,  and  contin- 
ued to  live  there.  He  produced  several 
fine  statues,  among  them  being  "  Eve," 
the  "Greek  Slave,"  and  the  "Fisher 
Boy,"  together  with  a  large  number  of 
busts  of  distinguished  men.  His  work  is 
of  a  high  character. 


1873.  July  4.  Destructive  torna- 
does occurred  in  Indiana,  Ohio,  Wiscon- 
sin, and  Missouri,  causing  a  loss  of  many 
lives,  and  much  property. 

1873.  July  12.  At  a  horse  race  in 
Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  True  Blue  ran  two 
miles  in  3  min.  32^  sec. 

1873.  July  21.  The  mail  train 
from  California,  carrying  a  large  amount 
of  gold-bearing  packages  to  the  East, 
was  thrown  from  the  track,  sixty  miles 
west  of  Des  Moines,  by  the  removal  of 
a  rail.  It  was  then  surrounded  by  des- 
peradoes, who,  after  killing  the  engineer, 
succeeded  in  escaping  with  about  $6,000 
in  booty. 


788 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1873.  July.  A  line  of  four  steam- 
ers was  put  into  operation  between  Phil- 
adelphia and  Liverpool:  The  Pennsyl- 
vania, Indiana,  Ohio,  and  Illinois,  of  over 
3,000  tons  each.  These  were  built  by 
Wm.  Cramp  &  Sons,  of  Philadelphia, 
and  this  was  the  only  full  line  of 
steamers  carrying  the  American  flag 
across  the  Atlantic. 

1873.  Aug.  2.  A  great  fire  in  Port- 
land, Oregon,  consumed  twenty-three 
blocks,  two  hundred  and  fifty  dwellings, 
and  $  i  ,500,000  worth  of  property. 

1873.  Aug.  8.  The  steamer  Wawas- 
set  was  burned  on  the  Potomac,  with  a 
loss  of  seventy  lives.  The  life-preservers 
were  unattainable,  the  fire  having  burst 
forth  suddenly,  and  one  of  the  two  small 
boats  was  lost  in  launching. 

1873.  Aug.  16.  A  band  of  one 
hundred  Mennonites,  from  the  commun- 
ity in  the  Crimea,  arrived  in  New  York. 
These  peculiar  people  are  Baptists  with 
the  Quaker  principle  of  non-resistance. 
They  were  given  ten  years  by  the  Rus- 
1873.  MacMa-  sian  government  to  choose 
hon president  of  between  giving  up  their  re- 
France.  ligion  or  their  homes.  They 

surrendered  the  latter,  and  after  the  first 
hundred  emigrants  had  settled,  they  came 
in  large  numbers  to  America,  and  settled 
in  the  Western  states.  They  are  indus- 
trious and  sober,  and  all  in  good  circum- 
stances; some  of  them  were  even  quite 
wealthy.  They  are  like  the  better  class 
of  Germans  in  appearance. 

1873.  Aug.  21.  An  unusual  pres- 
sure of  water  caused  the  banks  of  the 
Delaware  and  Chesapeake  canal  to  break 
away,  inundating  the  surrounding  coun- 
try, and  causing~a  loss  of  property  to  the 
extent  of  $  i  ,800,000. 

1873.  August.  A  terrible  storm  oc- 
curred in  the  eastern  provinces  along  the 


Atlantic  coast,  causing  immense  damage 
to  shipping.  Fifty  American  vessels 
were  lost.  Of  three  hundred  fishing  ves- 
sels but  twenty  remained. 

1873.  Sept.  10.  A  great  sale  of  cer- 
tain breeds  of  Short-horn  cattle  was  held 
at  New  York  Mills,  Oneida  county,  N. 
Y.,  $382,000  being  paid  for  one  hundred 
and  nine  cattle.  One  cow  was  sold  for 
$40,000,  and  others  for  over  $20,000; 
$27,000  were  paid  for  a  five  months'  old 
calf.  This  is  probably  the  most  wonder- 
ful sale  of  cattle  of  which  there  is  any 
account. 

1873.  Sept.  17.  The  yellow  fever 
raged  in  Louisiana.  At  this  date  in 
some  places  not  a  sufficient  number  of 
well  persons  remained  to  take  care  of  the 
sick. 

THE  PANIC  OF  '73. 

1873.  Sept.  19.  The  failure  of  the 
banking  firm  of  Jay  Cooke  &  Company, 
of  Philadelphia,  was  the  signal  for  the  be- 
ginning of  the  great  financial  panic  which 
occurred  all  over  the  country  during  this 
year.  Firms  in  every  part  of  the  Union 
failed,  and  business  became  paralyzed. 
Confidence  was  destroyed.  Labor  was 
checked,  and  untold  suffering  among  the 
poorer  classes  occurred.  Money  was 
withdrawn  from  the  public,  and  locked 
up  when  most  needed  by  the  people. 
Mills  were  closed.  Speculation  disap- 
peared. Great  railroad  enterprises  were 
suddenly  abandoned.  There  were  vari- 
ous causes  for  the  crash:  ^  Septemher, 
the  reckless  speculations  Last  Germans 
and  growing  extravagance 
of  the  people;  the  excessive  impor- 
tations of  foreign  goods;  the  careless- 
ness with  which  debts  were  contract- 
ed; the  construction  of  railroads  beyond 
the  immediate  needs  of  the  country. 
It  was  four  years  before  the  country  re- 


1869-1876.J 

covered  from  the  results  of  the  panic. 
Probably  thousands  of  men  who  had 
been  before  the  panic  honest  laborers, 
became  tramps,  and  roamed  the  country 
in  search  of  food  and  plunder. 

THE  WASHINGTON  COMMISSION. 

1873.  Sept.  25.  The  commission 
which  was  provided  for  by  the  Treaty  of 
Washington  to  consider  and  arbitrate 
claims  of  United  States  and  English  citi- 
zens against  one  another  for  acts  during 
the  Civil  War,  adjourned  with  an  an- 
nouncement of  an  award  of  $1,929,819 
for  England.  The  commission  met  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  Sept  26,  1871,  and 
was  composed  of  James  S.  Frazer,  ap- 
pointed by  the  United  States,  Russell 
Gurney  by  England,  and  Count  Corti, 
appointed  by  the  above  two  men  jointly. 

WILL  MM  WHEELWRIGHT. 

•  1873.  Sept.  26.  William  Wheelwright, 
an  American  capitalist,  died  in  London, 
aged  seventy-five  years.  He  was  born 
in  Newburyport,  Mass.,  in  1798,  and  at 
an  early  age  began  to  go  upon  the  sea. 
He  got,  in  the  course  of  his  enterprises, 
upon  the  west  coast  of  South  America, 
and  here  the  chief  efforts  of  his  life  were 
made.  He  established  lines  of  passenger 
vessels,  and  was  instrumental  in  found- 
ing what  is  now  the  Pacific  Steam  Nav- 
igation Company.  His  attention  was 
then  turned  to  railroads,  and  he  built  the 
first  ones  known  in  South  America. 
The  first  telegraph  line,  the  first  gas 
works,  the  first  water  works  in  South 
America,  were  built  by  him.  His  enter- 
prise was  unbounded,  and  his  success  great. 

THE  VIRGINIUS  AFFAIR. 

1873.  Oct.  30.  An  American  steam- 
er named  the  Virginius  was  captured, 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAY. 


789 


while  bearing  the  United  States  flag,  by 
a  Spanish  man-of-war  named  Tornado, 
on  the  alleged  suspicion  of  being  a  fili- 
bustering expedition  to  aid  the  Cuban  hi- 
surgents.  Fifty-four  of  her  men  were  shot 
at  a  little  later  day,  against  the  remon- 
strances of  the  United  States  and  English 
consuls.  In  December, 

'      1873.      Amadeiis 

however,  the  steamer  and  of  Spain  atdi- 
the  survivors  were  given  cates' 
up  to  the  United  States  authorities.  The 
matter  caused  considerable  negotiation 
between  the  United  States  and  Spain, 
with  the  prospect  of  war,  but  Spain 
finally,  in  1875,  paid  $80,000  as  an  in- 
demnity fund,  and  the  matter  was 
dropped. 

JOHN  P.  HALE. 

1873.  Nov.  19.  John  Parker  Hale, 
a  prominent  American  statesman,  died  at 
Dover,  N.  H.,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  He 
was  born  in  the  same  state,  at  Roches- 
ter, March  31,  1806.  His  mind  was 
early  turned  toward  seeking  an  education, 
and  he  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College,  in 
1827,  after  which  he  studied  law.  His 
practice  began  at  Dover  in  1830.  His 
friends  elected  him  to  the  state  legisla- 
ture in  1832,  and  from  this  time  on  his 
political  course  was  a  prominent  one. 
President  Jackson  made  him  United 
States  district  attorney  for  New  Hamp- 
shire in  1834.  His  sympathies  were 
with  the  democratic  party,  but  opposed 
to  slavery.  He  was  sent  to  iso3-i873. 
congress  in  1843.  A  con-  s'r E' Lanjseer- 
flict  with  his  constituents  occurred  over 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  which  he  reso- 
lutely opposed,  because  he  thought  it 
was  intended  to  firmly  establish  slavery. 
He  declared  that  if  his  constituents  wished 
Texas  annexed,  they  must  choose  some 
one  in  his  place  in  congress.  Another 
person  was  nominated,  and  Mr.  Hale  ran 


790 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


as  an  independent  candidate.  A  long  re- 
membered debate  between  Mr.  Hale  and 
Franklin  Pierce  occurred  in  Concord,  N. 
H:,  in  1845,  brought  on  by  an  endeavor 
on  Mr.  Hale's  part,  in  a  public  address  at 
that  place,  to  set  himself  right  in  the  eyes 
of  the  people.  The  debate  sprang  up 
unintentionally,  and  continued  from  two 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  till  sunset.  Mr. 
Hale  won  the  victory  in  the  judgment  of 
the  great  mass.  After  that  time  Mr. 
Hale  was  sent  to  congress,  first  to  the 
house,  and  then  to  the  senate.  He  served  as 
speaker  of  the  former  at  one  session.  His 
course  was  very  uniform  and  consistent 
on  the  slavery  question,  and  had  a  con- 
nection with  both  the  "  liberty"  and  "  free- 
soil  "  parties.  He  was  nominated  by  the 
former  in  1847  f°r  president  of  the  Unit- 
ed States,  but  declined  to  run.  The 
"free-soil"  party  nominated  him  in  1852. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  was  a  firm 
union  man,  and  served  faithfully  in  the 
senate  during  the  stormy  period.  For 
three  years  he  served  as  minister  to 
Spain.  His  last  few  years  were  spent  in 
New  Hampshire  in  the  quiet'  of  private 
life.  Mr.  Hale  was  regarded  in  New 
England  as  a  very  prominent  and  worthy 
political  leader. 

TWEED  SUITS. 

1873.  Nov.  19.  After  a  trial  of 
some  length  William  M.  Tweed  of  New 
York,  whom  the  citizens  had  been  pros- 
ecuting for  misuse  of  public  money,  was 
found  guilty  of  fraud,  and  sentenced  to 
twelve  years  in  the  penitentiary,  and  to 
pay  a  fine  of  $12,550.  This  sentence 
was  made  up  of  penalties  on  several  dif- 
ferent counts.  A  previous  trial  had  failed 
by  the  disagreement  of  the  jury.  He  was 
imprisoned  for  his  offences  upon  Black- 
well's  Island. 


1873.  Nov.  23.  The  steamship  Ville 
du  Havre  collided  in  mid-ocean  with  the 
British  ship  Loch  Earn,  and  immediately 
sunk.  Two  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
lives  were  lost. 

HOOSdC  TUXXEL. 

1873.  Nov.  27.  The  Hoosac  Tun- 
nel under  Hoosac  Mountain,  which  is  a 
part  of  the  Green  Mountain  range,  in 
Western  Massachusetts,  was  completed 
by  the  opening  of  the  cavities  from  the 
west  and  east  into  each  other.  It  is 
nearly  five  miles  long,  and  opens  com- 
munication between  Boston  and  the 
West,  by  way  of  the  Fitchburg,  Ver- 
mont and  Massachusetts,  and  Troy  and 
Greenfield  railroads.  Work  was  begun 
in  1852,  but  made  little  progress  for 
a  few  years.  In  1856  Herman  Haupt 
&  Co.  engaged  to  construct  it  for  $3,- 
800,000,  $2,000,000  of  which  was  to 
come  from  the  state.  This  contract, 
however,  failed,  and  Mr.  Haupt  began 
operations  for  himself,  and  by  Septem- 
ber, 1857,  na^  cut  about  1,300  feet.  In 
1862  the  state  took  possession  of  the 
work,  introducing  new  methods  and 
machinery.  In  1867  about  5,000  feet  of 
the  distance  had  been  tunneled.  Opposi- 
tion now  became  very  strong,  and  efforts 
were  made  to  abandon  the  undertaking, 
but  without  success.  The  result  was  a 
contract  with  Walter  and  Francis  Shan- 
ley,  of  Montreal,  who  completed  the  tun- 
nel by  March,  1874,  for  $4,623,069. 

LOUIS  AGdSSIZ. 

1873.  Dec.  14.  Louis  John  Rudolf 
Agassiz,  M.  D.,  Ph.  D.,  L.L.  D.,  died  at 
Cambridge,  Mass.  He  was  born  of  Hu- 
guenot parents,  in  Switzerland,  May  28, 
1807.  He  studied  at  various  schools,  al- 
ways giving  much  attention  to  the  nat- 


1869-1876.] 

ural  sciences,  and  soon  made  himself  fa- 
mous by  different  papers.  He  received 
the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine  from 
the  University  of  Munich.  Until  1846, 
when  his  residence  in  the  United  States 
began,  he  explored  the  rivers  and  lakes 
of  Europe,  spending  his  summers  among 
the  Alps,  that  he  might  study  the  glac- 
iers. The  greater  part  of  his  journeying 
was  on  foot.  Several  works  were  pub- 
lished during  this  time,  one  of  five  vol- 
umes upon  fossil  fishes ;  also  his  "  Fresh 
Water  Fishes."  His  coming  to  America 
was  due  to  two  reasons,  the  first  of 
which  was  that  the  Prussian  government 
had  supplied  him  with  means,  that  he 
might  acquaint  himself  with  the  geology 
of  this  country ;  and  the  second,  an  invi- 
tation to  deliver  a  course  of  lectures  at  the 
Lowell  Institute,  Boston.  Deciding  to 
take  up  his  residence  here,  he  accepted 
the  next  year  the  professorship  of  zool- 
ogy and  geology  in  the  Lawrence  sci- 
entific school  at  Cambridge,  where  he 
continued  until  his  sudden  death,  caused 
by  working  in  an  overheated  room  at 
the  museum.  Some  of  his  works  com- 
prise the  most  important  contributions  to 
science  which  the  country  has  produced. 
Many  will  remember  him  by  his  connec- 
tion with  the  Hassler  expedition  around 
Cape  Horn.  His  school  of  natural  phi- 
losophy at  Penikese^  and  the  museum  of 
comparative  zoology  at  Cambridge,  he 
intended  should  surpass  anything  of  that 
character  in  the  world.  The  cause  of 
science  lost  a  valuable  contributor  by  his 
death. 

1873.  December.  The  automatic 
fire  signal  telegraph  was  first  exhibited  in 
New  York  at  the  store  of  H.  B.  Claflin 
and  Company,  and  an  alarm  given  by  it 
to  the  station  several  blocks  away. 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT.  791 

POLARIS  SURVIVORS. 
1873.       Great   sympathy   was  drawn 


forth  by  the  finding  in  helpless  situations 
of  two  parties  of  survivors  of  Charles 
Francis  Hall's  ill-fated  Polaris  expedition. 
One  party  of  nineteen  had  drifted  away 
from  the  Polaris  by  the  breaking  up  of  the 
ice,  while  the  whole  company  was  trying 
to  escape.  They  floated  on  the  ice  for 
195  days,  over  about  2,000  miles,  and  were 
picked  up  on  April  3othby  the  Tigress,  a 
Nova  Scotia  whaling  steamer.  The 
others  who  had  been  thus  summarily  left 
with  the  Polaris  abandoned  her  in  June, 
and  floated  south  in  two  isis-iens. 

•L  u-    u  .LI.         u    j  j         Da-vid  Living  - 

boats  which  they  had  made  stone. 
from  the  vessel.  They  were  picked  up 
June  23,  by  a  whaler  from  Scotland, 
which  carried  them  to  Dundee.  They 
then  came  back  to  the  United  States. 
Their  Arctic  experiences  rank  among 
the  most  thrilling  of  the  whole  list  of 

explorations. 

• 

1873.  At  a  trial  of  steamboat  speed 
the  Mary-  Powell  ran  on  the  Hudson 
River  from  New  York  to  Poughkeepsie, 
76  miles,  in  3  h.  3  m. 

1873.  At  a  trial  of  skating  at  Madi- 
son, Wis.,  William  Clark  skated  one 
mile  in  i  m.  56  sec. 

1873.  At  a  trial  of  strength  at  New 
York,  W.  B.  Curtis  lifted  3,300  pounds 
in  harness.  On  November  8  of  this 
year,  R.  A.  Pennell  lifted,  in  the  same 
city,  1210  pounds  dead  weight. 

1873.  Pour  hundred  and  seventy- 
three  thousand  emigrants  came  to  the 
United  States  during  this  year. 

1873.  Joseph  Arch,  the  great  Eng- 
lish labor  reformer,  visited  and  studied 
Canada. 

1873.  Prince  Edward's  Island  united 
with  the  Dominion  of  Canada. 


793 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1873.  The  "Reformed  Episcopal 
Church"  was  organized  under  Bishop 
George  D.  Cummings.  A  revision  of 
the  prayer  book,  in  some  particulars,  and 
a  less  degree  of  insistance  upon  the  apos- 
tolic character  of  the  church,  as  separate 
from  all  the  sects,  were  prominent  in  the 
origin  of  this  new  denomination. 

1873.  The  "  Graphic  Company  "  of 
New  York  was  formed,  and  began  the 
issue  of  a  daily  paper  called  the 
"  Graphic,"  which  was  illustrated  by 
means  of  photo-lithography.  The  en- 
gravings can  be  reproduced  upon  stone 
in  a  half  hour. 

CUBAN  REVOLUTION. 

1873.  During  the  year  an  inactive 
period  occurred  in  the  Cuban  revolution. 
A  vast  amount  of  money  had  been  ex- 
pended by  the  Spanish  government  in  its 
attempt  to  subdue  the  insurgents.  About 
70,000  Spanish  soldiers  had  been  killed, 
and  near  60,000  of  khe  insurgents  had 
lost  their  lives,  either  in  battle,  or  had 
1873.  strikes  been  shot  in  captivity.  Gen. 
of  colliers  in  Pieltain  had  command  of 
England.  ^g  government  forces  this 

year.  In  July  he  offered  to  make  peace 
with  the  Cuban  president,  Cespedes,  pro- 
vided that  Cuba  should  remain  a  province 
of  Spain,  but  President  Cespedes  declined 
the  offer  on  the  conditions  imposed.  Gen. 
Pieltain  was  superseded  in  November  by 
Gen.  Jovellar ;  and  in  December  Cespedes 
was  deposed,  and  Salvador  Cisneros  was 
made  president  of  the  Cuban  republic. 


1873.  In  Peru,  under  the  adminis- 
tration of  President  Pardo,  the  republic 
was  in  its  most  prosperous  and  content- 
ed condition.  Roads  were  constructed 
throughout  the  country.  Peace  reigned. 
Industry  of  all  kinds  flourished.  Rail- 


ways and  telegraph  lines  were  built. 
The  finances  were  placed  on  a  firmer 
basis.  Education  was  placed  within  the 
reach  of  all. 

1873.  A  revolution  which  had  broken 
out  in  Uruguay,  in  1870,  now  resulted  in 
the  election  of  Jos6  Ellauri  as  president. 

THE  TELEPHONE. 

1873.  Elisha  Gray  of  Chicago,  in- 
vented the  instrument  which  he  called  a 
"  resonator,"  and  which  became  the  basis 
of  the  modern  telephone.  Previous  to 
this  date  experiments  had  shown  that 
sound  could  be  transmitted,  but  his  suc- 
cess was  in  transmitting  sound  with  its 
original  pitch  and  intensity.  The  adap- 
tation of  it  to  the  human  voice  in  1876 
by  Prof.  Bell  of  Boston,  drew  further  at- 
tention to  it.  Prof.  Dolbear  in  1876,  like- 
wise invented  an  instrument  of  the  same 
kind.  Thomas  A.  Edison  also  experi- 
mented with  the  idea.  From  all  these 
attempts  came  the  telephone,  which  is  so 
extensively  used  at  the  present  time,  and 
which  lawsuits  have  proved  to  rest  upon 
the  invention  of  Mr.  Gray. 


1874.     Jan.  15.     The  burning  of  the 

Hamilton  building  in  Brooklyn,  caused 
the  loss  of  the  valuable  documents  and 
relics  of  the  Long  Island  Historical 
Society. 

SMM&SS  TWINS. 

1874.  Jan.  17.  The  Siamese  twins, 
long  widely  known  because  of  the  sin- 
gular growth  by  which  they  were  con- 
nected together,  died  in  North  Carolina, 
aged  sixty-three  years.  They  had  been 
exhibited  in  many  parts  of  the  world, 
but  during  the  last  years  had  lived 
upon  a  farm.  Each  was  married,  and  had 
children.  Their  deaths  were  sudden. 
Chang  died  in  the  night  from  an  un- 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


793 


known  cause,  and  Eng  died  in  a  few 
hours  from  the  shock'  he  experienced 
upon  finding  his  brother  dead.  The  two 
were  in  many  respects,  quite  unlike  each 
other. 

1874.  Jan.  20.  A  frightful  explo- 
sion of  gas  in  a  knitting  mill  at  Benning- 
ton,  Vt.,  caused  the  loss  of  much  prop- 
erty, and  the  death  of  nine  women. 

WOMAN'S   CRUSADE. 

1874.  Feb.  10.  A  peculiar  form  of 
temperance  labor  broke  out  in  a  small 
town  in  Ohio,  and  spread  rapidly  through- 
out the  North.  It  began  in  the  efforts 
of  a  number  of  Christian  women  to  break 
up  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  in  their 
community,  by  openly  praying  before 
and  within  the  saloons.  Companies  of 
women  gathered  for  the  purpose,  and 
held  their  meetings  in  the  saloons  when 
it  was  possible  to  do  so,  but  where  denied 
this  privilege,  held  them  upon  the  side- 
walks or  in  the  streets.  Soon  the  excite- 
ment spread  and  Ohio  was  all  alive  with 
this  new  method.  The  long  pent-up  feel- 
ings of  hundreds  of  women  came  out  in 
this  public  labor,  which  many  of  them 
would  have  averred  three  months  be- 
fore, they  could  never  have  undertaken. 
Larger  places  followed  the  example  of 
the  smaller.  Church  edifices  became 
places  of  assembly,  and  were  crowded 
with  women  beseeching  the  favor  of 
God  upon  their  work.  They  would  then 
go  forth  to  pray  at  the  saloons,  in  many  in- 
stances with  very  noticeable  results.  Some 
towns  were  almost,  or  entirely  cleared 
of  saloons  by  this  movement,  and  saloon- 
keepers in  some  cases  went  into  other 
business,  and  became  changed  men.  The 
work  caused  great  excitement,  and  much 
comment,  favorable  and  otherwise.  It 


accomplished  much  which  would  else  not 
have  been  done.  But  like  other  tempo- 
rary expedients,  it  passed  by.  Since  its 
day,  however,  the  work  of  women  along 
temperance  lines  has  greatly  increased, 
and  is  putting  itself  on  a  basis  of  steady 
effort  which  augurs  much  good  for  the 
success  of  their  labors. 

ELDER .  KN&PP. 

1874.  March  2.  Jacob  Knapp,  a 
prominent  American  revivalist,  died  at 
Rockford,  111.,  aged  seventy-four  years. 
He  was  born  in  New  York  State  Decem- 
ber 7,  1 799.  After  his  theological  study 
was  concluded  he  settled  in  Springfield, 
N.  Y.,  and  then  at  Watertown,  in  both 
which  places,  besides  attending  to  his 
pastoral  work,  he  conducted  farms.  His 
evangelistic  work  begun  about  1832, 
when  he  had  what  he  was  alwavs  ac- 
customed to  speak  of,  as  a  second  conver- 
sion. From  this  time  his  power  grew, 
and  his  services  were  in  demand  far 
and  near.  In  all  the  larger  cities  his 
preaching  was  attended  by  remarkable 
results,  and  many  wonderful  conversions 
took  place. 

MILLARD  FILLMORE. 

1874.  March  8.  Millard  Fillmore, 
the  thirteenth  President  of  the  United 
States,  died  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  aged 
seventy-four  years.  He  was  born  in 
Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  January  7,  1800. 
His  early  education  was  limited.  When 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  was  apprenticed 
to  a  clothier,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  1819,  when  he  began  the  study  of 
law.  He  was  compelled  to  support  him- 
self while  pursuing  his  1737-1874 
studies,  and  was  obliged  Guizot. 

to  endure  many  hardships.  In  1823 
he  began  the  practice  of  his  profes- 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


sion,  in  which  he  soon  acquired  a  reputa- 
tion. In  1828  he  was  elected  to  the 
State  legislature  by  the  whigs.  Four 
years  later  he  was  elected  as  a  repre- 
sentative in  the  national  congress  by  the 
same  party.  He  remained  first  in  the 
lower  house,  then  in  the  senate  until 
1843.  ^e  took  but  little  part  in  politics 
for  the  next  four  years.  In  1847  ^e  was 
elected  comptroller  of  New  York;  and 
the  following  year  vice-president  of  the 
United  States.  As  president  of  the  sen- 
ate Mr.  Fillmore  established  the  rule  of 
allowing  no  abusive  language,  which 
was  then  so  common  in  the  fierce  de- 
bates on  the  slavery  question.  This  rule 
he  executed  with  impartiality.  On  the 
death  of  President  Taylor,  on  the  9th  of 
July,  1850,  Mr.  Fillmore  became  presi- 
dent, by  virtue  of  his  office  as  vice-presi- 
dent. He  became  unpopular  on  account 
of  his  attempted  enforcement  of  the  fugi- 
tive slave  law.  It  is  thought  that  this 
measure  prevented  his  being  chosen  for  a 
second  term.  In  1855-56  he  made  a 
tour  of  Europe,  and  while  abroad  he 
was  nominated  by  the  American  party, 
or  know-nothings,  for  the  presidency. 
After  his  defeat  he  retired  entirely  from 
political  life,  and  lived  quietly  at  Buffalo 
until  his  death. 

CHARLES  SUMMER. 

1874.  March  11.  Charles  Sumner, 
an  American  statesman  and  author,  died 
in  Washington,  D.  C.  He  was  born  in 
Boston,  Mass.,  January  6,  1811.  Unlike 
the  majority  of  men  who  have  come  to  the 
front  in  public  life  in  America,  he  was  of 
honored  and  cultured  ancestors.  His 
parents  belonged  to  that  class  of  people 
known  as  the  "  New  England  aristoc- 
racy." The  name  of  Sumner  appears  on 
the  Harvard  catalogues  as  far  back  as 


1733.     In  the  family  there  have  appeared 
at  various  times,  manv  men 

1874.     Gladstone 

who  have  taken  prominent    closed  //«  minis- 
parts  in  Massachusetts  poli-    '?:  ^raf    . 

prime  minuter  of 

tics  and  society.  Charles  England  till 
Sumner's  father  was  him-  I88°' 
self  a  graduate  of  Harvard,  and  a  prom- 
inent and  able  lawyer.  The  son  pre- 
pared for  college  at  the  Boston  Latin 
school,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  in 
1830.  He  was  appointed  reporter  of 
the  United  States  Circuit  court,  and 
while  filling  this  position  compiled  three 
volumes,  known  as  "  Sumner's  Reports," 
containing  the  decisions  of  Judge  Story. 
He  was  lecturer  in  the  Cambridge  Law 
School  while  Judge  Story  was  absent  in 
Washington,  and  was  offered  a  profes- 
sorship, but  declined ;  he  also  edited  the 
American  Jurist.  In  1837,  with  letters 
of  introduction  from  Judge  Story  and 
others,  he  visited  Europe,  and  was  re- 
ceived with  unusual  distinction  by  the 
most  eminent  statesmen  and  jurists  of  the 
Old  World  nations.  He  returned  to 
Boston  in  1840,  and  in  1 844-46  published 
in  twenty  volumes,  an  edition  of 
"  Vessy's  Reports,"  with  copious  anno- 
tations. By  training  he  was  a  whig. 
"  A  Sumner  must  by  nature  be  a  whig, 
and  a  Cambridge  alumnus."  The  family 
was  noted  for  the  high  moral  and  intel- 
lectual plane  on  which  it  existed.  Charles 
Sumner  inherited  all  these  principles,  and 
they  became  almost  a  part  of  his  being. 
It  would  have  been  difficult  for  him  to 
be  anything  else  than  a  moral  and  Chris- 
tian man.  On  these  principles  he  based 
his  political  views.  On  the  4th  of  July, 
1845,  he  pronounced  in  Boston  the  ora- 
tion on  "  The  True  Grandeur  of  Nations." 
This  alone  would  have  almost  made  him 
famous.  It  was  circulated  throughout 
Europe  and  America,  and  attracted  uni- 


1869-1876.] 

versal  attention  and  comment.  He  ar- 
gued that  all  difficulties  between  nations 
should  be  settled  not  by  war,  but  peace. 
He  also  delivered  other  orations  on  simi- 
lar topics.  He  earnestly  opposed  slavery 
on  the  grounds  of  justice  and  humanity, 
and  showed  how  abolition  was  not 
against  the  principles  of  the  constitution 
of  the  United  States.  He  opposed  the 
Mexican  war  on  the  ground  that  it  would 
increase  the  slave  territory,  and  cause  un- 
warranted bloodshed.  He  described  it 
as  an  unpardonable  injustice  to  a  sister 
republic.  In  1846  he  made  an  address 
on  the  "  Anti-Slavery  Duties  of  the  Whig 
Party,"  and  as  that  party  did  not  coin- 
cide with  his  views,  he  connected  himself 
with  the  free- soil  party  in  1848.  He 
tried  in  vain  to  induce  the  great  Web- 
ster to  take  up  the  cause  of  anti-slavery. 
In  writing  to  him,  he  said :  "  Assume 
these  unperformed  duties.  The  age  shall 
bear  witness  of  you;  the  young  shall 
kindle  with  rapture  aa  they  repeat  the 
name  of  Webster;  and  the  large  com- 
pany of  the  ransomed  shall  teach  their 
children  and  their  children's  children  to 
the  latest  generation,  to  call  you  blessed ; 
while  all  shall  award  you  another  title, 
not  to  be  forgotten  in  earth  or  in  heaven, 
Defender  of  Htimanity?''  In  1851  he 
succeeded  Daniel  Webster  as  United 
States  senator  from  Massachusetts.  He 
continued  in  this  position  by  succes- 
sive re-elections,  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  Almost  on  his  entrance  into  the 
senate  he  began  the  great  struggle  for 
emancipation.  He  never  laid  down  the 
armor  of  debate  until  he  saw  freedom 
extended  to  every  man,  black  or  white, 
in  the  Union.  He  based  his  action  on 
the  principle  that  "•  freedom  is  national, 
and  slavery  sectional."  In  May,  1819-20 
he  made  his  two  days'  speech  on  the 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


795 


"  Crime   Against     Kansas."    As  a  result 
of  this  speech  on   May  22 

1874.     Czar  of 

he  was  attacked  by  Pres-  Russia  visited 
ton  S.  Brooks,  of  South  Enffland- 
Carolina,  and  received  injuries  which 
it  is  thought  finally  carried  him  to  his 
grave.  Acting  on  the  advice  of  his  phy- 
sicians he  went  to  Europe  and  remained 
under  severe  medical  treatment  till  the 
autumn  of  1859.  He  then  made  an  elab- 
orate speech  in  the  senate  on  the  "  Bar- 
barism of  Slavery."  He  supported  Lin- 
coln, and  favored  emancipation;  he 
would  listen  to  no  compromise  with 
slavery.  In  March,  1861,  Mr.  Sumner 
was  made  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
foreign  relations.  On  January  9,  1862, 
he  argued  that  the  United  States  were 
unjustifiable  according  to  international 
law,  in  seizing  Mason  and  Slidell  on 
board  the  steamer  Trent.  He  pro- 
nounced an  eloquent  eulogy  on  President 
Lincoln  in  1865,  and  his  position  in  1869, 
in  regard  to  our  claims  against  England, 
caused  great  excitement  in  that  country. 
His  opposition  in  that  year  to  President 
Grant's  administration  and  the  annexa- 
tion of  San  Domingo,  caused  his  removal 
from  the  chairmanship  of  the  committee 
on  foreign  relations,  and  his  final  deser- 
tion of  the  republican  party.  He  sup- 
ported Horace  Greeley  for  president  in 
1872.  In  1873  he  introduced  the  "  Civil 
Rights"  bill  into  the  senate;  also  a  reso- 
lution providing  that  the  names  of  the 
battles  won  in  the  Civil  War  be  erased 
from  the  regimental  colors  and  register 
of  the  army.  He  died  after  a  short  ill- 
ness. His  works  and  addresses  have 
been  published  in  various  forms. 

JAMES  BOGARDVS. 

1874.     April   13.      James    Bogardus, 
an    eminent    American    inventor,    died, 


796 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


aged  seventy-four  years.  He  was  born 
in  Catskill,  N.  Y.,  March  14,  1800.  He 
began  his  career  at  the  age  of  fourteen, 
in  working  upon  watches.  Several  in- 
.ventions  marked  his  efforts  in  this  direc- 
tion, and  obtained  favorable  notice  at 
exhibitions.  The  "  ring-spinner,"  in.  spin- 
ning cotton,  was  his  first  great  invention, 
1874.  Telegraph  made  in  1828.  A  machine 
from  Great  used  in  making  bank  note 

Britain  to  Bra- 

zii,  via  United  plates,  the  first  dry  gas 
meter,  the  first  rotary  fluid 
meter,  a  celebrated  medallion  engraving 
machine,  an  engine  turning  machine, 
a  glass  pressing  machine,  besides  other 
important  changes  in  other  machines, 
were  the  subject  of  his  inventions. 
The  manufacture  of  wrought  iron  beams 
was  suggested  by  him,  and  the  first 
complete  iron  building  in  the  world 
was  erected  by  him.  He  was  skilled  in 
scientific  lines,  and  some  of  his  sugges- 
tions have  been  of  great  value  in  those 
directions.  His  life  was  full  of  practical 
results. 

1874.  April  20.  The  overflowing 
of  the  Mississippi  River  submerged  hun- 
dreds of  square  miles  of  land,  both  below 
and  above  New  Orleans.  This  was  the 
most  serious  flood  that  had  ever  been 
known  to  occur  in  any  part  of  the  United 
States,  and  great  destitution  resulted  from 
it.  Contributions  for  the  sufferers  were 
sent  in  from  many  cities  of  the  Union. 

1874.  April  22.  The  bill  for  the 
inflation  of  the  currency  of  the  United 
States  was  vetoed  by  President  Grant. 

1874.  April  30.  An  encounter  took 
place  at  Pine  Bluff,  Arkansas,  between  the 
followers  of  two  opposing  candidates  for 
governor.  The  respective  candidates 
were  Baxter  and  Brooks.  Each  claimed 
to  be  entitled  to  the  governor's  chair. 


At  Pine  Bluff  the  Baxter  party,  under 
the  command  of  General  Churchill,  at- 
tacked the  Brooks  party.  In  the  skir- 
mish eleven  men  were  killed,  and  twenty- 
seven  wounded.  General  Churchill  was 
captured.  Baxter  was  afterward  recog- 
nized as  governor  by  President  Grant, 
and  his  opponents  ordered  to  disperse. 
This  ended  outward  trouble. 

1874.  April.  The  great  St.  Louis 
bridge  across  the  Mississippi  River  was 
completed  at  a  cost  of  $12,000,000. 
There  are  three  spans;  two  are  each  502 
feet  in  length,  and  one  520  feet.  It  is 
adapted  to  all  kinds  of  traveling,  and  is 
so  constructed  as  to  form  in  reality  a 
double  bridge.  The  work  on  the  bridge 
was  begun  in  August,  1869.  It  was  built 
of  iron.  The  piers  were  built  by  cais- 
sons and  lowered  through  the  excavations 
made  in  the  bed  of  the  river,  till  they, 
rested  on  the  solid  rock,  in  the  case  of 
one  pier,  a  distance  of  120  feet.  It  was 
a  great  .triumph  'of  engineering  skill. 
The  bridge  has  the  longest  existing  spans 
of  its  class  in  the  world.  Its  inventor 
and  engineer  was  Captain  James  B. 
Eads. 

1874.  May  8.  The  breaking  up  of 
the  ice  in  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  did 
serious  damage  to  shipping,  and  created 
an  unparalleled  scene  of  wreck.  For 
thirty-eight  years  the  ice  had  not  held  its 
place  so  long.  Vessels  were  crushed, 
and  piers  swept  away,  causing  almost 
incalculable  losses. 

THE  MILL  RIVER  DISASTER. 

1874.  May  16.  A  terrible  inunda- 
tion took  place  in  Western  Massachu- 
setts, caused  by  the  breaking  away  of  a 
reservoir  situated  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
Mill  River  valley.  This  is  a  narrow 
gorge  about  ten  miles  in  length,  through 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAY. 


797 


which  the  Mill  River  flows,  emptying 
into  the  Connecticut  at  Northampton. 
The  reservoir  was  formed  by  building  a 
dam  across  the  valley  between  the  moun- 
tains, and  its  defective  construction  was 
the  cause  of  the  deluge  by  which  the  four 
manufacturing  villages  of  Williamsburg, 
Haydensville,  Skinnersville,  and  Leeds 
were  wholly  swept  away,  with  a  loss 
probably  of  150  lives  and  millions  of  dol- 
lars in  property.  The  coroner's  jury 
censure'd  the  law  of  the  state,  which  re- 
lated to  examination  of  such  works, 
the  engineer  who  had  charge  of  it,  the 
contractors,  and  county  commissioners. 
The  construction  and  continuance  of  the 
dam  had  been  most  blameworthy; 


1874.  June  3.  The  brewers  of  the 
"United  States  held  a  "  congress  "  in  Bos- 
ton, at  which  they  claimed  to  represent  a 
business  employing  a  capital  of  $89,910,- 
823;  besides  this  a  capital  of  $17,000,000 
invested  in  malt-houses.  They  had  in 
their  employ  56,000  persons,  and  their 
business  required  the  cultivation  of  1,154,- 
ooo  acres  of  land.  They  reported  that 
9,000,000  barrels  of  beer  had  been  made 
in  1873. 

1874.  June  24.  The  floor  of  the 
new  Central  Baptist  church,  at  Syra- 
cuse, N.  Y.,  gave  way  during  a  festival, 
and  the  large  company  was  precipitated 
into  the  basement.  Fourteen  persons 
were  killed,  and  nearly  one  hundred 
wounded. 

1874.  June  25.  .  Telegraphic  com- 
munication was  opened  between  the 
United  States  and  Brazil,  by  the  exchang- 
ing of  congratulatory  messages  between 
President  Grant  and  the  Empei'or  Dom 
Pedro.  It  had  only  been  a  few  months 
since  the  Mayor  of  New  York  and  the 
Mayor  of  Adelaide,  Australia,  had  ex- 


changed telegraphic  congratulations  over 
a  distance  of  1 7000  miles.  The  world  is 
almost  netted  with  wire. 

HENRY  GRINNELL. 

1874.  June  30.  Henry  Grinnell,  the 
eminent  merchant  and  philanthropist, 
died.  He  became  widely  known  through 
the  interest  he  took  in  the  search  for  Sir 
John  Franklin,  and  through  having  fitted 
out  an  expedition  to  aid  in  that  difficult 
undertaking.  Lieutenant  DeHaven  was 
in  command  of  it.  Mr.  Grinnell  united 
with  Mr.  George  Peabody  in  fitting  out 
an  expedition  afterward,  under  Dr. 
Kane.  The  name  of  Mr.  Grinnell  was 
conferred  upon  land  discovered  far  to  the 
north. 

CHARLEY  ROSS. 

1874.  July  1.  A  case  of  abduction 
occurred  in  Germantown,  Penn.,  and  for 
a  few  years  excited  universal  interest 
throughout  the  country.  Other  cases 
have  occurred  in  the  United  States,  but 
the  long  and  persistent  search,  the  commu- 
nications received  from  the  unknown  child- 
stealers,  the  numerous  children  who  were 
thought  to  look  like  the  lost  child,  all  gave 
this  affair  a  painful  prominence.  Charley 
Ross  was  a  son  of  Mr.  Christian  K.  Ross, 
and  was  a  little  more  than  1874  Alfonso 
four  years  old.  With  his  Kinff  °f  sPain- 
older  brother  Walter,  aged  six  years,  he 
was  playing  on  the  street  in  Germantown, 
when  two  men  driving  by  in  a  buggy  ad- 
dressed the  children,  and  after  going  a 
little  distance  in  conversation,  induced 
them  to  get  in  and  ride.  The  men  drove 
on,  promising  candy  and  toys,  until,  hav- 
ing passed  in  a  winding  course  through 
the  streets  of  the  place,  they  put  Walter 
out  of  the  carriage,  gave  him  twenty-five 
cents,  and  told  him  to  go  into  a  store  upon 
the  corner  to  buy  himself  and  little  brother 


798 


some  candy  and  torpedoes, 
fellow  did  so,  and  when  he  came  out,  the 
carnage  had  disappeared.  He  began  to 
cry,  and  was  finally  taken  home  by  a  man 
who  knew  his  father.  For  a  few  days  it 
was  thought  by  Mr.  Ross  and  his  inti- 
mate friends  that  Charley  had  been  taken 
off  by  some  drunken  men,  who,  upon  get- 
ting sober,  would  realize  what  they  had 
done,  and  release  the  child.  But  time 
brought  no  clue  to  the  transaction.  In 
a  week  or  two,  however,  a  letter  came  to 
Mr.  Ross  demanding  a  ransom  of  $20,- 
ooo  for  Charley,  and  declaring  that  all 
attempts  to  get  him  through  the  detec- 
tives would  be  fruitless.  It  was  also  stat- 
ed that  unless  the  sum  was  paid,  the  boy 
would  be  killed.  A  long  correspondence 
followed,  Mr.  Ross  replying  by  means 
of  short  personals  in  the  papers,  accord- 
ino-  to.  the  direction  found  in  the  letters 

o 

he  received.  A  vigorous  search  was  in 
the  meantime  kept  up,  and  journeys 
made  in  several  directions  to  see  little 
boys  who  were  reported  as  resembling 
Charley.  Mr.  Ross  persisted  in  refusing 
to  pay  the  $20,000  unless  the  transfer  of 
the  child  could  be  simultaneous  with  that 
of  the  money,  which  the  robbers  declined 
to  agree  upon.  The  knowledge  of  this 
case  excited  a  great  interest  even  in  Eu- 
rope, and  letters  of  sympathy  were  re- 
ceived from  many  quarters.  More  than 
$50,000  were  spent  by  Mr.  Ross  in  the 
attempt  to  search  out  his  little  boy.  He 
was  all  the  time  kept  in  a  fearful  anxiety, 
now  getting  hope,  now  being  plunged 
back  into  despair.  During  November, 
two  gentlemen  spent  two  days  in  Fifth 
Avenue  Hotel,  New  York,  with  $20,000 
in  a  satchel  to  be  delivered  to  the  agent 
of  the  child-stealers,  but  no  one  came,  al- 
though a  definite  arrangement  had  been 
made.  The  detectives  had  now  however, 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 
The  little 


made  up  their  minds  as  to  the  persons- 
who  committed  the  deed,  and  were  stead- 
ily searching  for  them,  when,  by  an  at- 
tempted crime,  the  men  themselves  were 
killed.  On  the  morning  of  Dec.  14, i£>74» 
a  burglary  was  attempted  on  the  house  of 
Judge  Van  Brunt,  Bay  Ridge,  L.  I.  The 
house,  which  was  closed  for  the  winter, 
was  connected  by  an  alarm  telegraph  with 
another  house  near  it  in  which  Judge  Van 
Brunt's  brother  lived.  Being  aroused  by 
the  alarm,  the  occupants  of  the  other  house 
gathered,  and  shot  two  burglars  in  their 
effort  to  escape.  One  was  killed  instantly, 
The  other  lived  two  hours,  confessed  that 
they  stole  Charley  Ross,  but  said  he  did 
not  know  where  the  boy  was  kept. 
Only  the  other  man,  named  Mosher, 
knew  that,  So  he  died.  The  bodies 
were  afterward  clearly  recognized  by 
Walter  Ross,  and  the  evidence  conclusive 
that  these  men  were  the  guilty  ones, 
But  nothing  has  ever  been  found  of  the 
little  boy.  For  a  short  time  it  was  sup- 
posed that  he  would  now  be  traced.. 
But  all  effort  has  been  in  vain,  and  the 
mystery  of  his  concealment  has  defied  all 
search.  The  case  remains  as  one  of  the 
saddest  known  cases  of  child  abduction. 


1874.  July  14.  A  great  fire  in  Chi- 
cago burned  fifteen  squares,  consuming 
346  buildings  with  a  loss  of  $4,000,000. 
It  was  thought  at  one  time  by  some  that 
it  would  rival  the  great  fire  of  1871 » 

WHEELER  SURVEYS. 
1874.  July  15.  The  Wheeler  scien- 
tific expedition  concentrated  at  Pueblo, 
Colorado,  on  its  way  to  make  surveys  of 
portions  of  the  U.  S.  territory,  hitherto 
unexplored,  west  of  the  looth  meridian. 
The  expedition  was  made  up  of  nine  par- 
ties, composed  of  some  of  the  most  eral- 


1869-18T6-] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


799 


nent  scientists  of  the  country.  The  work 
included  all  lines  of  investigation,  and  all 
necessary  specimens  were  gathered. 
These  surveys  rank  very  high  for  their 
thoroughness  and  comprehensiveness. 
They  take  their  name  from  Lieutenant 
Wheeler,  the  accomplished  leader. 


1874.     July    24.     A  terrible    water 

spout  burst  in  the  mountains  of  Nevada, 
and  swept  through  the  town  of  Eureka, 
killing  twenty  persons,  and  destroying 
much  property. 

PITTSBURG  FLOOD. 

1874.  July  26.  A  terrible  disaster 
occurred  at  Pittsburg  and  Allegheny  City, 
Penn.,  on  Sunday  night,  in  the  sweeping 
away  of  large  numbers  of  houses  and  fam- 
ilies by  a  flood  which  poured  down  the 
ravines  which  extend  down  from  the 
mountains  round  about.  Heavy  rains  had 
fallen,  and  Sunday  evening  the  storm 
seemed  to  settle  with  great  violence  upon 
the  summits  of  the  hills.  The  water  fell 
in  torrents.  The  over-saturated  soil  could 
1S74.  intema-  hold  no  more.  The  accu- 

tional  postal  con-  .  -in 

g rest  at  Berne.  mulations  in  hollows  and 
excavations  overflowed,  and  burst  away 
to  the  work  of  destruction.  The  calamity 
came  in  the  darkness,  and  first  gave  no- 
tice of  its  approach  by  the  noise  of  its  roar- 
ing. When  the  inhabitants  began  to  no- 
tice the  rising  water  and  listen  with  fear 
to  the  rushing  of  it,  they  had  no  time  to 
escape.  The  foundations  of  their  dwell- 
ings were  already  being  swept  swiftly 
away,  and  their  families  soon  hurried  on 
to  a  terrible  death.  Streets  were  washed 
away  with  the  utmost  rapidity,  and  the 
storm  increased  every  instant  in  intensity. 
The  morning  sun  revealed  a  scene  not 
often  visible.  Over  200  lives  were  lost, 
and  a  great  amount  of  property  was  de- 


stroyed. The  largest  buildings  were 
overthrown  and  washed  away.  Alle- 
gheny City  suffered  more  than  the  city  of 
Pittsburg  did. 

KdXSdS  VIGILANCE  COMMITTEE. 

•  1874.  July  30.  The  horse  thieves  of 
Kansas  were  getting  so  troublesome  that 
a  vigilance  committee  was  formed,  and 
on  this  date  three  men  were  hung.  The 
excitement  of  the  affair  terrified  the  evil 
parties,  and  mitigated  the  difficulty. 


1874.  Aug.  5.  The  Mississippi 
steamer  Pat  Rogers  was  burned  near 
Aurora,  Ind.  The  boat  was  from  Cin- 
cinnati to  New  Orleans.  Of  the  100  pas- 
sengers on  board  about  fifty  perished. 

1874.  Sept.  3.  A  severe  earthquake 
visited  Guatemala.  Several  towns  were 
destroyed,  and  about  200  lives  were  lost. 

FIRST  REYNOLDS  REFORM  CLUB. 

1874.  Sept.  10.  The  first  temperance 
"reform  club"  upon  the  Reynolds  basis, 
was  organized  at  Bangor,Maine,  by  eleven 
men,  all  of  whom  had  been  inebriates. 
This  club  has  been  in  working  order, 
without  intermission,  and  has  held  a  meet- 
ing in  the  City  Hall  of  Bangor,  on  every 
Sunday  afternoon  since  its  organization. 
Other  clubs  were  immediately  organized 
in  other  places,  and  before  the  first  anni- 
versary came  round,  the  whole  state  was 
full  of  them.  The  basis  of  this  move- 
ment was  found  in  the  two  great  com- 
mandments. The  Reynolds  clubs  have 
since  then  been  organized  in  the  larger 
part  of  the  United  States,  and  may  be 
justly  called  the  leading  movement  in  this 
direction.  Other  reform  clubs  have  done 
great  good,  but  the  above  are  the  most 
distinctive,  and  the  most  widespread. 
Compare  June,  1875. 


800 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


LOUISIANA  EMBROGLIO. 
1874.  Sept.  14.  An  armed  assault 
was  made  upon  the  statehouse  in  New 
Orleans  by  a  body  of  men  under  D.  B. 
Penn,  and  the  Kellogg  government  was 
put  to  flight.  Penn  was  an  adherent  of 
McEnery,  the  claimant  for  the  office  of 
governor  against  Kellogg.  Both  men, 
Kellogg  and  McEnery,  had  in  January, 

1873,  been  sworn  in  as  governor,  and  two 

1874.  interim-      legislatures  had  met.     But 
t«mai   congress    president  Grant  had  recog- 

at    Brussels    on 

laws  of  war.  nized  Kellogg,  and  no  seri- 
ous trouble  had  occurred  till  the  present 
time.  Penn  had  bee-n  the  nominee  for 
lieutenant-governor  upon  the  McEnery 
ticket.  Seventeen  men  were  killed,  and 
thirty-two  wounded. 

1874.  Sept.  15.  A  proclamation  was 
issued  by  President  Grant  at  the  request 
of  Kellogg,  ordering  the  assailants  to  dis- 
perse within  five  days.  Troops  were  also 
sent  to  New  Orleans. 

1874.  Sept.  19.  The  Penn  forces 
having  separated,  Kellogg  was  again  put 
in  possession  of  the  state  government. 
Agitation  over  this  double  government 
was  prominent  in  politics  for  a  long  time. 


1874.  Nov.  3.  Elections  in  twenty- 
three  of  the  states  gave  democratic  gains, 
showing  a  reaction  against  the  adminis- 
tration of  President  Grant. 

1874.  Nov.  22.  A  terrible  tornado 
broke  upon  Tuscumbia,  Alabama, 
shortly  after  sundown,  and  immediately 
destroyed  more  than  one  hundred  build- 
ings. Whole  families  were  buried  be- 
neath the  ruins;  three  hundred  were  made 
homeless,  and  twelve  persons  killed. 

VICKSBURG  FIGHT. 

1874.  Dec.  7.  A  fight  occurred  be- 
tween the  negroes  of  the  vicinity  of  Vicks- 


burg  and  the  mass  of  Vicksburg  taxpay- 
ers who  had  requested  the  resignation  of 
one  Peter  Crosby,  sheriff  and  taxpayer. 
This  step  he  refused  to  take,  and  led  his 
ignorant  negro  supporters  to  an  attack  up- 
on the  whites.  Considerable  injury  was 
done,  and  between  fifty  and  one  hundred 
negroes  were  killed.  The  ignorance  of 
them  and  their  leaders  precipitated  the 
affair.  The  attention  of  congress  was 
called  to  it,  and  a  committee  investigated 
it.  Two  reports  were  made,  one  that 
the  trouble  was  due  to  the  presence  of 
the  White  League,  the  other  that  there 
was  no  White  League  in  Mississippi,  but 
that  it  arose  from  an  honest  attempt  of 
taxpayers  to  correct  great  abuses,  and  get 
ignorant  men  out  of  office. 


1874.      Dec.  9.      Ezra   Cornell,   the 

founder  of  Cornell  University,  died  at  Ith- 
aca, New  York.  He  was  born  in  1806, 
and  was  the  man  who,  in  connection 
with  Prof.  Morse's  early  attempts  with 
the  telegraph,  first  conceived  the  idea  of 
supporting  the  wires  upon  poles. 

1874.  Dec.  12.  King  Kalakaua  of 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  arrived  in  Wash- 
ington and  was  received  by  the  president 
and  congress.  He  was  the  first  reigning 
crowned  head  of  the  world  to  visit  the 
United  States. 

GERRITT  SMITH. 

1874.  Dec.  28.  This  eminent  Amer- 
ican philanthropist  died  in  New  York, 
aged  seventy-seven  years.  He  was  born 
in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  March  6,  1 797.  He  was 
the  son  of  Peter  Smith,  a  partner  of  John 
Jacob  Astor  in  the  fur  trade,  in  which  he 
acquired  great  property,  and  became  prob- 
ablv  the  largest  land  owner  in  America. 
His  estates  were  found  in  every  part  of 
New  York  state,  and  in  many  other  states. 


1869-1876.] 

The  father  put  much  of  the  care  of  these 
estates  into  the  hands  of  Gerritt,  who  grad- 
uated at  Hamilton  College  in  1818.  The 
attention  of  the  son  was  early  turned  to 
the  benevolent  use  of  his  extensive  lands, 
and  he  began  the  efforts  which  ended 
only  with  his  life,  to  aid  colored  people 
and  others  in  acquiring  homesteads. 
The  amount  of  his  gifts  of  land  in  1848 
alone  was  200,000  acres  in  lots  of  fifty 
acres  each.  He  was  a  firm  friend  of  John 
Brown,  and  was  rendered  temporarily  in- 
sane by  the  sad  attempt  of  Brown  at  Har- 
per's Ferry.  He  published  several  vol- 
umes of  speeches  and  writings.  In  com- 
pany with  Horace  Greeley  he  signed  the 
bond  for  the  bail  of  Jefferson  Davis.  Mr. 
Smith  was  closely  identified  with  the 
anti-slavery  movement  and  attempts  at 
party  organization;  and  was  also  prom- 
inent in  favor  of  peace,  temperance,  and 
woman's  rights. 

RESUMPTION  HILL. 

1874.  December.  A  bill  introduced 
by  Senator  Sherman  of  Ohio  was  passed 
by  congress,  and  was  signed  by  the  presi- 
dent. It  provided  for  the  resumption  of 
specie  payment  by  the  United  States  up- 
on Jan.  i,  1879,  and  the  coinage  of  sil- 
ver in  the  meantime  to  aid  in  bringing 
about  that  result,  with  a  few  regulations 
relating  to  national  banknotes  and  green- 
backs. 

COLLAPSE   OF  FREEDMAN'S  BANK. 

1874.  The  bank  which  had  been  es- 
tablished after  the  war  in  the  interest  of 
the  freedmen  as  a  place  of  deposit  for 
their  savings,  met  with  an  utter  collapse 
this  year  by  a  second  investigation,  one 
having  already  been  made  in  1873,  which 
showed  that  the  affairs  of  the  bank  had 
been  managed  with  a  reckless  disregard 

51 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


801 


of  business  principles,  and  with  an  almost 
complete  defiance  of  safe  investments. 
Money  had  been  loaned  out  on  furniture, 
and  every  other  conceivable  thing,  and 
only  about  $400  on  U.  S.  bonds.  The 
poor  creditors  of  the  bank  found  them- 
selves almost  penniless,  and  likely  to  get 
very  little  from  their  hoardings  so  pain- 
fully made. 

EMMA  MINE  SCANDAL. 

1874.  During  this  year  the  excite- 
ment over  the  Emma  Mine  rose  to  its 
height,  and  was  the  cause  of  many  at- 
tempts upon  the  part  of  English  stock- 
holders to  right  themselves  in  some  way. 
This  swindle  was  put  upon  the  English 
market  largely  through  the  efforts  of  one 
Albert  Grant,  and  the  representations  of 
the  value  of  the  stock  were  such  as  to  lead 
holders  of  it  to  expect  seventy  or  eighty 
per  cent,  profit  in  a  very  short  time. 
Gen.  Robert  C.  Schenck,  U.  S.  minister 
to  England,  was  named  in  the  list  of  di- 
rectors and  trustees,  and  became  by  his 
connection  with  the  affair,  largely  dis- 
trusted in  America.  It  was  found  during 
this  year  that  the  returns  would  be  very 
small,  if  any.  Yet  many  stockholders 
were  in  favor  of  pushing  on  in  order  to 
see  if  something  could  not  be  struck. 
The  affair  aided  the  widespread  disinte- 
gration of  the  commercial  world. 


1874.     A  centennial  celebration  of  the 

discovery  of  oxygen  gas  was  held  at 
Northumberland,  Penn.,  where  Dr.  Jo- 
seph Priestly,  the  discoverer,  lived,  after 
he  came  to  America. 

1874.  The  Boston  and  Athletic  base 
ball  clubs  of  the  United  States  visited 
England,  and  showed  a  marked  degree  of 
skill  in  playing  cricket  with  the  English 
Elevens. 


502 


PRES  EX  T   DE  VEL  OP  ME  NT. 


1874.  The  largest  iron  steamers  in 
the  world  were  launched  at  Chester, 
Penn.,  by  John  Roach  and  sons.  They 
were  the  "City  of  Pekin  "  and  the  "City 
of  Tokio,"  and  were  built  for  the  Pacific 
mail  steamship  line.  Each  can  carry 
5,000  tons  and  1,650  passengers,  and  the 
length  of  each  was  423  feet;  the  engines 
were  of  5,000  horse  power;  they  can  go 
15^  knots  an  hour,  and  even  faster  when 
necessary. 

1874.  Santiago  Perez  was  elected 
president  of  the  United  States  of  Colom- 
bia for  the  term  1874-76. 

1874.  Jovellano,    President  of  Par. 
aguay,  was   succeeded    by  Juan    Batista 
Gill.     The  rebellion  which  had  broken 
out  was  suppressed  by  Brazilian    troops, 
and  the  country  remained  virtually  under 
the  protection  of  the  empire  of  Brazil. 

LOUISIANA  DIFFICULTIES. 

1875.  Jan.  4.      Affairs  in  Louisiana 
became  complicated   by  the  prospective 
meeting  of  the  legislature.     The  conserv- 
atives under  McEnery   hoped  to  have  a 
small  majority,  as  also  did  the  radicals. 
At  the  moment  of  organization,  by  the 
absence  of  one  republican  member  who 
had  been  arrested  for  embezzlement,  and 
the  voluntary  failure  of  two  others  to  ap- 
pear, on  the  ground  that   they   had  not 
been  elected,  it  became  evident  that  the 
1875.    interna-    conservatives  had  a  working 

tionalconvention  -^  The  republicans 

at  Paris  to  con-  J          J 

sider  metric  sys-    began   to  leave,  and    upon 

tern.        Thirteen      Mond  Jan>   .     the  U.   g< 

nations  represen-  *   -. 

ted.  troops    entered    the    house 

and  turned  out  forcibly  eight  or  ten  mem- 
bers who  had  not  been  returned  by  the 
Returning  Board.  A  military  attempt 
was  then  made  to  organize  the  house, 
but  the  conservatives  deserted  the  scene. 
Gen.  Sheridan  took  command  of  the  Gulf 


Department  during  this  day,  and  reported 
at  Washington  a  lamentable  state  of 
affairs  upon  his  own  showing  merely. 
The  federal  interference  with  the  Louisi- 
ana legislature  at  this  time,  as  well  as 
once  before,  will  stand  as  a  curious  and 
repulsive  feature  in  our  political  history. 
The  question  as  to  what  was  the  legal 
government  of  Louisiana  was  perplexing 
congress  during  all  this  period  of  investi- 
gation. 

BEECHER  TRML. 

1875.  Jan.  11.  The  trial  of  Henry 
Ward  Beecher  began  before  the  Brook- 
lyn court  upon  the  suit  instituted  against 
him  by  Theodore  Tilton,  on  the  charge  of 
having  broken  up  the  latter's  family  by 
improper  connection  with  Mrs.  Tilton. 
The  affair  had  caused  great  excitement 
through  the  country  during  a  great  part 
of  the  previous  year.  Now  that  the  trial 
began,  the  agitation  increased  in  intensity. 
For  about  six  months  the  case  was  be- 
fore the  jury.  The  prosecution  and  de- 
fense were  both  ably  conducted.  Cer- 
tain confessions  and  retractions  made  by 
Mrs.  Tilton  were  introduced,  until  the 
public  qjid  not  know  which  of  her  state- 
ments to  believe.  Like  uncertainty  at- 
tended much  of  the  other  testimony,  that 
produced  by  one  side  being  flatly  contra- 
dicted by  the  other.  Prominent  persons 
were  involved  in  the  case,  the  reports 
of  which  produced  the  most  various 
effects  on  different  classes  of  people, 
and  in  different  sections  of  the  country. 
At  the  end  of  the  trial  the  jury  were  un- 
able to  agree,  and  stood  nine  for  acquit- 
tal, three  for  conviction.  They  were  out 
seven  days.  The  most  various  opinions 
existed  in  the  minds  of  the  people  at  large. 


1875.     Feb.    11.      The   shipment   of 
American  beef  to  England  began  on  a 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


803 


small  scale.  The  meat  was  kept  fresh 
and  cool  by  fan  blowers,  operated  by 
hand,  and  was  transported  from  New 
York  to  Liverpool.  At  a  later  day  fan 
blowers  were  operated  by  steam,  to  send 
a  current  from  immense  beds  of  ice 
through  the  refrigerators  in  which  the 
meat  was  stored.  Since  then  the  ship- 
ment of  American  meats  to  Europe  has 
become  a  branch  of  commerce,  and  large 
.amounts  are  sent  weekly.  In  certain 
English  markets  it  is  much  sought  for. 

"PACIFIC  MAIL"  INVESTIGATION. 

1875.  February.  After  a  subsidy 
had  been  voted  by  congress,  in  1872,  to 
the  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company, 
for  a  more  extended  Asiatic  mail  service, 
it  came  out  that  great  sums  of  money  had 
been  used  among  members  of  congress  in 
getting  the  passage  of  the  bill.  An  in- 
vestigation was  ordered  and  put  into  the 
hands  of  the  senate  judiciary  committee, 
of  which  Senator  Edmunds  was  chairman. 
After  a  long  inquiry  their  report  was 
made  at  this  time  to  congress,  which,  by 
a  heavy  vote,  in  accordance  with  the 
recommendation  of  the  committee,  abro- 
gated the  contract.  A  most  shameless 
procedure  was  exposed  in  this  investiga- 
tion, involving  men  and  officials  of  all 
grades,  and  showing  a  very  corrupt  use  of 
money  to  secure  legislation.  Irwin,  who 
had  been  prominent  as  the  chief  agent  in 
distributing  the  money,  and  had  had  a 
hard  time  before  the  committee,  at  the 
conclusion  of  the  investigation  writes  to  a 
friend,  "I  am  tired  of  having  38,500,000 
people  sitting  on  my  head,  and  I  must 
have  a  few  days'  rest."  With  this  he 
states  that  he  proposes  to  go  into  the  coun- 
try. The  entire  revelation  shows  how  far 
many  of  our  legislators  had  fallen  in  self- 
respect  and  integrity. 


1875.  March  16.  The  breaking  up 
of  the  ice  in  the  Delaware  valley  inun- 
dated the  region  in  and  around  Port  Jer- 
vis.  Towns  and  bridges  were  swept 
away,  but  preparation  having  been  made, 
the  people  escaped  with  their  lives. 
Attempts  were  made  to  lessen  the  dam- 
age by  blowing  up  ice  dams  and  gorges. 
The  losses  in  this,  and  other  valleys, 
reached  many  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollars. 

1875.  March  20.  A  severe  tornado 
in  Georgia  destroyed  many  lives,  and 
much  property. 

1875.  March.  Yellow  fever  broke 
out  in  Buenos  Ayres,  S.  A.,  and  destroyed 
13,000  lives  during  this  and  the  follow- 
ing months. 

CANAL  RING  IN  NEW  YORK. 

1875.  March.  A  great  exposure  of 
canal  frauds  in  New  York  state  was  made 
in  the  message  of  Gov.  Tilden,  and  fol- 
lowed up  by  the  newspapers.  The  cor- 
rupt practices  of  canal  contractors,  who 
banded  together  in  making  bids,  and  so 
secured  for  different  parties  the  work  in 
different  directions,  and  the  practice  of 
securing,  at  a  later  day,  a  change  in  the 
contract,  making  the  work  cost  many 
times  the  first  estimate,  all  1875.  Ch-u  mar- 
came  to  light.  Com  mis-  ***'  adoptei*  in 

Germany  and 

sioners  were  appointed  by  Switzerland. 
the  state,  to  investigate  the  matter,  inas- 
much as  the  state  owns  the  canals  within 
its  borders.  The  great  number  of  miles 
of  canals  in  New  York  requires  a  large 
annual  expenditure  of  money.  The  New 
York  Tribune  sent  skilled  engineers  at 
its  own  expense  to  look  into  the  canal 
ring  affairs.  A  sad  story  of  fraud  was 
uncovered,  and  the  times  shown  to  be 
more  corrupt  than  had  been  suspected. 
The  "canal  war"  inaugurated  by  Gov. 


804 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


Tilden   was  of  great   use  in  breaking  up 
one  great  form  of  evil. 


1875.  March.  -A  memorable  muti- 
ny occurred  in  the  mid-Atlantic  upon  the 
three  masted  American  schooner,  Jeffer- 
son Borden,  from  New  Orleans  to  Liver- 
pool. There  were  ten  persons  on  board, 
composed  of  Capt.  Patterson  and  his  wife, 
two  mates,  five  sailors,  and  a  boy.  A 
plan  was  formed  by  three  sailors  to  get 
possession  of  the  vessel.  They  succeeded 
in  killing  the  two  mates  by  surprising 
.them  separately,  and  were  trying  to  get 
the  captain  from  his  room  for  the  same 
purpose.  His  wife  had  had  her  attention 
attracted  to  some  doubtful  circumstances, 
and  refused  to  let  him  go.  The  plot  was 
discovered,  and  a  contest  entered  upon 
which  ended  in  getting  the  three  sailors 
into  confinement  in  the  forecastle.  The 
rest  took  the  vessel  to  England,  and  the 
mutineers  were  brought  to  America  and 
tried.  Two  were  found  guilty  of  mur- 
der, and  the  third  of  mutiny. 

LEXINGTON  AND  CONCORD. 

1875.  April  19.  The  centennial  cel- 
ebration of  the  battles  of  Lexington  and 
Concord  was  the  first  of  those  inspiring 
celebrations  which  have  had  so  frequent 
a  place  in  recent  years.  On  Sunday  the 
iSth,  the  church  services  of  the  entire  re- 
gion were  turned  into  the  channel  of  this 
observance,  and  discourses  were  preached 
upon  Revolutionary  times  and  character. 
Rev.  William  Adams,  D.  D.,  of  New 
York,  delivered  an  address  of  high  char- 
acter in  the  evening  before  an  assembly 
of  the  town's  people  of  Lexington.  Sim- 
ilar services  of  great  interest  were  held  in 
Boston.  On  Monday  a  great  exodus 
took  place  from  Boston  to  the  two  scenes 
of  historic  interest.  At  Concord,  in  the 


forenoon,  a*n  oration  was  pronounced  by 
Geo.  W.  Curtis,  and  a  poem  by  James 
Russell  Lowell.  President  Grant  was 
present  at  this  place,  and  in  the  afternoon 
visited  Lexington.  At  the  latter  place 
Richard  H.  Dana,  Jr.,  pronounced  an 
oration,  and  statues  of  Samuel  Adams  and 
John  Hancock  were  unveiled.  A  statue 
of  the  "Minute  Man"  was  unveiled  at 
Concord.  The  interesting  exercises  were 
continued  till  evening,  and  were  rounded 
off  with  great  satisfaction. 


1875.      April   23.      Three    steamers 

were   burned  at  New  Orleans,  and  fifty 
lives  were  lost. 

1875.  April  28.  An  extensive  fire 
occurred  in  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin,  burning 
up  a  large  part  of  the  business  portion  of 
the  city.  The  loss  was  $3,000,000.  The 
lumber  trade  was  injured  very  greatly  by 
the  sweeping  away  of  mills  and  yards.  . 

WHEELER  COMPROMISE. 
1875.  April.  The  "Wheeler  Com- 
promise," passed  by  the  U.  S.  govern- 
ment, was  adopted  by  the  Louisiana  pol- 
iticians of  all  parties,  and  thus  closed  up 
one  of  the  severest  political  struggles  of 
the  reconstruction  period.  It  provided 
that  Kellogg  should  be  recognized  as 
governor  till  the  end  of  his  term,  but  that 
the  house  of  representatives  should  be 
given  to  the  conservatives  by  the  reseat- 
ing of  the  members  expelled  in  January 
by  U.  S.  troops.  The  wisdom  in  securing 
the  adoption  of  this  measure  on  all  hands 
was  very  great,  and  Mr.  Wheeler  de- 
served and  received  great  credit.  The  af- 
fairs of  the  state  promised  greater  quiet 
than  at  any  other  time  since  the  war. 

SPELLING  MANIA. 

1875.  April.  The  rage  for  trials  of 
spelling  which  swept  over  the  country, 


1869-1876.]  THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 

was    this   month  at  its  height. 


Every 

village  had  its  spelling  schools.  In  the 
cities  companies  gathered  in  private  par- 
lors for  this  all  engrossing  pursuit.  Per- 
sons from  all  walks  in  life  and  of  all  ages, 
joined  in  the  fun.  Societies  availed  them- 
selves of  the  rage  to  gain  some  funds  for 
their  treasuries.  After  a  long  run  the 
excitement  sank  away,  doubtless  leaving 
many  persons  better  acquainted  with  the 
spelling  of  the  English  language  than 
ever  they  were  before. 


1375.  May  7.  The  German  steam- 
ship "Schiller,"  from  New  York,  was 
lost  at  Scilly  Islands,  with  a  valuable  car- 
go and  311  lives.  Captain  John  G. 
Thomas  was  among  the  lost.  The  ship 
was  new,  and  was  built  of  iron.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  regular  cargo  it  carried 
heavy  mails.  It  struck  on  the  Retarrere 
Ledge,  near  Bishop's  Rock,  Scilly 
Islands.  Among  the  lost 

1875.       Jan.    15.  ,  .  . 

Gladstone  retires    was  Dr.    Susan    Dimmick, 

from  public  lije.      &     female      physician,     who 

was  connected  with  an  hospital  for  wo- 
men and  children,  in  Boston.  She  ob- 
tained her  medical  education  at  Zurich, 
Switzerland,  and  at  Vienna.  Her  studies 
abroad  were  completed  with  great  suc- 
cess and  honor.  Harvard  Medical 
School  twice  refused  her  admittance  to 
its  course  of  study. 

JOHN  C.  BRECKENRIDGE. 

1875.  May  17.  John  C.  Brecken- 
ridge,  prominently  known  as  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  when  Buchan- 
an was  president,  died,  aged  fifty-four 
years.  He  was  born  near  Lexington,  Ky., 
Jan.  21,  1821.  After  studying  at  Center 
College,  Danville,  he  read  law  and  en- 
tered upon  the  practice  of  his  profession 
at  Lexington.  He  pursued  his  course 


805 

steadily,  and  with  success.  He  entered 
the  army  at  the  time  of  the  Mexican  war, 
but  was  not  engaged  in  very  much  active 
service.  Political  life  opened  to  him,  and 
he  served  in  both  the  state  and  national 
legislatures.  President  Pierce  expressed 
a  willingness  to  send  him  to  Spain  as  U . 
S.  minister,  but  the  place  was  not  accept- 
ed. After  his  term  as  vice-president  he 
was  nominated  in  1860,  by  the  southern 
democratic  delegates  in  their  separate 
convention,  for  president.  His  ticket  was 
generally  successful  in  the  South.  When 
the  war  came  on  he  was  in  the  U.  S. 
senate,  but  entered  the  confederacy,  and 
was  finally  made  major-general.  He 
was  in  several  important  actions.  Near 
the  close  of  the  strife  he  was  made  sec- 
retary of  war  of  the  confederacy.  After 
spending  a  few  years  in  Europe  he  re- 
turned and  died  in  Kentucky  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession. 

WAR  UPON  "WHISKEY  RING." 

1875.  May  17.  A  sudden  and  simul- 
taneous descent  was  made  by  a  large 
force  of  treasury  agents  upon  illicit  dis- 
tilleries in  St.  Louis,  Chicago,  and  Mil- 
waukee. This  effort  had  been  prepared 
for  in  secret  by  Secretary  Bristow,  for 
a  long  time,  and  the  work,  with  subse- 
quent prosecutions,  was  carried  on  with 
such  vigor  that  it  broke  up  very  largely 
the  manufacture  of  "crooked  whiskey.'* 
A  terrible  revelation  of  complicity  in 
fraud,  on  the  part  of  distillers,  collectors, 
inspectors,  and  even  higher  officers,  of 
the  U.  S.  government,  was  laid  before 
the  people.  The  position 

. x        *  r  1875.    Alfonso, 

attained  by  the  "Ring"  was    son  oj  Isabella, 
so  extensive   and    powerful    King  °fsPain- 
that  almost  the  first  moves  of  Secretary 
Bristow,   though  conducted  with    great 
secresy,  and  even  kept  from  all  knowl- 


806 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


edge  of  the  Interior  Department,  aroused 
suspicions  in  several  quarters.  Before 
the  descent  was  made  the  agents  of  the 
Whiskey  Ring  tried  to  ferret  out  the 
intended  efforts,  but  could  not  do  so  com- 
pletely. Investigations  were  made  in 
secret,  and  when  all  things  were  ready, 
the  open  attack  was  made.  A  large 
amount  of  property  was  confiscated,  and 
evidences  secured  implicating  some  high 
officials  of  the  government.  The  first 
intelligence  of  this  vast  fraud  upon  the 
government  was  conveyed  to  Secretary 
Bristow  by  the  editor  of  the  St.  Louis 
Democrat.  By  the  request  of  Secre- 
tary Bristow  one  of  the  journalists  con- 
nected with  that  paper  was  given  the 
task  of  making  further  investigations. 
It  was  a  curious  experience  for  a  govern- 
ment in  the  detection  of  fraud  to  be 
obliged  to  avoid  all  of  its  own  agents  who 
had  been  appointed  to  make  fraud  im- 
possible; The  greater  portion  of  the 
whiskey  in  trade  during  recent  months 
had  been  "crooked,"  or  whiskey  which 
had  escaped  the  revenue  tax.  The  ex- 
posures made  brought  forth  a  torrent  of 
indignation  from  the  press  and  public. 
This  and  other  frauds  now  being  revealed, 
tended  to  shake  public  confidence  in 
government  officials,  while  it  also  tended 
to  greatly  purify  the  business  affairs  of 
the  government.  Convictions  were  af- 
terward secured  in  the  cases  of  the  ar- 
rested distillers.  •  During  the  remainder 
•of  this  year  Secretary  Bristow  pushed  the 
suits,  and  in  some  cases  recovered  judg- 
ments for  the  United  States  for  a  large 
amount,  together  with  imprisonment. 
Among  the  convictions  were  those  of 
Joyce  and  Gen.  McDonald,  who  were  lead- 
tiers  in  the  "Ring."  At  later  suits  certain 
parties  pleaded  guilty.  The  number  of 
government  officials  found  to  be  impli- 


cated reached  the  number  of  fifty.  With- 
in a  year  from  this  time  every  person 
connected  with  the  St.  Louis  revenue 
department  was  convicted  of  complicity 
in  the  fraud.  Eight  U.  S.  officers  at  In- 
dianapolis were  sentenced  to  a  fine  of 
$1,000  each,  and  two  years  in  the  peni- 
tentiary. The  proprietor  of  the  St.  Louis 
Globe  was  convicted.  The  "Ring"  was 
thoroughly  demoralized  bv  the  unflinch- 
ing prosecution  of  it. 

TERRIBLE  EARTHQUAKE. 

1875.  May  18.  About  twenty  Ven- 
ezuelan and  Columbian  towns  were  de- 
stroyed, with  a  great  loss  of  life  and 
property,  by  an  earthquake  of  wonderful 
severity.  The  most  notable  destruction 
was  at  Cicuta.  Slight  shocks  had  been 
felt  for  a  day  or  two,  but  no  fear  of  any- 
thing serious  had  been  entertained.  Tues- 
day the  1 8th  was  a  beautiful  day,  with  a 
clear  sky.  A  few  moments  past  eleven 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  a  shock  came 
which  in  four  seconds  destroyed  every 
building,  ruined  every  wall,  buried  3,000 
people  in  the  debris,  and  made  the  place 
one  of  complete  desolation.  Fire  broke 
out,  but  showers  also  began  and  checked 
the  former.  The  scene  was  one  of  hor- 
ror. Property  to  the  amount  of  $S,ooo,- 
ooo,  was  destroyed. 


1875.     May  27.     A  terrible  calamity 

occurred  at  Holyoke,  Mass.,  in  the  burn- 
ing: of  the  French  Catholic  church,  with 

O 

a  great  loss  of  life.  During  the  celebra- 
tion of  the  feast  of  Corpus  Christ!  the 
drapery  about  the  shrine  took  fire  from 
the  burning  censer,  and  the  building 
being  of  wood,  was  in  flames  almost  in 
an  instant.  The  panic  among  the  people, 
in  the  struggle  to  escape,  heightened  the 
loss  of  life,  for  many  of  the  weaker  ones 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


SOT 


were  trampled  under  foot.  The  list  of 
deaths  numbered  seventy-nine,  and  many 
others  were  severely  injured  in  various 
ways. 

CAPTAIN  BOYTOJTS  CHANNEL  TRIP. 

1875.  May  28.  A  successful  trip  in 
floating  across  the  English  channel  in 
an  India  rubber  suit  was  made  by  Capt. 
Paul  Boyton,  who  had  tried  it  in  April 
preceding,  but  had  failed  through  lack 
of  cooperation.  He  set  out  at  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  vigorously 
paddled  himself  away  from  the  shore. 
He  was  attended  by  Dr.  Howard  of  New 
York,  who  kept  near  him  in  a  boat,  and 
gave  the  swimmer  his  meals  during 
the  day.  He  ate  beef 

. 

sandwiches,  and  drank 
strong  tea.  Sleepiness  almost  overcame 
him  at  one  time,  but  he  was  brought  out 
of  it  by  his  breakfast.  An  English 
steamer  came  across  the  channel  to  note 
the  trip,  and  Capt.  Boyton  was  cheered 
on  his  way  by  sundry  encouragements. 
His  trip  consumed  most  of  the  following 
night,  but  at  two  and  one  half  o'clock,  on 
Saturday  morning,  he  touched  the  Eng- 
lish shore.  The  voyage  had  occupied 
twenty-three  and  one-half  hours.  The 
ill  effects  of  the  effort  were  only  tempo- 
rary. Telegrams  of  congratulation  came 
in  upon  the  party  from  Queen  Victoria, 
and  other  dignitaries.  Capt.  Boyton  was 
afterward  feted  and  feasted. 


1819-1875. 

Charles  Kings- 


1875.  May  30.  The  steamer  Vicks- 
burg,  from  Montreal  to  Liverpool,  was 
lost  in  a  field  of  ice,  and  83  lives  were  de- 
stroyed. 

1875.  May—June.  Extensive  forest 
fires  raged  in  Canada,  Michigan,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  New  York.  Whole  vil- 
lages were  swept  away,  and  lives  were 


lost  at  some  points.  The  losses  bore 
heavily  upon  classes  not  well  able  to  bear 
them. 

1875.  June  5.  Certain  strikes  in 
Pennsylvania  mines  had  attained  such 
dimensions  that  the  militia  was  called  out 
to  suppress  the  violence  daily  appearing. 
For  several  weeks  evil  attempts  had  been 
made  by  ill-disposed  operatives  to  prevent 
all  labor,  and  in  some  cases  they  had  set 
fire'  to  mines,  and  undertaken  to  wreck 
railroad  trains. 

BUNKER  HILL  CENTENNIAL. 

1875.  June  17.  A  grand  celebration 
of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill  was  carried  out  by 
the  citizens  of  Boston,  with  an  imposing 
civic  and  military  parade.  A  vast  multi- 
tude sought  this  Eastern  city  at  that  time,, 
including  many  military  organizations 
from  different  parts  of  the  Union.  The 
Washington  Light  Infantry  of  Charles- 
ton, S.  C.,  which  participated  in  the 
rebellion,  was  present,  and  conferred  great 
interest  upon  the  day.  The  streets 
through  which  the  grand  procession  was 
to  pass  were  decorated  handsomely,  and 
upon  the  morning  of  the  iyth  a  crowd 
poured  into  them  and  filled  sidewalks, 
windows,  balconies,  and  even  roofs  of 
buildings,  along  the  entire  route.  The 
procession  was  four  hours  and  seventeen 
minutes  in  passing  one  point,  and  was 
a  grand  display.  In  the  pavilion  at 
Bunker  Hill  Hon.  Charles  Devens,  Jr.,. 
delivered  an  oration  suited  to  the  occasion. 
In  the  evening  general  illuminations  and 
fireworks  occurred.  It  was  estimated 
that  300,000  visitors  were  in  the  city- 
Very  fraternal  courtesies  took  place  be- 
tween the  visiting  and  the  home  military 
organizations.  The  occasion  was  a  great 


success. 


48. 


808 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1875.  June  17.  The  United  States 
steamer  Saranac  struck  a  rock  in  Sey- 
mour Pass,  Swansea's  Straits,  upon  her 
way  from  San  Francisco  to  Behring's 
Straits  on  a  scientific  expedition,  and 
soon  went  down.  Her  officers  and  crew 
were  all  saved. 

1875.  June  21.  William  M.  Tweed 
was  released  from  Blackwell's  Island 
Penitentiary,  but  upon  his  appearance  in 
court  in  New  York  city,  bail  amounting 
to  $3,000,000  was  demanded  of  him 
upon  the  civil  charges  preferred  against 
him.  Being  unable  to  furnish  it,  he  was 
confined  in  Ludlow  Street  jail. 

1875.  June  27.  A  terrific  tornado 
at  Detroit  destroyed  about  thirty  build- 
ings, and  killed  a  large  number  of 
people. 

1875.  June  29.  An  international 
rifle  match  at  Dollymount,  near  Dublin, 
Ireland,  was  won  by  the  American  team 
over  the  Irish  by  a  score  of  968  to  929. 

RED  RIBBON  TEMPERANCE  WORK. 

1875.  June.  The  first  single  ribbon 
ever  worn  in  the  world  #s  a  sign  of  tem- 
perance principles  was  put  on  at  Bangor, 
Maine,  at  a  convention  of  delegates  from 
the  «  Reynolds'  Reform  Clubs,"  of  that 
state,  the  first  one  of  which  had  been 
organized  in  the  previous  September. 
The  origin  of  the  badge  was  very  simple. 
As  the  delegates  began  to  gather  at  the 
City  Hall,  their  appointed  rallying  place, 
Dr.  Reynolds,  the  inaugurator  of  this 
iS75.  Great  whole  line  of  temperance 
fliodsin  France.  Work,  declared  that  they 
must  have  some  method  of  knowing  each 
other  as  they  met  upon  the  streets,  gave 
a  friend  some  money,  and  sent  him  after 
some  red  ribbon,which,  upon  receiving,  he 
cut  up  into  short  pieces,  and  affixing  one 
to  a  buttonhole  of  his  coat,  tied  the  other 


pieces  into  the  buttonholes  of  the  dele- 
gates. Thus  the  little  symbol  which  has 
since  gone  round  the  world  on  its  mission, 
was  started  forth  upon  its  good  work. 
The  importance  of  it  at  first  was  hardly 
realized.  Dr.  Reynolds  was  one  ot 
that  host  who,  in  working  for  God  and 
humanity,  build  better  than  they  know. 
He  has  since  then  realized  its  efficiency, 
and  makes  it  a  strong  helper  of  his  use- 
fulness. What  was  at  first  a  sign  of 
recognition,  soon  became  a  pledge  of 
loyalty  to  the  cause,  not  simply  on  the 
part  of  reformed  men,  but  of  anybody. 
While  it  has  kept  many  a  tempted  man 
true  to  his  pledge,  as  his  eyes  caught 
sight  of  the  color  he  had  worn  perhaps 
for  months,  it  is  not  primarily  a  sign  of 
reform,  but  of  adhesion  to  the  work. 
This  little  symbol  has  made  the  name  of 
Dr.  Henry  A.  Reynolds  known  far  and 
wide.  The  "red  ribbon"  work  may  be 
put  at  the  head  of  all  organizations  in 
point  of  power  in  temperance  work. 
The  states  which  have,  like  Michigan, 
felt  its  effects  extensively,  have  been  pro- 
foundly changed  in  moral  sentiment,  and 
have  had  legislation  largely  altered  for 
the  better  by  the  process.  The  South 
Sea  Islands  have  known  and  felt  the 
interest.  For  six  years,  since  his  own 
reform,  Dr.  Reynolds  has  been  striking 
great  blows  at  the  evil  of  intemperance 
in  different  parts  of  the  country.  He  is 
a  graduate  of  Harvard  Medical  School, 
and  was  a  physician  of  large  practice  in 
Bansfor.  No  other  man  has  ever  had 

o 

such  indorsements  in  the  temperance 
work.  His  efforts  in  Massachusetts  were 
spoken  of  in  the  legislature  of  that  state 
in  terms  of  the  highest  praise.  The  leg- 
islature of  Michigan  unanimously  passed 
a  concurrent  resolution  commending  the 
red  ribbon  work,  and  tendering  thanks  to 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


809 


Dr.  Reynolds.  Strong  resolutions  of 
indorsement  were  presented  by  Rev. 
Joseph  Cook  at  one  of  his  Boston  Mon- 
day Lectures,  and  adopted  by  a  rising 
vote.  In  Wisconsin  his  efforts  are  bring- 
ing fresh  commendations  of  the  strongest 
sort.  The  straightforwardness,  common 
sense,  and  faith  in  God  of  the  man,  cause 
his  work  to  abide  the  test  of  time. 

The  blue  ribbon  was  adopted  at  a  later 
time  in  Vermont  by  another  worker,  and 
its  use  has  spread  widely.  The  white 
ribbon  was  adopted  in  February,  1876,  by 
the  "  Woman's  Christian  Temperance 
Union,"  of  Waltham,  Mass.,  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  Dr.  Reynolds.  It  was  after- 
ward adopted  by  the  state  body,  and 
finally  by  the  "National  Convention." 
It  is  also  used  in  other  countries.  Previ- 
ous to  the  use  of  the  red  ribbon  rosettes 
and  badges  had  been  worn  by  the  "  Good 
Templars,"  etc.,  but  no  single  ribbon  had 
been  known.  The  results  already  accrued 
justify  the  affection  which  thousands 
have  for  the  little  symbol. 

CENTRAL  AMERICAN  RIOT. 

1875:  June.  A  great  fiot  occurred 
in  the  town  of  San  Miguel,  San  Salvador, 
a  place  of  about  40,00x3  inhabitants.  The 
people  had  disliked  some  of  the  steps  taken 
by  the  government,  and  had  vented  their 
discontent  with  considerable  plainness. 
A  Catholic  priest  named  Palacois  dwelt 
upon  the  measures  in  a  Sabbath  evening 
sermon  during  this  month,  and  greatly 
excited  the  passions  of  his  people.  Dur- 
ing the  same  night  a  mob  surrounded  the 
garrison  and  killed  a  large  number  of 
the  troops,  including  the  officers,  and  set 
fire  to  the  town.  The  whole  place  would 
have  been  destroyed  had  it  not  been  for 
the  aid  given  by  the  crew  of  the  British 
ship  Fantome.  Property  worth  $1,000,- 


ooo  was  destroyed.  Successful  resistance 
was  ^soon  made,  and  some  of  the  mob 
were  killed  in  suppressing  their  attempt. 
Upon  their  bodies  were  found  slips  of 
paper  reading  as  follows :  "  Peter,  open 
to  the  bearer  the  gates  of  heaven,  who 
died  for  religion." 

BALLOON  CATASTROPHE. 

1875.  July  15.  A  balloon  ascension 
took  place  from  the  .Hippodrome,  Chi- 
cago. Prof.  Donaldson  and  Newton  S. 
Grimwood  started  out  on  their  aerial 
journey  in  the  midst  of  a  crowd  of  specta- 
tors. The  wind  took  the  frail  vessel 
along  toward  the  northeast,  over  the  lake. 
When  they  were  about  twelve  miles 
north  of  Chicago  they  were  seen  by  the 
men  on  board  of  a  schooner.  In  a  short 
time  the  balloon  darted  up  into  the  air, 
and  was  soon  lost  to  sight.  The  schoon- 
er had  undertaken  to  follow  the  balloon, 
which  was  at  the  time  very  near  the  sur- 
face of  the  lake,  not  far  distant.  The  vio- 
lence of  the  wind  increased,  and  nothing 
more  was  ever  seen  of  Prof.  Donaldson 
or  his  balloon,  which  was  an  old  and  ap- 
parently unsafe  one  when  he  started  in 
it.  The  body  of  Mr.  Grimwood  was 
afterward  found  on  the  beach  between 
Stony  Creek  and  Montague,  on  the 
Michigan  shore  of  the  lake.  A  minute 
search  of  the  region  revealed  nothing  fur- 
ther of  the  balloon  or  its  proprietor,  nor 
has  any  light  been  thrown  upon  it  since. 


1875.      July     30.      Violent     storms 

raged  in  the  interior  of  the  United  States. 
In  some  places  the  wheat  and  oat  crops 
were  entirely  destroyed.  The  extent  of 
the  damage  reached  very  large  amounts. 
The  inches  of  rainfall  during  the  first  half 
of  July  were  greater  than  during  the 
whole  of  the  corresponding  month  in  any 


S10 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


previous    year.      Floods   abounded,  and 
were  marked  by  great  destruction. 

ANDREW  JOHNSON. 

1875.  Aug.  1.  Andrew  Johnson, 
the  seventeenth  president  of  the  United 
States,  died  at  his  home  in  Tennessee. 
He  was  born  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Dec.  29, 
1808.  He  was  born  and  reared  in  ex- 
treme poverty.  At  the  age  of  ten  he 
was  apprenticed  to  a  tailor,  and  during 
his  apprenticeship  learned  to  read.  He 
came  to  Tennessee  in  September,  1826, 
and  after  some  reconnoitering,  settled  in 
Greenville.  He  married  a  wife  possess- 
ing some  education,  and  under  her  instruc- 
tion learned  to  write  and  to  cipher.  He 
became  prominent  in  the  village  debating 
society,  and  a  favorite  with  the  students 
of  Greenville  College.  In  Greenville, 
1828,  he  organized  a  working  man's 
party,  which  elected  him  alderman  in 
1828,  and  in  1830  chose  him  for  mayor, 
which  position  he  held  for  three  years. 
He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  lower 
house  of  the  state  legislature  in  1835  by 
the  democrats,  and  again  in  1839.  In 
the  contest  of  1840  he  worked  for  Mr. 
Van  Buren,  and  was  democratic  candi- 
date for  elector  at  large.  In  1841  he  was 
elected  to  the  state  senate.  He  wb.s  elect- 
ed to  congress  from  the  first  Tennessee 
district  in  1843,  and  continued  in  this  po- 
sition by  successive  reelections  until  1853. 
He  favored  the  Mexican  war  and  sup- 
ported President  Polk.  In  1853  he  was 
elected  governor  of  Tennessee;  again  in 
1855.  The  latter  campaign  was  one  of 
the  most  exciting  and  violent  that  had 
ever  been  known.  An  incident  of  the 
contest  gives  a  true  insight  into  his  char- 
acter. Various  threats  had  been  made 
to  assassinate  Johnson.  At  one  meet- 
in"-  he  came  before  the  audience  with  a 


pistol  in  hand,  and  placing  it  on  the  desk, 
said:  "Fellow  citizens,  I  have  been  in- 
formed that  part  of  the  business  to  be 
transacted  on  the  present  occasion  is  the 
assassination  of  the  individual  who  now 
has  the  honor  of  addressing  you.  I  beg 
respectfully  to  propose  that  this  be  the 
first  business  in  order.  Therefore,  if  any 
man  has  come  here  to-night  for  the  pur- 
pose indicated,  I  do  not  say  to  him,  let 
him  speak,  but  let  him  shoot."  After  a 
slight  pause,  his  hand  on  his  pistol,  he 
said:  "  Gentlemen,  it  appears  that  I  have 
been  misinformed ;  I  will  now  proceed  to 
address  you  on  the  subject  that  has  called 
us  together."  In  1857  he  was  elected  to 
the  United  States  senate.  In  the  Charles- 
ton-Baltimore convention  of  1860  he  was 
the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  democrats 
for  the  presidency.  In  1861,  when  the 
purpose  of  the  southern  democracy  be- 
came apparent  he  took  a  decided  stand  in 
favor  of  the  Union,  and  held  that  "  slavery 
must  be  held  subordinate  to  the  Union  at 
whatever  cost."  He  returned  to  Ten- 
nessee and  repeatedly  imperiled  his  own 
life  to  protect  the  unionists  of  Tennessee. 
Tennessee  having  seceded  from  the 
Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4, 
1862,  appointed  him  military  governor  of 
the  state,  and  he  established  the  most 
stringent  military  rule.  His  numerous- 
proclamations  attracted  wide  attention. 
In  1864  he  was  elected  vice-president  of 
the  United  States,  and  on  the  death  of 
Mr.  Lincoln  became  president,  April  15, 
1865.  In  a  speech  two  days  later,  he 
said :  "  The  American  people  must .  be 
taught,  if  they  do  not  already  feel,  that 
treason  is  a  crime,  and  must  be  punished; 
that  the  government  will  not  always 
bear  with  its  enemies ;  that  it  is  strong, 
not  only  to  protect,  but  to  punish.  *  * 
The  people  must  understand  that  it 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


811 


(treason)  is  the  blackest  of  crimes,  and 
will  surely  be  punished."  Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is 
so  well-known,  was  in  utter  inconsistency 
and  the  most  violent  opposition  to,  the 
principle  laid  down  in  that  speech.  In 
his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and  gen- 
eral amnesty  he  was  opposed  by  con- 
1797-1875.  sir  gress ;  and  he  characterized 
Charles  Lyeii.  congress  as  a  new  rebellion, 
and  lawlessly  defied  it,  in  everything  pos- 
sible, to  the  utmost.  In  the  beginning  of 
1868,  on  account  of  "high  crimes  and 
misdemeanors,"  the  principal  of  which 
was  the  removal  of  Secretary  Stanton 
in  violation  of  the  Tenure  of  Office  Bill, 
articles  of  impeachment  were  preferred 
against  him  by  congress.  The  trial  be- 
gan March  23.  The  necessary  two- 
thirds  vote  for  conviction  was  lacking, 
and  he  was  formally  acquitted.  In  the 
democratic  national  convention  at  New 
York,  July  4,  1868,  he  was  a  prominent 
candidate  for  the  presidential  nomination, 
and  on  the  first  ballot  received  sixty-five 
votes.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term, 
March  4,  1869,  he  retired  to  his  home  at 
Greenville,  Tenn.  In  1870  he  was  a  can- 
didate for  the  United  States  senate  from 
Tennessee,  but  was  defeated.  He  was 
defeated  for  congress  in  1872.  A  short 
time  before  his  death  he  was  elected  to 
the  United  States  senate. 


1875.     Aug.   6.     A  general  holiday 

was  proclaimed  in  Montreal  and  Ottawa, 
Canada,  in  honor  of  the  one  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  birthday  of  Daniel 
O'Connell,  which  was  being  celebrated 
in  Dublin  by  a  great  anniversary. 

CHARLES  ff.  FINNET 

1875.     Aug.  16.     President  Finney  of 
Oberlin  College,  widely  known  through 


the  country,  and  in  England,  as  an  evan- 
gelist of  great  power,  died  by  a  brief  illness, 
lacking  only  two  weeks  of  being  eighty- 
three  years  old.  He  was  born  in  Warren, 
Litchfield  county,  Conn.,  Aug.  29,  1792, 
but  from  the  age  of  two  years  he  lived 
in  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  whither  his 
parents  removed.  He  was  brought  up 
with  a  common  school  education,  and  in 
due  time  began  to  teach.  At  one  time 
he  intended  to  enter  Yale  College,  but 
was  dissuaded  by  the  principal  of  a  high 
school  which  he  was  attending  in  Con- 
necticut. He  soon  began  the  study  of 
law  in  Adams,  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y. 
In  1821  his  conversion  occurred  through 
the  stress  of  his  own  convictions,  and  not 
by  any  public  religious  movement.  But 
immediately  some  of  those  powerful 
characteristics  which  followed  him 
through  all  his  revival  work,  began  to 
appear.  His  manner  with  men  was 
peculiarly  impressive.  He  left  the  law 
and  entered  upon  that  course  of  preaching 
in  the  little  churches  and  schoolhouses 
of  Central  New  York,  which  revolution- 
ized many  of  those  frontier  districts  during 
the  next  ten  years.  Place  after  place 
felt  his  strange  power.  In  time  the 
great  revivalists  of  the  East,  especially 
Dr.  Beecher  and  Mr.  Nettleton,  raised 
up  an  opposition  on  the  ground  of 
unwise  methods,  but  the  opposition  was 
groundless,  and  in  late  years  Mr.  Finney 
labored  in  New  York  city,  1817.lg75.  Sir 
Providence,  Boston,  and  -Arthur  Helps. 
other  cities  repeatedly,  and  with  great 
results.  When  Oberlin  College  was 
founded  at  the  division  in  Lane  Semi- 
nary, Cincinnati,  New  York  men  ear- 
nestly besought  Mr.  Finney  to  go  there  to 
labor.  He  finally  agreed  to  do  this  while 
still  expecting  to  preach  at  New  York, 
a  part  of  each  year.  This  led  to  his  long 


812 


P RES  EN  T  DE  VEL  OPMENT. 


connection  with  Oberlin,  and  great  in- 
fluence there.  He  went  to  England 
twice,  and  labored  in  various  cities,  very 
effectively.  In  later  years  his  physical 
power  decreased,  and  he  was  unable  to 
bear  the  strain  of  a  long  succession  of 
meetings.  -But  he  came  to  be  regarded 
everywhere  as  a  man  of  unexcelled  faith 
in  God.  His  theological  views  have 
moulded  large  numbers.  He  believed 
intensely  in  the  individual  responsibility 
of  every  man,  every  step  of  the  way  in 
life,  and  forced  it  home  upon  thousands  of 
consciences.  He  was  a  man  of  unique 

power. 

BANK  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

1875.  Aug.  26.  A  sudden  shock 
was  given  the  commercial  world  of  the 
Pacific  coast,  when  it  was  announced  that 
the  Bank  of  California,  at  San  Francisco, 
had  closed  its  doors.  A  run  had  been 
made  upon  it  through  some  suspicion  that 
illegitimate  speculation  had  involved  it 
in  great  financial  risk.  Its  liabilities 
were  variously  estimated  from  $2,500,000 
to  $14,000,000.  The  effect  on  business 
was  very  great.  William  C.  Ralston 
was  president,  and  on  the  following  day 
the  board  of  directors  demanded  his  res- 
ignation. He  responded  at  once  to  the 
request,  and  went  off"  to  his  daily  bath  at 
the  North  Beach,  at  the  foot  of  Larkin 
street,  where  he  was  drowned.  The  sus- 
pension of  other  banks  followed  at  once, 
and  the  stock  exchange  and  mining 
boards  were  closed.  Business  was  gen- 
erally prostrated  through  the  city.  But 
the  Bank  of  California  opened  again, 
Oct.  2,  and  the  others  followed.  Public 
confidence  was  very  fully  restored. 

•  WILLIAM  C.  RALSTON. 

1875.  Aug.  27.  Mr.  Ralston,  whose 
resignation  of  the  presidency  of  the  Bank 


of  California  was  given  the  directors  at 
their  request,  died  by  drowning.  The 
common  opinion  was  that  he  had  com- 
mitted suicide,  but  this  is  doubtful.  He 
made  greater  exertion  than  usual  in 
reaching  the  beach,  where  he  daily  took  a 
bath,  and  when  he  arrived,  was  sweating 
profusely.  He  went  into  the  water,  and 
after  some  tumblings,  started  off"  for  a 
long  swim.  Upon  this  he  was  drowned, 
either  by  intention,  or  by  some  attack 
caused  by  being  overheated.  His  body 
was  soon  seen  floating  on  the  water,  and 
great  efforts  made  to  restore  him,  but 
life  was  extinct.  Mr.  Ralston  had  grown 
up  from  a  poor  boy.  His  first  work 
was  as  a  sho'emaker  at  St.  Louis.  At  a 
later  time  he  served  as  clerk  on  board 
a  Mississippi  steamer.  For  ten  years, 
from  1845  to  ^55'  h£  was  employed  in 
this  way.  When  he  left  the  river  he 
went  to  California,  and  was  apparently 
at  once  sucked  into  the  whirl  of  specula- 
tion. Success  seemed  to  wait  upon 
every  word  or  venture  he  spoke  or  made. 
He  grew  very  wealthy,  and  used  money 
lavishly.  A  magnificent  residence  was 
erected  by  him  near  San  Jose,  and  was 
finished  beyond  anything  in  America. 
Three  hundred  guests  could  be  seated  in 
his  dining  room.  He  kept  a  fine  team, 
and  himself  drove  four  horses  to  the  city. 
He  afterward  built  a  railway  for  the  use 
of  himself  and  his  guests.  He  was  hos- 
pitable and  free  with  all  his  possessions. 
But  when  the  crisis  came  it  was  found 
that  speculation  had  cursed  him.  His 
whole  property  was  turned  over  to  the 
bank  to  cover  what  he  was  reported  to 
have  used  for  that  purpose,  and  nothing 
remained  to  his  family  but  $65,000  from 
the  insurance  on  his  life.  His  course  and 
end  were  unenviable  ones,  and  are  les- 
sons upon  the  dangers  of  speculation. 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


813 


BLACK   HILLS  EXCITEMENT. 
1875.     August.      Through  the  spring 
of  this  year  hundreds  of  men  poured  into 
the  region  of  the  Black  Hills,  because  of 

O  ' 

the  glowing  reports  which  had  been 
made,  of  their  richness  in  mineral  re- 
sources. During  1874  General  George 
A.  Custer,  with  a  military  expedition, 
had  visited  the  Hills,  and  made  extensive 
explorations.  In  spite  of  the  fact  that 
the  Indian  tribes  held  sacred  titles  to  this 
land,  the  cry  of  gold  was  taken  up,  and 
before  summer  of  this  year  a  crowd  of 
gold  hunters,  inexperienced  and  unwise, 
were  swarming  through  the  section  in 
violation  of  the  rights  of  the  red  man.  It 
was  soon  found  that  gold  could  not  be 
picked  up,  but  that  scientific  mining 
would  be  necessary  to  get  any  sure  re- 
turns. Not  being  able  to  undertake  this 
at  once,  and  United  States  troops  at  last 
appearing  on  the  scene  to  protect  Indian 
rights,  an  exodus  of  disappointed,  but 
wiser  men,  began  and  continued  through 
the  summer.  A  geological  survey  of  the 
Hills  was  made  by  Prof.  Janney,  who 
affirmed  great  richness  in  minerals.  The 
excitement  indicates  that  men  now  are 
very  much  like  the  men  who  discovered 
America,  ready  to  forget  all  caution  or 
justice  at  the  thought  of  a  little  gold  dust. 
Extensive  mining  has  since  been  de- 
veloped in  the  Black  Hills,  which  were 
finally  obtained  by  cession  from  the  In- 
dians. 

THE   TRUMP  NUISANCE. 

1875.  August.  The  abundance  of 
"  tramps  "  who  were  roving  the  country, 
and  living  upon  what  they  could  beg  or 
steal,  attracted  the  attention  of  officials 
throughout  the  United  States.  This 
plague  had  been  growing  up  little  by 
little  since  the  Civil  War,  but  had  been 
very  much  enlarged  since  the  hard  times 


began,  in  1873.  It  was  estimated  that 
during  this  month  there  were  30,000 
in  Massachusetts  alone.  They  herded 
together  and  established  a  system  of 
chalk  marks,  by  which  they  detailed 
their  success  to  those  coming  after  them. 
Instances  occurred  in  which  JS75-  prince  of 
large  numbers  were  found  Wales  in  India. 
to  have  had  a  common  retreat  in  some 
out-of-the-way  place  whither  they  would 
retire  at  night,  and  in  times  of  danger. 
The  nuisance  was  found  through  almost 
the  entire  North,  and  caused  great  fear 
and  perplexity.  Some  states  passed 
severe  laws  against  them.  The  trouble 
has,  however,  gradually  decreased  in  im- 
portance as  the  demand  for  labor  has  in- 
creased by  the  return  of  business  pros- 
perity. 

FAST  MAIL. 

1875.  Sept.  16.  The  first  fast  mail 
train  from  New  York  to  Chicago,  left  the 
Grand  Central  depot  in  the  former  city, 
at  a  quarter  past  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  was  composed  of  four  mail 
coaches  and  one  palace  car.  The  former 
were  painted  white,  and  were  named 
Tilden,  Dix,  Tod,  and  Morgan,  respec- 
tively. They  contained  thirty-three  tons 
of  mail  matter  when  they  left  New 
York.  At  Albany  they  took  aboard 
seventeen  bags  of  letters,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  bags  of  papers  from  New 
England.  Mail  bags  were  taken  aboard 
at  almost  every  station  from  the  catch 
posts  without  stopping,  and  others  were 
dropped  at  the  same  points.  The  train 
reached  Chicago  at  6:27  on  the  morning 
of  September  17.  It  had  been  not  quite 
twenty-six  hours  on  the  way,  and  came 
into  Chicago  eight  minutes  ahead  of 
time.  It  ran  at  an  average  rate  of  forty- 
one  and  a  quarter  miles  an  hour.  Time 
was  lost  at  one  or  two  points  by  the  heat- 


814 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


ing  of  car  boxes,  and  was  mostly  made 
up  on  the  run  from  Elkhart  to  Chicago. 
The  strain  was  so  great  on  the  engineer 
that  when  the  train  ran  into  the  Chicago 
depot,  he  fainted  before  he  could  leave 
the  engine.  The  train  effected  a  great 
saving  of  time  in  the  Western  bound 
mails. 

1875.  Sept.  9.  The  propeller  "  Equi- 
nox "  was  wrecked  near  Point  au  Sable, 
Lake  Michigan,  and  twenty-six  lives 
were  lost. 

1875.  Sept.  20.  A  terrible  storm 
raged  along  the  gulf  coast  of  the  United 
States.  The  city  of  Galveston,  Texas, 
suffered  particularly.  Its  streets  were 
submerged,  and  at  one  time  the  whole 
island  was  in  imminent  danger  of  being 
submerged.  At  some  points  the  country 
along  the  coast  was  three  feet  under 
water.  Indianola,  a  small  town  on  Mat- 
agorda  Bay,  was  wholly  destroyed,  only 
five  out  of  three  hundred  houses  being 
left  standing.  A  great  loss  of  life  at- 
tended the  storm  at  this  place,  amounting 
probably  to  four  hundred  persons,  and 
other  unprotected  towns  upon  the  coast 
suffered  severely. 

•RED   CLOUD   REPORT. 

1875.  Oct.  18.  The  commission  ap- 
pointed to  investigate  the  Indian  Bureau 
of  the  Interior  Department  of  the  United 
States  government,  made  public  their  re- 
port, upon  the  charges  entered  against 
the  Bureau  by  Professor  Marsh.  The 
report  sustained  some  of  the  charges  re- 
lating to  the  doings  of  contractors  and  in- 
spectors, and  in  the  case  of  other  charges 
reported  badlv  kept  accounts,  and  gen- 
eral incompetency,  but  no  dishonesty. 
The  report  led  to  some  general  reforms 
in  the  department. 


MOODY  AND  S±VKEY. 
1875.  Oct.  24.  These  great  Ameri- 
can evangelists,  who  had  occasioned  such 
religious  interest  in  Great  Britain,  began 
their  first  labors  upon  their  return  to 
America,  in  the  Brooklyn  Rink  on  Cler- 
mont  Avenue,  which  was  fitted  up  for 
their  purpose.  The  building  seated  five 
thousand  persons.  Throngs  attended  the 
meetings  steadily,  and  were  deeply  af- 
fected by  Mr.  Moody's  straightforward 
preaching,  together  with  Mr.  Sankey's 
singing  of  gospel  hymns.  A  large  num- 
ber of  churches  united  in  the  effort,  and 
a  great  movement  was  experienced.  On 
November  2 1  the  evangelists  began  labor 
in  Philadelphia,  holding  their  services  in 
the  old  freight  depot,  at  Thirteenth  and 
Market  streets.  The  opening  day  was 
one  of  great  inclemency,  but  it  is  esti- 
mated that  ten  thousand  people  were  in 
and  around  the  building  at  the  opening  ses- 
sion. The  services  continued  with  great 
power.  These  labors  were  the  begin- 
ning of  that  remarkable  career  which,  for 
the  last  five  years,  these  men  have  pur- 
sued from  city  to  city. 


1875.     Oct.  26.     A   destructive   fire 

at  Virginia  City,  Nevada,  consumed  al- 
most the  entire  city,  causing  a  loss  of 
$4,000,000. 

1875.  Nov.  4.  The  steamship 
"  Pacific "  was  wrecked  on  the  Cali- 
fornia coast,  between  San  Francisco  and 
Portland,  and  nearly  two  hundred  lives 
were  lost. 

1875.  The  steamship  "City  of 
Waco  "  was  burned  off  Galveston  Bar, 
and  nearly  seventy  lives  lost.  The  con- 
flagration was  instantaneous,  and  origi- 
nated in  some  petroleum,  which  was  sup- 
posed to  have  been  struck  by  lightning 
and  ignited. 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


815 


IMS-IMS.  Hans 

Christian       An- 


GUIBOR&S  FUXERtiL. 
1875.  Nov.  16.  After  six  years  of 
effort,  legal  and  ecclesiastical,  the  remains 
of  Joseph  Guibord,  who  died  Nov.  19, 
1869,  were  placed  in  the  Catholic  ceme- 
tery, just  out  from  Montreal.  Burial  in 
the  consecrated  portion  of  the  yard  had 
been  refused  the  remains  because  the  de- 
ceased was  a  member  of  the  Institut 
Canadien,  which  was  formed  for  literary 
and  scientific  purposes,  and  had  come 
under  the  condemnation  of 

,-,.,,.  ,1         •,.  rr<t 

.  Catholic  authorities.     1  he 

remains  were  at  first  laid  after  an  effort 
had  been  made  to  lead  the  ecclesiastics 
to  consent  to  his  burial,  in  a  Protestant 
vault,  near  by.  There  they  lay  until 
September,  1875.  In  the  meantime  the 
matter  was  pushed  through  the  courts 
and  at  last  carried  to  the  Privy  Council 
of  England,  which  at  last  passed  a  de- 
cree, demanding  burial  in  the  consecrated 
ground  for  the  remains.  This  decree  was 
received  in  Montreal  in  August,  1875, 
and  preparations  were  made  for  the 
burial,  on  Sept.  2.  The  body  was  taken 
from  the  Protestant  cemetery,  but  when 
the  procession  reached  the  gates  of  the 
Catholic  cemetery,  a  large  crowd  of  citi- 
zens and  roughs  had  completely  filled 
the  entrance,  and  now  began  to  'threaten 
violence.  After  an  effort  to  accomplish 
the  object  of  the  occasion,  the  procession 
was  turned  about,  and  departed.  An  out- 
break of  violence  was  imminent  every  in- 
stant. In  the  subsequent  arrangements 
for  the  present  date,  the  police  and  mili- 
tary were  called  out,  and  the  burial  accom- 
plished. The  priests  had  prudently  advised 
their  followers  to  make  no  trouble  by  even 
being  present.  The  grave  was  dug  very 
wide,  and  the  casket  was  laid  in  a  large 
mass  of  Portland  cement,  filled  with 
scraps  of  iron  and  tin,  which  would 


harden  to  extreme  solidity.  The  ground 
was  guarded  for  several  nights.  The 
Bishop  of  Montreal  found  his  only  satis- 
faction in  this  conflict  with  the  civil  au- 
thorities, by  finally  declaring  the  portion 
of  the  cemetery  which  was  occupied  by 
the  remains  to  the  length  and  breadth  of 
the  grave,  to  be  cursed  and  separate  from 
the  rest. 

HEtfRY  WILSON. 

1875.  Nov.  22.  Hon.  Henry  Wil- 
son, vice-president  of  the  United  States, 
died  in  the  capitol  at  Washington,  aged 
sixty-three  years.  His  life  record  is  that 
of  one  who  nobly  worked  his  way  up- 
ward through  the  grinding  toils  and 
deprivations  of  poverty,  until  by  bis  own 
exertions  and  innate  worth,  he  became 
greatly  honored.  He  was  born  in  Farm- 
ington,  N.  H.,  February  16,  1812,  and 
when  ten  years  old  was  apprenticed  to  a 
farmer  for  eleven  years,  during  which 
time  he  was  able  to  secure  about  one 
month's  schooling  a  year.  His  real 
name  was  Jeremiah  Jones  Colbath,  but 
when  seventeen  years  old  he  petitioned 
the  legislature  for  a  change  of  name  to 
the  one  which  he  afterward  bore.  Upon 
the  expiration  of  his  minority  he  walked 
to  Natick,  Mass.,  and  worked  there  two 
years  as  a  shoemaker.  He  then  returned 
to  New  Hampshire,  intending  to  study 
in  the  schools  of  the  state,  but  the  man 
who  held  his  savings  failed,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  take  himself  once  more  to  the 
shoemaker's  bench.  He  now  began  to 
come  into  public  notice.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  the  anti-slavery  debates  in 
Massachusetts,  and  participated  in  the 
Harrison  campaign  of  1840,  after  which 
during  the  next  five  years  he  was  three 
times  elected  to  the  house  of  representa- 
tives, and  twice  to  the  senate.  In  1855 
he  succeeded  Edward  Everett  in  the 


816 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


U.  S.  senate,  where  he  aided  in  firmly 
establishing  the  republican  party  on  an 
anti-slavery  basis.  When  Mr.  Sumner 
was  beaten,  Mr.  Wilson  bitterly  de- 
nounced the  act  as  a  "  brutal,  murderous, 
and  cowardly  assault."  He  was  chal- 
lenged, but  declined.  From  this  time 
his  influence  increased.  He  was  the 
champion  of  what  he  conceived  to  be 
the  right,  without  regard  to  color  or  prej- 
udice. In  1872  he  was  elected  vice- 
president.  The  next  year  he  was  en- 
feebled by  partial  paralysis,  and  was  at 
last  prostrated  by  a  second  shock  No- 
vember 10,  from  the  effects  of  which  he 
died  in  twelve  days.  He  was  the  author 
of  several  books,  the  last  of  which,  an  ex- 
tensive work,  "  The  Rise  and  Fall  of  the 
Slave  Power  in  America,"  was  not  quite 
finished  at  his  death.  Mr.  Wilson  had  a 
child-like  heart,  and  died  in  the  Christian 
faith.  He  is  to  be  remembered  for  the 
consistency  of  his  life. 

BOSS  TWEED'S  ESCAPE. 

1875.  Dec.  4.  William  M.  Tweed, 
the  great  New  York  peculator,  who  had 
been  confined  in  Ludlow  street  jail  in  de- 
fault of  bail  upon  the  civil  charges  against 
him,  escaped  from  his  keepers  while  on  a 
call  at  the  house  of  his  son.  A  drive  had 
been  taken  to  Harlem  in  company  with  a 
warden  and  a  keeper,  and  the  son  Wil- 
liam. A  call  was  made  in  returning  to 
the  jail  at  the  house  of  the  son,  and  the 
great  criminal  requested  a  few  minutes 
private  interview  with  his  wife,  who  was 
making  her  home  there.  The  request 
was  granted,  when  Tweed  stepped  into 
the  hall  and  was  not  seen  again.  In  ten 
minutes  the  hunt  was  begun  but  in  vain, 
and  the  news  at  once  ran  over  the  city 
that  the  victim  had  escaped.  Search  was 
made  everywhere,  but  the  matter  re- 


mained for  a  long  time  one  of  the  great 
mysteries  of  the  day.  The  civil  suits 
were  still  prosecuted. 


1875.  Dec.  5.  Prof.  Swing  who  had 
been  alienated  from  the  Presbyterian  de- 
nomination by  a  repeated  trial  of  his  so- 
called  heretical  views,  and  had  left  the  pas- 
torate of  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  church, 
Chicago,  began  preaching  in  McVicker's 
Theater  in  that  city  to  crowded  audiences, 
and  in  process  of  time  organized  an  in- 
dependent body  known  as  Central  church, 
for  which  Central  Music  Hall  has  since 
been  built. 

1875.  Dec.  17.  A  large  crowd  of 
unemployed  men,  mostly  French  Cana- 
dians, surrounded  the  City  Hall  at  Mon- 
treal, and  with  cries  of  "  Work  or  bread," 
cleared  the  bread  wagons,  and  over- 
powered for  a  time  the  police  force.  The 
city  authorities,  after  discussion,  decided 
to  give  work  to  as  many  as  possible  at 
sixty  cents  per  day. 

1875.  Dec.  22.  An  earthquake  seri- 
ously alarmed  the  people  of  Richmond, 
Va.,  and  caused  a  panic  among  the  state 
legislators  who  were  assembled  in  ses- 
sion there. 

1875..  The  Keeley  motor  was  pa- 
raded before  the  public  attention  this  year 
with  claims  that  it  would  supersede  steam 
because  of  its  greater  power  and  less  dan- 
ger in  case  of  explosion.  It  was  stated 
that  by  the  process  of  condensing  air,  a 
power  of  50,000  pounds  to  the  square 
inch  could  be  obtained.  Small  space 
would  be  occupied  by  the  motor,  thus 
rendering  it  very  desirable.  But  al- 
though some  scientific  men  examined  it 
and  declared  it  a  success,  yet  all  attempts 
to  put  it  into  practical  operation  have 
failed,  and  the  motor  has  faded  out  of 
sisfht. 


.869-1876.] 

SAMUEL  G.  HOWE. 

1876.  Jan.  8.  Dr.  Samuel  Gridley 
Howe  died  at  his  home  in  South  Boston, 
aged  seventy-four  years.  He  was  born 
in  Boston,  November  10,  1801,  studied 
in  the  Boston  grammar  school,  graduated 
from  Brown  University  in  1821,  and 
after  that  studied  medicine  for  a  time  in 
Boston.  In  1824  he  joined  the  Greek 
army  as  a  surgeon,  and  was  in  that 
country  till  1831,  after  which  he  returned 
to  the  United  States,  where  he  became 
interested  in  the  idea  of  establishing  an 
institution  in  Boston  for  the  blind.  He 
at  once  set  out  for  France  and  England, 
to  obtain  the  necessary  information. 
While  in  Paris  he  attempted  to  carry 
relief  to  a  part  of  the  Polish  army  which 
was  in  Prussia,  but  was  arrested  and  im- 
prisoned for  six  weeks  by  the  Prussian 
government.  He  was  finally  liberated, 
and  escorted  by  night  across  the  French 
frontier.  In  1832  he  was  once  more  in 
Boston,  and  opened  the  Perkins'  Institute 
for  the  Blind.  In  1848  he  opened  an 
experimental  school  for  the  training  of 
idiots.  In  1851  he  was  appointed  prin- 
cipal of  the  one  established  by  the  state. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  the  anti- 
slavery  movement,  and  was  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  sanitary  condition  of  the 
army  during  the  Civil  War.  In  1867 
he  again  went  to  Greece,  carrying  sup- 
plies to  the  Cretans  in  their  struggle  for 
independence  from  the  Turks.  In  1871 
he  was  one  of  the  commissioners  ap- 
pointed to  visit  San  Domingo,  and  report 
upon  the  question  of  its  annexation  to 
the  United  States.  Dr.  Howe  will 
always  be  remembered  as  the  inventor 
of  the  system  of  printing  with  raised 
letters  for  the  blind.  His  work  was 
philanthropic  in  many  respects.  His 
wonderful  success  in  training  Laura 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


817 


Bridgman  assured  his  fame  in  connection 
with  the  blind. 

In  1843  Dr.  Howe  married  Julia  Ward 
of  New  York,  noted  for  her  prominent 
position  in  favor  of  "  Woman's  Rights." 
His  published  works  are  "Historical 
Sketch  of  the  Greek  Revolution,"  and  a 
reader  in  raised  letters  for  the  blind. 


DEBATE. 

1876.  January.  A  great  debate  took 
place  in  the  United  States  house  of  rep- 
resentatives upon  the  proposition  to  re- 
move all  political  disabilities  from  the 
citizens  of  the  South.  Opposition  was 
made  to  this  by  most  republicans,  and 
Mr.  Blaine  moved  the  amendment  ex- 
cepting Jefferson  Davis  from  the  list. 
The  debate  was  long  and  heated.  Many 
Southerners  who  were  themselves  mem- 
bers of  the  house  through  the  kindness 
shown  them  at  the  close  of  the  war  by  a 
previous  congress  in  removing  their  dis- 
abilities, spoke  bitterly  of  the  harshness 
of  the  North.  Votes  were  taken  in  one 
or  two  forms,  but  the  affair  ended  mostly 
in  discussion. 

1876.  Jan.  25.  An  atrocious  bank 
robbery  occurred  at  Northampton,  Mass., 
in  which  $750,000  in  cash,  bonds,  etc., 
were  stolen.  The  robbery  was  commit- 
ted between  three  and  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning  by  a  gang  of  masked  men,  who 
entered  the  house  of  the  cashier,  bound 
and  gagged  seven  members  of  the  family, 
and  forced  Mr.  Whittlesey  to  give  up  the 
key  of  the  bank  vault,  and  disclose  the 
combination.  The  money  and  bonds 
belonged  mostly  to  private  individuals. 

WINSLOW,  THE  FORGER. 

1876.  Jan.  28.  A  sudden  revelation 
that  a  minister  named  Rev.  E.  D.  Wins- 


818 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


low,  formerly  considered  an  eloquent 
preacher,  had  been  forging  in  business 
transactions  to  the  amount  of  several 
hundred  thousands  of  dollars,  created  a 
great  excitement  in  New  England.  The 
criminal  fled  to  New  York,  and  thence 
made  his  way  secretly  to  Rotterdam,  be- 
cause no  extradition  treaty  existed  bet  ween 
the  United  States  and  the  Netherlands. 
He  was  afterward  found  in  London,  and 
was  arrested  on  behalf  of  the  United 
States.  Upon  being  brought  before  the 
court  under  the  extradition  treaty,  some 
technicalities  were  enforced,  and  Wins- 
low  was  released  instead  of  being  de- 
livered up  to  the  United  States  officers. 
Hence  he  continued  to  walk  the  earth 
with  safety,  in  spite  of  his  ill  deeds.  But 
the  United  States  at  once  notified  the 
English  government  that  the  extradition 
hitherto  existing  between  them  was  at 
an  end. 

1876.  Feb.  5.'  A  false  alarm  of  fire 
given  in  the  Robinson  Opera  House, 
Cincinnati,  created  a  panic  resulting  in 
the  death  of  twelve  persons,  and  the  injury 
of  many  more.  The  alarm  arose  from 
the  flashing  of  a  calcium  light  across  the 
stage.  The  house  was  full,  and  the  panic 
was  complete.  Persons  were  literally 
trampled  to  death  under  feet. 

BROOKLYN  COUNCIL. 

1876.  Feb.  15.  The  famous  Brook- 
lyn council  called  by  Plymouth  church  to 
consider  the  situation  of  that  church  in 
relation  to  the  recent  affairs  affecting  its 
pastor,  Mr.  Beecher,  and  several  of  its 
members,  met  and  continued  in  session 
for  a  week,  closing  with  a  public  meeting 

1876.  French  at  which  Plymouth  chuiCll 
revenue  for  1875  .  „ 

$500,000,000.  edifice  was  crowded  to  hear 
the  "  result,"  a  paper  of  considerable 


length  bearing  with  favor  upon  Mr. 
Beecher's  position,  and  recommending  the 
creation  of  a  commission  of  five  to  be  se- 
lected from  twenty  persons  named  who 
should  hear  and  try  all  charges  against 
Mr.  Beecher.  The  matter  passed  along 
after  the  appointment  of  the  commission, 
till  it  dropped  into  obscurity,  and  no  regu- 
lar hearing:  was  ever  held. 


1876.  Feb.  16.  The  centennial  ap- 
propriation bill  was  signed  by  the  presi- 
dent with  the  quill  of  an  eagle  found  near 
Mount  Hope,  Oregon. 

HORACE  BUSHXELL. 

1876.  Feb.  17.  Horace  Bushnell,  an 
American  divine  of  unique  mental  and 
spiritual  powers,  died  at  Hartford,  Conn., 
aged  seventy -four  years.  He  was  born  in 
Litchfield,  Conn.,  April  14,  1802,  and 
grew  up  in  the  region.  His  parents  moved 
to  New  Preston  when  he  was  about  four 
years  old.  He  was  one  of  six  children 

for  all  of  whom  the   home  traininsf  was 
i 

very  fruitful.  Physical  activity  marked 
the  young  Horace,  who  loved  Nature  and 
the  sports  which  took  him  abroad  in 
communion  with  her.  He  was  always  a 
very  keen  observer.  Religious  convic- 
tions early  manifested  a  hold  upon  him, 
and  the  foundation  for  that  experience  of 
remarkable  Christian  attainment  was  laid 
in  the  simplicity  of  his  childhood.  His 
college  course  of  four  years  was  spent  at 
New  Haven,  where  he  graduated  in  1827 
with  high  standing.  After  some  teach- 
ing' and  then  some  editorial  work  on 
the  New  York  Journal  of  Commerce,  he 
decided  to  go  to  Ohio  for  the  study  of 
law.  In  the  meantime  he  was  offered  a 
tutorship  at  Yale,  and  at  the  solicitation 
of  his  mother  he  accepted  it.  His  whole 
life  was  probably  changed  by  this  deci- 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-D-AT. 


819 


sion.  At  Yale  a  season  of  religious  in- 
terest affected  him  so  deeply  that  he  gave 
up  the  law  and  turned  toward  the  minis- 
try instead.  This  decision  he  never  re- 
gretted in  spite  of  the  fact  that  at  times 
his  way  was  made  socially  dark  by  the 
alienation  of  professed  friends  from  him. 
Pie  had  great  resources  within  himself. 

After  the  study  of  divinity  at  New 
Haven  he  was  ordained  at  Hartford, 
Conn.,  May  22,  1833.  Now  began  that 
work  of  preaching  which  was  Dr.  Bush- 
nell's  peculiar  sphere.  His  first  efforts 
shadowed  forth  the  power  to  come. 
Great  earnestness  of  thought  character- 
ized him  from  the  first.  It  was  felt  that  a 
new  force  had  been  developed  in  the 
preaching  world.  Hence  his  services  be- 
gan to  be  in  demand  for  addresses  upon 
public  occasions.  Hard  work  for  twelve 
years  sent  him  abroad  in  1845  for  a  year's 
recuperation.  This  was  a  period  of  in- 
gathering and  of  growth.  Soon  after  his 
return  he  issued  a  volume  upon  "  Chris- 
tian Nurture,"  which  caused  considerable 
agitation  by  its  novel  presentation  of 
truths  which  all  ought  to  receive.  But 
now  drew  on  the  period  out  from  which 
the  works  which  more  decidedly  still  set 
in  array  against  him  a  large  part  of  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry.  An  enlarged 
experience,  as  he  always  thought  it,  led 
him  to  dwell  much  on  his  relations  to 
Christ,  and  resulted  first  in  his  work 
*'God  in  Christ,"  and  in  1866  in  the  pro- 
duction of  the  "  Vicarious  Sacrifice,"  un- 
folding what  has  since  been  known  as  the 
moral  theory  of  the  atonement,  or  more 
commonly  as  Bushnellism.  His  ardent 
friends  claim  for  this  all  the  glory  of  a 
freshly  discovered  sphere  of  truth  displac- 
ing old  thought,  while  others  claim  that 
he  has  only  led  to  the  emphasizing  of  a 
hemisphere  of  truth  well  known  before, 


but  beyond  which  there  is  another  hemi- 
sphere unseen  by  Dr.  Bushnell's  eyes. 
His  followers  aver  that  he  had  the  whole 
truth;  his  opponents  that,  to  say  this,  is 
to  be  as  narrow  as  the  adherents  of  the 
old  theology  are  charged  with  being. 
However  this  may  be,  he  has  had  a  wide 
and  powerful  influence  over  a  certain 
class  of  minds.  Dr.  Bushnell's  other 
works,  "  Nature  and  the  Supernatural," 
etc.,  have  had  their  meed  of  praise  on  all 
hands.  His  life  passed  on  through  its 
stormy  period,  and  it  became  true  that  by 
his  Christian  virtues  he  wrought  out  for 

9 

himself  a  place  in  the  affections  of  many 
at  first  opposed  to  him.  His  entire  min- 
istry was  passed  in  Hartford,  and  the  city 
will  ever  be  associated  with  his  name. 
From  1855  to  1859  his  health  was  again 
broken  by  his  unceasing  labors,  and  in  the 
latter  year  he  resigned  his  pastorate. 
He  however,  retained  his  home  in  Hart- 
ford, and  devoted  himself  as  he  was  able 
to  literary  labor.  For  fifteen  years  he 
contrived  to  work  at  times  with  a  vi^or 

o 

most  men  would  deem  impossible  for 
him.  During  this  period  he  issued  his 
final  work,  "  Forgiveness  and  Law,"  in 
addition  to  other  miscellaneous  writings. 
Through  a  gradual  decline  his  life  wore 
away,  and  his  strength  departed.  He 
grew  more  spiritual  through  it  all,  and 
dwelt  more  and  more  tenderly  upon  the 
great  themes  of  life  on  which  his  mind 
had  so  unceasingly  exerted  itself.  The 
end  came  in  peace, 

CHARLOTTE  CUSHMti.V. 

1876.  Feb.  18.  Charlotte  Cusbman, 
a  noted  American  actress,  died  at  New- 
port, R.  I.,  aged  fifty-nine  years.  She 
was  born  in  Boston,  July  23,  1816. 
Having  a  fine  voice  she  used  it  to  help 
in  supporting  the  family  until  1835,  when 


820 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


it  failed  her  in  New  Orleans,  where  she 
had  an  engagement  in  English  opera. 
It  was  then  that  she  first  thought  of 
being  an  actress,  and  her  first  connection 
with  the  theater  was  as  a  stock  actress. 
She  had  been  given  but  a  few  hours' 
notice  before  she  was  to  appear  as  Lady 
Macbeth,  but  she  took  the  part  success- 
fully. She  afterward  worked  up  in  her 
studies,  and  visited  England  several 
times,  where  she  was  enthusiastically  re- 
ceived, and  was  always  shown  the  respect 
which  her  upright  character  merited. 
She  resided  several  ..years  in  Rome,  but 
the  last  years  of  her  life  were  spent  near 
her  native  city.  Failing  gradually  of  an 
incurable  disease,  she  several  times  took 
leave  of  the  stage,  only  to  reappear  when 
her  strength  increased.  An  ovation  ten- 
dered her  in  New  York  a  short  time 
before  she  died,  testified  to  the  high 
esteem  and  admiration  with  which  she 
was  viewed.  Her  most  striking  imper- 
sonation was  Meg  Merrilies,  her  wonder- 
ful interpretation  of  that  character  mak- 
ing it  particularly  her  own. 

BIBCOCKS   TRML. 

1876.  February.  In  the  prosecution 
of  the  Whiskey  Ring  indications  were 
found  implicating  Gen.  O.  E.  Babcock, 
private  secretary  of  Gen.  Grant.  He 
was  finally  indicted  by  the  grand  jury  at 
St.  Louis,  and  tried  during  this  month. 
There  seemed  to  have  been  several  unac- 
countable communications  between  him 
and  members  of  the  Ring,  but  the  evi- 
dence was  not  of  such  a  clear  character 
as  to  result  in  his  conviction.  He  was 
therefore  given  a  verdict  of  not  guilty. 

WASHINGTON  RING. 

1876.  February.  A  long  discussion 
in  congress  over  the  condition  of  the  ex- 


penditures in  improving  the  District  of 
Columbia  closed  after  legislation  had 
been  had  which  prevented  Shepherd 
with  his  "  Ring "  from  making  more 
contracts  or  issuing  more  bonds  which 
would  suit  the  greediness  of  officials,  but 
be  hard  upon  the  taxpayers.  So  another 
evil  rinsf  had  its  condemnation. 


1876.  March  4.  The  Home  for  the 
Aged  at  Williamsburg,  N.  Y.,  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  and  twenty-eight  old  per- 
sons lost  their  lives,  owing  to  the  excite- 
ment, and  the  insufficiency  of  egress. 
The  institution  was  conducted  by  the  Sis- 
ters of  Charity. 

1876.  March  10.  A  violent  tornado, 
in  which  many  lives  were  lost,  and  many 
persons  seriously  injured,  visited  Quincy, 
111.,  and  extended  through  a  part  of  Mis- 
souri to  the  northern  part  of  Iowa.  A 
large  number  of  buildings  were  over- 
turned, several  being  taken  up  and  car- 
ried a  hundred  feet  from  their  foundations. 

1876.  March  19-25.  Extensive 
storms  of  unprecedented  severity  pre- 
vailed throughout  the  United  States,  and 
destroyed  much  property.  From  Louis- 
iana to  Massachusetts  these  storms  pre- 
vailed, and  in  certain  sections,  rose  almost 
to  hurricanes.  Freshets  occurred  in  m;my 
streams,  and  many  vessels  were  wrecked 
or  injured  on  the  coast.  The  period  was 
a  memorable  one.  During  the  same 
time  similar  weather  was  experienced  on 
the  continent,  and  in  England.  It  was 
estimated  that  property  worth  $10,000,- 
ooo  was  destroyed  in  Hungary.  Great 
snowstorms  occurred  in  Scotland.  Rail- 
road travel  and  telegraphic  communica- 
tion were  seriously  interrupted  in  both 
countries. 

1876.  March  29.  The  breaking  of 
the  dam  at  Lynde  Brook  reservoir,  about 


1869-1876.] 

five  miles  from  Worcester,  Mass.,  caused 
a  general  deluge,  in  which  the  Boston 
and  Albany  railroad  company  suffered 
great  losses.  For  several  days  fears  of 
the  catastrophe  had  existed,  and  the  peo- 
ple had  removed  with  their  goods  to  the 
hills;  consequently,  the  loss  of  life  was 
small.  The  break  occurred  while  efforts 
were  being  made  to  strengthen  the  dam, 
and  stop  a  very  small  leak.  Everything 
in  the  way  of  the  flood  was  swept  be- 
fore it. 

1876.  March.  A  terrible  explosion 
of  about  four  hundred  pounds  of  powder, 
caused  by  the  hot  ashes  knocked  out  of  a 
smoker's  pipe,  destroyed  the  Brooks 
Company's  manufactory  in  New  York 
city,  killing  four  men  and  injuring  seven. 

EXPOSURE  OF  BELKXAP. 

1876.  March.  The  people  of  the 
United  States  were  startled  by  a  sudden 
revelation  made  through  a  committee  of 
the  house  of  representatives,  whose  busi- 
ness it  is  to  investigate  expenditures  in 
the  war  department.  When  the  report 
was  laid  before  the  house  it  came  out 
that  Gen.  W.  W.  Belknap,  secretary 
of  war,  had  been  guilty  of  gross  corrup- 
tion in  respect  to  the  post-traderships 
under  his  control,  on  the  Western  frontier. 
The  matter  was  first  disclosed  by  a 
Mr.  Arms,  who  had  been  dismissed  from 
the  army,  and  who  gave  facts  and  names 
to  the  committee.  Mr.  Caleb  P.  Marsh, 
who  was  mentioned  by  Mr.  Arms,  was 
summoned,  and  narrated  a  pitiful  story 
of  Belknap's  wrong.  The  essential 
point  was  that  the  post-tradership  at 
Fort  Sill  had  been  conveyed  to  him  at 
the  solicitation  of  Mrs.  Belknap,  but  was 
served  by  a  Mr.  Evans,  who  paid  Mr. 
Marsh  a  bonus  of  $12,000  a  year  for  a 
time,  and  afterward  $6,000,  half  of 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


821 


which  the  latter  forwarded  to  Mrs.  Bel- 
knap, and  after  her  death  to  Secretary 
Belknap.  When  this  was  fully  de- 
tailed the  committee  were  unanimous  on 
the  question  of  guilt,  and  prepared  their 
report.  Secretary  Belknap,  knowing 
the  result,  visited  President  Grant  upon 
March  2,  and  handed  the  latter  his  resig- 
nation as  secretary  of  war,  at  the  same 
time  explaining  his  action  in  brief.  The 
President  was  much  shocked,  and  ac- 
cepted the  resignation.  The  report  of 
the  committee  was  received  by  the  house, 
and  on  March  3  Gen.  Belknap  was 
impeached  before  the  senate.  After 
considerable  delay  his  trial  came  on  in 
the  spring,  and  was  first  delayed  by  the 
question  of  jurisdiction,  Genei'al  Bel- 
knap having  resigned  before  his  impeach- 
ment was  secured.  A  vote  in  favor  of 
jurisdiction  was,  however,  secured,  and 
the  trial  proceeded  till  the  end  of  July. 
A  vote  was  then  taken,  which,  though  a 

*  '  o 

majority  vote,  was  yet  not  sufficient  for 
condemnation  under  impeachment  law. 
The  final  vote  was  affected  very  largely 
by  the  question  of  jurisdiction,  no  sen- 
ators having  any  doubt  of  the  guilt  of  the 
accused  upon  the  charges  preferred. 
Secretary  Belknap  had  a  fine  war  rec- 
ord, and  an  unblemished  character.  His 
fall  was  a  great  addition  to  the  long  list 
of  political  disasters  of  the  last  few  years. 

A,    T.    STEWART. 

1876.  April  10.  Alexander  T.  Stew- 
art, a  successful  American  merchant,  died 
in  New  York.  He  was  born  in  Ireland, 
October  27,  1802.  He  studied  at  Trinity 
College,  Dublin,  but  took  no  degree. 
He  emigrated  to  New  York  in  1823. 
After  teaching  school  for  one  year  he  en- 
tered the  dry  goods  business,  which  he 
finally  increased  to  such  large  proper- 


•822 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


tions,  and  in  which  he  continued  until 
the  time  of  his  death.  In  the  famine  of 
1846  he  remembered  Ireland  by  sending 
across  a  ship  loaded  with  provisions.  He 
<lid  the  same  for  the  sufferers  in  the 
Franco-German  war.  When  Chicago 
burned  he  sent  $50,000  to  the  relief  of 
the  sufferers.  In  1869  he  was  appointed 
•secretary  of  the  treasury,  but  was  pre- 
vented from  accepting  by  a  law  exclud- 
ing any  one  from  that  position  who  is  in- 
terested in  the  importation  of  goods.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  he  was  proprietor 
of  the  largest  retail  dry  goods  house  in 
the  world.  His  wealth  is  estimated  at 
$50,000,000.  He  planned  several  great 
charitable  schemes,  some  of  which  were 
carried  out  after  his  death. 


1876.  April  14.  A  statue  of  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  was  unveiled  at  Washing- 
ton on  this  day,  the  eleventh  anniversary 
•of  his  death.  The  statue  was  by 
Thomas  Ball,  and  was  erected  by  means 
-of  contributions  from  the  colored  people 
of  the  Union.  It  represents  Lincoln  as 
standing,  holding  in  his  hand  the  proc- 
lamation of  emancipation;  while  at  his 
feet  is  a  slave,  from  whose  arms  the 
shackles  are  falling. 

1876.  April  15.  Dom  Pedro,  the 
Emperor  of  Brazil,  arrived  in  New  York, 
and  began  an  extended  visit  to  the  United 
States,  including  the  Centennial  Exposi- 
tion. He  closely  studied  everything  he 
saw. 

1876.  April.  The  anti-Chinese  ex- 
citement in  California  reached  a  great 
height  this  month,  because  of  a  decision 
of  the  United  States  supreme  court,  re- 
lating to  state  control  over  emigration. 
The  people  of  San  Francisco  had  for 
some  time  been  growing  angry  over  the 
•coming  among  them  of  Chinese  laborers, 


who  worked  for  very  low  wages;  hence 
the  difficulty.  Outcry  was  made  con- 
cerning the  quarter  in  which  the  Chinese 
lived,  claiming  that  it  was  filthy,  and 
breeding  disease;  also  that  the  immoral- 
ity of  the  section  was  extreme.  The 
California  legislature  took  up  the  matter, 
but  rendered  a  decision  after  investiga- 
tion, that  the  evils,  aside  from  the  wages 
question,  were  all  properly  within  the 
control  of  municipal  authorities,  and  that 
the  character  of  the  city  government  pre- 
vented the  reform  of  the  abuses.  The 
Chinese  problem  has  since  then  been  a 
prominent  element  in  our  politics.  At- 
tention has  been  given  by  congress  to  the 
question,  and  every  election  has  been 
more  or  less  affected  by  it.  Kearneyism 
was  one  of  the  most  notable  outgrowths 
of  the  situation. 

1876.  May  6.  A  terrific  explosion 
of  nitro-glycerine  occurred  at  Bergen 
Tunnel,  N.  J.  It  was  charged  to  angry 
workmen  who  had  struck  for  higher 
wages,  and  had  been  dismissed.  The 
shock  was  felt  for  twenty  miles  around, 
and  windows  in  the  west  side  of  New 
York  city  were  generally  shattered. 

OPENING  OF  CEXTENXML  EXHIBITION. 

1876.  May  10.  The  celebration  of 
the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  Ameri- 
can independence,  began  in  Philadelphia. 
For  ten  years  this  project  had  been  dis- 
cussed, and  its  success  labored  for  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent.  Although  at  first 
it  met  with  general  disapproval,  when 
the  Americans  were  made  to  realize  the 
full  importance  of  the  occasion,  and  the 
unlimited  resources  they  possessed  to 
make  it  a  success,  with  true  Yankee  zeal 
they  grasped  the  situation,  is~e.  May  i 
and  by  their  unparalleled  *•«"«  v'f!"ril 

J  •      prnrl nm-'d  Lm- 

energy,  made    an    interna-    preys  of  India. 


1869-1876.] 

tionai  exhibition  which  astonished  the 
world  by  its  grandeur.  On  March  3, 
1871,  according  to  act  of  congress,  a 
commission  was  appointed,  consisting 
of  two  persons  from  each  state  and  terri- 
tory in  the  Union,  and  Hon.  Joseph  R. 
Hawley,  of  Connecticut,  was  chosen 
president.  The  board  of  finance  issued 
stock  in  shares  of  ten  dollars  each,  to  the 
amount  often  million  dollars.  President 
Grant,  in  the  name  of  the  United  States, 
had  invited  foreign  nations  to  participate 
in  the  celebration;  forty  of  them  had  re- 
sponded, and  sent  commissioners.  Money 
had  been  appropriated  by  congress,  and 
by  the  various  states  of  the  Union.  City 
authorities  and  private  persons  added  to 
the  funds.  Fairmount  Park,  on  which 
the  Centennial  buildings  had  been  erected, 
was  one  of  the  most  beautiful  locations  in 
the  world.  After  the  architect  and  the 
engineer  had  transformed  the  appearance 
of  the  park,  its  natural  beauty  was  still 
wonderful.  "  Nature  seemed  to  serve 
the  purposes,  and  adorn  the  creations  of 
art."  The  five  principal  edifices  were 
the  main  exhibition  building,  the  art 
gallery,  and  the  machinery,  agricultural 
and  horticultural  hails;  the  buildings  in- 
closed an  area  of  twenty  acres.  The 
main  building,  constructed  of  iron  and 
glass,  is  eighteen  hundred  and  eighty  feet 
long,  and  four  hundred  and  sixty-four 
feet  wide.  Buildings  were  also  erected 
by  foreign  nations,  and  by  the  various 
states  of  the  Union.  Everything  was 
ready,  and  the  day  of  opening  came,  with 
a  rainy  morning,  but  with  a  hot,  sunshiny 
day.  But  there  was  no  chance  for  gloom 
in  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love  that  day. 
Everything  in  the  region  was  decorated 
with  flags  and  bunting.  The  president 
and  his  cabinet,  and  the  most  eminent 
men  of  the  nation,  both  civil  and  military, 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


823 


were  there.  Dom  Pedro,  the  enlight- 
ened emperor  of  Brazil  and  his  queen,, 
accompanied  the  "silent"  president,  who 
was  escorted  to  the  grounds  by  a  military 
guard,  four  thousand  strong.  "Noble- 
men with  titles,  and  greater  men  without 
them,"  from  every  clime  and  nation, 
came  to  witness  the  American  anniver- 
sary. To  turn  backward  an  hundred 
years,  what  a  contrast  between  this  impos- 
ing display  of  1876,  which  has  made  the 
world  to  stop,  and  "view  the  grand 
creative  power  of  men,"  and  the  quiet 
and  prayerful  colonial  heroes,  who  as- 
sembled in  this  same  city  in  1776,  and 
with  their  hearts  going  out  toward  their 
divine  Creator  and  protector,  drafted  the 
declaration,  which  the  people  of  1876  so 
grandly  celebrated.  More  than  20,000 
people  were  crowded  into  a  dense  mass. 
After  all  had  been  arranged,  Theodore 
Thomas'  orchestra  played  eighteen  airs,, 
closing  with  Hail  Columbia.  This  was 
followed  by  a  cantata,  a  prayer  by  Bishop 
Simpson,  and  the  singing  of  a  hymn 
which  had  been  written  by  Whittier. 
Gen.  Hawley  then  presented  the  buildings 
and  their  contents  in  an  eloquent  address 
to  President  Grant,  who  in  a  few  words 
declared  the  international  exhibition  open. 
The  announcement  was  at  once  answered 
by  the  unfurling  of  the  flags  of  the 
various  nations,  the  salute  of  the  guns, 
and  the  cheers  of  the  people.  Next  the 
president  and  the  emperor  made  their 
way  to  the  machinery  hall,  followed  by 
the  vast  concourse  of  people.  Here  the 
president  and  emperor  started  the  two 
ponderous  engines  which  instantly  set  to 
going  the  countless  wheels  and  rods  of 
the  many  machines  contained  within  that 
building.  Such  was  the  beginning  of  the 
exhibition  —  an  auspicious  omen  of  its. 
close. 


824 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


vVHITTIER'S  CENTENNIAL   HYMN. 

Our  fathers'  God !  from  out  whose  hand 
The  centuries  fall  like  grains  of  sand, 
We  meet  to-day,  united,  free, 
And  loyal  to  our  land  and  Thee, 
To  thank  Thee  for  the  era  done, 
And  trust  Thee  for  the  opening  one. 

Here,  where  of  old,  by  Thy  design, 
The  fathers  spake  that  word  of  Thine 
Whose  echo  is  the  glad  refrain 
Of  rended  bolt  and  fallen  chain ; 
To  grace  our  festal  time,  from  all 
The  zones  of  earth  our  guests  we  call. 

Be  with  us  while  the  New  World  greets 
The  Old  World  thronging  all  its  streets, 
Unveiling  all  the  triumphs  won 
By  art  or  toil  beneath  the  sun ; 
And  unto  common  good  ordain 
This  rivalship  of  hand  and  brain. 

Thou  who  hast  here  in  concord  furled 
The  war  flags  of  a  gathered  world, 
Beneath  our  Western  skies  fulfill 
The  Orient's  mission  of  good-will, 
And,  freighted  with  lovers  Golden  Fleece, 
Send  back  its  Argonauts  of  peace. 

For  art  and  labor  met  in  truce, 
For  beauty  made  the  bride  of  use, 
We  thark  Thee;  but,  withal,  -we  crave 
The  austere  virtues  strong  to  save, 
The  honor  proof  to  place  or  gold, 
The  manhood  never  bought  or  sold! 

O  make  Thou  us,  through  centuries  long, 
In  peace  secure,  injustice  strong; 
Around  our  gift  of  freedom  draw 
The  safeguards  of  Thy  righteous  law; 
And,  .cast  in  some  diviner  mold, 
Let  the  new  cycle  shame  the  old! 


1876.  May  17.  A  «  Prohibition  Re- 
form Party "  convention  was  held  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  nominated  Green 
Clay  Smith  of  Kentucky,  and  R.  T. 
Stewart  of  Ohio,  for  president  and  vice- 
president  respectively. 

1876.  May  17.  A  National  "Green- 
back" convention  was  held  on  this  date 
at  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  and  nominated 
Peter  Cooper  of  New  York,  for  presi- 
dent, and  Samuel  F.  Carey  of  Ohio,  for 
vice-president.  Its  platform  "desired  na- 
tional paper  money  instead  of  national 
banknotes,  and  opposed  resumption  «of 
specie  payments." 

1876.  May  30.  A  great  fire  in  Que- 
bec destroyed  property  to  the  extent  of 
$1,000,000,  and  caused  much  suffering, 
and  many  fatal  accidents.  Seventeen 
streets  were  desolated,  and  about  500 
buildings  burned. 


ACROSS  THE  CONTINENT. 
1876.  June  4.  A  lightning  express 
train  arrived  in  San  Francisco,  having 
been  83  hours  and  34  minutes  on  the 
way  from  New  York.  The  time  for 
this  train  was  accurately  laid  down,  and 
the  right  of  way  was  given  it  on  its  rapid 
journey  across  the  continent.  No  jour- 
ney had  been  made  in  the  world  equal 
to  this. 

1876.  June  14.  The  republican 
national  convention  was  held  at  Cin- 
cinnati, and  nominated,  after  consider- 
able balloting  for  prominent  politicians, 
Rutherford  B.  Hayes  of  Ohio,  for  presi- 
dent, and  William  A.  Wheeler  of  New 
York,  for  vice-president.  The  platform 
declared  in  favor  of  national  powers  in 
the  reconstruction  of  the  South. 

1876.  June  18.  A  destructive  fire 
at  St.  Johns,  Province  of  Quebec,  burned 
nearly  the  entire  place,  causing  a  loss  of 
$  1 7,000,000.  Several  persons  were  badly 
burned.  The  loss  was  as  great  relatively 
as  in  the  great  Chicago  fire  of  1871. 

SANTA  ANNA. 

1876.  June  20.  Antonio  Lopez  de 
Santa  Anna,  the  famous  Mexican  revo- 
lutionist, died  in  Mexico.  He  was  born  in 
Jalapa,  Feb.  21,  1798.  In  1822  he  was 
in  command  of  Vera  Cruz  in  the  cam- 
paign against  the  royalists,  but  was  dis- 
missed on  account  of  insubordination. 
He  aided  in  the  downfall  of  the  Emperor 
Tturbide,  and  became  the  leader  of  the 
federal  party,  but  he  was  soon  defeated. 
In  1828  he  secured,  by  heading  a  revolu- 
tion, the  overthrow  of  the  P.edraza  gov- 
ernment, and  the  establishment  of  Guer- 
rero in  its  stead.  Under  this  administra- 
tion he  became  minister  of  war,  and 
commander-in-chief  of  the  army.  Sub. 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


825 


sequently,  as  leader  of  the  insurgents, 
he  caused  the  overthrow  of  Guerrero; 
then  the  latter's  successor  in  favor  of 
Pedraza  again.  In  March,  1833,  he  be- 
came president  of  the  republic,  and  he 
soon  crushed  out,  by  armed  force,  all  op- 
position. In  the  Texan  revolution  of 
1836  he  commanded  the  army  in  person, 
and  ordered  the  horrible  massacres  of 
Alamo  and  Goliad.  He  was  routed  by 
Gen.  Houston  on  April  21,  and  on  the 
following  day  was  captured.  The  Mex- 
ican government  immediately  declared 
his  connection  with  it  at  an  end.  He  re- 
turned to  Mexico  in  1837,  an<^  took  part 
in  the  defence  of  Vera  Cruz  against  the 
French,  in  which  he  lost  a  leg.  He 
was  provisional  president  from  Oct.  10, 
1841,  to  June  4,  1844;  and  constitutional 
president  from  June  4  to  Sept.  20,  when 
he  was  deposed  by  a  revolution,  and  in 
1845  banished  from  Mexico  for  ten  years. 
He  went  to  Cuba,  but  was  recalled  in 
1846,  and  appointed  generalissimo  of  the 
army.  In  September  he  became  provi- 
sional president,  and  soon  after  started 
northward  to  meet  the  American  forces 
with  a  force  of  20,000  men.  At  Buena 
Vista  Gen.  Taylor  defeated  the  entire 
Mexican  force  with  5,000  soldiers.  He 
collected  a  new  army,  and  was  again  de- 
feated by  Gen.  Scott,  at  Cerro  Gordo. 
He  retreated  with  the  fragment  of  his 
army  to  Mexico,  and  collected  an  army 
of  30,000  men  for  its  defence;  but  the 
American  stars  and  stripes  soon  floated 
over  the  adventurous  Santa  Anna's 
capitol.  He  was  defeated  in  his  at- 
tempted siege  of  Puebla,  and,  having  a 
permit  from  Gen.  Scott,  he  again  left  his 
country,  which  he  had  kept  in  such  con- 
stant turmoil,  for  Jamaica,  April  5,  1848. 
He  returned  to  Mexico  in  1853,  amid  the 
reckless  enthusiasm  of  the  people,  and 


soon  became  president.  By  a  revolution 
he  caused  himself  to  be  appointed  presi- 
dent for  life,  with  power  to  appoint  his  suc- 
cessor. In  the  revolution  of  Ayutla, 
headed  by  Gen.  Alvarez,  his  tyrannical 
power  was  overthrown.  On  Aug.  16, 
1 855,  he  abdicated,  and  sailed  for  Havana. 
After  a  few  years  of  wandering  he  again 
appeared  in  Mexico  during  the  French  in- 
vasion. After  having  pledged  himself  to 
strict  neutrality,  he  became  grand  mar- 
shal of  the  empire  under  Emperor  Maxi- 
milian; but  in  1865  he  attempted  to  have 
the  emperor  deposed,  and  then  fled  to 
St.  Thomas.  His  last  attempt  to  gain 
possession  of  the  Mexican  government, 
in  1867,  resulted  in  his  capture,  and  his 
being  condemned  to  death.  But  Juarez, 
to  whom  Santa  Anna  had  been  a  most 
treacherous  foe,  pardoned  his  implacable 
enemy  on  condition  that  he  should  quit 
Mexican  soil  forever.  After  the  death  of 
Juarez  he  was  permitted  to  return  and 
live  quietly  at  Mexico. 

OUSTER   AND  HIS   THREE  HUNDRED. 

1876.  June  25.  The  people  of  the 
United  States  were  horrified  by  the 
massacre,  at  the  hands  of  the  Sioux  In- 
dians, of  Gen.  Custer,  and  about  300 
soldiers.  The  slaughter  occurred  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  Little  Big  Horn  River, 
Montana  territory,  near  a  large  Indian 
village.  The  Sioux  had  been  commit- 
ting numerous  depredations,  which  they 
claimed  to  have  done  with  just  provoca- 
tion, on  the  white  settlers;  and  the 
United  States  forces  had  been  sent  to 
punish  them.  Gen.  Custer,  with  his  en- 
tire command,  consisting  of  five  com- 
panies of  cavalry  and  their  officers,  at- 
tempted to  capture  the  village.  The 
troops  were  overpowered  by  a  vastly  su- 
perior force  of  savages,  the  victims  of 


826 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


whose  barbarous  warfare  and  torture, 
they  became.  Several  brave  and  valu- 
able officers  were  lost  in  the  struggle. 
Major  Reno,  with  another  body  of  sol- 
diers, barely  escaped  a  fate  similar  to  that 
of  Gen.  Custer.  In  some  respects  this 
desperate  conflict  has  never  been  equaled 
in  the  annals  of  American  Indian  wars. 
The  United  States  forces  virtually  failed 
to  punish  these  savage  murderers,  al- 
though they  drove  them  from  the  coun- 
try. The  efforts  to  capture  Sitting  Bull 
and  his  warriors  were  all  futile.  To- 
ward the  close  of  the  year  the  Indian 
chieftain  withdrew  with  his  followers  to 
Canada,  where  he  was  on  British  soil, 
and  was  unmolested. 


1876.  June  27.  The  democratic 
national  convention  was  held  at  St. 
Louis,  and  nominated  Samuel  J.  Tilden 
of  New  York,  for  president,  and  Thomas 
A.  Hendricks  of  Indiana,  for  vice-presi- 
dent. Its  platform  conceded  that  the 
recent  amendments  to  the  constitution 
had  become  national  law,  but  claimed 
that  state  governments  of  the  South  ought 
not  to  be  propped  up  by  a  military  force. 

ONE  HUNDREDTH  "FOURTH  OF  JULY." 

1876.  July  4.  This  day  was  one  of 
peculiar  interest  in  the  United  States,  on 
account  of  its  being  the  one  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence. In  all  parts  of  the  Union  the 
day  was  celebrated  with  the  most  patri- 
otic spirit.  At  Philadelphia,  the  seat  of 
the  Centennial  Exhibition,  the  most 
elaborate  preparations  were  made.  About 
two  hundred  and  seventy-five  thousand 
visitors  were  present.  The  scene  of  the 
celebration  was  Independence  Hall,  where 
liberty  was  proclaimed  a  century  before. 
The  city  was  alive  with  multitudes,  ban- 


ners, and  the  thunders  of  the  batteries. 
The  day  came,  and  the  spirit  and  enthu- 
siasm of  freedom  seemed  to  have  entered 
into  every  living  thing.  The  flags  that 
waved,  and  the  guns  that  roared,  ap- 
peared to  be  inspired  with  the  feeling  of 
patriotism.  After  the  hymns  were  sung, 
and  the  national  airs  played,  the  Declara- 
tion was  read  from  the  original  manu- 
script, by  Richard  Henry  Lee,  the  grand- 
son of  him  who  offered  the  Resolution  of 
Independence.  A  national  ode,  written 
by  Bayard  Taylor,  was  read,  and  the 
Centennial  oration  was  delivered  by 
William  M.  Evarts.  The  display  was 
continued  through  the  night  by  fire- 
works. 

1876.  July  9.  Castle  Garden,  New 
York,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The 
building  was  erected  in  1807  as  a  fortifi- 
cation; but  in  1823  was  converted  into  a 
place  of  amusement.  It  was  here  that 
Jenny  Lind  won  her  first  triumphs  in 
America.  Of  late  years,  however,  the 
"  Garden "  has  been  used  as  a  landing 
place  and  office  for  emigrants. 

1876.  July  10.  The  propeller  "  St. 
Clair "  was  burned  on  Lake  Superior,, 
and  nearly  thirty  lives  /ost. 

1876.  Aug.  1.  Colorado  was  re- 
ceived into  the  Union  as  the  thirty-eighth 
state.  It  has  104,000  square  miles,  and 
194,649  inhabitants  in  1880.  Its  motto 
is  "  Nil  sine  numine."  "  Nothing  with- 
out divine  aid." 

1876.  Aug.  11.  In  the  race  for  the 
Queen's  cup,  at  New  York,  the  Ameri- 
can yacht,  "  Madeline,"  beat  the  Cana- 
dian yacht,  "  Countess  of  Dufferin." 

1876.  Aug.  19.  The  first  wire  of 
the  suspension  bridge,  over  East  River> 
between  New.  York  and  Brooklyn,  was 
successfully  stretched. 


1869-1876-] 

1876.     Aug.    20. 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 
The   Pacific    mail 


steamer, "  Colon,"  burst  a  cylinder  several 
hundred  miles  from  New  York,  and  ten 
men  were  killed. 

1876.  Sept.  4.  An  extensive  fire  at 
St.  Hyacinth's,  Ontario,  destroyed  prop- 
erty to  the  amount  of  $2,000,000,  and 
made  4,000  people  homeless. 

1876.  Sept.  7.  Eight  highwaymen 
made  a  bold  attempt  to  rob  the  bank  at 
Northfield,  Minn.,  at  midday.  Three  of 
the  robbers  entered,  while  five  remained 
outside  the  bank  to  defend  themselves 
from  the  citizens  who  came  upon  them. 
The  cashier  refused  to  open  the  safe,  and 
was  shot.  The  citizens  had  now  begun 
to  fire  upon  them,  and  in  the  affray  two 
of  the  highwaymen  were  killed ;  the  rest 
escaped,  but  vigorous  pursuit  was  made 
without  success  till  the  last  of  the  month, 
when  four  of  the  criminals  stopped  at  a 
house  to  secure  food,  when  the  citizens  of 
a  neighboring  place  named  Medalia  were 
aroused,  and  followed  the  robbers  to  a 
marsh,  where  they  were  taken  after  a  con- 
flict in  which  one  of  them  was  killed,  and 
the  other  three  wounded.  They  proved 
to  be  members  of  the  notorious  "  Yonger 
Brothers." 

1876.  Sept.  8.  Arrest  of  Tweed. 
William  M.  Tweed,  the  fugitive  boss, 
who  escaped  from  his  keepers  during  a 
call  at  the  house  of  his  son  in  New  York 
city,  was  arrested  at  Vigo,  Spain.  News 
of  his  journey  had  gone  before  him,  and 
he  was  arrested  by  the  Spanish  authori- 
ties upon  his  arrival.  He  was  extradited, 
and  afterward  brought  to  America. 

1876.  Sept.  14.  In  the  international 
rifle  match  at  Creedmoor  the  American 
team  gained  the  victory  by  twenty-three 
points.  This  was  the  greatest  contest 
yet  won  by  American  riflemen. 

1876.     Sept.   15.    The  Yellow  Fever 


827 

raged  extensively  at  Savannah.  The 
condition  of  many  of  the  sick  was  most 
helpless  and  pitiful.  The  death  rate 
varied  from  twenty-two  to  twenty-seven 
deaths  per  day.  Every  effort  was  made 
by  the  people  North  and  South  to  check 
the  progress  of  the  plague,  and  relieve 
the  sufferers. 

1876.  Sept.  19.  The  trial  of  Gen. 
Babcock  for  complicity  in  the  safe  burg- 
lary conspiracy  at  Washington,  D.  C., 
was  begun.  Gen.  Babcock  claimed 
that  certain  professional  burglars  which 
it  was  known  he  had  employed,  were 
obtained  by  him  for  the  purpose  of 
gaining  certain  papers  and  facts,  and  not 
for  robbery. 

1876.  Sept.  20.  Cession  of  Black 
Hills.  The  United  States  commissioners 
effected  a  treaty  with  the  Indians,  by 
which  the  Black  Hills  were  given  over 
to  the  whites. 

1876.  Sept.  24.  At  Savannah, 
Georgia,  2,000  persons  lay  sick  with  the 
yellow  fever.  One  hundred  and  eighty 
new  cases  appeared  in  a  single  day. 
Business  of  all  kinds  was  at  a  standstill, 
and  the  suffering  increased. 

HELL    GATE. 

1876.  Sept.  25.  Hell  Gate  reef, 
at  the  entrance  of  New  York  harbor, 
from  Long  Island  Sound  through  East 
River,  was  exploded.  For  seven  years 
the  work  had  been  progressing,  until  now 
the  entire  reef  of  nearly  three  acres  was 
honey-combed.  The  excavations  had 
been  packed  with  dynamite  and  other 
explosives,  and  connected  by  wires  with 
an  electric  battery,  after  which  the  gal- 
leries were  flooded  with  water.  The 
nature  of  the  explosives  rendered  this  pos- 
sible, and  it  was  expected  to  prevent  any 
danger  to  the  surrounding  country.  At 


828 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


2:50  P.  M.,  electricity  was  applied  by 
Gen.  Newton's  little  daughter,  and  in  an 
instant  the  reef  was  torn  into  numberless 
fragments — everything  happening  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  expectations  of  Gen. 
Newton,  the  chief  engineer  of  the  work. 


1876.     Oct.  3.     A  terrible  tornado  in 

Central  America  destroyed  many  lives, 
and  property  to  the  extent  of  $5,000,000. 

1876.  Oct.  14.  A  great  seizure  of 
smuggled  diamonds  and  jewelry  was 
made  at  New  York  by  the  custom  house 
officers  in  searching  the  person  of  a  wom- 
an arriving  by  steamer.  The  total 
value  was  $20,000. 

1876.  Oct.  21.  The  barque  "  Flor- 
ence "  arrived  at  San  Francisco,  bringing 
news  of  the  loss  of  an  Arctic  whaling 
expedition,  which  had  been  working  its 
way  northward  through  the  summer,  and 
had  been  caught  in  the  ice  in  August. 
Twelve  ships  were  abandoned  by  parts  of 
their  crews.  The  deserters  struck  out 
over  the  ice,  and  made  their  escape  by 
means  of  a  vessel  which  they  found  to 
the  southward.  The  fifty  or  sixty  re- 
maining behind  probably  perished.  The 
fleet  was  made  up  of  vessels  collected 
from  New  Bedford,  Boston,  London, 
San  Francisco,  and  the  Hawaiian  Islands. 

1876.  Oct.  26.  The  result  of  the 
Sullivan  trial  in  Chicago  caused  great 
indignation,  especially  with  the  presiding 
judge,  to  whose  rulings  and  charge  the 
disagreement  of  the  jury  was  largely  due. 
Alexander  Sullivan  had  attempted  to 
secure  some  retraction  from  Francis 
Hanford  which  the  latter  refused  to  give, 
and  in  the  subsequent  assault  Hanford 
was  shot.  Judge  McAllister  presided  at 
the  trial,  and  when  it  was  announced 
that  the  jury  had  disagreed,  and  thus 
failed  to  convict,  a  petition  was  instantly 


started  in  the  Board  of  Trade,  requesting 
the  resignation  of  the  judge.  Six  hundred 
persons  signed  it  within  an  hour.  At  a 
second  trial,  in  1877,  Sullivan  was  grant- 
ed a  verdict  of  not  guilty. 

1876.  Oct.  31.  A  false  alarm  of  fire 
created  a  panic  in  a  Chinese  theater  in 
San  Francisco,  and  nearly  twenty  per- 
sons were  trampled  to  death. 

TWENTY- THIRD  PRESIDENTIAL 
CAMPAIGN. 

1876.  Nov.  7.  The  campaign  which 
closed  with  the  election  of  the  present  day, 
will  always  be  memorable  for  the  close- 
ness of  the  result,  and  the  expedients 
which  congress  was  forced  to  employ  in 
order  to  reach  a  final  decision.  Each 
party  during  the  campaign  had  cried 
in  favor  of  reform.  The  country  had  be- 
come disgusted  with  the  sudden  and  almost 
appalling  revelations  of  wickedness  in 
official  stations,  and  the  administration  of 
Grant  had  raised  up  for  itself  many  ene- 
mies. After  the  first  confusion,  in  which 
it  was  generally  conceded  that  Tilden 
and  Hendricks  had  been  elected  by  the 
democratic  party,  had  swept  away,  it 
was  seen  that  the  above  had  carried 
seventeen  states,  with  a  me_  Insvrrec_ 

popular    VOte    of  4,284,885,      tions  in  Turkey. 

and  an  electoral  vote  of  184.  Hayes 
and  Wheeler,  the  nominees  of  the  repub- 
lican party,  were  found  to  have  in  all 
certainty  166  electoral  votes,  while  the 
votes  of  Louisiana,  Florida  and  South 
Carolina,  remained  in  doubt.  If  the 
electoral  votes  of  even  one  of  these  states 
had  been  given  to  the  democratic  candi- 
dates, the  latter  would  be  elected,  while, 
if  they  were  all  given  to  Hayes  and 
Wheeler,  the  latter  would  have  185  electo- 
ral votes,  or  one  more  than  their  opponents, 
and  therefore  be  elected.  The  vote  of 


1869-1876.] 


THE  PROBLEMS  OF  TO-DAT. 


820 


Oregon  was  also  affirmed  to  be  in  doubt. 
Intense  excitement  now  began  to  rise  in 
all  parts  of  the  country.  Each  party  in 
the  doubtful  states  began  to  take  measures 
to  secure  the  electoral  vote  for  its  candi- 
dates, and  the  tide  of  feeling  ran  high. 
It  resulted  in  sending  up  double,  and  in 
the  case  of  Louisiana,  triple  returns,  which 
led  to  irreconcilable  discussion  in  congress, 
and  a  final  agreement  upon  the  electoral 
commission  bill,  approved  Jan.  29,  1877. 
Peter  Cooper,  "  Greenback,"  received 
in  this  election  81,740,  and  Green  Clay 
Smith,  "Prohibition,"  received  9,522 
popular  votes. 

1876.  Nov.  7.  An  outrageous  at- 
tempt was  made  to  obtain  the  remains  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  from  the  vault  in  which 
they  were  lying  at  Springfield,  111. 
In  some  way  suspicions  had  been  aroused 
iDeforehand  in  regard  to  the  intended  raid, 
and  a  guard  was  instituted.  The  villainy, 
however,  was  well  nigh  successful,  for 
the  external  marble  sarcophagus  had 
been  opened,  and  some  injury  done  to  the 
internal  leaden  casket  before  a  knowledge 
of  the  deed  came  to  the  watch.  At  this 
point  the  work  was  frustrated,  and  the 
parties  escaped.  It  was  supposed  that  it 
was  part  of  .an  attempt  to  secure  a  pardon 
for  a  great  criminal  then  in  prison  for 
counterfeiting. 

CLOSE  OF  THE  CENTENNIAL. 

1876.  Nov.  10.  According  to  the 
designs  of  the  commissioners  the  interna- 
tional exhibition  was  formally  closed. 
The  daily  attendance  at  the  exhibition 
during  the  summer  had  vai'ied  from  five 
thousand  to  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  thousand;  the  daily  average  attend- 
ance had  been  sixty-one  thousand,  nine 
hundred  and  thirty-eight;  and  the  whole 
number  of  visitors  was  nine  million,  seven 


hundred  and  eighty-six  thousand,  one 
^hundred  and  fifty-one.  The  total  re- 
ceipts for  admission  were  three  million, 
seven  hundred  and  sixty-one  thousand, 
five  hundred  and  ninety-eight  dollars. 
After  addresses  were  delivered  by  Gen. 
Hawley  and  others,  and  "  America " 
sung  by  the  audience,  President  Grant 
declared  the  International  Exhibition 
closed.  On  the  whole,  the  exhibition 
had  been  of  infinite  value.  It  had 
strengthened  the  admiration  and  respect 
of  foreign  powers  for  the  republic,  and 
had  created  greater  commercial  and 
social  intercourse.  It  had  caused  the 
people  of  the  United  States  to  be  amazed 
a"t  the  vastness  of  their  own  resources, 
and  made  an  impress  that  may  endure 
until  the  next  centennial.  The  following 
comparison  with  other  great  exhibitions 
of  the  world,  shows  its  success : 


Number  of 
Tear.  Place.  -visitors. 

1851 — London 6,039,195 

1855 — Paris 3,162,330 

1862 — London 6,211,103 

1867— Paris 10,000,000 

1873 — Vienna 7,254,687 

1876— Philadelphia. . . .    9,786,151 


Days 

Receipts.  open. 

$2,530,000  141 

640,500  200 

2,300,000  171 

2,822,932  210 

2,000,000  186 

3,76i,598  158 


1876.  Dec.  5.  The  burning  of  the 
Brooklyn  Theater,  which  caught  fire 
from  the  lights  among  the  scenery, 
caused  a  loss  of  300  lives.  It  was  the 
greatest  horror  of  the  kind  since  the 
burning  of  the  Richmond  Theater  in 
1811.  The  flames  spread  with  great 
rapidity,  and  cut  off  the  escape  of  the 
crowd  in  the  upper  gallery.  The  per- 
sons upon  the  floor  maintained  quite 
good  order,  and  reached  the  open  air  in 
safety.  The  crowd  above,  unable  to  get 
through  the  wall  of  flame,  was  thrown 
into  a  terrible  pit  of  fire  in  the  center, 
and  perished  by  a  fearful  death.  Two 
actors  perished  in  trying  to  get  articles 
from  their  dressing  rooms.  The  city 


830 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


was  terror  stricken.  The  calamity  was 
the  theme  of  conversation,  of  the  pressr 
and  of  the  pulpit. 

FIRST  CREMATION. 

1876.  Dec.  6.  The  first  furnace  for 
the  cremation  of  the  bodies  of  the  dead, 
had  been  erected  at  Washington,  Penn., 
by  Dr.  F.  J.  LeMoine,  at  a  cost  of 
$1,600.  The  first  cremation  was  that 
of  the  body  of  Baron  de  Palm,  at  this 
date.  The  process  occupied  from  8:30 
to  10:40  in  the  forenoon,  and  was  con- 
ducted successfully  in  the  manner  de- 
signed. The  ashes  were  gathered  into 
an  urn.  The  circumstance  caused  wide- 
spread interest,  and  the  process  seemed, 
to  a  great  many  to  be  specially  objec- 
tionable. The  crowding  of  many  of  the 
cemeteries  of  the  great  cities  of  the 
world,  gave  considerable  practical  force 
to  the  discussion.  Several  other  bodies 
have  been  cremated  since  then,  and  little 
notice  is  now  taken  of  an  announcement 
to  that  effect. 

ASHTABULA  HORROR. 

1876.  Dec.  29.  A  terrible  disaster  oc- 
curred on  the  Lake  Shore  railroad,  near 
Ashtabula,  Ohio,  by  the  giving  way  of 
the  bridge  under  the  western  bound 
express  train,  at  about  eight  o'clock  in 
the  evening.  The  train  consisted  of 
eleven  cars  with  two  engines,  all  of 
which,  with  their  160  passengers,  were 
precipitated  into  the  creek,  70  feet  below. 
The  wreck  immediately  took  fire,  and 
thus  increased  the  fearfulness  of  the 
situation,  for  help  was  not  near.  One 
hundred  persons  were  killed  or  burned 
to  death,  and  of  the  sixty  who  were 
rescued,  several  afterward  died.  All  the 
circumstances,  the  driving  storm,  and  the 
cold,  helped  to  make  it  the  most  terrible 


accident  on  record  in  this  country.  It 
raised  many  questions  about  bridge 
building. 

P.  P.  BLISS. 

1876.  Dec.  29.  P.  P.  Bliss,  the  re- 
vival singer,  perished  in  the  Ashtabula 
disaster,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight  years. 
He  was  born  at  Clearfield,  Penn.,  and 
after  some  years  of  local  Christian  labor 
in  his  younger  years,  he  became  asso- 
ciated with  Major  Whittle  in  more 
public  evangelistic  efforts  through  the 
country  at  large.  He  was  widely  known 
by  the  hymns  he  had  composed  in  words 
and  tunes,  and  which  are  sung  by  all  de- 
nominations. "  Hold  the  Fort,"  "  More 
to  Follow,"  and  kindred  melodies,  will 
make  his  life  a  great  blessing  by  the 
inspiration  they  give  Christian  faith  and 
work.  His  wife  was  lost  with  him  upon 
the  ill-fated  train. 

1876.  The  game  of  "Polo"  was  in- 
troduced into  America  by  James  Gordon 
Bennett.  It  has  now  attained  consider- 
able popularity  It  is  played  upon  horse- 
back with  a  ball,  and  mallets  with  a 
crook  at  the  end. 

1876.  The  Boston  "  Red  Stocking  " 
Base  Ball  Club  won  the  championship 
of  the  country  for  five  years  in  succession, 
from  1871. 

1876.  The  "  Great  Republic,"  the  . 
largest  river  steamboat  in  the  world,  was 
launched  at  St.  Louis.  Its  length  is  340 
feet;  beam  57  feet;  width  on  deck  103 
feet.  It  carries  280  passengers,  and  a 
cargo  of  4,000  tons  cargo.  The  wheels 
are  37  feet  in  diameter.  The  entire  cost 
was  $200,000. 

1876.  Owing  to  civil  conflicts  in 
Uruguay,  the  administration  of  Pedro 
Varela  was  overturned  by  his  resigna- 
tion, and  Seignor  Latorre  became  dictator 
of  Uruguay. 


SECTION    XXII. 

OF  ZIF&.     7877--78S?. 


'HE  slow  agony  of  financial  dis- 
tress which  had  been  endured 
since  1873,  now  began  to  bring 
to  light  a  great  many  of  the 
corrupt  practices  which  caused  the 
whole  difficulty.  Defalcations  began  to 
be  revealed  with  startling  rapidity.  The 
fraudulent  use  of  money  which  had  crept 
into  many  a  man's  practice  for  purposes 
of  speculation  during  the  flush  times  suc- 
ceeding the  war,  could  no  longer  with- 
stand the  pressure.  Men  universally  re- 
spected, were  found  to  be  transgressors 
of  long  standing.  A  reputation  for  ster- 
ling integrity  was  no  longer  worth  any- 
thing. The  greed  for  gain,  and  the  im- 
patience to  do  a  large  business,  had  also 
taken  hold  of  a  great  many  corporations 
and  firms  to  such  an  extent  as  to  put 
them  in  the  very  worst  condition  for 
bearing  any  long-continued  strain. 
Young  men  undisciplined  in  business,  had 
entered  precipitately  upon  large  business 
enterprises.  The  result  was,  that  they 
were  quickly  overthrown.  Failures  rose 
to  the  thousands.  The  "  hard  times " 
emphasized  very  severely  the  lessons  to  be 
learned  concerning  shiftlessness,  haste  to 
be  rich,  lack  of  full  training,  the  evil  of 
speculation,  looseness  concerning  trusts, 


and  many  kindred  defects.  But  grad- 
ually the  sky  cleared.  Political  scandals 
ceased.  Commercial  depression  lessened. 
A  change  set  in,  and  a  period  of  unex- 
ampled vigor  and  prosperity  has  begun. 
The  Southern  states  are  rapidly  increas- 
ing their  number  of  manufactories,  their 
agricultural  facilities,  and  their  good 
hopes  generally.  Energy  is  taking  the 
place  of  lassitude,  and  kindred  com- 
plaints. Brazil,  Chili,  and  other  South 
American  states,  are  in  the  midst  of  suc- 
cessful improvements.  Already  there 
are  signs  that  enterprise  will,  in  the  near 
future,  bind  the  portions  of  this  continent 
together  with  new  bonds.  If  education, 
reform,  religion,  can  have  well-directed 
energy  spent  in  their  service,  it  will  go 
far  toward  thwarting  the  possible  disas- 
ters of  the  future. 

CORNELIUS   VANDERBILT. 

1877.  Jan.  4.  Cornelius  Vanderbilt, 
the  man  who  at  his  death  could  count  a 
million  dollars  of  property  for  every  year 
of  his  life,  died  in  New  York,  aged 
eighty-three  years.  He  was  born  on 
Staten  Island,  May  27,  1794.  He  was 
no  student,  but  his  business  ability  de- 
veloped early.  When  he  was  sixteen  he 

831 


832 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


bought  a  boat,  and  run  it  between  Staten 
Island  and  New  York  city.  To  this  he 
made  additions  in  a  small  way  frequently, 
till  at  twenty-three  years  of  age  he  was 
worth  $9,000,  and  at  thirty  had  full 
command  of  the  Gibbon  line  of  steamers, 
which  were  paying  $40,000  per  year. 
His  next  enterprise  was  in  building  and 
putting  steamers  on  the  Hudson,  on  Long 
Island  Sound,  and  other  routes.  He 
followed  this  for  nineteen  years,  until  a 
new  speculation  presented  itself  in  the 
shape  of  competition  with  the  "  United 
States "  and  "  Pacific  Mail  "  companies. 
In  1864  he  abandoned  steamboat  specu- 
lation, having  at  the  time  a  fleet  of  sixty- 
six  steamers,  one  of  which  he  gave  to 
the  United  States  government.  He  now 
turned  his  attention  to  railroads,  and  so 
successfully,  that  in  a  few  years  he  was 
manager  of  2,128  miles  of  railroad.  The 
name  of  "  Railroad  King "  was  now 
applied  to  him.  The  distribution  of  his 
vast  property  was  unsatisfactory,  and  the 
will  was  contested.  Vanderbilt  Univer- 
sity, Nashville,  Tenn.,  received  $700,000 
from  him,  and  the  Church  of  the  Stran- 
gers in  New  York,  $50,000. 


1877.  Jan.  14.  The  breaking  up  of 
the  ice  in  the  Ohio  River,  swept  away  a 
large  number  of  river  crafts  of  all  de- 
scriptions, and  did  damage  to  the  amount 
of  $2,000,000. 

1877.  Jan.  14.  The  Packard  gov- 
ernment in  Louisiana,  was  recognized 
by  President  Grant.  The  rival  govern- 
ors, Packard  and  Nicholls,  had  each  been 
inaugurated  on  Jan.  8.  Both  legislatures 
had  attempted  to  elect  a  United  States 
senator.  The  United  States  troops  had 
been  ordered  to  do  nothing  save  to  keep 
the  peace.  A  riot  almost  broke  out  on 
Jan.  9,  but  after  a  few  shots  it  was  quieted. 


ELECTORAL  COMMISSION. 
1877.  Jan.  29.  After  much  excite- 
ment  throughout  the  country,  congress 
passed  a  bill  to  prevent  controversy  in 
settling  the  disputed  presidential  election, 
and  it  was  approved  by  the  President. 
It  provided  that,  whereas  congress  could 
not,  in  case  of  the  double  returns  from 
several  states,  arrive  at  any  peaceable 
method  of  counting  them,  an  electoral 
commission  should  be  created,  composed 
of  five  senators,  five  representatives,  and 
five  justices  of  the  supreme  court,  to 
whom  the  whole  matter  should  be  re- 
ferred for  final  decision.  The  commis- 
sion was  created,  and  their  work  was 
carried  on  till  two  days  before  inaugura- 
tion day,  in  March,  when  a  decision  was 
reached  by  a  vote  of  eight  to  seven  that 
the  votes  of  the  doubtful  states  should  be 
given  to  President  Hayes,  thus  electing 
him  by  185  votes  to  184  for  Tilden  and 
Hendricks.  But  the  crisis  called  attention 
to  the  process  of  electing  a  president,  and 
makes  it  necessary  to  provide  some  way 
to  obviate  collision  over  the  matter.  The 
constitution  is  not  decisive,  hence  the  dif- 
ficulty. The  result  of  the  commission 
quieted  the  country,  although  some  poli- 
ticians have  constantly  affirmed  that 
Hayes  has  held  his  seat  by  fraud. 


1877.  January.  The  "blue-glass" 
excitement  arose,  and  caused  widespread 
talk,  because  of  the  apparent  results  of 
the  experiments  instituted  by  General 
Pleasonton,  which  went  to  show  that 
sunlight  passing  through  blue  glass  would 
heal  many  diseases.  Many  persons  had 
blue  glass  set  into  a  window  of  their 
dwellings  in  order  to  test  its  efficacy. 
Some  very  singular  cures  were  reported, 
but  the  excitement  over  the  matter  has 
died  away,  and  left  little  trace  behind. 


1877-1881.J 


THE   VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


833 


MRS.  DOREMUS. 

1877.  Feb.  5.  Mrs.  Sarah  Pratt 
Doremus  of  New  York,  an  eminent  ex- 
ample of  female  efficiency  in  benevolent 
and  philanthropic  labors  died,  aged  seven- 
ty-five. She  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Greek  Relief  society,  in  1828,  was 
connected,  either  as  founder  or  as  an 
officer,  with  the  Home  for  Women  from 
Prison,  the  House  and  School  of  Indus- 
try, the  City  Bible  society,  the  City  Mis- 
sion and  Tract  society,  the  Nursery  and 
Child's  hospital,  the  Woman's  Hospital 
Association,  and  the  Presbyterian  Home 
for  Aged  Women.  She  labored  for  the 
sufferers  by  famine  in  Ireland  in  1869, 
was  a  zealous  friend  of  foreign  missions, 
and  was  untiring  in  her  efforts  for  the 
soldiers  in  the  Civil  War.  She  was  un- 
excelled in  good  works. 


1877.  Feb.  26.  The  government  of 
Nova  Scotia  was  pronounced  illegal  by 
the  chief-justice  of  Canada,  because  since 
1869  a  wrong  seal  had  been  employed 
upon  government  documents.  All  acts 
requiring  the  royal  seal  since  1869  were 
declared  void. 

1877.  March  5.  The  inauguration 
of  President  Hayes  and  Vice-President 
Wheeler  was  one  of  peculiar  interest  on 
account  of  its  being  the  settlement  of  a 
doubtful  election,  the  first  in  the  history 
of  the  United  States.  The  successful 
candidates  were  peaceably  sworn  into 
office,  and  thus  the  first  crisis  of  this 
character  was  settled  without  bloodshed. 
The  inaugural  ceremony  took  place  on 
the  fifth  of  the  month,  the  fourth  having 
fallen  on  Sunday.  The  oath  of  office  was 
administered  on  the  third.  The  cabinet 
was  afterward  constituted  as  follows,  viz. : 

Secretary  of  State — WILLIAM  M. 
EVARTS,  New  York. 


Secretary  of  the  Treasury  — JOHN 
SHERMAN  of  Ohio. 

Secretary  of  War  —  GEORGE  W. 
McCRARY  of  Iowa. 

Secretary  of  the  Navy — RICHARD  M. 
THOMPSON  of  Indiana. 

Secretary  of  the  Interior  —  CARL 
SCHURZ  of  Missouri. 

Postmaster-General — DAVID  M.  KEY 
of  Tennessee. 

Attorney-General-CHARLES  DEVENS 
of  Massachusetts. 

1877.  March  6.  A  fire  on  Bond 
Street,  New  York,  consumed  property 
to  the  extent  of  $1,000,000. 

1877.  March  8.  A  false  alarm  of 
fire  in  St  Francis  Catholic  church,  New 
York,  created  a  panic  in  which 'seven 
persons  were  trampled  to  death. 

1877.  March  17.  Frederick  Doug- 
lass, having  been  appointed  marshal  of 
the  District  of  Columbia  by  President 
Hayes,  was  confirmed  by  the  senate. 

EXECUTION  OF  JOHN  D.  LEE.  — THE 
MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS  MASSACRE. 

1877.  March  23.  The  execution  of 
John  D.  Lee,  by  shooting,  took  place  at 
the  scene  of  the  Mountain  Meadows 
massacre,  in  Utah.  This  peculiarly 
atrocious  scoundrel  was  formerly  a  bishop 
in  the  Mormon  church ;  and  his  execution 
was  the  result  of  a  long  trial,  and  persist- 
ent and  difficult  examination  of  wit- 
nesses, which  finally  brought  to  light  the 
details  of  one  of  the  most  terrible  mas- 
sacres that  has  ever  occurred  on  the 
American  continent.  In  the  summer  of 
1857  one  of  the  finest  emigrant  trains  that 
ever  crossed  the  western  prairies  stopped  a 
short  distance  beyond  Salt  Lake  City,  at 
Mountain  Meadows,  on  its  way  to  Los 
Angelos,  California.  For  years  nothing 
more  was  heard  of  it,  and  it  was  reported 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


"  lost."  But  the  stains  of  blood  could  not 
be  washed'from  the  Mormon  hands;  nor 
could  the  consciences  of  all  of  them  rest 
in  peace.  So  the  story  of  the  massacre 
gradually  became  known  to  the  world. 
The  "  Saints,"  declaring  themselves  to  be 
"inspired  by  Almighty  God,"  with  their 
Indian  allies,  had  by  means  of  the  most 
inhuman  treachery,  captured  and  mur- 
dered in  cold  blood  every  man  and 
woman  of  the  emigrant  train.  Seven- 
teen children,  supposed  to  be  too  young 
to  remember  the  scenes  of  blood,  were 
taken  to  Salt  Lake ;  but  these  were  after- 
ward taken  to  their  Eastern  homes, 
having  been  recognized  and  reclaimed  by 
their  relatives,  and  some  of  them  lived  to 
testify*  Concerning  the  massacre.  The 
story  was  long  in  being  told.  John  D. 
Lee  was  known  to  be  one  of  the  leaders 
in  the  work;  but  the  Mormons  were  for- 
bidden to  speak  of  the  affair.  The 
federal  authorities  sought  to  bring  the 
guilty  to  justice,  but  the  Mormon  grand 
jurors  refused  to  act.  Bishop  Klingen 
Smith  fled  to  Nevada,  and  made  a  public 
confession.  It  is  said  that  two  of  the  mur- 
derers became  raving  maniacs  from  their 
tortured  consciences.  The  bones  of  the 
slain  were  found  and  buried,  and  the  evi- 
dence was  slowly  but  surely  collected. 
In  1871  John  D.  Lee,  with  others,  was 
excommunicated  from  the  Mormon  church 
by  Brigham  Young,  and  he  fled  into 
exile  in  the  Indian  country.  He  was 
reported  to  be  dead ;  but  he  was  found  on 
the  Colorado  River,  at  the  mouth  of  Pah- 
reat  canyon,  "  keeping  a  ferry  for  the 
Saints  "  on  their  trail  into  Arizona.  He 
was  convicted  as  leader  of  the  massacre; 
but  it  was  believed  generally,  from 
the  testimony  adduced,  that  the  final 
responsibility  rested  on  Brigham  Young 
himself. 


1877.       March    27.      A    flood    was 

caused  in  the  Willimantic  Valley  by  the 
bursting  of  a  dam  at  Staf-    1877i   Afril  2 
fordsville,  Conn.     Ten  per-    Bismarck  re- 

.  ,       ,  *4r«*>  but  was 

sons  perished,  and  property    refused  by  the 

tO  the  amount  of  $  I  ,OOO,OOO      Emperor. 

was  destroyed.  The  agitation  of  the 
construction  of  dams  was  increased  by 
this  disaster. 

1877.  March.  Gen.  Porfirio  Diaz 
was  elected  President  of  Mexico,  and  held 
control  of  the  government  firmly.  His 
opponents  were  obliged  to  go  beyond 
Mexican  limits. 

1877.  April  10.  The  withdrawal 
of  the  United  States  troops  from  the 
statehouse  of  South  Caro-  i877  April  ^ 

lina,      at       Columbia,       took      Annexation  of 
i  i-  ,  ,  Transvaal. 

place  according  to  the  order  Soutll  Afric0t  lo 
of  President  Hayes.  This  British  Empire. 
left  Hampton  in  possession  of  the  ground 
for  which  he  had  been  contending,  and 
Chamberlain  at  once  issued  an  address, 
resigning  all  claims  to '  the  governorship 
of  the  state.  The  anticipated  trouble 
was  thus  avoided. 

1877.  April  11.  The  burning  of 
the  Southern  Hotel  at  St.  Louis  was 
attended  with  a  considerable  loss  of  life. 
The  fire  broke  out  in  the  basement  at 
midnight,  and  ascended  the  elevator;  the 
whole  building  was  soon  in  flames.  In 
the  confusion  and  panic  the  fire  escapes 
were  insufficient.  The  question  of  fire 
escapes  was  made  prominent  by  this 
disaster.  The  hotel  was  six  stones  high, 
and  seven  pei'sons  jumped  from  the 
upper  windows.  Two  persons  who  es- 
caped, afterward  went  insane.  A  coro- 
ner's jury  afterward  censured  the  hotel 
proprietors  for  having  neglected  provi- 
sions for  the  use  of  fire  appliances. 

1877.  April  24.  The  withdrawal  of 
United  States  troops  from  Southern 


1877-1881.] 

states  having  been  begun  by  President 
Hayes,  it  took  place  in  Louisiana  on  the 
24th,  at  noon.  This  left  the  Nicholls 

1877.  April  24.  Party  in  possession  of  the 
Russian  troops  state  government,  and  in  a 
T"!r  ;,*  day  or  two  Packard  and  his 

Prutk.  Opening  J 

of  tiu  RUSSO-        adherents    abandoned    the 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


835 


governments  of  South  Carolina  and  Lou- 
isiana were  ended  because  the  republi- 
can factions  could  not  maintain  them- 
selves upon  the  departure  of  the  federal 
forces.  This  was  the  end  of  military 
government  in  the  South,  and  the  begin- 
ning of  President  Hayes'  peace  policy. 

CHISHOLM  TRAGEDY. 

1877.  April  29.  A  great  thrill  of 
horror  ran  through  the  country  at  the  re- 
port of  the  mob  attack  upon  Judge  Chis- 
holm  and  his  family  in  the  jail  at  DeKalb, 
Miss.  A  man  named  John  W.  Gully 
had  been  assassinated  on  the  Thursday  be- 
fore, and  word  was  circulated  that  Judge 
Chisholm,  with  his  son  and  other  repub- 
lican friends,  brought  it  to  pass.  The 
judge  was  arrested,  and  his  family  in- 
sisted upon  being  confined  with  him. 

1877.     April  28.      The  nousehold   Consisted    of 

Great   fire    in    the    judge,   his   son    Clay, 

Constantinople.         M^  Chisholm?  a  daughter 

named  Cornelia,  aged  eighteen,  and  a 
little  boy  named  Johnnie.  On  Sunday 
morning  the  29th,  a  mob  gathered  and 
first  shot  down  Gilmer,  a  friend  of  Judge 
Chisholm.  They  then  made  an  attack 
on  the  jail.  A  guard  stationed  in  the 
jail  were  relieved,  and  left  the  premises. 
The  little  boy  was  shot  when  throwing 
himself  between  a  gun  and  his  father. 
The  daughter  Cornelia  made  a  heroic 
defence,  and  clung  to  her  father  through 
the  whole  terrible  scene,  receiving  many 
wounds.  At  last  Judge  Chisholm  was 


killed,  after  having  attempted  to  fight 
his  way  out.  The  remnant  ofthe  family 
made  their  way  home  after  the  mob  had 
fled.  Cornelia  died  in  a  few  days.  No 
attempt  has  ever  been  made  to  bring  any 
one  to  justice. 

PARSON  BROWNLOW. 

1877.  April  29.  William  G.  Brown- 
low,  who  gained  a  wide  reputation  in  the 
United  States  during  the  war  period  for  his 
stern  adherence  to  the  Union  cause  in  the 
midst  of  opposition,  died  at  his  home  in 
Knoxville,  Tenn.,  aged  seventy -two  years. 
He  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1805,  and 
entered  the  Methodist  ministry.  His 
political  spirit  was  first  greatly  roused  in 
opposition  to  the  "  nullification "  theories 
of  John  C.  Calhoun,  and  in  1839  he 
founded  the  Knoxville  Whig,  which  he 
continued  to  edit  till  1861,  when  the  con- 
federates forcibly  stopped  it.  Parson 
Brownlow  sympathized  with  the  South 
in  many  things,  among  them  being  the 
question  of  slavery,  but  he  was  unflinch- 
ing in  his  devotion  to  the  Union.  The 
confederates  imprisoned  him  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  war  for  a  year,  but  he 
was  released  in  1862,  and  afterward 
lectured  widely  at  the  North.  In  1865 
he  was  elected  governor  of  Tennessee, 
and  in  1869  U.  S.  senator.  He  was 
rough,  but  honest,  and  always  true  to 
his  convictions. 

1877.  April  29.  During  the  burn- 
ing of  the  Novelty  Oil  Cabinet  works 
at  Montreal,  nine  persons  were  killed, 
and  ten  injured,  by  the  falling  of  the 
walls  during  the  attempts  to  extinguish 
the  conflagration. 

1877.  May  3.  Ten  persons  were 
buried  alive  in  a  land-slide  at  St.  Gene- 
vieve,  Canada. 


836 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1877.  May  8.  The  expiration  of  all 
the  important  sewing  machine  patents 
occurred,  immediately  resulting  in  a 
great  reduction  of  prices  in  all  machines; 
numerous  manufactories  sprung  up ;  "  mo- 
nopolies" were  crushed;  and  the  result 
was,  these  machines  were  placed  in  the 
hands  of  many  of  the  extreme  poorer 
classes,  who  could  not  before  puixhase 
them. 

1877.  May  9.  A  terrible  earth- 
quake produced  disastrous  effects  along 
the  coast  of  Peru  in  South  America. 
The  following  account  is  taken  from 
Harper's  Weekly  of  June  30,  1877. 
"  The  earthquake  seemed  to  result  from 
the  eruption  of  the  volcano  Ilaga,  situated 
on  the  southern  frontier  of  Peru  and 
Bolivia.  The  first  shock  lasted  from  four 
to  five  minutes,  and  was  succeeded  by 
several  others  of  less  intensity.  Then 
the  sea,  receding  from  the  shore,  seemed 
to  concentrate  its  force  for  repeated 
attacks  upon  the  land.  At  Arica  the 
people  were  busily  engaged  in  preparing 
temporary  fortifications  to  repel  a  threat- 
ened assault  of  the  rebel  ram  Huascar  at 
the  very  moment  when  the  roar  of 
the  earthquake  was  heard.  The  sea 
suddenly  receded  from  the  beach,  and  a 
wave  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet  in  height 
rolled  in  upon  the  shore,  carrying  every- 
thing before  it.  Eight  times  this  assault 
of  the  ocean  was  repeated.  Strange  as 
it  may  seem,  only  a  few  lives  were  lost 
at  this  place.  At  Iquique  the  wooden 
houses  came  tumbling  down  at  the 
first  shock,  and  a  fire  immediately 
spread  among  the  ruins.  The  firemen, 
to  procure  water,  had  just  stationed  two 
engines  on  the  beach,  when  a  fearful  cry 
arose — 'The  sea!  the  sea!'  and  the 
angry  waves,  rushed  in,  and  the  engines 
were  carried  away.  The  inhabitants 


left  the  city  to  its  fate,  and  fled  to  neigh- 
boring eminences.  The  earthquake,  the 
fire,  and  the  water,  all  combined,  destroyed 
nearly  the  whole  town,  and  also  about 
400,000  quintals  of  nitre  stored  in  the 
vicinity.  It  is  supposed  that  at  least  two 
hundred  persons  were  killed  at  Chana- 
vaya,  where  the  shock  was  especially 
severe.  Mexillones  (or  Mejillones)  was 
visited  by  a  tidal  wave  sixty-five  feet 
high,  and  two-thirds  of  the  town  entirely 
obliterated.  A  mine  about  four  miles 
from  Tocopila  sank  in,  killing  about  two 
hundred  workmen.  A  wave  thirty-five 
feet  high  swept  along  the  principal 
business  street  of  Cobija,  an  important 
town  on  the  Bolivian  coast,  and  left  it  as 
level  as  a  desert.  Eleven  large  vessels 
were  totally  lost  with  many  persons 
on  board,  and  much  other  shipping 
seriously  damaged.  The  property  lost 
is  estimated  at  twenty  millions  of  dol- 
lars, and  the  loss  of  life  on  shore  is  sup- 
posed to  be  not  less  than  six  hundred. 
The  government  immediately  made  ar- 
rangements to  send  relief  to  the  sufferers; 
and*  it  is  hoped  that  the  ruined  towns, 
many  of  which  have  suffered  in  a  similar 
way  before,  will  be  rebuilt  on  sites  which 
may  offer  greater  security." 

1877.  May  10.  The  permanent  ex- 
hibition on  the  Centennial  grounds  at 
Philadelphia,  was  opened  by  President 
Hayes.  It  is  estimated  that  20,000 
people  were  present  in  the  main  building 
at  the  opening.  A  great  effort  had  been 
made  to  retain  as  far  as  possible,  the 
principal  features  of  the  Centennial. 
The  buildings  had  been  left  with  few 
changes,  and  the  displays  were  still  very 
fine.  The  authorities  of  Great  Britain, 
Germany,  and  France,  had  presented 
their  respective  government  buildings  to 
the  city  of  Philadelphia. 


1877-1881.] 

1877.  May  11.  The  dome  of  the 
new  court  house,  in  Rockford,  111.,  fell, 
before  the  building  was  completed.  Ten 
persons  were  killed,  and  many  injured. 
The  coroner's  jury  threw  a  great  deal  of 
blame  upon  the  architect,  together  with 
some  reflections  upon  the  supervising  con- 
tractor. The  calamity  called  attention 
through  the  whole  region  to  the  careless 
construction  of  large  buildings. 

1877.  May  14.  Arsenic  was  put 
into  the  food  of  the  miners  at  the  coal 
mines  at  Streator,  111.,  causing  the  death 
of  sixty.  It  was  supposed  to  be  the  work 
of  strikers. 

1877.  May  17.  The  Russian  fleet 
which  had  been  visiting  the  United 
States,  under  the  command  of  the  Grand 
Duke  Alexander,  departed  from  New 
York  for  home. 

1877.  May  24.  The  last  half  of 
Table  Rock,  at  Niagara  Falls,  broke 
away  from  its  place,  and  fell  into  the 
river  below,  with  a  shock  which  was 
felt  for  several  miles  around.  A  portion 
of  this  rock  had  fallen  years  before. 
The  mass  which  fell  at  this  time  weighed 
sixty  tons.  Several  thousand  names  of 
tourists  had  been  cut  upon  it. 

1877.  May  29.  A  severe  naval 
battle  occurred  on  the  coast  of  Peru, 
near  Iquique,  between  the  English  squad- 
ron and  the  Peruvian  iron-clad,  named 
Huascar,  which  had  been  seized  by  the 
follc^vers  of  the  revolutionist  Pierola,  and 
had  stopped  several  British  ships  to  make 
1877.  May  is.  seizures  of  coal  and  other 

Crisis  in  France  supplies>  After  a  close  COn- 
Resignation  of  rr 

entire  ministry,  test,  in  which  the  ram  at- 
tempted to  run  down  the  English  vessels, 
the  affair  was  closed  by  the  with- 
drawal of  the  former.  The  next  day 
the  Huascar  surrendered  to  the  Peru- 
vian squadron,  and  thus  terminated  the 


THE   VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


837 


difficulty.  Pierola  had  made  two  pre- 
vious attempts  to  obtain  possession  of 
the  Peruvian  government. 

JOHN  LOTHROP  MOTLEY. 

1877.  May  29.  John  Lothrop  Mot- 
ley, an  American  historian,  died  near 
Dorchester,  England.  He  was  born  at 
Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  April  15, 
1814.  He  studied  for  a  time  under 
George  Bancroft,  the  great  historian,  and 
was  fitted  for  Harvard  College  at  the  age 
of  thirteen.  He  graduated  in  1831,  and 
spent  two  years  at  the  universities  of 
Gottingen  and  Berlin.  At  the  latter 
place  he  became  the  intimate  friend  of 
Bismarck.  He  spent  considerable  time 
in  traveling  through  Southern  Europe, 
returned  to  America,  studied  law,  and  in 
1836  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  but  never 
practiced.  His  life,  according  to  his  own 
statement,  had  heretofore  been  filled  with 
vague  day-dreams  of  future  glory.  He 
desired  to  do  something  great,  he  knew 
not  what.  He  would  till  literary  soil, 
but  he  knew  not  what  field  to  take.  In 
1839  he  published  a  novel  entitled  "Mor- 
ton's Hope,  or  the  Memoirs  of  a  Young 
Provincial."  The  public  received  the 
work  with  ridicule.  In  1849  ne  was  aP~ 
pointed  secretary  of  the  legation  to  the 
American  embassy  to  Russia.  In  1849  he 
published  his  second  novel,  more  success- 
ful than  the  first,  «  Merry  Mount,  a  Ro- 
mance of  the  Massachusetts  Colony." 
Meanwhile  he  contributed  a  number  of 
attractive  and  notable  historical  papers  to 
the  "  North  American  Review."  Some- 
time before  this  he  had  begun  a  collec- 
tion of  materials  for  a  history  of  Holland. 
After  working  for  two  years  he  sailed  for 
Europe  in  search  of  new  materials.  Be- 
coming dissatisfied  with  his  work  he  cast 
aside  his  former  manuscripts,  and  began 


838 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT, 


anew.  He  spent  several  years  in  patient 
search  among  the  dust-covered  and  al- 
most illegible  archives  and  records  of  the 
heroes  of  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth 
centuries.  "The  Rise  of  the  Dutch  Repub- 
lic," in  three  volumes,  was  published  both 
in  Europe  and  America,  in  1856.  Mr. 
Motley  had  found  the  true  sphere  in  which 
to  exercise  his  wonderful  genius.  This 
brilliant  work  was  so  universally  and  justly 
applauded  that  he  at  once  took  his  rank 
among  the  great  historians  of  the  world. 
His  works  were  translated  by  eminent 
authorities,  into  French,  Dutch,  German, 
and  Russian.  Mr.  Motley  won  the  ap- 
plause of  intelligent  people  on  both  con- 
tinents. In  1860-67  h£  published  in  four 
volumes,  "  The  History  of  the  United 
Netherlands,  from  the  Death  of  William 
the  Silent,  to  the  Twelve  Years'  Truce, 
1609."  He  also  ably  served  as  minister 
to  Austria  from  1861-67.  During  the 
Civil  War  he  ardently  favored  the  cause 
of  the  Union,  and  of  emancipation,  and 
did  a  gi'eat  work  in  supporting  the  cause 
abroad.  In  1869  he  was  appointed  min- 
ister to  England.  His  ability  as  a  man 
and  a  diplomatist,  made  him  a  great  fa- 
vorite with  the  British  people.  But  Mr. 
Motley  was  a  friend  of  Charles  Sumner, 
and  Mr.  Sumner  and  President  Grant 
became  enemies.  On  an  unjust  and  ridic- 
ulous pretext,  Mr.  Motley  was  recalled. 
His  recall  was  regarded  by  those  who 
understood  the  matter,  as  an  uncalled  for 
insult  to  Mr.  Motley,  from  the  govern- 
ment which  he  loved  and  served  as  a 
patriot.  After  this  time  he  resided  in 
England.  In  1874  he  published,  in  two 
volumes,  "  The  Life  and  Death  of  John 
of  Barneveld,  Advocate  of  Holland; 
with  a  View  of  the  Primary  Causes  of  the 
Thirty  Years'  War."  He  had  begun 
work  on  the  "  Thirty  Years'  War  "  be- 


fore his  death.  His  funeral  address  was 
given  by  Dean  Stanley.  He  received 
degrees  from  the  leading  colleges  of 
England  and  America. 


1877.  May  30.  A  great  fire  occurred 
in  Montreal,  and  burned  sixty  houses, 
with  a  loss  of  more  than  half  a  million 
dollars. 

1877.  May.  Destructive  forest  fires 
raged  in  many  parts  of  the  country. 
The  Eastern  United  States  suffered  se- 
verely. Portions  of  Massachusetts,  and 
other  New  England  states  met  with  great 
losses.  Pennsylvania  and  New  York 
also  experienced  similar  calamities.  In 
some  cases  whole  villages  were  swept 
away.  In  Michigan  and  Wisconsin  mil- 
lions of  feet  of  pine  timber  were  burned. 
In  one  or  two  Canadian  districts  the 
country  was  entirely  swept  over,  and  a 
great  many  people  made  were  rendered 
homeless.  Lives  were  lost  in  different 
sections. 

1877.  June  4.  A  destructive  tor- 
nado visited  Mt.  Carmel,  111.,  killing 
twenty -two  persons,  and  destroying  prop- 
erty to  the  extent  of  $500,000.  One 
hundred  and  twenty  buildings  were  de- 
stroyed. The  tornado  did  great  injury 
in  many  other  places  through  Southern 
Illinois. 

1877.  June  6.  The  $7,000,000  suit 
brought  by  the  city  of  New  York  against 
Peter  B.  Sweeney,  one  of  the  allies  of 
Boss  Tweed,  was  at  last  compromised  by 
the  payment  of  $400,000  into  the  city 
treasury. 

1877.  June  13.  The  social  prej- 
udice against  Jews  was  manifested  very 
clearly  in  the  refusal  of  Judge  Hilton  of 
New  York,  to  admit  Mr.  Seligman,  a 
wealthy  New  York  banker,  a  Jew,  to 
the  Grand  Union  Hotel,  at  Saratoga,  for 


1877-1881.] 

the     Summer.     The    action    was   based 
upon  the  alleged  opposition 

1877.     June  3. 

Queen  of  Hoi-  of  other  guests  and  patrons 
land  died.  of  the  hotel  to  the  presence 

of  Jews.  A  great  deal  of  talk  was  ex- 
pended upon  the  affair,  but  gradually 
died  away  before  long.  Judge  Hilton 
affirmed  that  the  question  was  not  a  re- 
ligious one,  but  simply  one  relating  to 
the  class  of  guests  which  it  was  desirable 
to  have  at  the  hotel.  The  matter  proved 
a  great  mistake,  and  caused  a  very  exten- 
sive discussion  of  the  question  of  race 
prejudice. 

JOHN  S.  C.  ABBOTT. 

1877.  June  17.  John  S.  C.  Abbott, 
widely  known  as  a  writer  of  popular  his- 
tory, died  at  Fair  Haven,  Conn.,  aged 
seventy-two  years.  He  was  born  in 
Brunswick,  Maine,  in  1805,  and  with  his 
brothers  Jacob  and  Gorham  D.,  became 
known  at  first  as  greatly  interested  in  plans 
June  12.  °f  education  for  girls  and 
boys.  John  S.  C.  graduated 
at  Bowdoin,  in  the  famous 
class  of  1825,  and  then  stud- 
ied theology.  He  preached  very  much 
during  his  long  life,  even  while  engaged 
the  most  closely  in  historical  writing. 
He  drifted  into  literature  very  naturally, 
and  had  certain  qualities  which  made  his 
productions  entertaining.  They  will 
never  rank  high  as  histories,  however. 
Mr.  Abbott's  life  was  a  busy  and  chang- 
ing one.  He  retained  an  active  mind 
till  the  close  of  his  days. 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


839 


1377. 
House  of  Com- 
mons refused  to 
abolish  capital 
punishment. 


1877.  June  20.  St.  John,  New 
Brunswick,  was  almost  entirely  de- 
stroyed by  fire.  Four  hundred  acres  were 
burned  over.  Fifteen  churches  and  all 
the  public  buildings  were  destroyed,  and 
fifteen  thousand  people  were  made  home- 


less. The  loss  was  about  $12,000,000, 
but  the  calamity  was  a  worse  one  for  the 
region  than  the  great  Chicago  fire  for  its 
region. 

MOLLIE  MAGUIRES. 

1877.     June   21.      Ten   men   of  the 

"  Mollie  Maguire  "  organization  were 
hung  in  Pennsylvania,  for  murder. 
The  executions  took  place  at  Pottsville 
and  Mauch  Chunk.  Great  terror  had 
been  caused  by  the  power  attained  by  the 
Mollie  Maguires,  who  had  gained  control 
of  the  "  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians," 
and  carried  on  their  work  in  great 
secrecy.  Their  plans  and  deeds  were 
ferreted  out  by  a  detective  named  James 
McParlan,  who,  in  the  employ  of  Allan 
Pinkerton,  joined  the  order,  and  remained 
a  member  for  a  time  sufficient  to  enable 
him  to  gain  all  the  needed  evidence.  By 
the  exposure  and  subsequent  executions, 
the  evil  power  was  broken  up. 


1877.  June.  An  Indian  outbreak 
occurred  in  Idaho,  and  a  large  number  of 
whites  were  killed.  The  atrocities  were 
chiefly  committed  along  the  Salmon 
River.  The  United  States  troops  were 
sent  upon  the  savages  at  once,  and  the 
latter  fled  at  first,  but  afterward  a  battle 
was  fought,  with  the  defeat  of  the  former, 
and  a  loss  of  thirty  men. 

ROBERT  DALE  OWEN. 

1877.  June  24.  Robert  Dale  Owen, 
an  author  and  thinker,  died  at  Lake 
George,  N.  Y.  He  was  born  in  Glas- 
gow, Scotland,  and  came  to  America 
with  his  father,  Robert  Owen,  in  1823. 
A  portion  of  his  student  life  had  been 
spent  in  Switzerland.  During  his  life  in 
America  he  was  several  times  a  member 
of  the  Indiana  legislature,  and  later  of 
the  United  States  congress.  The  bill 

50 


840 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


incorporating  the  Smithsonian  Institution 
was  introduced  by  him,  and  he  became 
one  of  the  regents.  Mr.  Owen  became  a 
valued  friend  of  President  Lincoln,  and 
was  very  clear  in  all  his  defense  of  the 
Union.  He  wrote  extensively,  and  is 
widely  known  for  having  been  an  advo- 
cate of  Sph'itualism.  He  was  advanced 
in  many  of  his  views,  but  in  some  re- 
spects was  not  2  well  balanced  guide  in 
thought.  His  spirit  was  very  excellent. 


1877.  July  1.  Two  men  in  a  row 
boat  above  Niagara  Falls  found  them- 
selves drifting  into  the  current,  and 
jumping  overboard,  attempted  to  swim 
ashore,  but  it  was  too  late,  and  they  were 
swept  down  the  falls. 

1877.  July  12.  A  riot  occurred  in 
Montreal,  in  the  attempt  of  the  Roman 
Catholics  to  suppress  all  signs  of  the 
presence  or  sentiments  of  Orangemen  on 
this,  the  anniversary  day  of  the  latter. 
A  contemplated  parade  had  been  given 
up  because  of  threatened  violence,  but 
during  the  day  the  crowd  attacked  a 
young  Orangeman,  and  killed  a  man 
named  Thomas  Lee  Hackett,  who  at- 
tempted to  defend  him.  It  was  a  scene 
of  great  violence,  and  sheds  a  sad  light 
upon  religious  antagonism. 

1877.  July  12.  A  great  victory  was 
obtained  over  the  Indians  of  the  North- 
west, by  Gen.  O.  O.  Howard,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Cottonwood,  after  a  forced 
march  of  considerable  difficulty.  The 
battle  was  severe,  but  finally  decisive. 
The  American  loss  was  eleven  killed,  and 
twenty-four  wounded.  The  Indians 
under  Joseph  afterward  opened  negotia- 
tion*, but  only  with  the  desire  to  gain 
time.  In  a  few  days  thirty  Chinamen 
were  massacred  by  them  on  the  Clear- 
water  River. 


GREAT  RAILROAD  STRIKES. 

1877.  July  17-30.  A  great  convul- 
sion occurred  among  the  railroad  hands 
on  the  central  roads  of  the  United 
States,  and  threatened,  for  a  time,  to 
sweep  everything  before  it.  The  begin- 
ning was  on  July  17,  when  the  brake- 
men  and  firemen  on  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  railroad  refused  to  work,  and 
prevented  others  from  working,  because 
their  wages  had  been  reduced  ten  per 
cent.  Special  violence  was  shown  at 
Martinsburg,  West  Va.,  where  the 
freight  trains  were  stopped,  and  by  night 
about  1,200  cars  were  detained  there. 
The  militia  were  ordered  out,  but  did 
very  little.  All  the  authorities  seemed 
lacking  in  energy  and  decision.  By 
Wednesday,  July  18,  the  entire  road  was 
in  the  strikers'  possession.  A  call  for  aid 
was  made  upon  the  government,  to 
which  President  Hayes  responded  with 
a  body  of  federal  troops,  and  a  proclama- 
tion to  the  rioters  to  disperse.  On  Thurs- 
day three  trains  went  out  of  Martinsburg 
under  protection  of  troops,  but  the  spirit 
of  the  strikers  was  gaining  in  intensity, 
and  spreading  over  other  divisions.  Some 
of  the  influences  had  reached  Chicago. 
By  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  eighteen 
trains  had  been  stopped  at  Pittsburgh, 
Penn.  A  meeting  of  the  "  Tradesmen's 
Union  "  was  held,  and  resolutions  were 
passed,  demanding  concessions  from  the 
companies.  The  excitement  increased 
steadily,  and  Friday  saw  Pittsburgh  com- 
pletely within  the  power  of  the  rioters, 
who  defied  the  sheriff,  and  boasted  that 
they  could  not  be  intimidated  by  any 
body  of  troops  which  could  be  mustered. 
By  night  1,500  cars  had  been  stopped. 

At  Baltimore  the  Maryland  regiments 
were  ordered  out,  and  as  they  were  leav- 
ing their  armory  were  met  by  a  crowd  of 


1877-1881.] 

several  thousands.  Stones  and  brickbats 
began  to  be  thrown,  and  fell  thickly 
upon  them,  until  in  self-defence  they  were 
obliged  to  fire.  Several  were  killed. 
On  Saturday  afternoon  the  State  militia  of 
Pennsylvania  arrived  at  Pittsburgh,  and 
then  followed  a  scene  of  riot  and  violence 
never  before  known  in  any  American 
city.  The  militia  finding  the  foe  so  for- 
midable, stationed  themselves  in  the  rail- 
road "  round  house."  The  mob  had  in 
the  meantime  sacked  the  gun-stores,  and 
were  therefore  well  armed.  Fire  was 
opened  by  them  upon  the  militia,  and  re- 
turned in  earnest.  Several  upon  each 
side  were  killed.  An  attempt  was  now 
made  to  burn  out  the  troops,  and  it  was 
finally  accomplished  by  burning  cars  of 
petroleum.  The  militia,  however,  with 
some  difficulty,  made  their  escape.  The 
conflagration  spread  rapidly,  and  the 
railroad  property  was  soon  in  ruins. 
Plunder  was  dragged  from  the  bursted 
cars  and  storehouses,  in  every  direction. 
The  violence  was  restricted  carefully  to 
railroad  property.  Throughout  Penn- 
sylvania, on  this  day  and  on  Sunday, 
railroad  property  to  the  amount  of  mil- 
lions of  dollars  was  destroyed.  Monday 
brought  very  little  change.  Serious  riots 
broke  out  in  Philadelphia,  and  the 
prompt  action  of  the  authorities  alone 
prevented  further  disturbance. 

The  strike  was  now  spreading  over 
the  country.  Wednesday  saw  Chicago 
badly  infected,  and  on  Thursday  morn- 
ing a  reckless  mob  began  depredations. 
Several  times  during  the  day  there  were 
collisions  between  the  police,  assisted  by 
the  militia,  and  the  mob.  At  one  time  a 
charge  was  made  upon  a  violent  crowd 
by  a  force  of  cavalry,  by  which  several 
were  killed  or  injured.  After  a  second 
encounter  in  the  evening,  the  crowd  dis- 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


841 


persed.  At  the  same  time  similar  scenes 
were  being  enacted  in  St.  Louis  and 
San  Francisco.  In  each  city  the  riotous 
attempts  were  overthrown.  Near  Scran 
ton,  Penn.,  the  pumps  of  the  mines  were 
stopped,  which  caused  the  flooding  of  the 
mines.  Friday  and  Saturday  saw  traffic 
resumed  on  the  railroads.  Some  of  the 
companies  compromised  with  the  strik- 
ers. The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  run  its 
trains  with  new  hands,  under  the  protec- 
tion of  the  militia.  The  most  noticeable 
feature  of  the  whole  was  that  the  violence 
once  begun  was  largely  helped  on  by 
roughs,  and  tramps,  and  plunderers,  who 
had  never  been  employed  on  any  rail- 
road. The  lawless  classes  were  at  once 
enlisted  in  the  effort,  for  purposes  of 
personal  gratification. 


1877.    July  21.    A  small  whaleboat, 

containing  Captain  Crapo  and  his  wife, 
arrived  at  Liverpool  on  a  trip  across  the 
Atlantic,  from  New  Bedford,  Mass. 
They  had  encountered  three  gales,  and 
had  made  one  of  the  most  venturesome 
expeditions  on  record.  Their  voyage 
caused  much  comment  in  England,  and 
their  boat  was  exhibited  to  many  inter- 
ested spectators. 

1877.  July  22.  (Jen.  Escobedo,  the 
Mexican  revolutionist,  being  found  with 
his  staff  upon  the  Texas  side  of  the  Rio 
Grande  River,  was  arrested  by  Col. 
Price  of  the  United  States  army.  Gen. 
Escobedo  was  intending  to  enter  Mexico 
the  next  day,  with  military  supplies  for 
another  attempt  upon  the  government  of 
that  country. 

1877.  A  terrible  eruption  of  Coto- 
paxi,  S.  A.,  occurred  during  the  summer 
of  this  year.  It  is  estimated  that  between 
one  and  two  thousand  cattle  were 
drowned  by  an  upheaval  of  the  streams. 


842 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1877.  Aug.  5.  Seventeen  persons 
were  burned  to  death  in  a  poorhouse  in 
Norfolk  county,  Canada. 

1877.  Aug.  9.  A  severe  engage- 
ment took  place  between  Gen.  Gibbon 
and  the  Nez  Perces  Indians.  Gen.  Gib- 
bon's force  was  inferior  to  that  of  the  sav- 
ages, and  the  result  of  the  comparatively 
bloody  fight  was  indecisive.  Each  side 
withdrew,  after  losing  heavily. 

1877.  Aug.  12.  A  raid  was  made 
across  the  Rio  Grande  from  Mexico,  by 
about  twenty  armed  men,  who  released 
criminals  from  the  jail  in  Rio  Grande 
city,  Texas,  and  in  the  conflict  wounded 
several  parties.  The  raiders  escaped, 
although  they  were  pursued  by  U.  S. 
troops. 

1877.  Aug.  16.  A  leading  astro- 
nomical discovery  of  this  century  took 
place,  when  Prof.  Asaph  Hall  of  the 
Observatory  at  Washington,  discovered 
the  first  of  two  satellites  of  the  planet 
Mars,  and  a  day  or  two  later,  the  second 
one.  Prof.  Henry  telegraphed  the  news 
to  Europe  on  the  i9th.  It  was  received 
with  great  rejoicing  everywhere.  Search 
had  long  been  made  for  these  little 
bodies.  They  were  discovered  with  a 
twenty-six  inch  reflector  made  in  1873 
by  Alvan  Clark  of  Cambridge,  which  is 
called  the  best  in  the  world. 

1877.  Aug.  18.  An  extensive  fire 
destroyed  nearly  all  of  the  town  of 
Gayville,  Dakota.  Three  hundred 
buildings  were  consumed. 

BRIGHtiM  WUXG. 

1877.  Aug.  29.  Brigham  Young, 
the  Mormon  ruler  in  Utah,  died  at  Salt 
Lake  city.  He  was  born  at  Witting- 
ham,  Vermont,  June  I,  1801.  His 
father  was  a  farmer's  son,  who  was  un- 
able to  educate  him.  He  learned  the 


painter's  trade,  in  connection  with  which 
he  occasionally  preached  as  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  church.  He  joined  the 
Mormons  at  Kirtland,  Ohio,  and  was 
ordained  an  elder  in  the  1877.  Aug.  so. 
church.  He  became  one  of  ^MUonin 

Japan  stip- 

the  twelve  apostles,  and  in  pressed. 
1835  he  was  sent  to  the  Eastern  states  as 
a  missionary ;  in  making  converts  he  was 
very  successful.  He  was  soon  after  sent  to 
England,  and  was  there  equally  success- 
ful. He  claimed  to  be  able  to  speak  in 
the  tongue  of  Adam  and  Eve,  and  by 
various  services  rose  to  great  power  and 
influence  in  the  Mormon  church.  It  was 
Young  that  introduced  the  infamous  prac- 
tice of  polygamy  into  the  Mormon  re- 
ligion. He  asserted  that  "  the  Lord 
revealed  it  unto  him  "  while  he  was  in 
England.  After  the  murder  of  Smith, 
Young  easily  managed  to  assume  the 
power.  His  principal  rival  was  Sidney 
Rigdon,  whom  he  doomed  to  be  "  buf- 
feted in  the  flesh  for  a  thousand  years." 
But  the  "  prophet "  and  his  followers  be- 
came aware  that  they  could  not  live  in 
peace  with  the  "Gentiles;"  accordingly 
they  set  out  for  the  "promised  land  "  of 
Utah,  which  pioneers  had  explored  for 
Smith  several  years  before.  Smith's  un- 
perfected  plans  were  taken  up  by  the  cun- 
ning Brigham,  who  displayed  a  great  deal 
of  generalship  in  leading  his  band  through 
the  Western  wilds.  The  first  band  of 
"  Saints  "  arrived  at  Salt  Lake,  July  24, 
1847.  Here  the  prophet  planned  the 
city,  and  set  the  men  to  work;  then  he 
left  for  another  band  of  "  Saints,"  and 
the  next  year  conducted  another  pilgrim- 
age across  the  mountains.  Meanwhile 
emigration  poured  in  from  every  nation 
in  Europe.  The  next  year  the  State  of 
Deseret  was  organized,  with  Young  as 
governor;  but  congress  refused  it  admis- 


1877-1881.] 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


843 


sion  into  the  Union.  A  territorial  gov- 
ernment was  organized,  and  President 
Fillmore  appointed  the  "  prophet  "  gov- 
ernor. In  1854  a  "  Gentile  "  governor  was 
appointed, but  he  could  obtain  no  foothold ; 
the  Mormons  defied  the  federal  authority. 
In  1857  Alfred  Gumming,  a  new  gov- 
ernor, arrived  with  a  military  force  of 
2,500  men.  The  Mormons  submitted; 
but  Brigham  Young  remained  virtual 
dictator  of  the  territory.  The  "  celestial 
law  of  marriage"  was  proclaimed  by 
Young  on  Aug.  29,  1852.  One  of  the 
chief  sources  of  his  absolute  power  was 
the  order  of  the  Danites,  a  secret  organi- 
zation within  the  church,  of  which  he 
was  "  grand  archee."  In  1862  congress 
passed  a  law  against  polygamy;  but  the 
Mormons  have  successfully  defied  this. 
Brigham  Young  himself,  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  had  twenty  wives  and  sixty- 
four  children.  His  nineteenth  wife,  Ann 
Eliza,  created  an  uproar  in  the  harem, 
and  also  abroad,  by  suing  for  a  divorce 
which  she  could  not  obtain,  on  the 
ground  that  her  marriage  was  not  a  legal 
one.  Brigham's  death  was  perhaps 
hastened  by  the  anxieties  caused  by  the 
developments  in  regard  to  the  horrible 
Mountain  Meadows  massacre,  which  he 
is  supposed  to  have  instigated.  He  pos- 
sessed considerable  executive  ability,  and 
before  his  death  had  amassed  a  large  for- 
tune. He  was  essentially  selfish  and 
arbitrary. 

1877.    August.    A  great  enterprise 

was  brought  to  a  successful  conclusion,  in 
the  St.  Lawrence  River,  where  it  forms 
the  harbor  of  Quebec,  in  raising  from  the 
bed  of  it  masses  of  tangled  anchors  and 
cables  which  had  begun  to  give  great 
annoyance  to  ship-masters.  It  is  thought 
that  Wolfe's  fleet,  when  they  silently 


floated  with  the  tide,  to  an  attack  on  the 
city,  in  1 759,  dropped  the  first  of  these 
obstructions.  In  course  of  time,  other 
anchors  had  to  be  abandoned,  because 
they  could  not  be  disentangled,  and  thus 
the  nests  grew  larger  and  larger.  For 
several  years  the  "  harbor  commission  " 
had  been  at  work  on  the  problem. 
During  the  last  two  years  a  barge  was 
kept  in  operation,  and  raised  several 
masses  from  a  depth  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty,  or  more,  feet  below  low  water. 
One  mass  contained  seventy  anchors,  and 
two  thousand  fathoms  of  chain,  and 
weighed  two  hundred  and  forty  tons. 
Six  or  eight  nests  in  all  were  discovered. 

1877.  Sept.  4.  The  ex-union  and 
confederate  soldiers  met  together  at 
Cincinnati,  and  made  pre-  1S77  Sept  3 
liminary  arrangements  for  ^""^  °f  TMers. 
a  re-union  of  members  of  both  armies, 
to  take  place  in  1878. 

1877.  Sept.  14.  The  international 
rifle  match,  between  the  American  and 
British  teams,  at  Creedmoor  Range,  L.  I., 
was  concluded  by  a  brilliant  victory  for 
the  Americans.  The  victors  were  armed 
with  Remington  rifles.  The  score  made 
beat  the  world. 

1877.  Sept.  18.  Masked  robbers 
plundered  the  Pacific  express  train  of 
$75,000  at  Big  Springs,  Nebraska. 

1877.  Sept.  22.  Fraud  Detected. 
John  S.  Morton,  president  of  the  West 
Philadelphia  passenger  railway,  acknowl- 
edged the  over  issue  of  ten 

.,  ,       ,  .        ,  1877.      Sept.    23. 

thousand  shares,  valued  at    j)eatA    Oj-    ^ 

$1,000,000.       He     Confessed      Verrier. 

that  the  fraud  had  been  in  existence  since 
1870.  Other  officials  were  also  impli- 
cated. 

1877.  Sept.  24.  A  great  fire  de- 
stroyed a  part  of  the  Patent  office  at 
Washington,  causing  a  loss  to  the  govern- 


844 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


ment  of  $1,000,000,  besides  the  loss  of 
models  and  papers  which  cannot  be 
reckoned  by  dollars  and  cents.  It  was 
the  most  extensive  fire  that  had  occurred 
in  the  capital  for  twenty-five  years.  The 
appliances  for  protection  against  such  a 
calamity  were  very  imperfect.  The  cause 
of  the  fire  was  not  learned. 

1877.  Sept.  26.  A  delegation  of 
Sioux  and  Arapahoe  Indians  arrived  in 
Washington,  and  were  formally  received 
by  President  Hayes  at  the  White  House, 
in  full  savage  dress  of  paint  and  feathers. 
They  expressed  a  desire  to  live  like 
white  people.  The  president  promised 
them  aid  in  the  way  of  agricultural 
implements,  schools,  and  churches. 

1877.  September.  The  yellow  fever 
raged  in  Florida,  and  a  large  number  of 
cases  occurred  at  Fernandina  and  other 
places.  To  a  large  extent  it  was  con- 
fined to  the  colored  people. 

1877.  September.  President  Hayes, 
with  friends,  made  a  presidential  tour 
through  the  South,  and  was  everywhere 
received  with  great  favor. 

1877.  Oct.  2.  Forgeries  by  W.  Oil- 
man, Wall  street,  New  York,  to  the 
amount  of  $247»ooo»  were  discovered. 
Mr.  Oilman  had  been  carrying  on  these 
forgeries  for  two  years — generally  select- 
ing insurance  scrip  of  small  value  for  his 
purposes.  His  detection  was  through 
Talmadge  &  Co.,  bankers,  who  applied 
to  the  Third  National  Bank  for  a  loan, 
giving  as  collateral  two  certificates  of 
scrip  of  the  Atlantic  Mutual  Insurance 
Company. for  $10,000  each.  Upon  com- 
parisons for  identification,  it  was  found 
that  these  had  been  raised  from  $100 
each,  for  which  amount  they  had  been 
issued  in  1876  to  Oilman.  This  was  the 
largest  defalcation  of  several  which  ap- 
peared at  just  this  time.  Mr.  Oilman 


afterward  gave  himself  up,  pleaded 
guilty,  and  was  sent  to  Sing  Sing  prison 
for  five  years.  It  was  all  done  within 
twelve  days,  and  was  a  rare  instance  of 
prompt  justice. 

1877.  Oct.  4.  A  destructive  storm 
raged  on  Long  Island  Sound  and  eastern 
parts  of  the  Atlantic  coast.  In  Delaware 
Bay  ten  vessels  foundered  at  their  moor- 
ings. 

1877.  Oct.  5.  Chief  Joseph  and  his 
band  of  Nez  Perces  Indians  surrendered 
to  Gen.  Miles  on  Snake  Creek  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  United  States. 
This  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  victories  in  the  history  of  Indian 
warfare;  and  the  Nez  Perces  obtained 
the  reputation  of  being  the  only  "  gener- 
ous foes"  among  western  savages. 

1877.  Oct.  8.  A  United  States  com- 
mission, under  the  leadership  of  Gen. 
Terry,  met  Sitting  Bull  and  his  Sioux 
warriors  at  Fort  Walsh,  on  the  Canadian 
frontier,  for  the  purpose  of  1877.  Oct.  14. 
conferring  in  regard  to  his  Ref"blica»  ™' 

tory  in    French 

return  to  the  reservation,  election. 
Full  pardon  was  offered  to  the  savages 
for  the  past,  on  condition  of  their  return 
and  future  good  behavior.  But  Sitting 
Bull  scornfully  rejected  the  proposal,  and 
the  treaty  was  broken  off.  The  Sioux 
remained  the  subjects  of  Queen  Victoria. 
The  British  government  promised  to 
locate  them  on  the  Red  Deer  River  in  a 
fine  region  of  country  for  game. 

1877.  Oct.  10.  A  long  confession 
was  published  by  Boss  Tweed,  occupying 
eighteen  columns  in  the  New  York 
Herald.  It  implicated  a  great  many 
legislators  and  others,  told  how  he  had 
carried  his  corrupt  plans  out  at  Albany, 
and  offered  to  become  a  government  wit- 
ness, on  condition  of  being  set  at  liberty. 
This  offer  was  never  accepted. 


1877-1881.] 

1877.  Oct.  20.  Another  destructive 
fire  consumed  a  large  part  of  one  of  the 
suburbs  of  St.  John,  N.  B.,  rendering 
two  thousand  people  homeless,  and  caus- 
ing a  loss  of  $300,000. 

1877.  Oct.  23.  An  incendiary  at- 
1877.  Oct.  22.  tempt  was  made  to  burn 

Great  coal  mine         ^  dt      Qf  Fredericton    N> 
explosion  near  J 

Glasgow.  B.,  but  failed  to  be  success- 

ful.    In   a  week   another   attempt   was 
made,  and  a  loss  of  $30,000  inflicted. 

OLIVER  P.   MORTON. 

1877.  Nov.  1.  Oliver  P.  Morton,  an 
American  statesman,  died  at  Indian- 
apolis, Ind.  He  was  born  in  the  village 
~>f  Saulsbury,  Wayne  county,  Indiana, 
\ugust  14,  1823.  He  was  of  English 
descent,  and  of  humble  origin.  His 
father  was  a  shoemaker,  who  came  to 
Indiana  from  his  native  state,  New  Jer- 
sey, when  quite  young.  While  Oliver 
was  in  his  childhood,  his  mother  died. 
When  grown  up  he  devoted  four  years 
to  learning  the  hatter's  trade,  which  he 
1877.  October.  abandoned  to  enter  Miami 

Kara  besieged  by 

Russians.  U  niversity ,  at  Oxford,  Ohio. 

He  remained  in  college  two  years,  and 
then  in  1845  began  the  study  of  law  at 
Centerville,  Ind.  At  the  very  com- 
mencement of  his  practice  he  came  in 
contact  with  some  of  the  ablest  lawyers 
of  the  state,  and  proved  himself  a  suc- 
cessful rising  lawyer.  Five  years  after 
his  admission  to  the  bar  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  governor  as  circuit  judge, 
to  fill  a  vacancy  on  the  bench;  he  was 
now  twenty-nine  years  of  age.  This 
position  he  held  one  year,  and  then  re- 
turned to  the  practice  of  law,  which  he 
continued  with  some  intermissions  until 
1860.  His  entrance  into  politics  was  in 
1856.  Up  to  this  time  he  had  been  a 
democrat.  On  the  repeal  of  the  Mis- 


THB  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


845 


souri  Compromise,  and  the  passage  of 
the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  in  1854,  he  de- 
serted the  democratic  party,  and  connected 
himself  with  the  people's  party,  (after- 
ward republican.)  He  was  among  the 
first  to  rebel  against  the  dangerous  ten- 
dencies of  the  aggressive  slave  power. 
On  May  i,  1856,  a  state  convention  com- 
posed of  all  those  opposed  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  democratic  party,  assembled 
at  Indianapolis,  and  nominated  Mr.  Mor- 
ton for  governor.  He  made  a  thorough 
canvass  of  the  state,  but  was  defeated. 
From  this  time  forward  he  was  the  leader 
and  favorite  of  his  party  in  the  West.  In 
1860  the  republican  party  presented  a 
complete  organization,  ready  to  combat 
the  democracy,  which  then  controlled  the 
various  branches  of  the  government.  In 
this  year  the  republicans  of  Indiana 
nominated  Henry  S.  Lane  for  governor, 
and  Mr.  Morton  for  lieutenant-governor; 
and  it  was  during  this  canvass  that  he 
developed  his  wonderful  power  as  a  po- 
litical speaker.  In  January,  1861,  Mr. 
Lane  was  elected  United  States  senator, 
and  Mr.  Morton  became  governor.  The 
events  of  the  war  developed  his  execu- 
tive ability,  and  made  him  a  recognized 
power  in  national  affairs.  His  untiring 
energy,  his  keen  insight  into  public 
movements,  and  their  results,  and  his 
power  to  trample  under  foot  all  opposi- 
tion, placed  him  in  the  front  rank  of 
American  politicians.  He  believed  heart 
and  soul  in  the  Union.  He  was  a  strong 
partisan,  and  was  to  a  certain  degree  un- 
scrupulous as  to  means  employed  to  ob- 
tain results;  yet  in  all  his  public  life  he 
was  never  known  to  do  a  dishonest  act. 
By  his  activity,  every  call  of  President 
Lincoln  during  the  Civil  War,  was 
answered  by  an  excess  of  the  number  of 
troops  required  from  his  state.  The  num- 


846 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


ber  of  troops  furnished  by  Indiana  was 
208,367 ;  all  but  17,000  of  these  were  vol- 
unteers. The  state  legislature  was  opposed 
to  the  progress  of  the  war,  and  refused 
to  vote  the  money  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  the  soldiers.  The  state  finances  were 
in  a  bad  condition,  and  Gov.  Morton  was 
forced  to  solicit  money  from  wealthy 
loyal  citizens,  in  order  to  defray  the  cost 
of  providing  for  the  troops.  During  this 
time  he  was  the  trusted  friend  and  coun- 
selor of  President  Lincoln.  It  is  written 
that  Mr.  Lincoln,  after  reading  one  of  Mr. 
Morton's  speeches,  in  1 860,  said :  "  It  cov- 
ers the  whole  ground,  and  declares  the 
whole  policy  of  the  government.  It  is  the 
policy  I  shall  pursue  from  the  first."  Mr. 
Morton  crushed  conspiracy  at  home,  and 
aided  largely  in  destroying  the  "  neutral- 
ity "  of  Kentucky.  In  1864  he  was  re- 
elected  governor  of  Indiana  by  20,000 
majority.  The  next  year  he  was  stricken 
down  with  paralysis,  and  spent  some 
time  traveling  in  Europe,  but  received 
little  benefit.  On  his  return  he  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate.  In 
this  position  he  continued,  by  reelection, 
until  the  time  of  his  death.  In  the  sen- 
ate he  became  the  recognized  leader  of 
his  party.  He  served  prominently  on 
several  committees;  filling  the  position 
of  chairman  on  the  committee  on  privi- 
leges and  elections,  with  marked  ability. 
He  labored  extensively  for  the  abolition  of 
the  electoral  system,  and  the  election  of 
the  president  by  the  direct  vote  of  the 
people.  He  was  also  instrumental  in  ex- 
posing many  election  frauds.  In  the 
spring  of  1877  Senator  Morton,  with 
others,  was  ordered  to  Oregon  to  inves- 
tigate alleged  election  frauds.  While  re- 
turning home  he  received  a  second  para- 
lytic stroke,  which  finally  resulted  in 
death.  His  last  words  were :  "  I'm  dy- 


ing, I'm  worn  out."  More  fitting  words 
for  the  close  of  his  life  could  not  have 
been  uttered. 

1877.  Nov.  11.  A  serious  revolt  of 
the  garrison  at  Sandy  Point,  Straits  of 
Magellan,  took  place,  and  resulted  in  the 
murder  of  the  captain,  and  about  fifty 
citizens  of  the  town.  The  soldiers  re- 
leased the  convicts,  destroyed  much  valu- 
able property,  and  committed  acts  of  vio- 
lence of  every  kind.  They  at  last  fled 
the  place  with  what  plunder  they  could 
secure. 

1877.  Nov.  23.  The  international 
fish  commission  at  Halifax  awarded 
$5,500,000  to  Great  Britain  for  fishing 
privileges  given  to  the  United  States. 
The  American  commissioner  dissented. 
This  was  the  last  of  the  four  commis- 
sions provided  for  by  the  treaty  of  Wash- 
ington, and  related  very  greatly  to  the 
mackerel  fishery  which  had  been  discov- 
ered around  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence 
since  the  treaty  of  1818.  The  award 
caused  great  dissatisfaction  in  the  United 
States. 

1877.  Nov.  24.  Heavy  gales  did  a 
great  amount  of  damage  along  the  At- 
lantic coast.  In  Richmond  the  streets 
were  submerged,  and  the  gas  lights  ex- 
tinguished. The  man-of-war  "  Huron  " 
was  wrecked  off  the  coast  of  North 
Carolina,  and  one  hundred  lives  were 
lost. 

1877.  Dec.  4.  The  loss  of  the 
steamer  Atacoma,  of  the  Pacific  Steam 
Navigation  Company,  from  Valparaiso 
to  Callao,  occurred  on  the  coast  of  Chili, 
with  the  destruction  of  about  one  hun- 
dred lives.  Twenty-nine  persons  of  all 
on  board,  only  were  saved.  The  vessel 
struck  a  rock,  and  was  in  a  short  time 
broken  in  pieces. 


1877-1881.] 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


847 


FIGHT  IN  TEXAS. 

1877.  Dec.  14.  A  local  war  broke 
out  in  El  Paso  county,  Texas,  between 
the  American  and  Mexican  residents, 
over  the  possession  of  the  salt  springs 
and  lagoons  of  the  region.  The  former 
attempted  to  collect  toll,  and  were  re- 
sisted. The  state  troops  interfered,  but 
after  three  days'  fighting  they  were 
obliged  to  surrender  to  the  mob,  who 
afterward  shot  three  Americans,  one  of 
them  being  Judge  Howard,  agent  of  the 
salt  mines.  United  States  troops  were 
afterward  sent  to  the  section,  but  the  mob 
had  departed.  It  is  said  that  many  of 
the  mob  were  real  citizens  of  Mexico  who 
had  come  into  Texas  for  this  purpose. 


1877.  Dec.  17.  The  seventieth 
birthday  anniversary  of  the  poet,  John 
G.  Whittier,  was  celebrated  by  the  pub- 
lishers of  the  Atlantic  Monthly,  who 
gave  a  dinner  to  the  contributors  of  that 
magazine. 

1877.  Dec.  20.  An  unaccountable 
explosion  occurred  on  Barclay  street, 
New  York,  by  which  a  candy  manufac- 
1877.  Great  tory  was  blown  into  pieces, 

famine  in  India,        an(J       ten       young      persons 

killed.  About  thirty  more  were  injured. 
The  boilers  beneath  the  pavement  were 
entire  after  the  calamity. 

1877.  Dec.  24.  Robert  P.  Parrott, 
the  inventor  of  the  Parrott  gun,  died  at 
Cold  Spring,  New  York.  He  was  born 
at  Lee,  New  Hampshire,  in  1804, 
and  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1824. 
While  superintending  the  West  Point 
foundry,  at  Cold  Spring,  he  invented  the 
Parrott  gun,  which  rendered  such  valua- 
ble service  during  the  civil  war.  It  was 
lighter  than  other  rifled  cannon,  and 
differed  from  them  in  the  mode  of  rifling 
and  projecting. 


1877.  The  finest  silver  set  ever 
made  in  the  United  States  was  ordered 
by  Mr.  Mackay,  one  of  the  owners  of  the 
Bonanza  silver  mines.  The  set  kept 
several  workmen  busy  for  months  at  its 
manufacture;  and  the  cost  was  $100,000. 

1877.  The     Murphy    temperance 
movement,     during     this    year,    swept 
through   great   portions  of  New   York 
state.     Thousands  of  persons  signed  the 
pledge.     Francis  Murphy,  the  leader  in 
this,  a  reformed    man   of  great   power, 
attained  a  very  extended  usefulness,  and 
is    one    of     the    foremost     temperance 
advocates. 

1878.  Jan.  2.     A  fearful  explosion 
of  two   tons   of    nitro-glycerine,   which 
was  being  loaded  into  a  railroad  car  near 
Negaunee,  Lake  Superior,  killed  seven 
men,  and  destroyed  a  great  amount  of 
property. 

1878.  Jan.  4.  A  severe  snowstorm 
and  gale  raged  upon  the  coast  of  New 
England.  Many  small  vessels  were  lost, 
and  the  United  States  steamer  Kearsage 
went  ashore  in  Portsmouth  harbor,  N.  H. 

1878.  Jan.  12.  Henry  M.  Stanley, 
the  African  explorer,  was  presented  at 
Rome,  Italy,  with  the  Victor  Emanuel 
gold  medal  of  merit.  The  king  of 
Italy  sent  a  letter  to  be  read  at  the  pres- 
entation, mentioning  Stanley's  work  in 
the  highest  terms. 

1878.  Jan.  14.  A  general  strike  oc- 
curred among  the  Crispins  of  Lynn, 
Mass.  Work  was  almost  completely 
stopped,  and  preparations  were  made  by 
the  operatives  and  the  manufacturers,  for 
a  long  resistance  on  each  side.  The 
country  at  large  was  somewhat  agitated 
in  its  manufactm-ing  communities  by 
similar  questions  of  labor  and  capital.  In 
some  places  outrages  were  committed  by 
workingmen. 


848 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1878.  Jan.  15.  An  excursion  train 
of  two  locomotives  and  nine  cars,  heavily 
laden  with  people  returning  from  a 
Moody  and  Sankey  meeting  in  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  fell  through  a  trestle  work 
bridge  on  the  Connecticut  Western  rail- 
road, near  Tariffville,  and  was  precipita- 
ted into  the  Farmington  River.  Thirteen 
persons  were  killed,  and  a  great  many 
wounded.  The  bridge  was  not  built  for 
sustaining  heavy  trains. 

SAMUEL  BOWLES. 

1878.  Jan.  16.  Samuel  Bowles  of 
the  Springfield  Republican,  Springfield, 
Mass.,  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years. 
He  was  one  of  the  leading  journalists  of 
the  country,  and  had  made  himself  such 
by  hard  work  and  a  peculiarly  inde- 
pendent spirit.  He  chose  to  attempt  to 
mould  public  opinion  rather  than  to  sim- 
1878.  January,  ply  reflect  it,  and  in  spite  of 
Great  suffering  SOme  weaknesses,  proved 

from  plague 

along  the  himself  an  able,  strong,  and 

Danube.  jn  many  respects  a  wise  man. 

A  high  idea  of  right  characterized  the 
man,  and  often  led  him  into  needless  op- 
positions, which  the  possession  of  greater 
patience  on  his  part  might  have  pre- 
vented. He  left  a  deep  mark  as  a  jour- 
nalist upon  the  press  of  the  United 
States.  Mr.  Bowies'  father  published 
the  "  Weekly  Republican,"  and  added 
the  daily  in  1 844,  at  the  urgent  request  of 
his  son,  then  eighteen  years  old.  The 
latter  assumed  editorial  charge  of  it.  His 
life  has  been  wholly  confined  to  that 
single  enterprise. 

1878.  Jan.  26.  Five  men  who  took 
187S.  Jan.  9.  a  prominent  part  in  the 
2£#£*r  Pittsburgh  railroad  riot,  in 
Rome.  the  previous  summer,  were 

convicted,  and  held  for  sentence. 

1878.   Jan.  31.    The  steamer  Metrop- 


olis was  lost  upon  Currituck  beach, 
N.  C.,  upon  her  way  from  Philadelphia 
to  Brazil  with  two  hundred  isrs.  Jan.  10. 
laborers  and  five  hundred  5/f  k\p™s 

taken  by  Rus- 

tons  of  railroad  iron  for  the  ««««. 
Madeira  and  Mamore  railroad.  She 
went  ashore  in  the  furious  gale  which 
was  raging,  and  about  one  hundred  and 
seventy  out  of  the  two  hundred  and 
fifty  persons  on  board  were  saved.  The 
captain  and  mate  affirmed  that  the  vessel 
was  perfectly  seaworthy,  but  that  the  dis- 
aster was  owing  to  the  unskilful  loading 
of  the  iron. 

1878.  January.  Severe  reform  meas- 
ures have  been  taken  in  the  govern- 
ment of  Brazil  by  the  emperor,  Dom 
Pedro,  since  his  return  to  that  country 
from  his  American  and  foreign  trip.  It 
was  a  genuine  attempt  to  elevate  Brazil 
in  the  rank  of  nations,  and  with  good 
results. 

1878.  Feb.  5.  A  defalcation  of 
$100,000  in  the  Bank  of  North  America, 
New  York,  was  confessed  by  A.  M. 
Turney,  the  teller.  The  money  had  been 
taken  for  speculation,  and  the  crime  had 
been  kept  secret  for  nine  years,  with  the 
help  of  another  clerk.  Mr.  Turney  was 
committed  to  prison. 

1878.  Feb.  8.  A  cyclone  in  Georgia 
destroyed  several  lives,  and  considerable 
property. 

1878.  Feb.  9.  An  immense  anti- 
free  trade  demonstration  took  place  in 
Pittsburgh,  Penn.  A  procession  of  fif- 
teen thousand  men  was  formed. 

GIDEON   WELLES. 

1878.  Feb.  11.  Hon.  Gideon  Welles, 
ex-secretary  of  the  United  1878.  February. 
States  navy,  died  at  Hart-  Cons?*'?u*!f 

J  '  occupied  by  Rus- 

ford,  Connecticut.    He  was    sians. 

born  in  1803.     His  principal  public  posi- 


1877-1881.] 

tion  was  secretary  of  the  United  States 
navy  in  President  Lincoln's  cabinet. 
This  position  he  filled  with  considerable 
ability.  After  this  he  lived  in  comparative 
obscurity,  although  in  the  exciting  politi- 
cal contest  of  1876,  he  wrote  a  number  of 
papers  favoring  a  change  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  government.  He  wrote  also 
a  number  of  sketches  of  the  naval  fights 
of  the  civil  war.  On  the  organization  of 
the  republican  party  in  1860,  he  became 
a  member  of  its  rank  and  file,  but  was 
claimed  by  the  democracy  in  1876. 


THE   VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


849 


1878.  Feb.  13.  Judgment  was 
entered  in  New  York,  against  Wm.  M. 
Tweed,  for  the  sum  of  $10,857,197.09. 

1878.  Feb.  14.  The  Daniel  Webster 
house  at  Marshfield,  Mass.,  was  entirely 
consumed  by  fire. 

1878.  Feb.  14.  An  explosion  of  five 
pounds  of  fulminate  took 

laia.    reo.  7.  * 

Pope  Pius  ix.  place  in  Springfield,  in  a 
percussion  cap  factory. 
The  building  was  totally  destroyed,  and 
one  man  killed. 

1878.  Feb.  15.  A  cremation  of  the 
body  of  Mrs.  Ben  Pitman,  of  Cincin- 
nati, occurred  at  Washington,  Penn, 
under  the  charge  of  Dr.  Le  Moyne. 

1878.  Feb.  22.  J.  W.  Barron, 
cashier  of  the  savings  bank  at  Dexter, 
Maine,  was  murdered  by  unknown  per- 
sons. He  was  found  bound  and  gagged, 
and  in  an  unconscious  condition.  He  died 
without  returning  to  consciousness.  It  is 
supposed  that  he  refused  to  open  the 
safe.  The  robbers  obtained  only  about 
$100. 

SILVER  BILL. 

1878.  Feb.  28.  The  Silver  Bill, 
which  had  been  passed  by  both  houses 
of  congress,  was  vetoed  by  the  president, 

54 


and  immediately  passed  over  his  veto. 
This  was  the  end  of  a  long  isns.  Feb.  26. 
contest  in  congress,  and  the  f eace  concl"dfd 

between     Russia 

coinage  of  the  new  silver  and  Turkey. 
dollars  began  at  once.  The  dollar  of 
silver  of  412^  grains  was  less  in  value 
than  a  standard  gold  dollar.  Various 
predictions  were  made  upon  the  result  of 
declaring  it  legal  tender.  But  the  prob- 
lem is  not  yet  fully  settled.  The  adjust- 
ment of  a  double  standard  is  still  to  be 
accomplished,  if  it  can  be. 

STEAM  HEATING. 

1878.  February.  A  successful  ex- 
periment was  made  at  Lockport,  N.  Y., 
in  heating  the  buildings  of  the  place  by 
steam  sent  through  pipes  from  boilers 
set  at  some  central  station,  on  the  plan  of 
water  and  gas  supply.  Dwellings,  a 
schoolhouse,  and  the  largest  hall,  were 
among  the  buildings  heated.  A  meter 
is  used  to  determine  the  amount  flowing 
into  each  house.  It  seems  to  promise 
good  results  in  the  near  future,  though 
more  experimenting  must  yet  be  made 
before  complete  success  is  reached. 


1878.  February.  Severe  rain  storms 
raged  all  over  the  United  States.  In 
New  England  great  damage  was  done. 
At  Providence,  R.  I.,  some  streets  were 
filled  with  water  to  the  depth  of  four  feet. 
In  California,  the  levees  of  the  Sacramento 
River  broke  through,  and  a  large  amount 
of  valuable  land  was  flooded,  especially 
several  highly  cultivated  islands  near  the 
mouth  of  the  river.  Cattle  of  all  kinds 
were  lost  in  the  floods.  Orchards  and 
wheat  fields  suffered  greatly. 

BENJAMIN  F.    WADE. 

1878.  March  2.  Benjamin  Franklin 
Wade,  an  American  statesman,  died  at 


850 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


Jefferson,  Ohio.  He  was  born  in  Spring- 
field, Mass.,  Oct.  27,  1800.  His  early 
life  was  filled  with  a  series  of  difficulties 
which  he  was  forced  to  encounter  to  ob- 
tain any  degree  of  learning.  He  began 
the  study  of  law  in  1826,  and  two  years 
later  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Ash- 
tabula  county.  In  1835  he  was  elected 
prosecuting  attorney  for  that  county; 
next  he  served  three  successive  terms  in 
the  state  senate.  He  was  chosen  presid- 
ing judge  of  the  third  district  of  his  state 
in  1847.  He  was  elected  United  States 
senator  in  1851,  and  was  reelected  in 
1857  and  1863.  In  the  senate  he  was 
distinguished  for  his  boldness  and  tenacity. 
£Ie  was  a  bitter  opponent  of  slavery,  of 
secession,  and  of  all  measures  looking  to- 
ward a  compromise  between  the  North 
and  the  South.  It  became  a  common 
saying  that  "  when  Ben  Wade  took  hold 
of  anything,  he  never  let  go."  He  advo- 
cated the  homestead  bill  for  years,  and  it 
was  in  his  charge  that  it  finally  passed 
through  the  senate.  In  1865  he  became 
president  pro  tempore  of  the  senate,  and 
acting  vice-president  of  the  United  States. 
In  March,  1867,  he  was  elected  president 
of  the  senate.  In  1871  he  was  a  member 
of  the  San  Domingo  commission,  and 
favored  the  annexation  of  the  island  to 
the  United  States. 


1878.  March  2.  A  terrible  tornado 
raged  in  Casey  county,  Kentucky,  in 
which  seven  lives  were  lost,  and  a  large 
amount  of  property  destroyed. 

1878.  March  5.  An  extensive  fire 
occurred  at  Hot  Springs,  Arkansas.  One 
hundred  and  fifty  buildings  were  de- 
stroyed, including  some  of  the  largest 
hotels. 

1878.  March  23.  An  international 
walking  match  in  London  was  won  by 


O'Leary,  the  Irish- American  contestant, 
who  walked  520  miles  between  i  A.  M. 
of  the  i8th,  and  10  P.  M.  of  the  23d. 
O'Leary  was  declared  the  holder  of  the 
champion  pedestrian  belt  of  the  world, 
and  was  allowed  to  bring  it  to  America. 
1878.  March  25.  A  great  fire  in 
Philadelphia  burned  property  worth 
$1,000,000.  It  broke  out  at  nine  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  and  came  near  being  be- 
yond the  control  of  the  fire  department 
altogether.  A  strong  wind  was  the 
chief  cause  of  the  extreme  danger.  The 
flames  were  checked  only  after  long  and 
severe  effort. 

END  OF  CUBAN  WAR. 

1878.  March.  The  insurgent  chiefs 
of  Cuba  concluded  terms  of  peace  with 
the  Spanish  leaders,  and  the  war  of  ten 
years  may  be  said  to  have  been,  in  a  cer- 
tain measure,  closed.  There  were  many 
revolutionists  in  the  mountains,  however, 
who  did  not  join  in  the  arrangement,  and 
thus  trouble  was  not  completely  warded 
off.  Very  fair  terms  were  granted,  con- 
sidering the  history  of  Spanish  power  in 
the  island.  The  entire  war  has  been  as 
full  of  bloodthirsty  deeds  as  any  other  in 
history.  The  island  suffered  in  all  its 
interests,  to  a  very  great  degree.  The 
sad  story  is  one  which  moves  the  heart 
which  loves  liberty. 

COLORADO   "PETRIFIED  MAN" 

1878.  March.  An  exposure  of  the 
humbug  in  regard  to  the  alleged  ancient 
stone  man  found  in  Colorado  in  1877, 
took  place,  through  a  man,  it  is  said,  who 
was  paid  as  he  was  promised,  for  his  part 
of  the  work.  The  statue  was  cast  at  a 
lime-kiln  at  Elkland,  Penn.,  at  the  ex- 
pense of  P.  T.  Barnum,  the  great  "  hum- 
bug "  showman.  Mr.  George  Hull, 


1877-1881.] 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


851 


the  originator  of  the  Cardiff  giant,  super- 
intended the  casting.  The  work  cost 
about  $40. 

GREAT  DEFALCATIONS. 

1878.  April  10.  A  great  shock  was 
given  to  the  business  world  of  Massa- 
chusetts, by  the  revelation  that  S.  A. 
Chace,  treasurer  of  the  Union  Mills  of 
Fall  River,  was  a  defaulter  to  the  amount 
of  half  a  million  dollars.  The  city  of  Fall 
River  had  maintained  the  credit  of  its  ex- 
tensive milling  interests  without  a  blem- 
ish, through  all  the  pressure  of  the  hard 
times.  A  terrible  blow  was  now  struck 
in  the  disclosure  of  the  crime  of  one  who 
had  been  regarded  as  irreproachable. 
Mr.  Chace  had  been  a  church  member 
and  officer.  The  story  of  his  downfall 
has  never  been  fully  known.  Nearly 
two  weeks  passed  away  when  it  became 
known  that  George  T.  Hathaway,  treas- 
urer of  another  large  corporation,  was  a 
defaulter  to  the  amount  of  a  million  dol- 
lars or  more.  There  was  now  a  breath- 
less suspense.  The  effect  was  stunning. 
But  soon  business  men  began  to  rally. 
The  men  were  afterward  tried  and  sen- 
tenced to  the  state  prison.  But  in  the 
same  city  other  revelations  have  since 
followed.  These  were  also  only  a  small 
part  of  the  revelations  being  made  at 
this  time,  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 
Every  corporation  feared  lest  its  turn 
should  come  next.  Confidence  was  sadly 
impaired.  The  bitter  fruits  of  reckless- 
ness and  speculation  were  being  reaped. 

WILLIAM  M.  TWEED. 

1878.  April  12.  William  Marcy 
Tweed,  noted  in  American  history  for 
the  enormity  of  his  frauds,  died  in  Lud- 
low  street  jail,  New  York.  He  was 
born  in  New  York,  April  3,  1823.  He 


served  the  public,  the  first  few  years  of 
his  majority,  as  a  chair  maker.  In  teter 
life  he  became  a  lawyer.  As  a  local  law- 
maker and  breaker  he  served  in  various 
capacities  in  the  city,  and  in  the  state  of 
New  York.  He  was  in  congress  in 
1853-5.  From  1867  to  1871  he  was 
state  senator.  In  1870  he  was  appointed 
commissioner  of  public  works,  and  in 
this  position  he  and  his  "  ring "  appro- 
priated vast  sums  of  money  to  private 
use.  On  Oct.  28,1871,  Charles  O'Connor 
brought  suit  against  him,  in  behalf  of  the 
people,  and  Tweed  gave  bail  for 
$1,000,000.  He  was  re-elected  to  the 
state  senate  the  next  month,  but  did  not 
take  his  seat.  On  Dec.  16  he  was 
arrested  on  a  criminal  charge  of  fraud,  and 
gave  bail  for  $5,000.  On  Jan.  30,  1873, 
the  first  suit  was  tried,  and  the  jury  dis- 
agreed. On  Nov.  19  he  was  sentenced 
to  twelve  years'  imprisonment  for  fraud, 
and  was  fined  $12,550.  He  was  sent 
to  Blackwell's  Island.  The  greatest  of 
the  numerous  suits  was  begun  against 
him  in  the  New  York  supreme  court, 
April  7,  1875,  to  recover,  of  the  public 
money,  $6,000,000.  On  default  of  bail 
to  the  amount  of  $3,000,000,  he  was  con- 
fined in  Ludlow  street  jail.  He  escaped 
on  Dec.  4,  but  was  recaptured  in  Spain, 
and  returned,  to  remain  in  jail  till  death. 


1878.  April  13.  A  tornado  proved 
very  destructive  to  property  at  Cotton- 
wood,  a  station  on  the  Atchison,  Topeka 
and  Santa  Fe  railway.  Several  persons 
were  killed. 

1878.     April  16.     The  burning  of  the 
Bishop  mansion,  on  the  Hudson  River, 
caused  a  loss  of  many  val-    I878-   April. 
uable     paintings,     one    of    One  hundred 

,  .    ,  ,         ,  thousand  Enff- 

which      was     valued      at    lis/lcottono;era. 
$30,000.     Other    valuable    tives  on  a  str*ke- 


852 


PRESENT  DE  VEL  OP  ME  NT. 


works  of  art  were  also  destroyed  in  this 
fire. 

1878.  April  21.  A  violent  tornado 
swept  through  the  interior  of  the  United 
States,  doing  a  vast  amount  of  damage 
to  property  and  life.  It  was  especially 
destructive  in  Illinois  and  Iowa;  one 
hailstone  which  measured  fourteen  inches 
in  circumference,  was  found.  The  path 
of  the  tornado  was  about  a  mile  wide, 
and  forty  miles  long.  It  left  destruction 
in  its  wake. 

THE  LIBERIA  EXCITEMENT. 
1878.  April  21.  The  first  ship-load 
of  colored  emigrants  sailed  from  Charles- 
ton, S.  C.,  for  Liberia,  Africa,  in  the 
barque  Azor.  The  company  numbered 
two  hundred  and  fifty  persons,  and  were 
IMS.  Great  Dut  a  very  small  part  of 

famine  in  China,      those      who    wished  to  Start 

for  Africa.  A  considerable  degree  of 
excitement  ran  through  a  wide  portion 
of  the  South,  but  as  the  possession  of  land 
increased,  and  the  difficulties  of  making 
an  ocean  voyage  to  a  strange  land  ap- 
peared clearly,  the  excitement  died  away. 
The  restlessness  of  the  colored  people  has 
since  taken  another  direction. 

SAVINGS  BANK  PANIC. 

1878.  April.  A  panic  ran  through 
the  greater  part  of  the  country,  among 
depositors  in  savings  banks.  The  height 
of  the  trouble  was  felt  in  Massachusetts. 
People  began  to  fear  that  the  assets  of 
the  banks,  through  the  great  shrinkage 
in  real  estate  and  stocks,  would  not  be 
sufficient  to  pay  claims.  The  banks 
were  therefore  obliged  to  take  refuge 
behind  a  law  which  allowed  them  to 
limit  their  payments  upon  demand,  to  a 
certain  per  cent,  of  the  sum  due.  In  a 
short  time  the  excitement  wore  away. 


JOHN  .WRRISSET 

1878.  May  1.  John  Morrissey,  a 
state  senator  in  New  York,  died  at 
Saratoga.  He  was  born  in  1831.  He 
was  noted  for  his  adventurous  life,  his 
peculiar  position  in  politics,  and  the 
largeness  of  his  heart  and  1873 
fists.  He  had  been  a  great  Deat/i  of  Lord 
prize-fighter,  a  notorious  *»*«  *«*«»• 
gambler,  and  a  prominent  politician,, 
having  filled  many  public  positions.  He 
was,  on  the  whole,  an  extraordinary  pro- 
duction of  American  social  and  political 
conditions.  He  was  born  in  Ireland,  but 
reared  in  America  from  the  third  year 
of  his  age.  He  received  no  education, 
but  did  a  good  deal  of  hard  work  in  iron 
establishments.  In  course  of  time  he 
became  rough  and  wild.  This  inaugu- 
rated his  career  of  adventure.  In  his 
later  years  it  is  said  that  his  wife  became 
his  instructor,  and  taught  him  constantly. 
He  seems  to  have  had  some  moral  sense, 
and  was  never  involved  in  the  fraudulent 
dealings  of  his  fellow  democrats,  in  New 
York  city. 

1878.  May  2.  An  explosion  oc- 
curred in  the  Washburn  1878.  May  2. 
flouring  mills  at  Minneapo-  Attemptf  '*  °s' 

sassinate  the  Em- 

lis,  Minnesota,  causing  the  peror  William. 
destruction  of  several  mills.  Seventeen 
lives  were  lost,  and  property  to  the 
amount  of  $1,500,000  was  destroyed. 
These  mills  were  larger  than  any  other 
in  America,  and  than  any  other  in  the 
world  except  one.  It  was  thought  that 
the  explosion  originated  in  the  ignition 
of  gases  from  the  mill-dust. 

1878.  May  7.  The  Indian  chief- 
tain, Gall,  surrendered  to  the  United 
States  forces  with  one  hundred  and  fifty 
of  Sitting  Bull's  warriors  who  were  under 
his  command. 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


853 


1878.  May  7.  Serious  troubles  oc- 
curred among  the  miners  in  Belleville, 
Illinois,  four  thousand  of  whom  had 
struck.  Many  of  those  without  work 
were  also  without  money  or  bread.  In 
a  short  time  fifteen  hundred  were  on  the 
verge  of  starvation.  Entire  destitution 
was  the  lot  of  hundreds  of  families,  a 
terrible  commentary  on  the  evils  of 
strikes. 

1878.  May  1O.  Another  heavy  mill 
defaulter  was  found  at  Lawrence,  Mass. 
George  F.  Waterman  had  embezzled 
$100,000  from  the  Pacific  Mill  company 
of  that  city,  of  which  he  was  formerly 
assistant  paymaster.  He  was  sent  to 
prison  for  twelve  years. 

1878.  May  11.  Much  suffering  was 
reported  in  Labrador,  because  of  the 
failure  of  the  fisheries. 

CATHERINE  E.  BEEOHER. 

1878.  May  12.  Miss  Catherine  E. 
Beecher,  a  sister  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher, 
and  an  educator  and  author,  died,  aged 
seventy-seven  years.  She  was  born  at 
East  Hampton,  L.  I.,  Sept.  6,  1800.  She 
remained  unmarried  because  of  the  death 
of  her  affianced  lover  Prof.  Fisher  of  Yale 
College,  who  was  lost  by  shipwreck  upon 
a  voyage  to  Europe.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-two  she  established  a  school  at 
Hartford,  Conn.,  and  continued  in  it  until 
ten  years  later.  She  opened  a  female 
seminary  in  Cincinnati,  where  her  father, 
Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  had  gone  to  labor 
in  Lane  Seminary.  The  rest  of  her  life 
was  given  to  active  thought  upon  female 
education  in  the  full  sense  of  fitness  for 
all  duties.  She  wrote  quite  extensively. 


1878.  May  22.  An  excursion 
steamer  on  the  Grand  River  at  Gait, 
Ontario,  was  capsized,  and  carried  over  a 


dam.     There  were  eighteen  persons  on 
board,  and  some  of  them  were  lost. 

1878.  May  23.  A  terrible  cyclone 
devastated  a  great  portion  of  Southern 
Wisconsin.  It  began  at  Mineral  Point 
and  swept  across  nearly  to  Milwaukee, 
leaving  complete  ruin  in  its  path.  Some 
whole  families  were  killed.  Everything 
was  laid  waste.  Cattle,  men,  houses, 
trees,  all  disappeared  in  a  few  instants. 
Large  numbers  of  persons  were  injured, 
and  thirty  or  more  killed.  Another  storm 
did  injury  to  life  and  property  in  Brown 
county,  111.  Floods  in  Colorado  at  the 
same  time  had  serious  effects.  This 
month  was  a  month  of  gales  through 
the  Western  states. 

REVIVAL  OF  SILK  INDUSTRIES. 

1878.  May.  The  inactivity  in  the 
manufacture  of  silk  which  followed 
the  silk  "  bubble,"  gradually  disappeared, 
and  the  American  Silk  Association  re- 
ported a  total  product  the  previous  year 
of  $21411436.  If  the  difficulties  which 
arise  from  the  importation  of  silks  at  an 
under-valuation  can  be  removed,  the  silk 
industries  of  America  have  a  promising 
field  and  certain  success  before  them. 


1878.  June  12.  A  mob  of  strikers 
in  Quebec  created  a  riot.  Their  opera- 
tions were  only  checked  by  the  militia- 
men, who  were  called  out  by  the  govern- 
ment authorities.  The  ring-leaders  were 
arrested  after  a  severe  contest,  in  which 
one  man  was  killed,  and  several  injured. 

WILLIAM  GULLEN  BRYANT. 

1878.  June  12.  William  Cullen 
Bryant,  an  American  poet,  died  in  New 
York.  He  was  born  in  Cummington, 
Hampshire  county,  Mass.,  Nov.  3,  1794. 
His  father,  who  was  a  prominent  local 


854 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


physician,  and  a  man  of  considerable  cult- 
ure, endeavored  to  develop  the  intellect- 
ual and  moral  faculties  of  his  son;  in 
this  his  success  was  certainly  admirable. 
William  wrote  verses  for  the  county 
paper  before  he  was  ten.  In  his  four- 
1878.  June  13.  teenth  year  he  wrote  the 
The  PeTe  5°T  "Embargo,"a  political  satire, 

gress  opened  at 

Berlin.  and    the     "  Spanish     Rev- 

olution"; the  former  of  these  attracted 
considerable  attention,  and  a  second  edi- 
tion of  both  was  printed  in  1809.  Until 
the  fact  was  established  beyond  doubt, 
the  public  found  it  difficult  to  believe 
that  one  so  young  had  written  the  poems. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  Wil- 
liams College,  but  left  at  the  end  of  two 
years  to  pursue  the  study  of  law.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1815,  and  be- 
gan the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Plainfield;  but  he  afterward  removed  to 
Great  Barri-ngton.  He  soon  became 
prominent  in  Massachusetts  as  a  lawyer; 
but  he  eventually  found  his  proper 
sphere  in  the  field  of  literature.  "Than- 
atopsis"  was  published  in  the  "North 
American  Review"  in  1817,  at  which 
time  he  became  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Richard  H.  Dana,  who  was  then  one  of 
the  conductors  of  the  "  Review."  Mr. 
Bryant  became  a  contributor  of  prose 
and  poetry  to  that  magazine.  In  1821 
he  delivered  a  poem  entitled  "  The  Ages," 
before  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  society  at 
Harvard  College.  In  that  year  his  poems 
were  published  in  a  volume  at  Cam- 
bridge, and  obtained  for  him  the  wide 
reputation  for  a  poet  which  he  has  held 
ever  since.  In  1825  he  became  editor  of 
the  "  New  York  Review,"  and  contrib- 
uted to  this  several  poems  and  criticisms. 
In  1826  he  connected  himself  with  the 
New  York  "  Evening  Post,"  with  which 
newspaper  he  remained,  in  one  capacity 


or  another,  for  over  a  half  a  century,  un- 
til the  time  of  his  death.  At  first  it  was  a 
federalist  sheet,  under  the  editorial  control 
of  William  Coleman.  When  Mr.  Bryant 
obtained  control,  the  "  Post"  became  more 
"  democratic  "  in  character,  favoring  free 
trade.  During  this  time  Mr.  Bryant 
contributed  poetical  and  prose  articles  for 
other  publications.  In  1832  a  complete 
edition  of  his  poems  was  published  in 
New  York.  Washington  Irving  caused 
an  edition  to  be  published  in  England, 
for  which  he  wrote  a  laudatory  preface. 
The  volume  was  highly  complimented 
by  John  Wilson  in  "  Blackwood's  Maga- 
zine"; and  from  that  time  Mr.  Bryant's 
genius  was  recognized  in  Europe  as  well 
as  America.  At  times  he  rested  from 
his  professional  labors,  and  visited 
Europe,  making  himself  familiar  with  the 
languages  and  literature  of  foreign  nations. 
In  his  third  tour,  in  1849,  he  traveled 
into  Syria  and  Egypt.  He  also  jour- 
neyed through  nearly  every  part  of  the 
United  States,  and  visited  Cuba.  He 
made  his  last  visit  to  Europe  in  1857-58. 
His  account  of  these  wanderings  was  pub- 
lished in  two  different  volumes.  In  1863 
he  published  a  new  volume  of  poems. 
He  was  engaged  for  a  number  of  years 
in  the  translation  of  Homer  into  English 
blank  verse ;  this  translation  was  received 
as  the  best  in  the  English  language. 
One  of  his  last  productions,  "  The  Flood 
of  Years,"  is  regarded  by  many  as  his 
best.  Certainly  a  grander  poem  was 
never  written.  Mr.  Bryant  was  also  a 
powerful  and  eloquent  orator.  He  ad- 
dressed many  public  bodies  on  momen- 
tous occasions.  On  the  3Oth  of  May, 
1878,  he  made  an  eloquent  address  at 
the  Mazzini  celebration  in  Central  Park. 
On  returning  from  the  park  he  fell,  strik- 
ing his  head  on  a  stone  step.  He  died 


1877-1881.]  THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 

from  the  effects  of  this  fall.  The  life  of 
William  Cullen  Bryant  was  pure  and 
simple;  it  was  peculiarly  fortunate  and 
happy.  His  fame  was  made  a  half  a  cen- 
tury before  his  death,  yet  each  year 
made  it  more  enduring,  To  Americans, 
Bryant  is  in  poetry  what  Homer  was  to 
the  Greeks.  And  as 


"  A  mighty  Hand  from  an  exhaustless  arm, 
Pours  forth  the  never-ending  Flood  of  Years 
Among  the  nations," 

his  sublime  verses  will  inspire  the 
thoughts  and  souls  of  new  generations, 
and  his  name  will  be  reverenced  more 
with  each  successive  age. 


1878.  June  14.  The  title  of  Presi- 
dent Hayes  to  the  presidency  of  the 
United  States,  was  pronounced  irrevo- 
cably settled,  by  a  bill  which  passed  the 
house  of  representatives  by  a  vote  of  215 
to  21.  Some  of  the  democrats  changed 
from  "  no,"  to  "  aye,"  at  the  last  minute, 
when  it  was  seen  that  the  bill  would 
have  a  majority.  The  bill  was  intro- 
duced by  Mr.  Burchard  of  Illinois,  and 
claimed  that  as  the  44th  congress  had 
pronounced  the  title  valid,  no  succeeding 
congress  had  any  right  to  interfere  with 
the  decision. 

1878.  June  23.  A  fight  with  the 
1S78.  June  26.  Indians  occurred  forty-five 
TheSiueen  of  miles  from  Fort  Harnev,  in 

Spain  died,  aged  t  J 

eighteen  years.  which  the  United  States 
forces  were  victorious,  with  the  loss  of 
Col.  Robins,  and  some  men. 

1878.  June  24.  A  flying  machine 
was  exhibited  in  Tremont  Temple, 
Boston,  by  Prof.  Ritchel,  of  Connecticut, 
and  seemed  to  promise  some  success  in 
navigating  the  air.  But  nothing  has 
since  been  heard  of  it,  and  we  are  as  far 
as  ever,  apparently,  from  that  delightful 
result. 


855 

1878.  July  3.  The  Missouri  River 
rose  to  a  greater  height  than  had  been 
known  since  1844.  The  high  water 
injured  a  great  deal  of  property. 

1878.  July  8.  A  battle  occurred 
between  the  Indians  and  Gen.  Howard's 
forces,  at  Battle  Creek,  Oregon.  The 
United  States  forces  succeeded  in  driving 
the  Indians  from  three  strongholds. 

SUTRO   TUNNEL. 


1878.  JulyS.  This  great  engineer- 
ing enterprise,  undertaken  in  1869,  in  the 
mountains  of  Nevada,  was  at  last  brought 
to  a  successful  conclusion,  at  a  cost  of 
$3,500,000  in  gold.  Mr.  Adolph  Sutro 
designed  it$  and  superintended  its  con- 
struction. The  tunnel  was  isis.  July  i. 
designed  to  aid  in  working  On*th™an* 

two  hundred  and 
th$  faniOUS  ComStOCk  silver     sixty-nine 

lode,  by  draining  off  water    c™>»«'»*'* 

'      1  pardoned  at 

which  would  otherwise  Paris. 
have  to  be  pumped  out  at  great  ex- 
pense, by  affording  better  ventilation, 
and  by  creating  better  facilities  for 
the  passage  to  and  fro  of  miners.  A 
government  subsidy  was  refused  the 
promoters  of  the  work,  but  it  was  carried 
through.  The  tunnel  is  at  points  two 
thousand  feet  below  the  surface,  and  is 
about  four  miles  long.  The  enterprise  is 
one  of  the  most  gigantic  of  the  present 
time. 

1878.  July  12.  The  threatened  dif- 
ficulties at  Montreal  were  avoided  by  the 
decision  of  the  Orangemen,  at  the  last 
moment,  not  to  parade.  Two  thousand 
troops  had  been  sent  to  the  city  by  the 
Canadian  government,  and  extra  police- 
men had  been  appointed.  But  the  case 
was  one  for  serious  apprehensions.  The 
mayor  had  forbidden  the  parade  to  take 
place,  and  the  riotous  element  had  taken 


856 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


courage  from  this.  There  was  some 
skirmishing  through  the  day,  but  no  en- 
counter took  place. 

1878.  July  21.  The  Indians  were 
met  by  Lieutenant  Wallace,  on  the 
Clearwater  River,  in  Montana.  The 
chief  and  five  of  his  warriors  were  killed. 
The  existing  warfare  was  now  taking  on 
serious  proportions.  Carl  Schurz,  Sec- 
retary of  the  Interior,  in  the  United 
States  government,  discovered  in  his  in- 
vestigation of  the  Indian  Bureau,  that 
the  Mormons  had  been  supplying  the 
Indians  with  war  materials. 

1878.  July  31.  A  little  dory,  named 
the  Nautilus,  arrived  in  London,  after  a 
safe  passage  of  forty-five  days  across  the 
Atlantic  from  Boston.  It  was  a  matter 
of  great  curiosity,  together  with  its 
occupants.  fc 

UNPRECEDENTED  HEAT  TERM. 

1878.  July.  Intense  heat  was  felt 
throughout  the  United  States.  For 
several  successive  days  the  thermometer 
stood  at  100  deg.  and  higher.  Sun- 
strokes were  constant,,  and  very  fatal; 
up  to  the  23d,  one  hundred  and  forty-five 
persons  had  died  from  sun-stroke  in  St. 
Louis  alone.  Other  cities  suffered  to 
almost  an  equal  degree.  In  some  parts 
of  the  West  farmers  did  the  work  in 
their  fields  by  moonlight.  The  heat 
wave  gradually  passed  to  the  East. 
It  was  a  period  of  extreme  danger  in  the 
great  cities.  The  following  was  a  re- 
port of  it  at  the  time : 

"At  St.  Louis,  in  seven  days  there 
were  145  deaths  by  sun-stroke,  and  2,000 
required  medical  treatment  in  conse- 
quence of  the  heat.  Over  a  hundred 
horses  fell  dead  July  15.  In  Milwaukee, 
July  17,  103  persons  were  prostrated. 
The  thermometer  stood  at  101  deg.  in  the 


shade.  In  Muscatine,  Iowa,  the  farmers 
gathered  their  hay  by  moonlight.  In 
Ottumwa  the  contractors  on  city  sewers 
had  their  men  work  at  night,  and  rest 
during  the  day.  In  Chicago  a  large 
number  of  persons  have  died,  and  over 
fifty  horses.  The  water  works  have 
been  pumping  seventy  million  gallons 
daily.  The  death-rate  among  children 
is  very  large.  July  17  was  the  hottest 
day  known  to  the  oldest  inhabitants  of 
that  city.  Those  sitting  quietly  in  their 
homes  were  overcome  by  heat,  as  fatally 
as  those  who  were  engaged  at  work  in 
the  sun. 

"  At  the  East  the  heat  has  been  scarcely 
less  intense.  In  New  York,  with  the 
thermometer  at  100  deg.  in  the  shade, 
there  were  thirty  cases  of  sun-stroke.  All 
through  Massachusetts  the  thermometer 
stood  from  90  to  100  deg.  in  the  shade,  and 
many  have  died  in  consequence.  The 
daily  papers  state  that  fully  two-thirds  of 
all  the  fatal  cases  are  of  those  more  or 
less  addicted  to  the  use  of  liquors  and 
other  stimulants. 

"  The  physicians  are  everywhere  rec- 
ommending entire  abstinence  during  the 
heated  term.  They  assert  that  beer  is 
even  more  heating  than  whiskey;  this 
gaining  credence  from  the  fact  that 
Germans  in  great  numbers  have  been 
prostrated. 

"  It  is  well  known  that  beer  retards 
waste  of  tissue,  making  men  grow  cor. 
pulent,  because  the  effete  matter  of  the 
body  is  retained,  but  weaker,  and  less 
able  to  resist  disease.  It  greatly  vitiates 
the  blood.  When  cholera  visited  this 
country  it  took  5,000  drinking  people  to 
the  other  world  before  it  touched  a  single 
total  abstainer.  Cholera  and  sun-stroke, 
at  least,  teach  some  valuable  temperance 
lessons." 


1877-1881.] 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


857 


KMRXEYISM. 


1878.  July.  The  country  east  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  for  the  first  time 
had  the  privilege  of  hearing  the  leader 
of  a  large  portion  of  the  California 
workingmen,  Dennis  Kearney,  the  "sand- 
lot  orator."  He  passed  to  New  England, 
and  there  spoke  to  large  audiences,  often- 
times removing  his  coat  and  his  collar 
when  he  got  warmed  up  in  his  work. 
Essentially  a  coarse,  rough  man,  he  made 
speeches  which  no  intelligent  company 
ought  to  hear,  and  injured  the  cause  of 
the  laborer  as  much  as  he  did  that  of  the 
capitalist.  He  visited  Massachusetts  to 
help  carry  that  state  for  Benj.  F.  Butler, 
one  of  the  candidates  for  governor.  Re- 
turning to  his  own  state  he  has  since  sunk 
into  comparative  obscurity,  because  he 
proved  to  be  an  unsafe  guide.  His  chief 
antipathies  were  to  the  Chinese,  and  to 
the  "  bloated  bondholders." 


1878.  Aug.  1.  A  fire  in  Utah  de- 
stroyed property  to  the  amount  of  $200,- 
ooo,  in  the  town  of  Alta.  It  was  caused 
by  a  man  who  went  to  sleep  with  a  cigar 
in  his  mouth.  Nearly  the  whole  place 
was  burned. 

1878.  Aug.  7.  A  railroad  collision 
occurred  near  Steubenville,  Ohio,  in 
which  fifteen  persons  were  killed,  and 
about  fifty  seriously  injured.  The  mid- 
night passenger  train  from  Pittsburg, 
while  running  at  the  rate  of  forty  miles 
an  hour,  collided  with  a  freight  train. 
The  engineer  and  conductor  of  the  latter 
had  let  their  watches  run  down,  and  were 
running  on  the  time  of  the  passenger 
train. 

1878.  Aug.  9.  A  tornado  at  Wal- 
lingford,  Conn.,  destroyed  much  prop- 
erty, and  killed  thirty  persons.  Forty 
houses  and  fifty  barns  were  destroyed. 


Twenty  thousand  persons  visited  the 
town  the  following  week.  The  place 
was  a  scene  of  desolation.  Other  parts 
of  New  England  were  sadly  injured  by 
storms  the  same  evening. 

1878.     Aug.  10.     The  Chinese   Em- 
bassy arrived  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  having 
come  across  the  country  by  rail  from  San 
Francisco.    They  remained    1878.  Aug.  10. 
in    this   city,   which   is    so    ^onetary   Co»- 

ference  opened 

closely  connected  with  the  at  Paris. 
education  of  Chinese  youth  who  have 
been  sent  to  this  country,  for  a  short  time, 
and  then  proceeded  to  Washington  for 
their  official  conferences  with  the  United 
States  officials,  concerning  treaty  rela- 
tions. Several  Chinese  ladies  accom- 
panied the  embassy.  Chen  Lin-Pin  was 
the  leading  commissioner. 

1878.  Aug.  13.  A  mob  of  3,000 
Catholics  created  a  riot  with  the  Orange- 
men of  Ottawa,  Canada.  A  leader  of 
the  latter  was  killed,  and  others  were 
wounded.  The  trouble  was  brought 
on  by  the  readiness  with  which  the 
mayor  of  Montreal  at  the  proposed  cele- 
bration by  the  Orangemen  on  July  12, 
refused  to  extend  them  his  protection  at 
first,  and  thus  left  the  way  open  for  ill- 
feeling.  The  only  position  the  state  can 
take  is  to  give  all  parties  its  protection, 
so  long  as  they  live  in  conformity  with 
the  laws. 

1878.  Aug.  17.  A  defalcation  was 
discovered  in  the  Pullman  Palace  Car 
company  at  Chicago.  Charles  W. 
Angell  had  abstracted  $120,000  from 
the  funds  of  the  corporation.  The  long 
list  of  defaulters  was  unexpectedly  added 
to  by  this  development. 

1878.  Aug.  17.  A  powder  maga- 
zine containing  about  eleven  hundred 
barrels,  situated  at  Pottsville,  Penn.,  was 
blown  up  by  being  struck  by  lightning. 


858 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


Several  persons  were  killed,  and  quite  a 
large  number  injured. 

1878.  August.  Rain  storms,  torna- 
does, hail  storms,  of  great  violence,  visit- 
ed different  parts  of  the  United  States. 
Property  was  destroyed  in  New  Eng- 
land, Canada,  and  elsewhere,  to  a  very 
great  extent.  Many  persons  were  killed 
or  prostrated  by  strokes  of  lightning. 

THE  PLAGUE  OF  '78. 

1878.  August.  The  yellow  fever 
swept  through  the  Southern  states  during 
this  and  following  months,  causing  seven 
thousand  deaths  during  the  warm 
weather.  The  heaviest  inflictions  were 
confined  to  the  region  of  the  Mississippi 
River.  In  the  extent  of  its  devastations 
and  its  terrible  results,  the  plague  is  with- 
out parallel  in  American  annals.  Its 
rapid  progress  can  be  accounted  for  by 
the  general  uncleanliness,  and  by  the 
lack  of  good  sanitary  conditions  in  the 
Southern  cities.  Its  fatality  was  also 
increased  by  the  excessive  heat  of  the 
summer.  When  the  plague  came  upon 
them,  the  people  of  the  South  were  totally 
unprepared  for  it;  homes  were  desolated 
by  death,  and  by  flight ;  villages  and 
even  cities  were  deserted;  industry  and 
commerce,  the  progress  of  which  was  of 
so  much  importance  to  the  South  at  this 
critical  period,  was  at  a  standstill ;  there 
was  confusion  among  the  brave,  and 
panic  among  the  cowardly;  the  poor 
were  without  food,  and  the  sick  without 
medicine  or  nurses ;  the  people  were  cast 
upon  the  mercy  of  heaven,  and  the  charity 
of  men.  Proclamations  were  issued,  and 
relief  societies  organized  throughout  the 
North  and  West.  The  men  of  wealth 
sent  large  sums  of  money;  the  manu- 
facturers and  farmers  their  products,  and 
the  poor  cast  in  their  mites.  The  nurses 


and  the  "  sisters  "  came  from  other  states 
to  care  for  the  sick,  the  dying,  and  the 
dead,  and  to  die,  if  it  need  be,  with  the 
brave  ones  who  stood  by  their  post  in  the 
perilous  hour.  Past  animosities  were 
forgotten.  It  was  no  longer  a  "  North  " 
or  a  "  South,"  but  a  dying  people  that 
needed  attention.  Amid  the  incessant 
tolling  of  the  funeral  knells  the  heroes 
and  the  heroines  hurried  over  the  newly 
made  graves  to  save  the  sick  and  the 
dying  in  a  land  that  seemed  cursed.  The 
scourge  caused  irreparable  losses,  and 
taught  numberless  lessons;  and  while  it 
will  ever  be  remembered  with  sorrow, 
the  sublime  heroism  it  produced  can  never 
be  forgotten;  for  in  the  plague  of  '78, 
noble  self-sacrifice  was  exhibited  as  it 
never  had  been  before.  For  three  or  four 
months,  until  cold  weather  set  in,  the 
agonizing  tale  was  daily  told  all  over  the 
land. 

1878.  Sept.  3-4.  A  tornado  and 
tidal  wave  caused  a  great  loss  of  life  in 
Hayti. 

1878.  Sept.  7.  Another  prominent 
defalcation  in  Fall  River  astounded  the 
business  men  of  that  unfort-  1S78-  sept.  3. 
unate  city.  Charles  P.  Excursion 

,       ,    ,  steamer  Princess 

Stickney,  who  had  been  a    Alice  run 


leading  citizen,  was  found  eoo  lives  lost. 
to  have  embezzled  funds  amounting  to 
$50,000  or  more  from  the  Manufacturers' 
Gas  company.  He  had  served  in  the 
senate  of  Massachusetts  four  years.  He 
was  afterward  sent  to  prison  for  his 
crime. 

1878.  Sept.  27.  An  engagement  took 
place  between  the  United  States  troops 
and  the  Cheyenne  Indians,  two  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  south  of  Denver,  Colo- 
rado. The  government  forces  were  suc- 
cessful. But  in  a  short  time  fresh  raids 


1877-1881.] 

were  made  by  the  Indians,  particularly 
in  Northwestern  Kansas,  and  a  great 
"scare"  was  felt  through  the  whole 
region,  including  portions  of  Nebraska. 

1878.  Sept.  28.  An  explosion  of  the 
boiler  of  the  steamer  Adelphi,  running 
between  Norwalk  and  New  York,  re- 
sulted in  the  death  of  twelve  persons, 
and  serious  injury  of  about  twenty  more. 
It  was  afterward  found  that  the  boiler 
had  been  mended,  and  was  evidently  too 
old  for  use  upon  any  boat,  especially  one 
employed  for  excursion  purposes.  The 
disasters  of  this  kind  emphasize  the  fact 
that  many  proprietors  of  such  enterprises 
are  reckless  in  the  matter  of  their  appli- 
ances for  safety,  and  ought  to  be  visited 
with  severe  condemnation. 

1878.  Oct.  1.  The  Pacific  mail 
steamship  Georgia  struck  on  a  rock  in  the 
harbor  of  Punta  Arenas,  Central  Amer- 
ica. All  on  board  were  saved,  but  the 
vessel  was  a  total  loss. 

1878.  Oct.  2.  A  game  of  cricket 
was  played  between  an  Australian 
"  eleven  "  and  a  New  York  "  eleven,"  in 
which  the  former  were  successful,  by  a 
score  of  162  to  161. 

1878.  Oct.  2.  A  terrible  earthquake 
was  experienced  in  Central  America,  es- 
pecially at  San  Salvador.  Lives  were 
lost,  and  property  was  destroyed. 

1878.  Oct.  3.  An  international  scull- 
ing match  at  Montreal  was  won  by  Han- 
Ian,  a  Canadian,  against  Courtney  from 
the  United  States. 

1878.  Oct.  8.  A  misplaced  switch 
wrecked  an  excursion  train  on  the  Old 
1878.  Oct.  2.  Colony  railroad,  near  Wol- 
Bank  of  Gias-  laston,  Mass.  Twenty-one 

gcnu    suspended,  .  , 

•muh  $50,000,000  persons  were  instantly 
liabilities.  killed,  and  one  hundred 

and  fifty  wounded.  Carelessness  was 
the  leading  element  in  the  accident,  and 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


859 


the  extreme  results  were  brought  about 
by  the  attempts  of  the  freight  men  to  cor- 
rect the  switches  when  it  was  too  late. 

1878.  Oct.  12.  A  fearful  disaster  befell 
the  whaling  bark  "  Sarah  "  upon  the  day 
of  her  departure  from  New  Bedford  for 
her  voyage.  A  hurricane  capsized  her, 
and  destroyed  eighteen  out  of  the  twenty- 
five  men  who  constituted  her  crew.  The 
remaining  seven  were  in  the  forecastle, 
and  were  thus  imprisoned  by  the  overturn, 
within  the  hull  of  the  vessel.  Four  of 
them  died  very  soon  because  of  lack  of 
food  and  the  pain  of  being  thrown  about 
by  the  rolling  of  the  sea.  •  Two  of  the 
other  three  succeeded  in  getting  upon  the 
outside  of  the  wreck  by  diving  until  they 
were  able  to  come  up  on  the  surface  of 
the  water,  whence  they  climbed  to  the 
bottom  of  the  hull.  A  pilot  boat  came 
along,  and  thus  they  were  able  to  cut  a 
hole  for  the  relief  of  the  last  man,  who 
was  still  imprisoned.  The  tale  is  one  of 
the  most  romantic  in  our  sea  annals. 

1878.  Oct.  23.  A  frightful  tornado 
visited  Philadelphia.  Six  lives  were  lost, 
and  four  hundred  buildings  were  par- 
tially or  wholly  demolished.  Thirty-one 
churches  were  greatly  damaged.  The 
loss  rose  to  $2,000,000. 

1878.  Oct.  29.  A  bold  robbery  was 
committed  in  New  York  city  in  day- 
light by  masked  men  who  entered  the 
Manhattan  Savings  Bank  upon  Broad- 
way, and  carried  off  $11,000  in  money, 
and  $2,700,000  in  securities. 

1878.  October.  Serious  riots  took 
place  in  Santiago,  Chili,  and  eighty  per- 
sons were  killed  and  wounded  by  the 
attempt  of  the  police  to  suppress  the 
difficulty. 

1878.  Nov.  6.  The  body  of  A.  T. 
Stewart  was  stolen  from  the  family 
vault,  in  St.  Mark's  churchyard,  New 


860 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


York.  The  deed  caused  intense  excite- 
ment far  and  near.  The  greatest  mys- 
tery attended  the  affair.  It  was  possi- 
ble to  follow  the  course  of  action  pursued 
by  the  robbers  in  entering  and  leaving  the 
vault.  Traces  were  sought  in  all  direc- 
tions, but  nothing  resulted.  Judge  Hilton 
offered  a  reward  of  $25,00x5  for  the  return 
of  the  body.  It  is  supposed  that  it  was  an 
attempt  to  secure  a  large  sum  of  money  as 
a  ransom.  If  so,  it  failed  through  the 
force  of  opinion  which  set  in  against  such 
a  transaction.  A  guard  was  soon  placed 
over  the  remains  of  Mr.  Vanderbilt,  for 
fear  that  a  similar  attempt  would  be 
made  in  that  quarter.  In  1879  the  rob- 
bers forwarded  the  coffin  plate  and  a 
piece  of  the  coffin  cover  to  Judge  Hil- 
ton, and  offered  to  return  the  body  for 
$250,000.  This  was  refused.  Com- 
munications were  afterward  held  with 
the  robbers,  but  without  result. 

1878.  Nov.  9.  A  fire  consumed 
«ight  hotels,  and  many  cottages,  at  Cape 
May,  N.  J.,  the  famous  summer  water- 
ing place. 

1878.  Nov.  25.  The  Marquis  of 
lorne,  who  had  been  appointed  gov- 
ernor-general of  Canada,  and  had  reached 
Halifax  in  the  steamer  "  Sarmatian," 
made  his  official  landing  with  his  wife, 
the  Princess  Louise,  fourth  daughter  of 
Queen  Victoria.  The  Marquis  is  the 
eldest  son  and  heir  of  the  Duke  of 
Argyle,  widely  known  as  an  eminent 
1878.  November.  Scotch  writer,  scientist,  and 
England  begins  statesman.  He  was  mar- 

war  upon 

Afghanistan.  ried  in  1 87 1.  A  previous 
visit  to  Canada  and  the  United  States  has 
made  him  acquainted  with  the  field  of 
his  authority.  His  appointment  was 
very  pleasing  to  the  Dominion  people. 
His  official  residence  was  fixed  at  New 
Edinburg,  two  miles  from  Ottawa.  The 


passage  of  the  Marquis  and  his  wife  from 
Halifax  to  their  new  home  was  one  of 
brilliant  receptions  and  constant  applause. 

1878.  Nov.  28.  A  collision  between 
the  steamer  Pomerania,  from  New  York 
to  Hamburg,  and  an  iron  barque  bound 
for  Cardiff,  sunk  the  former  in  twenty 
minutes^  with  a  loss  of  fifty  persons. 
The  disaster  occurred  at  midnight,  in  the 
English  Channel,  off  Folkestone.  An 
inquest  showed  that  part  of  the  crew 
showed  exceedingly  cowardly  conduct. 

1878.  Nov.  27.  The  first  Chinaman 
on  record  as  admitted  to  citizenship  in 
the  United  States,  by  naturalization,  was 
Wong  Ah  Lee,  a  cigar-maker.  Appli- 
cations in  two  previous  cases  had  been  re- 
fused on  the  ground  that  a  Mongolian  is 
not  a  white  person.  In  the  present  case 
the  judge  ruled  that  a  Mongolian  is 
either  white  or  black,  and  can  therefore 
be  brought  under  the  law. 

1878.  Dec.  17.  Gold  was  sold  at 
par  in  New  York.  It  was  first  sold  at  a 
premium  in  January,  1862.  It  now  con- 
tinued at  par,  and  resumption  was  thus  a 
fact  two  weeks  before  the  time  set  for 
the  accomplishment  of  it. 

BAYARD  TAYLOR. 

1878.  Dec.  19.  Bayard  Taylor,  an 
American  traveler  and  author,  died  in  . 
Berlin,  Prussia.  He  was  born  in  Ken- 
nett  Square,  Chester  county,  Penn.,  Jan. 
n,  1825.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he 
became  a  printer's  apprentice.  In  1844-5 
he  made  a  tour  of  Europe  on  foot,  tramp- 
ing over  a  great  portion  of  the  continent. 
He  returned  in  1846,  and  published 
"  Views  Afloat,  or  Europe  as  Seen  with 
Knapsack  and  Staff."  In  1 847  he  edited 
a  paper  in  Phoenixville,  Penn.,  and  the 
next  year  went  to  New  York,  to  become 
a  writer  for  the  "Literary  World." 


1877-1881.] 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


861 


Soon  after,  he  joined  the  editorial  staff  of 
the  "  Tribune,"  in  which  many  of  his 
subsequent  writings  were  published.  In 
1849  he  visited  California  and  Mexico, 
and  in  1851  began  a  tour  of  the  Old 
World.  He  ascended  the  Nile,  traversed 
Europe,  Syria,  and  Asia  Minor;  and  in 
1852  he  started  from  England  across 
Asia  to  Calcutta.  From  there  he  went 
to  China  and  joined  Commodore  Perry's 
expedition.  In  1862-3  he  was  Secretary 
of  the  Legation  and  Charge  d' Affaires,  at 
1878.  Dec.u.  St'  Petersburg.  In  1874 
Grand  Duchess  he  again  visited  Egypt,  and 
<tf  «<**f-*>*™-  during  the  same  year  at- 

stadl,  formerly  J 

Princess  Alice, of  tended  the  millennial  cele- 
zwiond.dud.  bration  in  Iceland.  Dur- 
ing his  travels  he  resided  for  a  number  of 
years  in  Germany.  He  was  appointed 
minister  to  that  empire  in  1878.  Be- 
sides being  a  celebrated  author  and 
traveler,  he  was  also  a  well  known  lec- 
turer and  poet.  Altogether  he  published 
about  twelve  different  works  of  travel, 
and  perhaps  twenty  poetical  volumes. 
Several  of  his  works  have  been  trans- 
lated and  published,  in  French,  German, 
and  Russian.  He  had  for  a  long  time 
been  engaged  on  a  life  of  Goethe,  which 
he  left  unfinished.  His  greatest  work 
was  his  translation  of  Goethe's  Faust, 
which  must  ever  remain  a  master-piece. 
The  death  of  Mr.  Taylor  caused  great 
sorrow,  for  he  was  entering  upon  a  pecu- 
liarly useful  period  of  life.  He  was  an 
untiring  worker,  and  a  valuable  official. 


1878.  Dec.  24.  The  steamer  State 
of  Louisiana,  from  Glasgow  to  New 
York,  struck  a  rock  on  the  English  coast 
near  Belfast,  and  was  lost.  The  passen- 
gers and  a  part  of  the  cargo  were  saved. 

1878.  Dec.  27.  The  steamer  Emily 
B.  Souder,  from  New  York  to  Turk's 


Island,  foundered  at  sea,  and  only  two 
persons  were  saved.  This  was  the 
steamer  which  carried  yellow  fever  to 
New  Orleans  in  the  summer  of  this  year. 

1878.  Dec.  27.  A  flood  in  Hayti, 
W.  I.,  destroyed  an  immense  amount  of 
property. 

1878.  December.  A  severe  famine 
existed  for  the  year  in  Brazil.  The  cat- 
tle died  by  thousands,  and  the  poor  peo- 
ple of  the  interior  perished  in  great 
numbers.  Yellow  fever  and  small-pox 
added  to  the  horror  of  the  situation,  the 
death  rate  in  one  city  reaching  as  high 
as  one  thousand  a  day.  Half  a  million 
persons  died  in  one  province  this  year. 

1878.  December.  Father  Purcell's 
Failure.  Archbishop  Purcell,  of  Cincin- 
nati, was  shown  to  have  received  a  large 
amount  of  money  in  the  aggregate,  from 
the  people  of  his  diocese,  and  to  have  vir- 
tually promised  them  to  serve  in  the  use 
of  it  as  a  savings  bank,  when  all  the  time 
he  had  been  employing  it  in  increasing 
the  property  of  the  diocese  in  such  a  way 
that  when  needed  by  his  creditors,  it  was 
locked  up  past  his  power  to  get  it  out. 
A  panic  ensued  in  the  diocese,  because 
many  had  put  all  their  savings  into  his 
hands.  The  number  of  depositors  was 
about  eleven  thousand,  and  the  total  lia- 
bilities without  reckoning  full  claims  for 
compound  interest,  which  would  "  in 
equity  "  be  due,  amounted  to  more  than 
$3,000,000.  The  archbishop  issued  a 
weak  appeal  for  sympathy,  and  finally 
an  exhortation  was  issued  by  the  author- 
ities, to  the  church,  to  aid  the  father  in  his 
miserable  emergency.  But  not  much 
has  come  of  it,  and  many  who  trusted 
that  the  archbishop  was  a  savings  bank, 
are  still  waiting  for  their  earnings.  In 
1880  the  pope  practically  deposed  Father 
Purcell  by  appointing  W.  H.  Elder  his 


862 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


coadjutor,  with  the  right  of  succession,  and 
control  of  all  the  property. 

CIPHER   TELEGRAMS. 

1878.  The  New  York  Tribune 
created  a  great  excitement  by  produc- 
ing certain  cipher  telegrams,  which  it 
claimed  had  been  used  in  the  last  presi- 
dential campaign  by  the  democrats,  and 
by  interpreting  them  with  a  certain  key 
which  showed  that  the  telegrams  related 
to  bribery  in  trying  to  control  the  count 
in  the  doubtful  states.  It  charged  that 
the  telegrams  reflected  severely  upon 
Mr.  Tilden,  the  democratic  nominee  for 
president  in  that  campaign.  The  pro- 
duction of  these  dispatches  and  the  use 
made  of  them  by  the  Tribune,  undoubt- 
edly-were  intended  to,  and  did  strengthen, 
the  republican  party  in  its  winter's  work. 

PHONOGRAPH. 

1878.  During  this  year  an  invention 
was  brought  before  the  people  which 
excited  universal  attention.  It  seemed  to 
follow  in  the  path  of  the  telephone.  It 
was  the  production  of  Thomas  A.  Edi- 
son, the  inventor.  It  was  a  cylinder 
around  which  a  piece  of  silver  foil  could 
be  wound,  the  surface  of  the  cylinder 
being  covered  with  a  spiral  groove, 
slowly  running  from  one  end  to  the 
other.  Against  this  foil  the  point  of  a 
bit  of  metal  is  placed,  the  little  rod  being 
adjusted  in  such  a  way  as  to  be  moved 
backward  and  forth  lengthwise  by 
the  vibrations  of  a  disk,  against  which 
the  sound  of  the  voice  is  thrown.  As 
the  cylinder  revolves,  this  rod  traces  the 
vibrations  of  the  disk  by  a  series  of  slight 
depressions  in  the  foil.  It  is  only  neces- 
sary to  begin  at  the  beginning  and  turn 
the  cylinder  again  to  reproduce,  as  the 
rod  retraces  its  path  along  the  depres- 


sions, the  words,  or  the  song,  which  origi- 
nally made  the  depressions.  But  the  in- 
vention has  not,  like  the  telephone,  be- 
come of  practical  use. 

RESUMPTION. 

1879.  Jan.  1.  The  United  States 
resumed  specie  payment  with  great  ease, 
in  spite  of  the  evil  predictions  of  many 
false  prophets.  The  premium  upon  gold 
had  practically  disappeared  at  the  close 
of  the  old  year.  More  gold  was  re- 
ceived during  the  day  at  the  sub-treasury 
in  New  York  than  was  called  for.  It 
had  been  about  seventeen  years  since  our 
paper  money  had  been  at  par.  For  the 
successful  accomplishment  of  a  return  to 
specie  payment  the  country  was  indebted 
very  largely  to  John  Sherman,  secretary 
of  the  treasury,  who  carefully  and  wisely 
prepared  his  way  and  pursued  it,  in  spite 
of  frequent  advice  to  do  differently. 
Specie  payment  was  suspended  in  Decem- 
ber, 1 86 1.  The  highest  point  reached 
by  gold  since  that  time,  was  on  the 
eleventh  day  of  July,  1864,  when  the  price 
of  $100  in  gold  ranged  from  $276  to 
$285  in  currency.  This  made  a  dollar  in 
paper  worth  only  about  thirty-five  cents 
in  gold.  The  following  table  gives  the 
highest  and  lowest  points  reached  by 
gold  for  each  year,  together  with  the 
average  price  for  the  year.  It  also  gives 
the  value  in  gold  of  $100  in  currency. 


Year. 

Highest. 

Lowest. 

Average. 

Worth 
of  paper. 

1862 

134-0 

IOI.    2 

"3-3 

88.3 

1863 

172.5 

122.    2 

1415.2 

68.9 

1864 

285.0 

151.5 

203.3 

49.2 

1865 

234-37 

128.    2 

157-3 

63.6 

1866 

125.    2 

140.9 

71.0 

1867 

146.37 

132.    2 

138-2 

•72.4 

1868 

150.0 

132.0 

130.7 

71.6 

1869 

162.5 

"9-5 

133-0 

75  -2 

1870 

123.25 

IIO.O 

114.9 

87.0 

1871 
1872 

"5-37 
115.62 

108.37 
108.5 

111.7 
112.4 

89.5 
89.0 

i|73 

119.12 

106.  12 

113-8 

87-9 

1874 

114-37 

109.0 

III.  2 

89-9 

1875 

117.62 

111-75 

II5.I 

86.9 

1876 

115.0 

107.0 

in.  5 

89.6 

,877 

107.87 

102.5 

104-7 

9S-S 

1878 

102.87 

100.0 

101.43 

^'S         Illl 

1877-1881.] 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


863 


CALEB  GUSHING. 

1879.  Jan.  2.  Caleb  Gushing,  one 
of  the  leading  American  jurists  and 
diplomatists,  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
nine  years,  less  fifteen  days.  He  was 
born  in  Salisbury,  Mass.,  Jan.  17,  1800. 
He  early  exhibited  a  strong  mind,  and 
during  his  boyhood  laid  a  good  founda- 
tion in  the  lower  branches  of  study. 
When  seventeen  years  old  he  graduated 
from  Harvard  College,  and  spent  about 
two  years  then  in  serving  as  tutor  in 
mathematics  and  kindred  studies.  He 
began  a  course  of  law-reading,  and  was 
finally  admitted  to  the  bar.  Having 
chosen  Newburyport,  Mass.,  as  his  place 
of  practice,  he  at  once  attained  a  success 
which  promised  a  marked  career  for  him. 
He  was  soon  enlisted  in  state  politics,  and 
served  in  both  the  house  and  senate.  In 
1834  he  entered  congress  as  representa- 
tive, when  he  served  for  four  terms.  His 
success  as  commissioner  to  China  in  1844 
in  negotiating  the  first  treaty  ever  con- 
cluded between  the  United  States  and 
China,  gave  him  a  wide  repute  as  a  di- 
plomatist. He  served  as  an  officer  in  the 
war  with  Mexico.  For  a  time  he  was 
upon  the  bench  of  the  supreme  court  of 
Massachusetts,  and  subsequently  attor- 
ney-general of  the  United  States,  under 
President  Pierce.  His  first  sympathies 
in  1860  leaned  toward  the  South  in  their 
claims.  At  the  Charleston  democratic 
convention,  and  at  the  Baltimore  conven- 
tion of  seceders  from  the  regular  body, 
he  presided.  He,  however,  gave  his 
efforts  afterward  to  the  support  of  the 
Union.  His  most  widely  known  recent 
position  was  in  the  council  of  the  United 
States  at  Geneva  in  regard  to  the  Ala- 
bama claims.  He  was  minister  to  Spain 
in  1873.  During  his  life  he  exhibited  great 
literary  talent,  and  wrote  abundantly. 


1879.  Jan.  6.  Polygamy  was  de- 
cided by  the  United  States  supreme  court 
to  be  illegal,  and  to  be  subject  to  the 
prohibition  of  congress. 

1879.  Jan.  14.  A  great  ice-break 
took  place  in  the  Ohio  River  at  New 
Albany,  Ind.  The  flood  swept  away  a 
great  amount  of  property  upon  the  river 
banks  for  miles. 

1879.  Jan.  14.  Two  Molly  Maguires 
named  McDonnell  and  Sharpe,  were 
hung  at  Mauch  Chunk,  Penn.,  for  the 
murder  of  George  K.  Smith,  in  1863.  A 
reprieve  for  six  days  had  been  granted  by 
Gov.  Hartranft,  but  the  messenger  ar- 
rived at  the  scene  of  execution  about 
thirty  seconds  after  the  drop  had  fallen. 

1879.  Jan.  16.  A  memorial  service 
in  honor  of  the  late  Prof.  Joseph  Henry, 
secretary  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution, 
was  held  by  the  United  States  congress 
in  the  hall  of  the  house  of  representatives. 
Testimonies  to  the  worth  and  ability  of 
Prof.  Henry  were  given  with  great  ear- 
nestness by  members  of  both  houses.  Dr. 
McCosh,  president  of  Princeton  College, 
and  Dr.  Sunderland,  chaplain  of  the  sen- 
ate, conducted  the  devotional  part  of  the 
service. 

1879.  Jan.  17.  A  great  fire  in  New 
York  city  burned  out  nineteen  dry  goods 
firms  at  a  loss  of  nearly  three  millions  of 
dollars. 

1879o  Jan.  21.  Hon.  George  S. 
Hillard  of  Boston,  died,  aged  seventy 
years.  He  was  chiefly  known  as  a  liter- 
ary man,  although  he  was  a  lawyer  by 
profession,  and  was  at  one  time  United 
States  district  attorney  for  Massachusetts. 
He  traveled  extensively  in  Europe,  and 
issued  «  Six  Months  in  Italy."  Educa- 
tion took  a  portion  of  his  attention,  and 
resulted  in  the  publication  of  a  series  of 
school  readers. 


864 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1879.      Jan.    22.      A    revolutionary 

movement  took  place  in  Venezuela,  S. 
A.,  in  favor  of  Guzman  Blanco. 

1879.  Jan.  25.  An  insane  asylum 
near  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  was  burned,  at  a 
loss  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

1879.  January.  A  change  in  the 
calendar  was  proposed  in  a  bill  intro- 
duced into  the  United  States  house  of 
representatives,  by  Representative  Oliver 
of  Iowa,  arranging  for  three  hundred 
and  sixty-five  days  in  every  common 
year,  three  hundred  and  seventy-seven 
days  in  a  "jubilee  year"  once  in  a 
half  century,  and  three  hundred  and 
seventy-eight  days  in  a  "  great  jubilee 
year  "  once  in  five  centuries.  The  extra 
days  of  these  jubilee  years  were  to  be 
Sabbath  days. 

1879.  Feb.  2.  Richard  Henry  Dana, 
a  prominent  American  writer  in  his  day, 
died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one 
years.  He  was  born  at  Cambridge, 
Mass.,  Nov.  15,  1787,  studied  at  Harvard 
in  the  class  of  1808,  but  was  not  gradu- 
ated, because  of  his  connection  with  the 
college  rebellion  of  1807.  Law  and 
politics  engaged  his  attention,  and  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1811.  But 
his  work  took  more  and  more  of  a  liter- 
ary turn.  He  assisted  in  establishing  the 
"North  American  Review"  in  1815, 
and  at  one  time  assisted  to  edit  it.  He 
constantly  wrote  for  it.  Mr.  Dana  pos- 
sessed a  poetic  faculty,  and  published  sev- 
eral volumes  of  poems  which  show  many 
excellencies.  He  was  of  the  generation 
to  which  William  Cullen  Bryant  be- 
longed, being  but  seven  years  older  than 
that  eminent  poet. 

WOMEN  IN  If.  S.  SUPREME  COURT. 

1879.  Feb.  7.  A  bill  allowing 
women  to  practice  law  in  the  U.  S. 


supreme  court,  was  passed  by  the  U.  S. 
senate.  The  same  bill  passed  the  house 
nearly  a  year  before,  and  was  called  up 
in  the  senate  through  the  persistent  efforts 
of  Mrs.  Belva  A.  Lockwood,  who  has 
been  practicing  in  the  lower  courts  of 
Washington  for  years,  and  who  has  de- 
termined to  secure  this  last  and  highest 
privilege  for  her  sex.  The  chief  advo- 
cates of  the  bill  were  Senators  Hoar  of 
Massachusetts,  and  Sargeant  of  Cali- 
fornia. A  handsome  bouquet  was  sent 
to  Mr.  Hoar  by  Mrs.  President  Hayes, 
after  the  passage  of  the  bill. 


1879.  Feb.  11.  Six  men  were  buried 
alive  by  the  caving  in  of  the  sides  of  a 
railway  cut  at  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

1879.  Feb.  14.  A  colored  man, 
Senator  Bruce,  was  for  the  first  time  in 
the  history  of  the  United  States,  made 
pro  tern,  presiding  officer  of  the  senate. 

1879.  Feb.  20.  A  severe  disaster 
occurred  to  the  fishing  fleet  of  Glou- 
cester, Mass.,  upon  the  Georges  bank,  by 
which  fourteen  vessels  and  one  hundred 
and  fifty-five  lives  were  lost.  This  was 
another  of  the  many  afflictions  which 
have  fallen  on  the  fishing  towns  of  the 
Atlantic  coast. 

1879.  Feb.  22.  A  boiler  explosion 
at  Stockton,  Cal.,  killed  16  persons,  and 
injured  25. 

1879.  Feb.  24.  A  revolution  broke 
out  in  New  Granada,  S.  A. 

1879.  February.  The  state  treas- 
urer of  Missouri,  named  Gates,  was 
found  to  be  a  defaulter  to  the  amount  of 
$343,000. 

1879.  March  1.  The  anti-Chinese 
bill,  which  had  passed  both  houses 
of  congress,  was  vetoed  by  President 
Hayes.  The  bill  restricted  to  fifteen  the 
number  of  emigrants  that  should  be 


1877-1881.] 

brought  into  America  in  any  one  vessel 
at  one  time. 

1879.  March  2.  A  great  fire  con- 
sumed a  greater  part  of  San  Reno, 
Nevada,  and  destroyed  five  lives.  The 
loss  of  property  was  one  million  dollars. 

1879.  March  5.  Archbishop  Pur- 
cell  of  Cincinnati,  and  his  brother,  Father 
Edward  Purcell,  transferred  all  their 
property  to  J.  B.  Mannix,  to  be  applied 
for  the  benefit  of  their  creditors. 

1879.  March  5.  United  States  ports 
were  ordered  to  take  precautions  against 
the  plague,  which  was  causing  fear  in 
Europe. 

TEMPERANCE  PETITION. 

1879.  March  6.  A  petition  signed 
by  1 10,000  persons,  was  presented  to  the 
legislature  of  Illinois,  asking  that  women 
might  be  allowed  to  vote  on  all  questions 
which  involve  the  granting  of  licenses 
for  the  sale  of  liquor.  It  was  afterward 
found  that  amendments  to  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  state  would  be  necessary  be- 
fore such  a  law  could  be  passed. 

"THE  LEARNED  BLACKSMITH." 

1879.  March  7.  Elihu  Burritt,  who 
had  acquired  a  wide  reputation  under  the 
above  popular  appellation,  died  at  New 
Britain,  Conn.,  aged  sixty-nine  years. 
He  was  born  in  the  same  place,  Decem- 
ber 8,  1810.  His  father  was  a  shoemak- 
er. The  growing  boy  went  to  the  com- 
mon school  of  the  place,  and  when  it 
became  necessary  for  him  to  choose  some 
occupation  for  life,  he  entered  as  an  ap- 
prentice to  learn  the  art  of  blacksmithing. 
He  now  began  his  literary  studies, 
which  were  kept  up  for  a  lifetime.  The 
Scriptures  first  of  all  inspired  him  to  mas- 
ter their  original  tongues,  and  between 
whiles  at  his  work,  he  occupied  himself 

55 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


865 


with  his  task.  His  progress  was  very 
considerable.  At  one  time  he  began 
work  in  Worcester,  Mass.,  that  he  might 
have  access  to  the  well-known  antiqua- 
rian library  there.  His  facility  in  learn- 
ing languages  seemed  to  be  very  great, 
and  the  writer  of  this  sketch  heard 
him  say  in  his  last  years  that  "prob- 
ably more  languages  had  been  for- 
gotten by  him  than  most  men  under- 
take to  learn."  The  activity  of  Mr. 
Burritt  was  very  great,  especially  in 
the  cause  of  "  Peace  Societies."  He 
formed  in  London,  in  1846,  the  "  League 
of  Universal  Brothei'hood,"  and  lectured 
constantly  to  secure  the  abolition  of  war 
by  the  employment  of  arbitration.  He 
was  prominent  in  peace  congresses  held 
in  Europe. 

1879.  March  10.  A  notable  anni- 
versary was  held  in  New  York,  at  the 
residence  of  Mr.  Cyrus  W.  Field,  it  being 
the  25th  celebration  of  the  day  on  which 
the  original  compact  forming  the  first 
Atlantic  telegraph  company  was  signed. 
The  room  and  the  table  were  the  same 
on  each  occasion.  Four  out  of  the  five 
original  signers  came  together,  viz.:  Mr. 
Field,  Peter  Cooper,  Moses  Taylor,  and 
Marshall  O.  Roberts.  Other  distinguished 
persons  were  present,  and  a  great  social 
occasion  was  enjoyed.  It  was  stated  by 
Mr.  Field  that  he  had  on  that  very  day  re- 
ceived permission  to  land  a  proposed  Pa- 
cific telegraph  from  the  United  States 
to  Japan,  on  the  Sandwich  Islands. 

1879.  March  14.  A  new  tariff  in 
Canada  inci'eased  duties  upon  imported 
goods  from  seven  to  about  twenty-five 
per  cent.  The  aim  was  protective,  but 
English  and  Canadian  merchants  ob- 
jected to  it.  It  acted  adversely  upon 
all  countries,  Great  Britain  included. 


866 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1879.  March  15.  The  international 
walking  match  in  Gilmore's  Garden, 
New  York,  ended  with  the  victory  of 
Rowell,  the  Englishman.  It  had  lasted 
six  days,  and  the  receipts  were  over 
$50,000.  The  distance  was  five  hundred 
miles.  A  gallery  crowded  with  specta- 
tors fell  during  the  walk  on  the  I2th,  in- 
juring some. 

1879.  March  19.  The  British  steam- 
er Bolivar  sunk  the  Haytien  steamer 
Michel  in  a  collision  near  Kingston, 
Jamaica.  Sixty  lives  were  lost. 

1879.  March  20.  Thirteen  clear- 
ing-house banks  at  New  Orleans  sus- 
pended payment  for  ten  days,  except 
by  certified  checks.  The  financial  stress 
was  great,  but  it  was  hoped  would  be 
safely  passed.  Aid  was  sent  from  New 
York  banks,  and  in  due  time  the  worst 
was  encountered.  The  suspension  was 
resorted  to  in  order  to  check  a  panic 
threatened  by  the  failure  of  two  banks. 
The  banks  opened  in  five  days. 

1879.  March  20.  Dennis  Kearney 
was  violently  assaulted  at  Santa  Anna, 
Cal.,  for  having  used  abusive  language 
in  a  lecture  in  that  place.  He  was  very 
severely  beaten. 

1879.  March  22.  Considerable  ex- 
citement occurred  among  Quebec  mer- 
chants in  regard  to  the  new  tariff,  which 
had  increased  the  duties  upon  some  arti- 
cles. A  protest  was  prepared,  and  signed 
by  many.  The  new  tariff  was  intended 
to  protect  home  industries,  and  raise 
$2,000,000  revenue.  The  bill,  however, 
had  become  a  law  in  England  before  the 
Canadian  protests  could  be  sent.  The 
provisions  were  the  same  for  all  the  Eng- 
lish dominions.  The  rate  of  increase 
was  from  seven  per  cent,  to  twenty-five 
per  cent,  on  most  articles. 

1879.    March.    Forest  fires  were  rag- 


ing in  Kansas,  and  were  attended  by  loss 
of  life  in  Lincoln  county. 

1879.  March.  The  cashier  ol  the 
Bank  of  Hochelaga,  Montreal,  was  found 
to  be  a  defaulter  to  the  amount  of 
$50,000. 

1879.  March.  A  thousand  citizens 
served  each  night  as  a  patrol  in  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  to  guard  against  incendiary 
fires,  which  had  broken  out  in  great 
numbers.  The  excitement  died  away  in 
a  short  time. 

NEGRO  EXODUS. 

1879.  March.  The  movement  among 
the  colored  people  of  the  South  toward 
Kansas  and  other  states,  which  has  at- 
tracted so  much  attention  during  the  last 
two  years,  began  this  month.  It  was  at 
this  time  that  the  first  negro  emigrants 
gathered  at  St.  Louis,  and  created  the 
perplexity  which  has  since  characterized 
the  entire  process.  The  first  ones  in  some 
way  thought  that  they  would  find  free 
transportation  and  support  beyond  St. 
Louis,  until  they  arrived  in  the  "  prom- 
ised land."  Their  ignorance  made  it  im- 
possible to  get  at  the  truth  of  their  under- 
taking. The  numbers  gradually  increased, 
and  the  problem  of  providing  for  them 
was  forced  upon  the  railroads  and  the 
people  of  Kansas,  whither  they  were 
making  their  way.  For  two  years  a 
more  or  less  steady  stream  has  been 
pouring  into  that  state,  and  at  times  great 
suffering  has  been  experienced.  Some 
of  the  wanderers  have  taken  up  their 
abode  in  other  states.  The  question  of 
the  origin  of  the  "  exodus"  is  not  yet  fully 
settled.  The  more  intelligent  ones  state 
that  they  were  emigrating  because  they 
had  never  been  allowed  in  the  South  the 
rights  of  citizenship;  that  they  had  been 
intimidated  for  attempting  to  vote  ac- 


1877-1881.]  THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 

cording  to  their  convictions;  that  they  Peru, 
had  often  lost  their  just  wages,  and  were 
sometimes  deprived  of  the  means  of  sus- 
tenance. They  wished  to  "  move  to  a  free 
country,"  and  thousands  of  them  rushed 
to  uncultivated  Western  lands,  starved, 
ignorant,  and  penniless.  They  gave  up 
the  "Sunny  South"  forever,  and  their 
former  masters  vainly  endeavored  to  hold 
them  back.  Great  political  excitement 
arose  over  the  exodus.  Northern  politi- 
cians charged  it  upon  the  blindness  and 
cruelty  of  the  former  slave-owners,  while 
the  latter  charged  it  upon  the  designing 
arts  and  solicitations  of  the  former.  But 
gradually  it  became  clear  that  it  was  a 
great  movement  which  owed  its  extent  to 
a  kind  of  restlessness  on  the  part  of  the 
blacks  under  the  deprivations  of  their  sit- 
uation, and  a  vague  idea  that  in  the  free 
West  they  would  be  able  to  make  better 
and  more  rapid  progress.  The  move- 
ment, however,  was  not  transitory.  Its 
force  is  yet  unspent,  and  many  of  the 
former  slaves  are  acquiring  property,  and 
becoming  peaceful  citizens 
William  Hep-  of  the  great  interior  states. 


867 


good.  It  will  force  a  redistribution  of 
land  and  labor  at  the  South,  and  change, 
perhaps  annihilate,  some  of  the  elements 
of  difficulty,  in  the  reconstruction  of  that 
fair  portion  of  the  United  States. 

THE  CHILI-PERUVIAN  WAR. 

1879.  April  3.  Peru  and  Bolivia 
declared  war  upon  Chili.  The  immedi- 
ate cause  of  hostilities  was  the  violation 
of  a  treaty  regarding  the  management  of 
certain  silver  mines,  which  the  two 
former  powers  wished  to  control.  An 
American  who  witnessed  the  conflict, 
thus  wrote  of  the  causes :  "  Bolivia  is  a 
small  state  lying  between  Chili  and 


It  has  a  high,  steep  coast,  with 
but  one  seaport,  and  that  not  a  very  good 
one.  In  the  southern  part  of  Peru,  all 
through  Bolivia,  and  the  northern  por- 
tion of  Chili,  are  rich  nitrate  mines. 
Niter,  from  which  is  obtained  saltpeter,  is 
the  great  export  and  source  of  wealth  of 
the  country.  The  Bolivians  were  too 
poor,  lazy,  and  inefficient  to  work  their 
own  mines,  and  rented  them  to  an  enter- 
prising Chilian  company.  It  was  stipu- 
lated by  the  two  governments  that  the 
Chilians  should  work  the  mines  and  im- 
prove the  shipping  facilities  by  fixing  the 
harbor,  and  removing  many  of  its  ob- 
structions. In  consideration  of  this 
Bolivia  exempted  the  company  from  all 
taxation.  For  some  time  this  plan  worked 
without  trouble,  until  Bolivia,  wishing  to 
raise  some  funds,  taxed  the  mining  com- 
panies. And  this  violation  of  their 
agreement  by  the  Bolivians,  so  say  the 
Chilians,  brought  on  the  war  that  is  now 
waging.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Boliv- 
ians claimed  that  the  harbor  was  not 
being  improved  sufficiently,  and  more- 
over the  Chilians  were  assuming  an  un- 
justifiable authority,  and  trying  to  con- 
trol the  country.  Both  parties,  in  my 
opinion,  are  to  blame.  Regarding  the 
imposition  of  the  tax,  there  can  be  no 
doubt ;  regarding  the  other  point,  writers 
differ.  Hence  the  war."  This  war,  as 
we  shall  see,  eventually  became  one  of 
the  bloodiest  and  most  useless,  in  the  his- 
tory of  South  America.  A  few  days 
after  war  was  declared,  the  Peruvian  port 
of  Iquique  was  blockaded  by  Chili. 

POJfCM.  TROUBLES. 

1879.  April  9.  A  writ  of  habeas 
corpus  was  issued  at  Omaha,  by  Judge 
Dundy,  commanding  Gen.  Crook  of 
the  United  States  army,  to  show  why  he 


868 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


held  a  large  number  of  Ponca  Indians 
prisoners.  The  history  of  the  rise  of  the 
trouble  was  as  follows :  The  Poncas  had 
1879.  April 14.  lands  which  they  were  cul- 
czar  of  Russia  fatf  very  thriftily,  and 

snot  at  four  J  ' 

limes.  were  succeeding  very  well 

in  becoming  civilized.  In  an  ill  moment 
the  Interior  Department  decided,  because 
of  certain  arrangements  with  other  In- 
dians, that  they  must  give  up  their  lands, 
and  go  south  to  the  Indian  Territory. 
This  was  carried  out  against  their  own 
wish.  In  their  new  home  the  climate 
soon  caused  a  heavy  mortality,  and  be- 
fore long  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  were 
dead.  Their  discontent  now  became 
serious,  and  they  started  upon  a  journey 
to  their  old  lands.  The  United  States 
government  ordered  Gen.  Crook  to  force 
them  back,  and  he  seized  them  for  that 
purpose,  with  the  result  above  stated. 
This  case  has  been  before  the  country 
ever  since,  and  great  perplexity  has  been 
felt  because  an  arrangement  had  been 
made  for  their  former  lands,  which  could 
not  easily  be  readjusted.  The  Interior 
Department  now  confesses  that  a  great 
mistake  was  made  in  the  removal  of  the 
Poncas.  Members  of  the  tribe  have  vis- 
ited various  cities  since,  and  the  one  best 
known  is  "  Bright  Eyes,"  a  young  lady 
of  intelligence  and  attractiveness.  On 
May  14  Judge  Dundy  declared  that  the 
Poncas  were  citizens,  and  they  were 
therefore  released  from  imprisonment. 
Their  case  has  been  brought  widely  be- 
fore the  country,  and  called  fresh  atten- 
tion to  the  story  of  the  wrongs  of  the 
Indian. 

1879.  April  20.  A  parade  of  com- 
munists, armed  with  rifles  and  bayonets, 
took  place  on  Sunday,  the  twentieth,  in 
Chicago.  There  were  four  hundred  of 


them  in  all,  and  they  intended  by  this 
parade  to  express  their  antagonism  to  a 
bill  in  the  Illinois  legislature,  forbidding 
the  drill  of  all  bodies  not  enrolled  accord- 
ing to  law. 

1879.  April  21.  General  John  A. 
Dix  died  at  New  York.  He  was  born 
in  1798.  He  had  been  senator,  governor 
of  his  state,  and  secretary  of  the  treasury ; 
also  major-general  of  the  United  States 
volunteers.  His  famous  order,  tele- 
graphed to  the  lieutenant  of  a  revenue 
cutter,  at  New  Orleans,  on  the  eve  of  the 
civil  war,  "  If  any  man  attempts  to  haul 
down  the  American  flag  shoot  him  on 
the  spot,"  indicated  his  spirit.  He  was  a 
war  democrat.  He  wrote  a  translation 
of  "Dies  Irae,"  which  is  thought  to  be 
the  best  of  all  attempts  to  render  that 
great  hymn. 

1879.  April  23.  A  conflagration 
consumed  the  Notre  Dame  Roman  Cath- 
olic University  at  South  Bend,  Ind. 
The  loss  was  about  $1,000,000. 

1879.  April  23.  An  attempted  as- 
sassination of  Edwin  Booth  took  place  at 
McVicker's  Theater  in  Chicago,  while 
he  was  playing  Richard  III.  A  man 
named  Gray  committed  the  deed  by  fir- 
ing two  shots  without  effect.  He  was 
afterward  arrested,  and  found  to  be  crazy, 
and  was  committed  to  an  asylum. 

1879.  April  23.  A  coal  mine  at 
Sugar  Notch,  Penn.,  caved  in  and  buried 
seven  men.  Efforts  were  at  once  begun 
for  their  release,  and  in  four  days  they 
were  found  alive,  having  subsisted  upon 
the  meat  of  a  mule,  and  water.  They 
had  been  able  to  kindle  a  fire. 

1879.  April  24.  The  British  Co- 
lumbia parliament,  moved  by  the  fact 
that  certain  pledges  made  to  them  by  the 
home  government  had  not  been  fulfilled, 
passed  a  resolution,  demanding  permis- 


1877-1881.] 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


869 


sion  to  secede  from  Great  Britain,  unless 
those  pledges  were  fulfilled  by  May  i. 
Part  of  these  pledges  related  to  their 
means  of  communication  with  the  eastern 
provinces  of  Canada. 

1879.  April  26.  A  proclamation 
forbidding  white  settlers  to  enter  the 
Indian  Territory,  was  issued  by  President 
Hayes.  This  was  made  necessary  by 
the  fact  that  some  families  were  crossing 
the  line  in  order  to  get  upon  lands  held 
by  the  Indians.  These  persons  were, 
however,  soon  removed  by  United  States 
troops.  This  was  the  first  of  the  trouble 
which  became  so  extensive  in  the  winter 
of  1 880- 1. 

1879.  April  30.  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Hale, 
for  many  years  editor  of  "  Godey's  Lady's 
Book,"  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine 
years.  Her  husband  died  when  she  was 
thirty-two  years  old,  leaving  her  five 
children  to  support.  She  began  to  write 
at  this  time,  and  has  been  identified  with 
a  literary  life  ever  since.  It  is  asserted 
on  good  authority  that  she  originated 
the  idea  of  a  national  thanksgiving  day, 
and  the  entrance  of  women  into  mission- 
ary and  medical  work. 

1879.  May  1.  A  terrible  crime  was 
committed  at  Pocasset,  Mass.,  by  Charles 
F.  Freeman,  who  killed  his  younger 
daughter  by  stabbing  her  in  her  sleep. 
Mr.  Freeman  claimed  to  have  been 
divinely  commanded  to  commit  the  deed, 
with  the  assurance  that  God  would  stay 
his  hand  or  raise  his  child  to  life  on  the 
third  day.  He  was  a  Second  Adventist, 
and  called  the  Adventists  of  the  place 
together,  and  explained  his  act  to  them, 
and  then  defended  it.  The  affair  pro- 
duced intense  excitement,  and  some  of 
his  followers  attempted  to  declare  that  he 
was  right.  Freeman  was  afterward  sent 
to  the  insane  asylum. 


THE  TRIAL  OF 
1879.  May  2.  The  trial  of  Tal- 
mage,  the  Presbyterian  preacher  of 
Brooklyn,  who  had  aroused  in  the  minds 
of  some  of  his  brethren  suspicions  of  his 
lack  of  good  moral  character,  held  before 
the  presbytery,  closed  in  1879_  May  so. 
the  acquittal  of  the  accused,  Peace  °t simia 

.       .  between  Eng- 

although  there  was  a  heavy  iandand 
vote  for  conviction.  The  Afghanistan. 
vote  was  24  to  20.  The  charges  were 
admitted,  but  it  was  claimed  by  many 
that  they  were  not  blameworthy.  One 
was  that  the  preacher  had  got  a  man  to 
subscribe  a  large  amount  to  the  debt  on 
the  Tabernacle,  with  the  understanding 
that  he  should  never  pay  it,  but  should 
allow  the  use  of  his  name  as  an  influence. 
Singular  that  there  should  be  any  ques- 
tion of  the  wrongfulness  of  such  conduct. 
The  trial  in  its  whole  procedure  and 
results,  produced  a  most  unfortunate 
result. 

1879*  May  5.  An  international 
sculling  race  was  held  on  the  Tyne,  in 
England,  at  which  Edward  Hanlan  of 
Toronto,  Canada,  defeated  John  Haw- 
don  of  Delaval,  England. 

1879.  May  6.  Two  exodus  con- 
ventions were  held,  one  being  the  Missis- 
'sippi  Valley  Labor  Convention,  at  Vicks- 
burg,  composed  of  whites  and  blacks. 
It  passed  measures  which  it  was  thought 
would  incline  the  blacks  to  stay  at  the 
South,  but  the  colored  members  would 
not  vote  upon  them.  The  other  conven- 
tion called  itself  the  National  Colored 
Conference,  and  was  composed  of  blacks 
from  fifteen  states.  The  views  and 
measures  of  this  one  favored  the  exodus. 
It  formed  the  "American  Protective 
Society  to  Prevent  Injustice  to  Colored 
People." 


870 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1879.  May  14.  An  important  de- 
cision was  rendered  by  Judge  Dundy  of 
Omaha,  affirming  that  the  Ponca  Ind- 
ians, who  had  been  imprisoned  for  re- 
sistance to  the  government  in  the  at- 
tempt to  keep  them  from  returning  to 
their  lands,  from  which  they  had  been  re- 
moved, were  citizens,  and  hence  were 
free  to  go  where  they  pleased.  Stand- 
ing Bear  and  his  party  were  therefore 
released.  The  homes  of  these  Indians 
were  unjustly  broken  up  while  they  were 
honestly  supporting  themselves.  The 
decision  in  their  favor  was  a  righteous 
one.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  before  long 
an  Indian  can  become  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States  as  fully  as  any  one,  and 
can  hold  property,  which  shall  be  re- 
spected as  his  by  all  the  laws  of  the 
country.  Such  a  peaceful  result  would 
prove  the  best  settlement  of  the  long- 
vexed  question. 

1879.  May  15.  An  international 
congress  was  opened  at  Paris,  to  con- 
sider the  question  of  cutting  a  ship  canal 
across  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  Repre- 
sentatives were  present  from  all  the  great 
powers,  including  the  United  States. 
M.  Ferdinand  de  Lesseps,  the  man  who 
did  so  much  to  carry  through  the 
work  of  cutting  the  Suez  canal,  was 
president  of  the  body.  Before  adjourn- 
ment a  vote  of  98  to  8  was  taken  in  favor 
of  the  Panama  and  Aspinwall  route. 
This  was  the  start  in  the  undertaking 
which,  by  the  visit  of  de  Lesseps  to  this 
country,  and  his  subsequent  energetic 
measures  to  obtain  funds,  has  been  put  so 
prominently  before  the  American  people, 
and  which  has  produced  a  discussion, 
congressional  and  otherwise,  of  the  Mon- 
roe doctrine. 

1879.  May  23.  A  Southern  quar- 
antine bill  was  passed  by  congress,  ap- 


propriating half  a  million  dollars  for  the 
establishment  of  quarantines  along  the 
southern  coast  of  the  United  States. 
This  measure  was  taken  in  view  of  the 
ravages  of  yellow  fever  in  1878. 

WILLIAM  LLOYD    GARRISON. 

1879.  May  24.  William  Lloyd  Gar- 
rison, an  American  reformer,  died  in 
New  York.  He  was  born  in  Newbury- 
port,  Massachusetts,  December  12,  1804. 
When  William  was  quite  young,  his 
father  died,  but  he  was  left  in  the  care  of 
a  Christian  mother.  His  early  education 
was  obtained  only  by  overcoming  many 
difficulties.  He  was  first  apprenticed,  at 
the  age  of  nine,  to  a  shoemaker;  but 
neither  his  physical  nor  mental  conditions 
were  adapted  to  this  sort  of  work.  After 
working  to  obtain  the  advantages  of  an 
academy,  for  a  time,  he  became  appren- 
ticed to  the  publisher  of  the  Newbury- 
port  "  Gazette."  While  learning  his 
trade  he  kept  up  his  studies,  and  wrote 
articles  on  various  topics  for  the  press. 
In  1826  he  became  editor  and  proprietor 
of  a  paper  called  the  "  Free  Press,"  in 
his  native  town;  but  notwithstanding 
his  energy  and  enthusiasm,  this  enter- 
prise proved  a  failure.  In  1827  he  be- 
came editor  of  the  "National  Philan- 
thropist," a  total  abstinence  journal  pub- 
lished in  Boston.  Then  he  united  with  a 
friend  in  the  publication  of  "  The  Jour- 
nal of  the  Times,"  a  temperance  and 
anti-slavery  paper,  in  Bennington,  Ver- 
mont. His  abolition  principles  had  now 
begun  to  bring  down  upon  him  the 
wrath  of  the  "best  people"  of  New 
England.  In  1829  he  united  with  Ben- 
jamin Lundy,  a  Quaker,  in  the  publi- 
cation of  "  The  Genius  of  Universal 
Emancipation."  This  journal  under  Mr. 
Lundy's  management  had  been  a  mild 


1877-1881.] 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


871 


sort  of  a  sheet,  favoring  gradual  aboli- 
tion; but  there  was  nothing  mild  or  com- 
promising in  Mr.  Garrison's  attitude  to- 
ward wrong.  His  "  ruinous  zeal  "  soon 
scattered  the  subscribers  of  the  quiet 
Quaker,  and  landed  the  young  reformer 
in  prison  for  libel.  A  philanthropic 
friend  paid  his  fine,  and  Mr.  Garrison 
went  to  Boston,  where,  on  the  ist  of  Jan- 
uary, 1831,  he  issued  the  first  number  of 
the  famed  "  Liberator."  He  started  with- 
out money,  and  without  an  office.  In  his 
salutatory  he  said:  "I  am  in  earnest. 
I  will  not  equivocate — I  will  not  excuse — 
I  will  not  retreat  a  single  inch.  AND  I 
WILL  BE  HEARD!"  Further  on  he  writes 
the  following  prophetic  words:  "  Poster- 
ity will  bear  testimony  that  I  was  right." 
The  boldness  with  which  he  fought  at 
this  early  date  for  the  abolition  of  the 
slave  power,  and  the  freedom  of  the 
slave,  and  the  faith  and  perseverance 
exhibited,  were  sublime.  In  1 832  he  visit- 
ed England,  and  was  cordially  received 
by  many  eminent  persons.  On  his  re- 
turn he  assisted  in  organizing  the  Ameri- 
can anti-slavery  association  in  Philadel- 
phia. He  also  delivered  many  lectures 
while  continuing  the  "  Liberator."  At 
one  time  he  was  seized  by  a  mob  and 
dragged  through  the  streets  of  Boston. 
His  offence  was  pleading  for  the  liberty 
of  his  enslaved  countrymen.  He  was 
afterward  placed  in  jail  to  escape  the 
violence  of  the  mob.  He  was  perse- 
cuted on  all  sides,  and  the  governor  of 
Georgia  offered  a  reward  of  five  thousand 
dollars  for  his  arrest.  He  boldly  de- 
nounced the  clergy  for  timidly  submitting 
to  the  dictates  of  the  slave  power,  and 
denounced  the  inconsistency  of  the  Union. 
He  styled  the  slaveholders  as  pirates, 
and  took  for  his  motto  "  No  Union  with 
Slavery."  He  continued  the  battle  until 


the  nation  was  aroused,  the  combat  waged, 
and  the  victory  won.  Then  he  laid  down 
the  armor  of  warfare.  The  enslaved 
were  free,  and  the  "  Liberator's"  work 
was  done.  On  Jan.  i,  1866,  he  pub- 
lished the  last  number  of  his  paper. 
In  his  valedictory  he  said :  "  I  began 
the  publication  of  the  '  Liberator '  without 
a  subscriber,  and  I  end  it — it  gives  me 
unalloyed  satisfaction  to  say — without  a 
farthing  as  the  pecuniary  result  of  the 
patronage  extended  to  it  during  thirty- 
five  years  of  unremitted  labors."  After 
the  suspension  of  the  "  Liberator,"  he 
engaged  in  writing  on  various  topics  un- 
til the  time  of  his  death.  His  funeral 
at  Boston  brought  together  a  very  large 
number  of  distinguished  people. 


1879.      May   28.      A   memorial  was 

issued  by  a  meeting  of  Mississippi  cot- 
ton planters,  protesting  against  the  send- 
ing of  steamers  down  the  Mississippi 
River  to  aid  the  negroes  in  leaving. 
The  plea  was  based  upon  the  claim  that 
for  a  few  weeks  the  cotton  crop  needed 
all  the  care  possible,  and  the  loss  of  hands 
would  cause  a  loss  to  the  planters  of  thou- 
sands of  dollars. 

1879.  May  29.  A  naval  battle  oc- 
curred off  Iquique,  Peru,  between  Chilian 
and  Peruvian  vessels.  The  former  gained 
the  victory.  Several  ships  were  sunk, 
among  them  the  great  Peruvian  iron- 
clad Independencia. 

1879.  May  30.  Great  tornadoes  oc- 
curred, one  in  the  vicinity  of  Frankfort, 
Kan.,  and  one  in  Ottawa  and  Republic 
counties,  Missouri.  Both  did  much  dam- 
age to  dwellings,  trees  and  crops.  Many 
persons  were  killed,  some  whole  families 
being  whirled  up  into  the  air  in  a  fright- 
ful manner.  The  regions  were  almost 
completely  devastated. 

52 


872 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1879.  May.  The  Kearney  consti- 
tution which  was  submitted  to  the  popu- 
lar vote  of  California,  received  a  majority, 
1795-1879.  Sir  and  was  therefore  carried. 

discrimiliations 


author  of  cheap 

postage  system,  against  capital  and  corpora- 
tions, and  in  favor  of  individual  laboi'ers. 
Its  scheme  of  taxation  was  severe  upon 
those  who  were  objects  of  its  implied  cen- 
sure. The  Chinese  were  especially  aimed 
at.  Some  valuable  points  were,  however, 
incorporated  into  the  constitution.  The 
following  months  however,  were  marked 
by  a  reaction,  which  gradually  set  in  as 
it  became  apparent  that  the  labor  agita- 
tion had  been  extreme,  and  that  it  was 
dangerous  to  go  too  far  in  that  direction. 
The  sentiment  is  daily  becoming  more 
healthy,  and  the  subject  is  finally  adjust- 
ing itself. 

1879.  May.  A  Commission  of  In- 
quiry into  the  evil  effects  of  the  liquor 
traffic  was  appointed  by  congress.  It 
consisted  of  nine  persons,  and  all  peti- 
tions for  temperance  legislation  were  to 
be  referred  to  this  body.  A  similar  com- 
mission in  England,  appointed  by  the 
House  of  Lords,  had  done  much  excel- 
lent work  in  this  field,  and  had  made  a 
valuable  report. 

1879.  May.  A  noteworthy  accom- 
plishment took  place  in  the  successful 
passage  of  Behring's  Straits,  by  an  ex- 
pedition under  Prof.  Nordenskjold,  the 
Swedish  explorer,  who  sailed  along  the 
northern  shore  of  Europe  and  Asia  in 
the  previous  season,  and  wintered  forty 
miles  west  of  the  straits.  When  the  ice 
broke  up  he  continued  his  voyage  and 
passed  to  the  south  through  the  straits, 
and  after  a  tour  along  the  coast  of 
China,  returned  home  through  the  Suez 
canal.  This  voyage  ranks  among  the 
most  successful  explorations  on  record. 


1879.  June  5.  D.  M.  Bennett,  of 
New  York,  editor  of  the  Truth  Seeker , 
was  sentenced  to  a  fine  of  $300,  and  thir- 
teen months'  hard  labor  in  the  penitentiary 
at  Albany,  for  sending  indecent  and  im- 
moral publications  through  the  United 
States  mails.  A  well  contested  trial  had 
been  held,  and  the  conviction  of  the  de- 
fendant aroused  a  storm  of  abuse  from  a 
large  number  of  persons  who  were  in 
sympathy  with  Bennett  in  his  revolution- 
ary views  of  love,  marriage,  etc.  The 
ground  of  defence  in  the  trial  was  that 
the  books  were  scientific  and  religious. 
But  they  were  plainly  shown  to  be  cor- 
rupting. The  conviction  of  Bennett  was 
a  part  of  the  constant  warfare  waged 
upon  indecent  publications  of  every  kind 
which  are  sent  through  the  mails.  A 
pardon  was  diligently  sought  for  Ben- 
nett from  President  Hayes,  but  the  latter 
refused  to  grant  it.  In  a  few  months  a 
scathing  exposure  of  Bennett's  character 
came  out  in  a  liberal  journal. 

1879.  June  7.  Sitting  Bull  returned 
to  the  territory  of  the  United  States  from 
the  British  Possessions,  with  eight  hun- 
dred lodges. 

1879.  June  11.  A  mysterious  mur- 
der of  Mrs.  Hull  occurred  in  New  York, 
greatly  shocking  the  entire  city.  The 
deed  was  afterward  traced  to  a  negro 
named  Chastine  Cox,  who  was  exposed 
by  pawning  some  of  the  jewelry  owned 
by  his  victim.  He  was  arrested  in  Bos- 
ton, and  at  a  later  day  suffered  the  pen- 
alty of  the  law. 

1879.     June    14.     The    question    of 
authority  between  the  Marquis  of  Lome, 
governor-general  of  Canada,  and  his  sub- 
ordinate officials,  backed  by    1879i    June. 
the  people,  in  regard  to  the    Louis  Napoleon, 

,..,,.  cr.  .         the  young  Prince 

dismissal  of    an  officer,  in    imperial,  killed 
this    case,  Lieutenant-gov-    bv  the  Zulus- 


1877-1881.] 

ernor  Letellier,  was  referred  back  by  the 
home  government  of  Great  Britain  to  the 
governor-general.  In  July  the  disagree- 
able officer  was  removed.  The  senti- 
ment against  Letellier  arose  from  his 
liberal  politics.  The  people  of  Canada 
wished  by  their  position  to  maintain  their 
independence  of  England. 

1879.  June  17.  The  city  of  Lynn, 
Mass.,  celebrated  its  25oth  anniversary 
with  boat  races,  concerts,  fireworks,  ban- 
quets, and  speeches.  It  was  an  occasion 
of  great  interest,  and  was  very  successful 
in  bringing  out  very  much  historical 
matter  in  commemoration  of  the  founding 
of  the  place. 

1879.  June  21.  An  international 
walking  match,  in  London,  England, 
was  won  by  E.  P.  Weston,  the  Ameri- 
can, who  made  550  miles  in  six  days. 
The  championship  belt  was  then  brought 
back  to  the  United  States. 

1879.  June  22.  A  Sunday  riot  took 
place  at  Chicago,  between  a  picnic  party 
and  a  military  company.  Several  per- 
sons were  shot,  and  the  soldiers  were 
arrested. 

1879.  June  24.  The  United  States 
government  issued  a  warning  to  its  peo- 
ple not  to  violate  the  neutrality  laws  by 
aiding  the  Bolivian  privateers. 

1879.  June  25.  A  joint  resolution 
was  introduced  into  the  United  States 
senate  by  Gen.  Bin-nside,  declaring  that 
the  construction  of  a  Panama  ship  canal, 
under  the  patronage  of  foreign  powers, 
would  be  a  violation  of  the  Monroe 
doctrine. 

1879.  June  27.  Patagonia  was 
ceded  to  the  Argentine  Republic  by 
Chili. 

1879.  July  1.  Canadian  Indians 
raided  into  Montana,  and  committed 
many  depredations. 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


873 


1879.     July  3.     A  terrible  tornado 

swept  over  parts  of  Minnesota,  Wiscon- 
sin, Iowa,  and  Dakota,  with  vast  destruc- 
tion of  property  and  lives.  It  was  hardly 
possible  to  live  in  the  path  of  it.  Hail  of 
great  size  fell,  and  a  great  amount  of  rain 
likewise.  Five  inches  of  rain  fell  in  fif- 
teen hours  at  St.  Paul,  Minn. 

THE  JEAXNETTE  EXPEDITION. 

1879.  July  8.  The  steamer  Jean- 
nette,  fitted  out  by  James  Gordon  Ben- 
nett, for  an  arctic  trip  through  Behring's 
Straits,  left  San  Francisco.  Several  naval 
officers  of  great  experience  were  with  the 
expedition,  the  entire  number  of  men 
being  thirty-two.  The  reason  for  the 
attempt  was  in  the  thought  that  perhaps 
better  success  could  be  had  in  pushing 
north  to  the  pole  in  this  longitude  than 
in  the  longitude  so  often  tried  east  or  west 
of  Gi'eenland.  The  preparations  were 
made  as  perfect  as  possible. 


1879.  July  9.  A  little  boat  named 
"  Golden  Gate  "  of  one  and  one-seventh 
tons  burden,  sailed  by  two  men,  left  Bos- 
ton on  an  attempted  voyage  to  Australia. 

1879.  July  9.  The  yellow  fever  re- 
appeared in  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and  began 
its  course  for  the  summer,  which,  although 
not  so  fearful  as  in  1878,  was  neverthe- 
less sad  enough  in  its  results. 

1879.  July  10.  The  Duke  of  Ar- 
gyll, well-known  for  his  interest  in  sci- 
ence, arrived  in  Boston  for  a  short  tour 
of  America.  He  was  accompanied  by 
two  daughters. 

1879.  July  11.  A  severe  tornado 
swept  across  portions  of  Pennsylvania, 
Ohio,  and  Canada,  destroying  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  crops, 
many  public  buildings,  and  much  private 
property. 


874 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


1879.     July  16.     A  terrible  tornado 

devastated  parts  of  Massachusetts.  It 
was  felt  with  great  severity  upon  the 
coast,  and  destroyed  many  vessels.  More 
than  thirty  lives  were  lost.  Some  of  the 
beautiful  towns  in  the  central  part  of  the 
state  were  rid  of  the  magnificent  elms 
which  had  been  shading  them  for  many 
years.  There  was  damage  from  hail  and 
lightning,  to  a  fearful  extent. 

1879.  July  17.  President  Canal 
of  Hayti,  resigned  the  government  to 
the  national  assembly  at  Port-au-Prince. 
This  step  was  accompanied  by  a  serious 
contention  in  the  assembly. 

1879.  July  25.  Sleepy  Tom,  the 
blind  pacer,  made  the  fastest  record  in 
the  world  upon  the  grounds  of  the  Chi- 
cago Jockey  and  Trotting  Club,  making 
the  mile  in  2  :i2j.  The  next  pacer  came 
in  less  than  a  second  behind. 

1879.  Aug.  8.  A  temporary  finan- 
cial panic  spread  through  Montreal. 
Some  of  the  banks  suspended  for  a  time. 
The  trouble  began  with  the  suspension  of 
the  Consolidated  Bank,  July  31.  But 
the  affair  was  soon  repressed,  and  the 
banks  once  more  set  in  motion. 

1879.  Aug.  11.  The  charcoal  burn- 
er's association  of  two  thousand  Indians 
in  Nevada,  struck  for  higher  wages* 
They  defied  the  sheriff  in  his  efforts  to 
restrain  them  from  violence,  and  three 
companies  of  militia  were  sent  to  compel 
submission. 

THE  "UNCLE  $&¥." 

1879.  Aug.  11.  Another  exhibition 
of  foolhardiness  was  made  in  the  leaving 
of  Capt.  Goldsmith  and  wife  from  St. 
Johns,  Newfoundland,  for  a  trip  round 
the  world,  in  a  very  small  boat  which 
they  named  "  Uncle  Sam."  They  set 
sail  with  a  fair  wind,  but  had  been  out 


no  more  than  a  day,  when  Mrs.  Gold- 
smith became  so  sick  with  inflammation 
of  the  bowels  that  she  could  do  nothing. 
Still  they  kept  on.  Capt.  Goldsmith 
sailed  his  little  boat,  and  tried  to  doctoi 
his  wife  as  well  as  he  could.  When 
they  had  been  out  five  days,  a  severe 
gale  came  on,  and  their  experiences  in 
this  were  most  fearful.  At  times  it 
seemed  as  if  they  must  go  down.  All 
their  provisions  except  some  canned  goods, 
were  soon  spoiled.  Matches,  oil,  etc., 
were  soon  used  up.  The  boat  was  well 
nigh  filled  with  water  for  a  long  time. 
The  drags  and  oars  were  lost.  For 
seventy-two  hours  Capt.  Goldsmith  went 
without  sleep.  On  the  ipth,  after  the 
gale  had  abated  somewhat,  a  bark  hove 
in  sight,  and  they  decided  in  their 
wretched  condition  to  make  no  further 
attempt  to  push  on,  but  signal  the  bark. 
They  did  this,  and  were  taken  on  board 
the  "Queen  of  Nations,"  a  Liverpool 
vessel,  under  Capt.  F.  W.  Edwards. 
The  "  Uncle  Sam  "  was  scuttled,  and  left 
to  herself  upon  the  broad  ocean.  Capt. 
Goldsmith  and  wife  recovered  from  their 
hardships,  and  arrived  in  Liverpool 
safely,  September  3.  Other  heavy  storms 
were  experienced,  which  would  have 
made  it  impossible  for  them  to  have  sur- 
vived had  they  remained  on  board  the 
«  Uncle  Sam." 

1879.  Aug.  15.  A  serious  riot  oc- 
curred in  Quebec,  Canada,  between  the 
French  and  Irish  shipbuilders.  The  po- 
lice were  powerless  to  rescue  the  city  from 
the  hands  of  the  mob,  and  many  were 
killed  and  injured.  The  trouble  was  sup- 
pressed by  the  military.  It  cost  the  city 
over  $50,000.  The  origin  of  the  diffi- 
culty was  in  a  discussion  which  arose  in 
the  shipbuilders'  society.  The  antagonists 
afterward  came  to  an  agreement. 


1877-1881.] 

1879.  Aug.  16.  A  tank  of  burning 
oil  at  Titusville,  Perm.,  caused  a  heavy 
loss.  Two  days  before,  a  tank  was  struck 
by  lightning,  and  the  flames  were  com- 
municated from  tank  to  tank.  On  this 
morning  a  tank  burst,  and  the  burning 
oil  spread  over  the  river,  making  it  a 
sheet  of  flame.  By  a  change  of  wind 
the  town  was  saved.  Eighty-five  thou- 
sand barrels  of  oil  were  burned,  at  a  loss 
of  $100,000. 

1879.  Aug.  18.  The  heaviest  storm 
of  the  season  raged  along  the  Atlantic 
coast.  Vessels  were  driven  ashore,  and 
the  velocity  of  the  wind  was  sixty  miles 
an  hour.  New  England  suffered  severe- 
ly, and  the  damage  to  the  shipping  was 
great.  At  Norfolk,  Virginia,  the  streets 
were  flooded,  and  buildings  unroofed, 
causing  a  loss  of  over  $200,000. 

1879.  Aug.  19.  Damages  to  the 
amount  of  $103,000  were  demanded  of 
England,  by  the  United  States,  because 
of  illegal  interference  with  the  American 
fisheries,  at  Fortune  Bay. 

1879.  Aug.  20.  The  Dixon  Out- 
rage. The  difficulty  in  Yazoo  county, 
Miss.,  which  had  been  apparently  settled 
by  the  withdrawal  of  Henry  M.  Dixon 
from  his  candidacy  for  sheriff,  when  under 
the  pressure  of  mob  violence,  was  again 
aroused  because  Mr.  Dixon  consented 
again  to  run,  when  promised  the  protec- 
tion of  several  prominent  democrats. 
Mr.  Dixon  was  himself  a  pronounced 
democrat,  but  the  opposition  of  his  name 
to  that  of  the  regular  candidate,  caused 
the  excitement.  He  was  finally  shot 
upon  this  date,  by  James  H.  Barkesdale, 
the  democratic  nominee  for  chancery  clerk. 
The  murderer  was  arrested,  and  released 
upon  a  bail  of  $15,000. 

1879.  Aug.  23.  The  Kalloch  Con- 
troversy. Charles  de  Young,  editor  of 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


875 


the  San  Francisco  Chronicle,  shot  Rev.  I. 
S.  Kalloch,  of  that  city,  at  the  Metropol- 
itan Hotel,  because  of  some  severe  terms 
which  the  latter  had  applied  to  him  in 
the  previous  Sunday  evening  sermon. 
Kalloch  was  the  workingmen's  candidate 
for  mayor,  and  the  Chronicle  had  reflect- 
ed upon  his  former  life.  Kalloch  denied 
the  imputations  before  a  very  large  audi- 
ence, and  applied  in  return  epithets  too 
gross  for  utterance.  This  led  to  the 
shooting.  Kalloch,  though  severely 
wounded,  recovered,  and  w*s  elected 
mayor. 

REFORM  OF  ONEIDA  COMJfWITY. 

1879.  Aug.  28.  A  great  sentiment 
of  opposition  to  the  marriage  customs  of 
the  Oneida  Community,  in  N«w  York, 
was  aroused  all  through  the  state,  and  it 
was  felt  that  protest  had  been  too  long 
delayed.  Numerous  methods  were  taken 
by  the  clergy  and  others,  until  oa  this 
date,  the  community  itself  promised  re- 
form by  the  abolition  of  its  terrible  cus- 
tom of  complex  marriage,  and  a  new 
platform  was  adopted,  which  put  the 
community  more  upon  the  foundation  of 
a  business  company.  The  reform  was 
helped  by  the  convictions  of  a  large  party 
in  the  community  itself,  in  opposition  to 
their  practices.  This  was  specially  tme 
of  the  younger  members,  who  saw  the 
impossibility  of  erecting  homes.  Since 
then  the  process  has  gone  still  further, 
and  John  H.  Noyes,  the  founder  of  the 
community,  is  obliged  to  live  in  Canada 
to  escape  the  anger  of  his  old  associates. 
The  community  has  now  virtually  be- 
come a  simple  joint-stock  company.  The 
Wallingford  branch  of  this  community, 
in  Connecticut,  also  announced  its  readi- 
ness to  relinquish  the  system  of  complex 
marriage. 


876 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


GENERAL  JOHtf  S.  HOOD. 
1879.  Aug.  31.  John  B.  Hood,  an 
American  general,  died  at  New  Orleans, 
of  yellow  fever.  He  was  born  in  Bath 
county,  Kentucky,  about  1830.  He 
graduated  at  West  Point,  1853,  and  was 
mainly  •  engaged  in  the  frontier  defense 
until  1859.  Having  been  severely  wound- 
ed in  a  fight  with  the  Comanche  Indians, 
in  July,  1857,  he  obtained  leave  of  ab- 
sence in  1 860 ;  and  on  April  1 5  of  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  resigned  his  commission, 
and  entered  the  confederate  army,  in 
which  he  soon  rose  to  the  rank  of  major- 
general.  He  took  part  in  the  Chicka- 
hominy  campaign,  and  fought  ac  the  sec- 
ond battle  of  Bull  Run,  at  Antietam, 
and  Fredericksburg.  At  Gettysburg  he 
commanded  a  division  of  Longstreet's 
corps,  and  lost  an  arm  in  the  fight.  At 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga  he  lost  a  leg, 
and  was  made  lieutenant-general.  He 
succeeded  J.  E.  Johnston  in  command  of 
the  army  against  Sherman,  at  Atlanta. 
Having  been  defeated  by  Sherman,  and 
compelled  to  evacuate  Atlanta,  on  Sept. 
I,  1864,  he  went  northward  into  Ten- 
nessee, to  be  crushed  by  Gen.  Thomas  at 
Nashville,  Dec.  14-15.  He  was  then 
succeeded  by  Gen.  Richard  Taylor.  He 
had  written  an  account  of  the  war, 
which  was  left  in  manuscript.  He  is 
said  to  have  often  wept  when  going  into 
battle,  and  sometimes  upon  the  severest 
charges.  His  wife  and  child  had  died  a 
few  days  before  his  death,  and  another 
daughter  died  about  the  same  time  as  her 
father.  Nine  children  were  left,  the 
eldest  ten  years  old. 

1879.  August.  The  evils  of  specu- 
lation were  still  further  terribly  set  forth 
by  fresh  revelations  in  Fall  River,  and 
other  cities.  The  former  place  especially 


seems  to  have  been  thoroughly  diseased. 
Several  defalcations  had  come  to  light 
since  the  great  ones  of  1878.  During 
this  summer  Geo.  B.  Durfee,  ex-treasurer 
of  the  Mechanics'  Mill,  was  found  to  have 
squandered  the  money  of  others  in  this 
way.  Walter  Paine,  third  treasurer  of 
the  American  Linen  Mill,  also  proved  a 
defaulter  to  the  amount  of  $100,000. 
George  H.  Eddy,  treasurer  of  the  Flint 
Mill,  revealed  the  same  sad  story.  All 
these  men,  from  the  beginning,  had  been 
among  the  leading  business  men  of  the 
city,  but  had  been  sucked  into  the  fatal 
whirlpool  of  speculation,  at  the  cost  of 
character  and  everything  else.  The  de- 
falcations of  James  W.  Wilbur,  at  Law- 
rence, and  of  William  M.  Roach,  cashier 
of  the  Citizens'  National  Bank,  at  Wash- 
ington, serve  to  enforce  the  valuable  les- 
son which  our  young  men  need  to  learn, 
that  integrity  is  worth  more  than  any- 
thing else. 

1879.  Sept.  6.  A  torpedo  expedi- 
tion was  captured  by  the  Chilian  fleet 
off  Pisaguay.  A  contract  with  a  Peru- 
vian merchant  was  found ;  he  had  agreed 
to  pay  £10,000  for  every  Chilian  iron- 
clad, and  £5,000  for  each  corvette  de- 
stroyed. 

1879.  Sept.  14.  The  plantation 
slaves  at  Santiago  de  Cuba  demanded 
their  liberty,  to  which  their  masters 
agreed,  if  they  would  bind  themselves  to 
work  three  years  for  wages.  Rather  than 
agree  to  this,  many  of  them  ran  away. 
Six  thousand  in  all  were  soon  liberated 
in  the  island  of  Cuba,  upon  these  or  sim- 
ilar terms. 

1879.  Sept.  14.  The  gold  fever 
raged  in  Queen's  county,  Nova  Scotia.;  a 
stock  company  was  organized  with  a 
large  capital,  valuable  specimens  having 
been  found. 


1877-1881.] 

RETURN  OF  GRANT. 
1879.  Sept.  20.  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant 
and  family  arrived  in  San  Francisco, 
from  their  trip  around  the  world.  He 
had  passed  through  the  principal  coun- 
tries of  the  world,  and  had  everywhere 
been  received  with  distinguished  honor. 
Royalty  had  graciously  favored  him  be- 
yond what  had  ever  been  accorded  to  any 
other  American  citizen.  His  reception 
in  England  was  exceedingly  flattering. 
The  freedom  of  the  city  of  London  was 
granted  him,  and  constant  attention 
showered  upon  his  head.  In  China  he 
was  received  and  honored  by  the  gov- 
ernment in  an  extraordi- 

1879.   September. 

Mutiny  in  nary  way.      Through    all 

Afghanistan.  ^  rernarkable  trip  Gen. 
Grant  maintained  his  dignity  and  discre- 
tion, to  the  great  gratification  of  all  Amer- 
icans. The  country  felt  a  great  pride  in 
his  reception.  Upon  his  landing  in  San 
Francisco  the  city  authorities  gave  him  a 
fine  reception.  After  lingering  in  the 
golden  state  for  a  while,  he  began  his 
tour  through  the  United  States,  which 
was  extended  South  as  well  as  North,  and 
was  everywhere  marked  by  great  accla- 
mation and  splendid  ovations. 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE 


877 


1879.     Sept.  26.     Deadwood,  in  the 

Black  Hills,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Over 
two  thousand  people  were  made  home- 
less. The  loss  amounted  to  nearly 
$3,000,000.  Rebuilding  was  immedi- 
.ately  begun. 

THE  UTE  OUTBREAK. 

1879.  Sept.  29.  The  Ute  Indians,  of 
Colorado,  attacked  a  force  of  three  United 
States  cavalry  companies,  under  Major 
Thornburgh,  while  escorting  a  wagon 
train,  near  the  Milk  River.  Major 
Thornburgh  and  eleven  of  his  men  were 


killed,  and  the  rest  were  forced  to  en- 
trench themselves  as  well  as  they  could. 
Many  were  wounded.  Troops  were  at 
once  sent  forward  to  their  relief.  It  was 
feared  for  a  time  that  the  whole  force  had 
been  slain.  But  they  were  afterward 
found  by  United  States  troops  under  Gen. 
Merritt.  At  the  same  time  the  Utes  com- 
mitted another  desperate  outrage.  It  was 
reported  that  Mr.  Meeker,  Indian  agent 
for  the  White  River  agency,  and  all  his  as- 
sistants, had  been  murdered.  The  women 
were  taken  into  captivity,  and  were  after- 
ward restored.  The  Utes  claimed  that 
the  treaty  had  been  broken,  their  horses 
and  cattle  stolen.  The  massacre  was 
committed  contrary  to  the  wishes  and 
orders  of  Chief  Ouray.  For  a  long  time 
there  were  fears  of  a  general  outbreak. 
But  a  long  discussion  set  in  with  the  Ute 
nation,  and  further  hostilities  were  pre- 
vented. 

1879.  Oct.  2.  Another  vain  Cuban 
rebellion,  which  had  been  in  progress  for 
some  time,  was  taking  on  a  severe  form. 
The  insurgents  were  defeated  in  several 
encounters,  by  the  Spanish  troops,  and 
quite  a  large  number  of  prisoners  were 
taken. 

1879.  Oct.  3.  A  revolution  in  Hayti 
took  place  at  Port-au-Prince,  against  the 
government,  and  a  new  constitution  was 
formed.  Gen.  Montmorency  was  after- 
ward elected  president  of  the  republic. 

CAPTURE  OF  THE  HUASCAR. 

1879.  Oct.  9.  The  Peruvian  iron- 
clad, "  Huascar,"  was  captured  by  the 
Chilian  navy.  This  was  one  of  the  most 
decisive  and  horrible  combats  of  the  war. 
Up  to  this  time  the  Peruvians,  with  the 
"  Huascar,"  had  been  successful  in  sink- 
ing a  wooden  frigate,  in  defeating  a  sloop 


878 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


of  war,  and  capturing  many  prizes.  The 
loss  of  the  ship,  and  the  brave  men,  who 
fought  until  nearly  all  were  dead,  caused 
great  distress  throughout  Peru ;  for  by  the 
capture  of  this  vessel  Peru  had  lost  her 
hold  upon  the  ocean.  The  "Huascar" 
was  attacked  by  two  Chilian  iron-clads. 
The  gallant  admiral  and  his  men  neither 
asked  nor  received  quarter.  In  the  fear- 
ful engagement  the  captain  was  blown 
through  the  turret  into  atoms.  When 
the  Chilians  gained  possession  the  lad- 
ders and  passages  of  the  "  Huascar  "  were 
so  crowded  with  mangled  corpses  that 
the  men  could  not  get  below  to  stop  the 
engines.  The  two  Peruvian  monitors 
were  now  kept  in  harbor  defence. 


1879.  Oct.  13.  A  serious  disaster 
occurred  in  the  loss  of  the  aeronaut, 
Prof.  John  Wise,  who  made  an  ascension 
in  an  imperfect  balloon,  and  was  lost  as 
is  supposed,  in  Lake  Michigan.  The 
body  of  his  one  companion  was  after- 
ward found,  and  the  circumstances  were 
all  similar  to  those  attending  the  loss  of 
Donaldson. 

1879.  Oct.  16.  The  body  of  Prof. 
Le  Moyne,  a  strenuous  advocate  of  cre- 
mation, and  who  built  the  structure  for 
that  purpose  at  Washington,  Penn.,  was 
itself  cremated  in  his  own  furnace. 

1879.  Oct.  18.  The  steamer  "Pa- 
jaro,"  from  Havana  for  Neuveitas,  took 
fire  in  the  Bahama  channel,  and  sunk  in 
four  hours.  Seventeen  persons  were 
rescued  by  a  passing  steamer.  The  fate 
of  thirty-three  was  unknown. 

1879.  Oct.  19.  A  shocking  massacre 
occurred  at  Silver  City,  New  Mexico. 
Twenty-one  persons  were  slaughtered 
by  the  Indians  belonging  to  the  Apache 
tribe.  The  men  were  shot  or  scalped, 
the  women  tortured,  and  seventeen  chil- 


dren were  killed.  Government  troops 
were  called  for,  but  it  was  some  time  be- 
fore assistance  could  be  sent  to  the  settlers. 
1879.  Oct.  29.  Paul  Boyton,  the 
swimmer,  who  made  a  successful  trip 
in  his  rubber  suit  across  the  English 
Channel,  made  a  trip  down  the  Connecti- 
cut River,  and  passed  the  dangerous 
points  at  Bellows  Falls  on  1879.  Zulu  war 
this  day.  The  shores  were  '"  South  Africa. 
lined  with  spectators,  some  of  whom  had 
waited  four  hours  to  see  his  plunge  over 
the  falls.  He  made  the  passage  safely, 
and  went  on  his  course,  although  slightly 
injured.  When  he  reached  Springfield, 
the  citizens  were  notified  by  rockets  and 
other  fireworks.  The  object  of  all  this 
was  to  display  the  safety  of  being  cast 
adrift  if  protected  by  such  a  suit  as  the 
one  worn  in  this  trip. 

GENERAL  JOSEPH  HOOKER. 

1879.  Oct.  31.  Joseph  Hooker,  ma- 
jor-general of  the  United  States  army, 
died  at  New  York.  He  was  born  at 
Hadley,  Massachusetts,  in  1815.  He 
graduated  at  West  Point  in  1837,  and 
served  in  the  Florida  war.  He  came 
out  of  the  Mexican,  which  he  entered  as 
a  lieutenant,  a  brevet  lieutenant-colonel,  in 
recognition  of  his  gallant  conduct  at  sev- 
eral battles.  In  1853  he  resigned  his 
commission  in  the  army,  and  became 
a  farmer  in  California.  At  the  begin- 
ning of  the  civil  war  he  at  once  en- 
listed in  the  service  of  the  Union,  and 
was  appointed  brigadier-general  of  vol- 
unteers. In  the  spring  of  1862  he  was 
placed  in  command  of  a  division  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  on  May  5  was 
made  major-general  of  volunteers.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  McClellan's  penin- 
sular campaign,  and  was  wounded  while 
bravely  fighting  at  Fredericksburg,  where 


1877-1881.] 

he  commanded  a  grand  division  under 
Gen.  Burnside.  He  succeeded  Gen.  Burn- 
side  in  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  January  26,  1863,  and  in  the 
early  part  of  May  fought  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville.  On  account  of  a  dis- 
agreement with  Gen.  Halleck,  he  re- 
signed the  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  on  June  27,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Gen.  Meade.  In  September  he  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  i3th  and  i4th 
army  corps  in  and  about  Chattanooga, 
and  took  part  in  the  November  cam- 
paign. He  commanded  in  the  famous 
battle  of  Lookout  Mountain,  for  which 
he  was  made  brevet  major-general  of  the 
United  States  army.  He  was  subse- 
quently placed  in  command  of  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  and  was  prominent 
in  the  operations  against  Atlanta.  He 
resigned  this  command  in  August, 
1864,  in  consequence  of  a  question  of 
rank.  He  commanded  in  September, 
1864,  the  northern  department;  in  1865 
the  eastern  department,  and  in  1866 
that  of  the  lakes.  He  was  mustered  out 
of  the  volunteer  service  on  September  i, 
1866,  and  on  October  15,  1868,  he  was 
made  brevet  major-general  of  the  United 
States  army,  and  retired  from  service. 
He  was  familiarly  known  as  "Fighting 
Joe,"  which  rightly  expressed  his  strong 
characteristics. 

1879.     Oct.   31.     Jacob    Abbott,   an 

American  author,  died  at  Farmington, 
Maine,  aged  seventy-six  years.  He 
graduated  at  Bowdoin  College,  and  later 
at  Andover  Theological  Seminary.  From 
1825  to  1829  he  was  professor  of  mathe- 
matics in  Amherst  College.  For  some 
time  after  this  he  had  charge  of  a  girl's 
school  in  Boston,  Massachusetts.  In 
1834  he  .organized  a  Congregational 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


879 


church  at  Roxbury,  but  in  a  few  years 
he  moved  to  Farmington,  and  engaged 
in  literary  work.  He  is  well  known 
for  his  series  of  child's  stories,  biogra- 
phies, etc. 

ZACHARMH  CHANDLER. 

1879.  Nov.  1.  Zachariah  Chandler, 
an  American  statesman,  died  suddenly  at 
Chicago.  He  was  born  at  Bedford, 
New  Hampshire,  Dec.  10,  1813.  He 
was  of  Puritan  descent,  and  of  humble 
birth.  His  early  education  was  limited, 
being  such  as  he  could  obtain  in  a  com- 
mon school  and  an  academy;  but  what  he 
lacked  in  culture  he  made  up  in  wonderful 
natural  ability,  fearless  honesty,  and  re- 
markable common  sense.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  he  removed  to  Detroit,  and  after 
teaching  school  for  a  time,  engaged  in 
the  dry  goods  business.  His  entrance 
into  politics  was  in  1851,  when  he  was 
elected  mayor  of  Detroit.  In  1852  he 
was  the  whig  candidate  for  governor,  but 
was  defeated,  although  he  ran  far  ahead 
of  his  ticket.  In  1857  he  was  elected  to 
the  United  States  senate,  which  position 
he  retained,  with  one  intermission,  till  the 
day  of  his  death.  He  became  an  active 
republican  on  the  day  of  the  organiza- 
tion of  that  party,  and  remained  with  it 
throughout  his  life.  He  was  a  bitter  par- 
tisan, for  the  reason  that  he  consistently 
and  honestly  believed  that  only  through 
his  party  good  government  could  exist, 
and  freedom  be  extended  to  every  citizen 
of  the  Union.  He  became  the  great  lead- 
er of  the  more  radical  wing  of  his  party, 
and  this  secured  for  himself  the  name  of 
"stalwart."  As  a  leader  he  was  bold 
and  aggressive;  he  possessed  a  marked 
executive  ability,  and  he  was  an  embodi- 
ment of  "old  honesty"  itself.  On  his 
entrance  into  the  senate  he  began  and 


880 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


carried  on  an  uncompromising  warfare 
against  slavery,  and  no  man's  power  in 
this  direction  was  more  feared.  He  op- 
posed the  Lecompton  measure,  and  the 
annexation  of  Cuba.  During  the  course 
of  his  career  in  the  senate  he  served  on 
many  important  committees.  He  was 
the  ruling  spirit  in  the  committee  on  the 
conduct  of  the  war,  and  was  mainly  in- 
fluential in  securing  the  removal  of  Mc- 
Clellan  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
and  the  'final  appointment  of  Grant.  Up 
to  the  expiration  of  his  third  term  he 
acted  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
commerce.  He  was  the  supporter  and 
trusted  friend  of  both  Lincoln  and  Grant. 
In  1875  Mr.  Chandler  was  defeated  for  a 
fourth  term  by  Senator  Christiancy;  but 
on  the  loth  of  February,  1879,  Chris- 
tiancy resigned,  and  Chandler  was  re- 
elected.  During  this  intermission  he 
served  from  October,  1875,  to  Mar.  4, 
1877,  as  secretary  of  the  interior  in  Pres- 
ident Grant's  cabinet.  This  department 
1879.  November,  was  thoroughly  renovated 
LOSS  of  crops  in  by  Mr.  Chandler.  In  1876 

Ireland.    Rise  of     .  .  .,    . 

Land  League  ne  was  chairman  of  the  na- 
txdtement.  tional  republican  committee, 

and  on  the  night  of  the  presidential  elec- 
tion of  that  year  he  telegraphed  the  pro- 
phetic utterance :  "  Hayes  has  1 85  votes, 
and  is  elected."  He  was  outspoken  in 
his  convictions,  and  never  seemed  to 
doubt.  Although  rough,  and  at  times 
very  profane,  he  possessed  a  solid  char- 
acter, was  a  constant  church  goer,  and 
possessed  great  reverence  for  religious 
men  and  divine  worship.  He  was  a 
strict  Calvinist  in  belief.  After  making 
one  of  the  greatest  speeches  of  his  life, 
on  Oct.  31,1879,  he  went  to  the  hotel,  and 
retired  for  the  night.  The  next  morn- 
ing he  was  found  dead  in  his  bed.  There 
were  no  indications  of  a  struggle,  and  it 


was  supposed  that  he  died  from  cerebral 
hemorrhage.  He  had  evidently  over- 
worked himself.  Mr.  Chandler  was 
wealthy,  and  left  a  wife  and  a  daughter, 
who  married  Hon.  Eugene  Hale,  of 
Maine. 

STORMING  OF  PISAGUA. 

1879.  Nov.  2.  A  Chilian  fleet  of 
sixteen  vessels  appeared  off  Pisagua, 
Peru.  The  place  was  bravely  defended 
by  a  small  force  of  900  men,  under  the 
command  of  General  Buendia.  The 
Chilian  fleet  landed  from  twelve  to  six- 
teen thousand  men  under  the  cover  of 
their  guns.  The  men  charged  up  the 
steep,  sandy  mountain,  and  with  the  loss 
of  five  hundred  men,  gained  the  place,, 
which  was  a  strong  foothold  on  Peruvian 
soil.  The  Chilian  army  was  now 
thoroughly  drilled,  and  splendidly  armed 
and  equipped;  and  it  was  ready  to  move 
against  the  enemy  with  effect.  Opposed 
to  it  were  two  armies;  one  of  10,000  Pe- 
ruvians, and  another  of  6,000  Bolivians. 
It  was  expected  that  the  forces  of  the 
contending  armies  would  be  concentrat- 
ed for  a  combat  at  Iquique,  as  the  Chil- 
ians, immediately  after  the  capture  of 
Pisagua,  began  to  march  in  that  direction. 


1879.     Nov.  8.     The  small  band  of 

revolutionists,  which  had  been  organized 
in  San  Domingo,  defeated  the  forces  of 
President  Guillermo,  at  San  Pedro. 

1879.  Nov.  8.  The  loss  of  the  polar 
schooner,  "  Florence,"  in  the  Cumber- 
land Straits,  was  announced.  The  ves- 
sel was  commanded  by  Captain  Tyson. 
The  crew  suffered  greatly,  but  was  finally 
rescued  by  a  passing  vessel. 

1879.  Nov.  9.  A  desperate  fight  oc- 
curred at  Candelaria,  in  the  mountains  of 
Chihuahua,  Mexico,  between  a  band  of 


1877-1881.] 

two  hundred  Indians  and  fifty  whites, 
from  Cariza,  New  Mexico.  Thirty-two 
of  the  white  men  were  slain. 

1879.  Nov.  12.  A  significant  illus- 
tration of  post-bellum  courtesies  took 
place  at  Lexington,  Mass.,  in  the  presen- 
tation to  that  town  of  a  copy  of  a  portrait 
of  Lord  Percy,  who  led  the  British 
troops  in  their  march  on  Lexington, 
April  19,  1775.  The  portrait,  made 
from  another  copy  which  is  owned  by 
the  Duke  of  Northumberland,  at  Alnwick 
Castle,  England,  was  presented  by  the 
duke  to  the  town  of  Lexington.  In  re- 
turn the  citizens  voted  to  give  the  duke 
a  painting  of  Munroe  Tavern,  in  Lexing- 
ton, at  which  Lord  Percy  made  his  head- 
quarters during  his  short  stay  in  the  town. 

1879.  Nov.  16.  A  new  Franco- 
American  trans- Atlantic  cable  was  suc- 
cessfully completed  by  the  landing  of  the 
end  at  North  Eastham,  Mass.  The 
cable  runs,  as  does  the  other  French  cable, 
to  St.  Pierre,  near  Newfoundland,  thence 
to  Brest,  in  France.  This  is  the  sixth 
cable  across  the  Atlantic.  The  other 
French  cable  runs  from  Duxbury,  Mass.,  to 
St.  Pierre  and  Brest.  A  cable  runs  from 
Rye  Beach,  N.  H.,  to  Torbay,  N.  S., 
thence  to  Ireland.  The  three  others  run 
from  St.  Pierre  and  Newfoundland  to 
Ireland. 

1879.  Nov.  26.  A  stock  transac- 
tion never  before  equaled  in  this  country, 
took  place  in  the  sale,  by  William  H. 
Vanderbilt,  of  1 50,000  shares  of  stock  in 
the  New  York  Central  R.  R.  and  the 
giving  an  option  of  100,000  more,  the 
whole  involving  $30,000,000.  The  shares 
were  taken  by  a  syndicate.  Vander- 
bilt still  retained  250,000  shares.  The 
transaction  brought  the  road  into  connec- 
tion with  the  new  Wabash  line,.and  aimed 
at  the  building  up  of  a  through  route. 

56 


THE   VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


881 


1879.  November.  The  general  elec- 
tions for  this  month,  through  the  United 
States,  resulted  in  a  decided  republican 
gain.  The  improvement  in  the  integ- 
rity of  the  government  under  the  adminis- 
ti'ation  9f  President  Hayes,  had  brought 
back  to  the  party  a  large  number  of 
voters  who  believed  in  Civil  Service  Re- 
form, and  other  political  improvements. 
The  "  young  republicans,"  and  the  "  in- 
dependents," or  "  scratchers,"  were  once 
more  showing  a  disposition  to  trust  the 
old  party,  with  which  they  had  become 
disgusted  at  the  close  of  Grant's  second 
term.  The  fight,  which  in  certain  quar- 
ters, had  been  made  against  the  "machine," 
drew  upon  their  sympathies,  and  won 
their  confidence.  Hence  the  new  antici- 
pation which  the  republican  party  enjoyed. 

THE  LOTTERY  SWINDLE. 

1879.  November.  The  Post  Office 
Department  undertook  to  make  war  upon 
the  lottery  enterprises  of  the  country,  by 
issuing  an  order  forbidding  the  payment 
of  money,  or  the  delivery  of  registered 
letters  to  persons  connected  with  these 
swindles.  Attempts  had  been  made  for 
a  year  to  learn  the  secrets  of  the  business, 
and  all  the  evidence  obtained  went  to 
substantiate  the  suspicion  that  thousands 
of  people  were  being  cheated  out  of  their 
money.  The  mails  to  the  larger  cities 
carried  thousands  of  letters  containing 
money  for  lottery  tickets.  A  fight  was 
made  by  the  parties  interested,  and  the 
warfare  has  never  been  fully  settled  in 
the  courts. 

PROSTRATE  PERU. 

1879.  November.  The  president  of 
Peru,  his  armies  having  been  defeated  by 
the  Chilian  forces,  and  his  country  almost 
completely  subjugated,  fled  to  New  York, 


882 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


and  thence  to  Europe.  Nicolas  de  Pierold 
proceeded  to  take  charge  of  the  govern- 
ment, and  reorganize  the  allied  armies  to 
meet  the  conquering  Chilians  under  Gen. 
Bequedano.  The  condition  of  Peru  was 
now  comparatively  helpless,  and  business 
and  commerce,  which  were  in  so  prosper- 
ous a  condition  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
war,  were  now  prostrated.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  hostilities,  the  government 
had  constructed  over  three  thousand  miles 
of  railroad,  and  was  rapidly  outgrowing 
her  South  American  sisters ;  now  all  such 
enterprises  became  wrecks,  and  every  re- 
source must  be  drawn  on  to  protect  Peru- 
vian soil  from  complete  devastation  at  the 
hands  of  the  invading  Chilians,  who,  but  a 
few  months  before,  were  engaged  in  de- 
fending themselves  against  the  Peruvians. 
The  fortunes  of  war  had  been  reversed. 
During  this  month,  it  is  true,  the  Chilian 
forces  had  been  defeated  on  the  boundary 
of  Peru  and  Bolivia.  The  troops  of  the 
latter  powers  were  acting  on  the  defen- 
sive, and  the  victory  gave  an  impetus  to 
their  arms  for  a  time.  The  Chilian  com- 
mander was  killed,  and  the  force  of  1,500 
surrendered,  with  arms  and  ammunition. 
Later  in  the  month,  according  to  the 
meager  advices,  Tarparaca,  defended  by 
the  allied  Peruvians  and  Bolivians,  was 
captured  by  the  Chilians,  thus  giving 
them  another  strong  foothold.  The  loss 
of  life  was  reported  to  be  heavy.  The 
close  of  the  operations  for  1879  thus  found 
Peru  at  a  great  disadvantage.  The  cap- 
ture of  Pisagua,  and  the  land  battle  of 
Pena  Grande,  had  'given  the  Chilians 
great  gain. 

TROUBLES  IX  MEXICO. 

1879.  November.  Great  excitement 
resulted  for  a  time  from  alleged  disclos- 
ures that  a  revolution  was  on  foot 


throughout  the  whole  of  Mexico,  against 
the  government  of  President  Diaz,  who 
had  been  elected  and  inuagurated  against 
great  opposition  from  contesting  parties. 
During  the  preceding  month,  a  number 
of  minor  revolutions  had  been  crushed, 
and  it  was  thought  that  there  could  now 
be  some  unrestrained  progress  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  civil  affairs;  but  the  spirit 
of  the  adventurous  Mexican  became  rest- 
less at  the  slightest  pretext.  According 
to  the  announcement,  the  imminent  out- 
break would  involve  all  the  leading  Mex- 
ican states,  and  was  incited  by  the  society 
of  "  The  Government  of  the  Restoration 
of  the  Republic  of  Mexico";  of  this 
organization  Gen.  De  Abornoz  was  pres- 
ident. Certain  capitalists  of  the  United 
States,  who  were  interested  in  mines  and 
railroads  in  Mexico,  had  united  with  am- 
bitious Mexicans  in  the  progress  of  the 
scheme.  The  revolutionists  promised  the 
capitalists  who  would  engage  in  furnish- 
ing them  arms,  provisions,  etc.,  the  fol- 
lowing grants  in  return,  when  they  should 
obtain  possession  of  the  government,  and 
their  rebellion  prove  successful :  i .  Au- 
thority to  organize  the  National  Bank  of 
Mexico,  the  notes  of  which  are  to  be 
legal  tender  for  all  debts,  public  and  pri- 
vate, and  to  be  receivable  in  payment  for 
public  lands  at  the  rate  of  $  i  per  acre,  all 
the  public  lands  of  Mexico  to  be  set  apart 
for  this  purpose.  2.  Franchises  for  rail- 
ways and  telegraphs  throughout  Mexico, 
and  subsidies  in  bonds  and  national  bank- 
notes, sufficient  for  the  construction.  3. 
Abolition  of  all  duties  on  importations  of 
goods  from  the  United  States  into  Mexi- 
co. The  land  rights  of  immigrants  are 
guaranteed,  taxation  and  service  in  the 
Mexican  army  for  a  stated  period  is  to  be 
remitted,  and  religious  toleration  assured. 
About  the  last  of  the  month,  however,  the 


1877-1881.] 

excitement  was  calmed,  and  the  ardor  of 
the  insurgents  dampened,  by  the  arrest  of 
Gen.  Gonzales,  one  of  their  leaders.  The 
presidential  election  created  gieat  excite- 
ment, and  many  disturbances,  on  account 
of  the  right  of  suffrage  being  secured  to 
many  people  who  heretofore  had  no  ex- 
perience in  voting;  the  elections  for  the 
republic  being  conducted  by  the  govern- 
ment and  the  people,  having  heretofore 
being  unconcerned  in  public  issues.  Pres- 
ident Diaz  determined  that  the  people 
should  have  their  rights,  according  to  the 
spirit  of  the  constitution.  His  determina- 
tion led  to  great  dissatisfaction  among  the 
old-time  Mexican  politicians. 

A    GREAT  INVENTOR. 

1879.  Dec.  6.  Erastus  B.  Bigelow, 
the  inventor,  died,  aged  sixty-five  years. 
The  following  -Account  of  his  early  diffi- 
culties, and  of  his  wonderful  inventions, 
is  taken  from  the  Scientific  American : 
"  The  early  struggles  of  Mr.  Bigelow 
afford  a  lesson  of  pluck,  energy,  perse- 
verance, and  final  success,  which  ought  to 
be  very  encouraging  to  other  young  in- 
ventors, when  things  do  not  go  as  they 
would  like.  His  father  was  poor,  and  he 
was  early  set  to  work  on  a  neighbor's 
farm  at  small  wages.  His  first  invention, 
made  when  he  was  thirteen  years  old, 
was  a  hand-loom  for  weaving  suspender 
webbing.  Next  he  invented  a  machine 
for  spinning  yarn.  This  brought  him  a 
little  money,  and  at  sixteen  he  attended  an 
academy  at  his  own  expense.  Here  he 
became  interested  in  stenography,  wrote 
1879.  Dec.  3.  and  published  the  *  Self- 
Attempt  to  bi™  t  ht  stenographer,' from 

•up  Russian  Czar 

on  railroad  train,  which  he  hoped  to  make  a 
fortune.  But  the  venture  landed  him  in 
debt.  Then  he  undertook  the  manufact- 
ure of  twine,  and  failed  again.  Later  he 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


883 


made  another  failure  in  the  manufacture 
of  cotton,  which  increased  his  indebted- 
ness to  $1,400,  a  large  sum  in  those  days. 
Then  he  took  lessons  in  penmanship,  be- 
coming so  skillful  that  he  was  able  to 
support  himself  by  teaching  the  art.  The 
work  did  not  promise  any  great  profit, 
and  he  thought  he  would  like  to  be  a 
physician.  After  taking  a  course  of 
classical  instruction  he  entered  his  name 
as  a  medical  student.  At  this  point, 
while  lying  one  night  under  a  Marseilles 
bed-quilt,  he  conceived  the  idea  that  he 
could  make  a  power  loom  to  weave  such 
fabrics.  He  dropped  his  studies  for  in- 
vention, succeeded,  and  entered  upon  a 
new  course  of  effort,  disappointment, 
more  effort,  and  final  success.  A  Boston 
house  promised  him  money  to  set  up  his 
looms,  but  failed  before  he  could  get 
started.  His  father  was  also  unfortunate 
in  business,  and  in  failing  health.  He 
thought  he  could  make  something  by 
means  of  a  power  loom  for  weaving 
coach  lace,  and  having  found  that  there 
was  a  good  market  for  such  products,  he 
set  to  work  to  invent  the  required  loom. 
It  was  another  success  as  an  invention ; 
and  better  for  him,  it  resulted  in  financial 
success.  It  gave  him  both  money  and 
reputation.  But  he  was  cut  out  for  still 
better  work,  and  he  found  it  in  the  inven- 
tion of  power  looms  for  carpet  weaving. 
He  set  up  the  first  successful  power  loom 
carpet  factory  in  the  world;  and  subse- 
quently passed  on  from  looms  for  weav- 
ing ingrain  to  the  greater  invention  of, 
power  looms  for  Brussels  carpeting.  In 
all  he  took  out  thirty-six  United  States 
patents,  and  ultimately  acquired  great 
wealth.  It  is  said  on  good  authority, 
that  by  his  inventions,  the  cost  of  weav- 
ing coach  lace  was  reduced  at  once  from 
twenty-two  cents  a  yard  to  three  cents; 


884 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


and  the  cost  of  weaving  Brussels  carpet 
from  thirty  cents  to  four  cents." 

MAINE  ELECTION  TROUBLES. 

1879.  Dec.  15.  A  grave  point  was 
reached  in  the  election  dispute  in  Maine, 
by  the  announcement  of  Gov.  Garcelon 
that  eight  republican  senators,  and  twen- 
ty-nine republican  representatives  were  to 
be  counted  out,  because  of  some  defects  in 
the  returns,  and  their  places  filled  partially 
by  democrats  and  greenbackers,  several 
places  being  left  vacant.  The  whole  was 
managed  so  as  to  give  a  "  fusion  "  major- 
ity in  the  legislature.  The  origin  of  the 
trouble  was  as  follows:  At  the  election 
held  September  8,  there  was  no  choice  of 
governor  by  the  people,  because  the 
successful  candidate  must  have  a  ma- 
jority over  all.  Neither  the  republi- 
can, the  democratic,  nor  the  greenback 
candidate,  met  this  requirement.  But 
according  to  the  returns  forwarded  to  the 
capital,  the  republicans  had  succeeded  in 
securing  a  majority  of  the  legislators  by 
seven  votes  in  the  senate,  and  twenty- 
nine  in  the  house.  The  governor  and 
council,  who  during  1879  were  democrats 
and  greenbackers,  are  made  by  the  law 
of  Maine,  canvassers  of  the  election  re- 
turns. In  proceeding  to  their  work  they 
saw  their  opportunity,  and  embraced  it 
with  the  above  result.  The  decisions 
they  made  were  based  upon  mistakes  in 
the  initials  of  a  man's  name,  or  upon 
some  neglect  in  complying  with  the  law 
of  returns,  etc.,  etc.  In  no  case  was  it 
doubtful  as  to  what  the  voters  of  the  dis- 
trict intended  to  accomplish.  The  law 
of  the  state  expressly  provided  that  after 
an  election  had  been  held,  the  clear  will 
of  the  voters  should  decide  the  returns 
in  most  of  these  cases.  The  democrats 
and  greenbackers  now  became  known 


through  the  country  as  "  fusionists,"  be- 
cause in  the  whole  conflict  they  stood 
together.  The  governor  declared  that 
the  legislature  he  had  announced  would 
meet  on  January  7,  and  proceed  to  elect 
his  successor.  Great  excitement  reigned 
both  in  the  state  and  out  of  it.  Both 
sides  bent  their  utmost  energies  to  the 
task. 

1879.  Dec.  15.  Electricity  was  em- 
ployed in  lighting  the  steamer  "City  of 
Berlin,"  which  arrived  in  New  York 
from  Liverpool.  At  the  close  of  the 
voyage  the  passengers  presented  a  vote 
of  thanks  to  the  company. 

1879.  Dec.  22.  A  postal  card  from 
Iceland  was  received  in  Utica,  New 
York.  It  was  dated  and  issued  Nov. 
29,  and  was  a  sample  of  Iceland's  first 
postal  cards. 

1879.  Dec.  23.  Father  Donnenhoffer 
of  Morris,  Ind.,  was  tried  and  fined  for 
whipping  three  Catholic  boys  who  had 
served  as  pall  bearers  at  a  Protestant 
funeral.  The  affair  produced  great  ex- 
citement. 

THE  CUBAN  REVOLUTION. 

1879.  The  revolution  in  Cuba  con- 
tinued on  a  somewhat  smaller  scale. 
The  abolition  of  slavery  had  produced 
satisfactory  results  in  some  places,  and 
the  Spanish  government  troops  obtained 
a  firm  foothold.  Small  bands  of  the 
patriots  occasionally  made 
outbreaks  here  and  there,  ^p^Lt 
but  were  soon  crushed.  All  King  Alfonso  of 
captives  engaged  in  gue- 
rilla warfare  were  shot  wherever  found. 
The  disposition  of  Cuban  affairs  caused 
great  agitation  in  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment. A  new  cabinet  was  formed  at 
the  close  of  this  year,  which  promised  to 


1877-1881.] 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


885 


support  all  needed  reforms  in  the  op- 
pressed island.  The  great  difficulty  was 
in  adjusting  the  question  of  slavery  to  the 
wishes  of  everybody. 

RISE  OF  aWTI-MORMOMSM. 

1879.  Never    before   had   the   senti- 
ment  against   Mormonism  shown  itself 
so  clearly  as  during  the  last  year.    Within 
that  time  great  efforts  had  been  made  to 
bring  members  of  the  Mormon  church 
under  the  control  of  the  U.  S.  courts  for 
polygamy.       Several     indictments    had 
been  found,  and  arrests  made,  but  all  with 
the  greatest  difficulty,  and  with  no  de- 
cided  result.     But  the  matter  began  to 
take  hold  of  the  country.     Presidential 

messages  are  now  referring: 

1879.     Great 

strikes  of  all  to  it,  and  the  conviction 
kinds  in  Eng-  faat  the  country  must  be 
freed  from  an  element  so 
hostile  to  the  integrity  of  the  family,  is 
fast  gaining  ground.  After  the  message 
of  President  Hayes  had  been  issued  at 
the  close  of  this  year,  Elder  John  Taylor, 
in  an  address  to  the  Mormons,  told  them 
authoritatively  to  obey  the  usage  in  re- 
gard to  polygamy,  no  matter  what  the 
U.  S.  government  might  do  about  it,  for 
it  was  a  law  of  God. 

IRISH  AGITATORS. 

1880.  Jan.  1.    C.  S.  Parnell  and  John 
Dillon  arrived  in  this   country  at  New 
York,  to  promote  the  cause  of  the  Irish 
Home  Rule,  and  to  gather  funds  for  the 
relief  of  those   suffering    and    perishing 
from  famine  in  Ireland.     Mr.  Parnell  is 
a  member  of  parliament   from    Meath, 
Ireland,  and  an  active  home  ruler.     Dur- 
laso.    Literal      ™%  *&  tour  of  the  United 
victory  in  Eng-    States  he  spoke  in  many  of 

lish  elections.  e  mi(J. 


largest  dti 

die  and  central  states,  and  received  con- 


tributions for  the  benefit  of  his  people* 
Meantime  starvation  in  Ireland  had  stead- 
ily increased,  until  now  vast  numbers 
were  suffering  and  dying.  It  was,  how- 
ever, much  relieved  by  the  gifts  which 
flowed  in  from  many  quarters,  especially 
the  United  States.  Mr.  Parnell  made 
an  unfavorable  impression  in  several 
places,  on  account  of  his  political  criti- 
cisms and  principles.  He  had,  to  some 
extent,  created  prejudice  against  his  cause, 
by  the  revolutionary  advice  he  gave  his 
fellow  subjects,  at  a  mass  meeting  in  Ire- 
land, a  short'  time  before  coming  to 
America,  and  by  his  willingness  to  see 
his  countrymen  suffer,  if  the  money  he 
got  could  be  used  for  political  purposes. 
He  was  the  leader  of  his  party  in  Ireland, 
a  large  land  owner,  and  an  able  and  cul- 
tured man.  His  purpose  'in  coming  to 
the  New  World  was  to  create  favor  for 
the  desires  of  the  Irish  to  rise  into  a  more 
distinct  nationality.  He  seemed  to  be 
jealous  of  all  other  agencies  for  relief. 


1880.    Jan.  3.     Bishop  McCloskey  of 

the  Roman  Catholic  church  of  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky,  ordered  parochial  schools 
to  be  established  throughout  his  diocese, 
and  bade  Catholic  parents  to  send  their 
children  under  nine  years  of  age  to  these 
schools,  upon  penalty  of  being  denied  the 
sacraments  for  refusal. 

1880.  Jan.  12.  A  terrific  flood  de- 
vastated the  island  of  St.  Kitts,  W.  I., 
"the  mother  of  the  Antilles."  The 
heights  of  Mt.  Misery  rise  back  of  the 
principal  town,  and  upon  these  the  storm 
and  flood  gathered  till  they  could  be  no 
longer  restrained,  when  they  swept  down 
the  sides  with  resistless  fury.  The  moun- 
tain streams  were  transformed  in  tor- 
rents, sweeping  everything  in  their  course. 
The  earth  was  loosened  so  that  numer- 


886 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


ous  land  slides  occurred.  Stores  of  sugar 
were  destroyed,  and  plantations  stripped. 
Two  hundred  persons  perished,  and  a 
great  many  more  lost  all  they  had.  It 
was  the  worst  affliction  since  1722. 
There  was  a  loss  of  $250,000. 

MAINE  ELECTION  TROUBLES. 

1880.  Jan.  17.  The  difficulties  in 
Maine  were  somewhat  lessened  by  the 
recognition  of  D.  T.  Davis  as  governor  of 
Maine,  by  Gen.  Chamberlain,  who  had 
military  charge  of  the  capitol  at  Wash- 
ington. The  course  of  affairs  since  De- 

2880.  Jan.  20.  cember  had  been  as  fol- 
Deatk  of  Jules  lows :  The  last  of  that 
month  Gov.  Garcelon  had 
been  induced,  by  the  force  of  public 
opinion,  to  submit  certain  questions  to 
the  supreme  court  of  the  state.  On  Jan. 
3  a  decision  was  returned,  denying  his 
position  in  every  particular.  On  Jan.  7 
the  legislature  of  the  state  convened,  and 
the  fusionists  attempted  to  secure  control 
of  it  by  arbitrary  rulings.  The  contest 
endured  till  the  pth,  when  Gen.  J.  L. 
Chamberlain,  president  of  Bowdoin  Col- 
lege, was  asked  by  Gov.  Garcelon  to 
assume  military  control  of  the  capitol, 
which  he  did.  On  the  evening  of  the 
1 2th,  the  republican  legislators  who  had 
been  clearly  elected,  took  possession  of 
the  statehouse  after  it  had  been  vacated 
for  the  day,  and  at  once  decided  to  sub- 
mit the  question  of  their  legal  existence 
to  the  supreme  court  of  the  state.  The 
president  of  the  fusion  senate  requested 
Gen.  Chamberlain  to  recognize  him  as 
acting  governor,  but  he  was  refused. 
On  the  1 6th  the  fusion  legislature  elected 
as  governor  Major  J.  L.  Smith,  and  con- 
ducted the  inauguration.  But  on  the 
same  day  the  supreme  court  of  the  state 
rendered  a  decision  recognizing  the  re- 


publican legislature  as  the  legal  legislat- 
ure of  the  state,  because  it  had  a  clear 
majority  of  those  who  had  been  elected 
by  the  people.  The  latter  therefore  at 
once  elected  and  inaugurated  Mr.  Davis, 
and  were  recognized  in  the  procedures 
by  Gen.  Chamberlain,  who  had  gov- 
erned every  step  by  the  decisions  of  the 
supreme  court.  The  excitement  was 
now  somewhat  relieved,  and  the  anxiety 
lest  there  would  be  bloodshed,  subsided. 
Still,  a  portion  of  the  conflict  remained. 


1880.  Jan.  23.  The  first  earth- 
quake known  in  Havana  caused  great 
excitement.  The  shock  was  severe,  but 
no  great  damage  was  done.  Twelve 
miles  from  Havana,  however,  many 
buildings  were  demolished.  During  the 
day  an  official  banquet  in  honor  of  Gen. 
Grant  and  party,  took  place  in  Havana. 

MAINE  ELECTION  TROUBLES. 

1880.  Jan.  31.  The  state  seal  and 
other  property  were  surrendered  by  the 
"  fusionists "  to  the  republican  officers, 
and  the  Maine  embroglio  came  to  an 
end.  Since  the  zyth  inst.  ^  Jan  ^ 
a  slight  excitement  was  Great  fire  in 
caused  by  the  discovery  of  Dublin. 
a  plot,  on  the  part  of  the  "  fusionists,"  to 
gain  forcible  possession  of  the  legislature. 
But  finally  the  "  fusionists "  adjourned 
on  the  28th,  with  the  professed  purpose 
of  meeting  again  in  August.  This,  with 
the  surrender  of  the  seal,  closed  the  whole 
affair.  It  afterward  came  to  light,  how- 
ever, that  some  of  the  returns  from  the 
towns  had  been  deliberately  falsified  in 
favor  of  the  "  fusionists." 

EDISON'S  ELECTRIC  LIGHT. 

1880.  January.  A  widespread  in- 
terest was  felt  in  the  result  of  Edison's 


1877-1881.} 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


887 


long  effort  to  perfect  his  electric  light. 
He  announced  that  he  was  confident  of 
success;  a  company  was  formed,  and 
prices  of  stock  began  to  go  up,  till  they 
reached  the  sum  of  $3,300  a  share.  But 
experiments  were  made,  and  unexpected 
difficulties  were  found  in  making  the  car- 
bon plates  durable.  Hence  the  antici- 
pated exhibition,  which  had  been  so  long 
awaited  by  the  public,  was  to  a  great  ex- 
tent a  failure.  Stock  at  once  went  down 
to  $1,500  a  share.  But  the  sturdy  invent- 
or still  affirms  that  he  will  accomplish 
it,  and  works  away  at  his  task. 

1880.  Feb.  2.  A  novel  scene  took 
place  before  the  bar  of  the  United  States 
supreme  court.  Hon.  Joel  Parker,  who 
had  formerly  been  put  for- 
ward by  the  democratic 
party  as  a  candidate  for  the 
presidency,  together  with 
a  colored  lawyer  from 
South  Carolina,  were  admitted  to  prac- 
tice at  that  court.  The  latter  was  admit- 
ted upon  motion  of  Mrs.  Belva  A.  Lock- 
wood,  who  had  been  herself  admitted  to 
the  same  bar  under  the  act  of  congress 
of  one  year  before. 

1880.  Feb.  20.  Rev.  Edward  Cow- 
ley,  who  had  for  some  time  been  at  the 
head  of  an  institution  in  New  York, 
known  as  the  "  Shepherd's  Fold,"  in- 

1380.  Feb.  29.  tended  for  the  instruction 
Si.  Gotkard  and  rearing  of  orphan  chil- 

Tunnel    opened, 


1880.    Feb.  17. 
Attempt  to  kill 
the  Russian  Czar 
by  blowing  tip 
the  Winter 
palace. 


convicted  of  starving  and  abusing  the  lit- 
tle inmates,  was  sentenced  to  a  fine  of 
$200,  and  one  year's  imprisonment. 
Cowley  was  formerly  chaplain  at  Black- 
well's  Island.  The  imposture  he  had  been 
practicing  was  thoroughly  broken  up. 

1880.     March  5.     A   convention  of 
greenbackers  was   held    at  St.   Louis. 


Stephen  B.  Dillaye  of  New  Hampshire, 
was  nominated  for  president,  and  B.  J. 
Chambers  of  Texas,  for  vice-president. 

THE  UTE  NEGOTIATIONS. 

1880.  March  6.  Negotiations  be- 
tween  the  United  States  and  the  Ute  na- 
tion were  concluded.  The  first  para- 
graph stipulated  that  the  Indians  should 
procure  the  surrender  of  the  murderers 
of  Agent  Meeker;  the  second  that  the 
territory  of  the  Utes  in  Colorado  should 
be  ceded  to  the  United  States,  and  that 
the  tribes  should  settle  on  the  LaPlata 
River,  Grand  River,  and  the  Utah  res- 
ervations. As  payment  for  their  lands, 
the  Indians  were  to  receive  an  annuity 
of  $50,000;  the  annuity  of  $25^000 
which  they  had  been  receiving,  was  to 
be  continued  until  they  should  become 
self-supporting. 

"SALVATION  ARMY." 

1880.  March  10.  Eight  members 
of  the  "  salvation  army  "  arrived  in  New 
York,  among  the  immigrants  from  Lon- 
don. This  organization  was  originated 
in  London  in  1865,  by  a  minister,  who 
held  open  air  meetings  and  large  public 
gatherings,  for  the  purpose  of  converting 
those  who  attended  no  place  of  public 
worship.  In  1865  there  were  over  3,500 
workers  in  the  "  army."  They  came  to 
New  York  for  the  purpose  of  extending 
their  work  to  the  United  States.  They 
wore  plain  uniforms  and  inscriptions  on 
their  hats,  and  marched  through  the 
streets  under  a  flag  which  bore  the  in- 
scription, "Blood  and  Fire:  New  York, 
No.  i."  All  their  operations  were 
guarded  by  certain  regulations. 

1880.  March  11.  A  farewell  recep- 
tion was  given  in  New  York  to  Charles 


388 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


S.  Parnell,  the  Irish  agitator,  on  the  eve 
of  his  departure  for  Ireland.  Represent- 
atives from  many  of  the  principal  cities 
were  present,  and  the  question  of  organ- 
izing a  "  land  league  "  in  America  was 
fully  and  favorably  discussed.  A  league 
has  since  been  organized  in  each  of  our 
large  cities,  and  in  some  cases  female 
leagues  have  been  formed. 

1880.  March  16.  Dennis  Kearney, 
who  had  been  arrested  in  San  Francisco 
for  using  indecent,  violent,  and  abusive 
language,  was  sentenced  to  six  months 
in  the  house  of  correction,  and  a  fine  of 
$1,000.  He  appealed  to  the  superior 
court,  but  the  sentence  was  confirmed. 
It  was  afterward  reversed  in  the  supreme 
court,  and  Kearney  was  released.  The 
working  men  began  to  find  out  that  their 
interests  were  not  promoted  by  this  igno- 
rant agitator.  The  citizens  had  formed  a 
•"Union"  for  the  protection  of  their 
homes  and  property.  Great  fear  had 
arisen  in  many  quarters  that  mob  vio- 
lence would  soon  reign,  and  some  people 
left  the  city.  But  the  cloud  passed,  and 
the  danger  did  not  break  upon  them.  At 
the  election  of  March  30  the  Kearneyites 
were  defeated  by  over  7,000  majority. 

CONFLICT  BEFORE  yLRICti. 

1880.  March  25.  The  blockade  of 
Arica  was  forced  by  the  Peruvian  cor- 
vette "  Union."  This  was  not  an  exten- 
sive engagement,  but  it  was  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  of  the  war.  The  "  Union  " 
fought  for  seven  hours  with  two  Chilian 
ironclads,  and  during  the  fight  a  transport 
discharged  her  cargo  of  arms  for  the  use 
of  the  land  forces  of  the  Peruvians.  The 
opening  fighting  of  the  year  gave  the  al- 
lies no  new  gain;  on  the  contrary,  the 
Chilians  not  only  held  their  own,  but 
continued  aggressive  action. 


WEST  POINT  OUTRAGE. 
1880.  April  6.  At  West  Point  mili- 
tary academy,  a  colored  cadet  named 
Johnson  C.  Whittaker,  was  found  in  his 
room,  bound  and  bruised.  Upon  being 
loosed  he  said  he  had  been  taken  from 
his  bed  by  masked  men,  and  had  been 
maltreated  by  them  severely.  The  affair 
at  once  became  a  subject  of  wide  comment 
throughout  the  country,  because  it  was 
thought  that  the  outrage  was  committed 
by  reason  of  an  aversion  to  Whittaker  on 
account  of  his  African  descent.  A  court 
of  inquiry  was  ordered  and  held,  but 
after  a  long  trial,  there  was  no  result 
clearly  established  in  the  minds  of  the 
people  at  large.  An  effort  was  made  by 
some  to  show  that  Whittaker  had  com- 
mitted the  deed  himself,  in  order  to  gain 
sympathy.  Recorder  Sears  of  the  court 
of  inquiry,  decided  that  Whittaker  as- 
saulted himself.  He  was  at  once  arrest- 
ed, and  steps  taken  to  court-martial  him. 
A  feeling  of  opposition  to  Gen.  Schofield, 
the  head  of  the  academy,  was  developed, 
and  he  has  been  more  recently  removed 
by  President  Hayes,  Gen.  O.  O.  Howard 
being  put  in  his  place. 

1880.  April  10.  The  best  distance 
on  record  in  a  long  walking  match  was 
made  by  Hart,  a  negro,  in  New  York. 
He  walked  565  miles  in  six  days,  12 
miles  more  than  had  ever  been  recorded 
in  a  similar  contest. 

1880.  April  18.  The  most  fearful 
cyclone  on  record  in  this  country,  swept 
through  portions  of  Indiana,  Illinois, 
Wisconsin,  Iowa,  Kansas,  and  Missouri. 
At  Marshfield,  Mo.,  what  seemed  to  be 
a  water  spout  burst  upon  the  town,  and 
all  save  twenty  or  thirty  buildings  were 
utterly  wrecked.  The  stores  and  larger 
dwellings  were  literally  prostrated.  A 


Lord  Beacons 
Jield  resigns  as 

prime  minister 

of  England. 

Mr.  Gladstone 
•succeeds  him. 


1877-1881  ] 

little  child  was  afterward  found  suspended 
unhurt  in  the  crotch  of  a  tree,  thirty  feet 
.above  the  ground,  three  miles  from  home. 
•Cattle  and  people  were  scattered  every- 
where. In  other  sections  the  injury  was 
great.  A  hundred  persons  were  killed. 
The  destruction  of  property  cannot  be 
-estimated. 

1880.  April  21.  A  serious  accident 
•occurred  at  Madison  Square  garden, 
New  York.  By  the  falling  of  a  portion 
•of  the  walls  and  the  roof,  while  a  large 
hospital  fair  was  in  progress,  more  than 
1880.  April  22.  twenty-five  persons  were 
killed  and  injured.  Many 
large  paintings,  which  were 
loaned  for  the  occasion,  were 
destroyed.  These  were  in- 
sured against  fire,  but  nothing  else.  A 
great  many  lives  were  saved  by  the  fall- 
ing of  pieces  of  plastering,  which  warned 
the  people,  so  that  they  fled  the  room. 
The  cause  was  found  to  be  in  the  treach- 
erous workmanship  put  into  the  building. 
1880.  April  21.  An  extensive  fire 
•destroyed  one-half  the  city  of  Hull, 
Ontario.  Over  4,000  people  were  turned 
out  of  doors,  and  several  lives  were  lost. 
The  loss  is  estimated  at  $3,000,000. 

1880.  April  23.  The  Kalloch  con- 
troversy in  San  Francisco  resulted  in  a 
frightful  crime.  The  difficulties  between 
Rev.  Mayor  Kalloch  and  Charles  De 
Young,  the  editor  of  the  Chronicle, 
which  led  to  the  attempt  of  the  latter  to 
shoot  the  former,  at  the  Metropolitan 
Hotel,  now  took  a  more  serious  turn. 
The  son  of  the  former  entered  the  edito- 
rial rooms  of  the  Chronicle,  and  shot  De 
Young  dead.  The  quarrel  had  been 
taking  a  hideous  form  in  the  eyes  of  all 
right-minded  citizens.  The  impeach- 
ment of  Mayor  Kalloch  had  already 
been  proposed,  because  of  his  wild  lan- 


THE   VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


889 
His  son 


guage  and  indiscreet  conduct, 
was  immediately  arrested. 

1880.  April.  The  largest  immigra- 
tion ever  known  in  one  month,  at  New 
York,  took  place  when  there  were 
46,118  arrivals  at  the  landing  place,  at 
Castle  Garden.  The  only  other  month 
approaching  this,  was  April,  1873,  when 
there  were  42,743  arrivals.  A  great  tide 
is  now  flowing  into  the  country,  and  the 
western  immigrant  trains,  during  1880, 
were  crowded.  The  railroads  were 
forced  to  run  extra  trains.  It  is  found 
that  an  average  of  $68  apiece  is  brought 
by  this  people,  making  $300,000,000  in 
seventeen  years.  The  West  swallows 
up  sixty  per  cent,  of  all  immigrants. 

1880.  April.  The  Chilian  forces 
under  Gen.  Bequedano  continued  the 
invasion  of  the  Peruvian  territory,  and 
met  with  almost  uninterrupted  success. 
They  bombarded  Callao,  and  much  dam- 
age was  done  on  the  shore;  for  accord- 
ing to  reports,  the  allied  land  forces  suf- 
fered heavily.  Gen.  Bequedano  cap- 
tured Moquega,  an  important  port  of 
Southern  Peru. 

ANTI-THIRD  TERMISM, 

1880.  May  6.  The  sentiment  of  the 
country,  which  was  opposed  to  the  nomi- 
nation of  Gen.  Grant  for  a  third  term,  as 
a  candidate  for  the  presidency  of  the 
United  States,  led  to  the  holding  of  a 
convention  at  St.  Louis.  No  public  ref- 
erences were  made,  except  to  the  nomina- 
tion of  Grant.  Hon.  Thurlow  Weed, 
Col.  T.  W.  Higginson,  Rev.  Dr.  Bel- 
lows, Rev.  Dr.  James  Freeman  Clarke, 
President  Chadbourne  of  Williams  Col- 
lege, Rev.  Dr.  Leonard  Bacon,  Gen. 
McClurg,  and  others,  wrote  letters  of 
sympathy  with  the  movement.  The 
delegates  represented  many  sections  of 


890 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


the  country,  and  arrangements  were 
made  to  defeat  the  election  of  Grant,  if 
nominated.  The  action  was  brought 
about  by  the  "Independent  Republicans." 
From  this  time  the  opposition  became 
more  intense. 

1880.  May  21.  The  failure  of  the 
Beading  Railroad  company  was  an- 
nounced. It  had  total  liabilities  of  $  1 04,- 
000,000.  The  effect  of  the  failure  was 
very  great.  The  cause  of  it  was  in  the 
attempt  of  the  company  to  manage  large 
coal  and  iron  interests  also,  and  it  thus 
imperiled  the  whole  of  its  possessions. 
The  road  received  a  charter  in  1833. 
The  special  step  which  embarrassed  it, 
was  in  trying  to  secure  a  monopoly  of 
the  anthracite  coal  business. 

1880.  May.  Tacua,  an  important 
town  of  Southern  Peru,  was  captured  by 
the  Chilian  army.  The  Peruvians  were 
routed,  and  their  Bolivian  allies  were  de- 
serting them.  It  is  said  that  the  Chil- 
ians practiced  great  cruelty  on  the  inhab- 
itants of  Tacua,  and  also  of  Arica. 

CAPTURE  OF  ARICA. 

1880.  June  4.  A  Chilian  force  of 
6,000  men  attacked  Arica  by  land  and 
sea.  When  the  Peruvian  garrison  were 
summoned  to  surrender, they  replied,  "We 
will  resist  to  our  last  cartridge."  But 
Gen.  Baquedano  carried  the  enemy's 
works  by  storm  upon  the  loth.  This 
gave  the  Chilians  entire  possession  of 
Southern  Peru,  and  while  the  fleet  block- 
aded and  pillaged  the  northern  ports, 
Baquedano  organized  an  expedition 
against  Lima. 

NATIONAL    REPUBLICAN    CONVENTION. 

1880.  June  8.  The  national  re- 
publican convention,  after  a  stormy  ses- 


sion of  six  days  at  Chicago,  nominated 
James  A.  Garfield  of  Ohio,  for  president, 
and  Chester  A.  Arthur  of  New  York, 
for  vice-president.  The  convention  de- 
clared itself  in  favor  of  "  equal  rights 
for  all,"  and  congratulated  the  people  on 
the  success  of  the  resump- 

-1          laaO.     (jrreat 

tion  of  specie  payments,  famine  in 
The  main  question  that  Persia- 
agitated  the  convention  was,  "  Shall  Gen. 
Grant  be  nominated  for  a  third  term  ?" 
Over  three  hundred  delegates  voted  for 
Gen.  Grant  thirty-six  times,  on  as  many 
successive  ballots.  Blaine,  Sherman,  Ed- 
munds, Washburne,  and  Windom,  were 
supported  by  sturdy  friends.  Until  thirty- 
three  ballots  had  been  cast,  Gen.  Gar- 
field's  name  was  hardly  thought  of,  nor 
was  he  a  nominee  of  the  convention.  He 
was  nominated  on  the  thirty- sixth  ballot, 
by  a  vote  of  399  to  306  for  Grant,  and 
42  for  Blaine.  His  nomination  was 
everywhere  received  by  the  people  with 
a  feeling  of  relief.  Even  those  who  were 
most  set  about  their  wishes,  experienced 
a  degree  of  satisfaction  in  the  result.  The 
scene  in  the  convention  when  his  nomi- 
nation was  assured,  was  beyond  descrip- 
tion. There  was  a  perfect  frenzy  of  joy. 


1880.  June  11.  The  Greenback 
convention,  held  in  Chicago,  nominated 
Gen.  J.  B.  Weaver  of  Iowa,  for  presi- 
dent, and  E.  J.  Chambers  of  Texas,  for 
vice-president.  The  representatives  of 
the  party  were  divided  into  two  conven- 
tions at  first,  and  only  came  together 
after  considerable  controversy.  The 
whole  session  was  one  of  tumult. 

DEMOCRATIC  NATIONAL  CONVENTION. 

1880.  June  24.  The  democratic 
national  convention  at  Cincinnati,  nomi- 
nated Winfield  S.  H.ancock  of  New 


1877-1881.] 

York,  for  president,  and  William  H. 
English  of  Indiana,  for  vice-president. 
The  convention  in  its  resolutions  declared 
its  faith  in  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  and  ex- 
pressed its  belief  in  his  election  in  1876. 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


891 


188O.  June  29.  The  excursion 
steamer  "  Seawanhaka,"  out  from  New 
York,  took  fire  from  an  explosion  in 
the  engine  room,  and  the  flames  spread 
with  great  rapidity.  Fifty  persons  per- 
ished. A  striking  instance  of  the  in- 
fluence of  song  occurred  in  this  catas- 
trophe. A  colored  singer  and  his  wife 
were  on  board,  and  each  secured  a  life 
preserver.  But  in  the  confusion,  the 
one  which  the  woman  had  was  torn 
away  by  some  one  else.  They  were 
finally  obliged  to  commit  themselves  to 
the  water.  After  floating  for  a  time 
with  her  hands  on  her  husband's  shoul- 
ders, the  wife  grew  weary,  and  said 
she  could  not  hold  out  any  longer. 
After  various  encouragements  without 
great  effect,  the  husband  said:  "Let  us 
try  to  sing  'Rock  of  Ages;'  perhaps 
that  will  cheer  us  up  so  that  we  can 
get  ashore."  As  he  struck  up  with 
his  rich  voice,  his  wife  felt  new  strength. 
In  a  few  moments  others  on  the  water 
caught  it,  and  the  beloved  melody  aided 
some  in  making  a  new  effort,  and  reach- 
ing the  shore  in  safety. 

1880.  June  29.  The  international 
rifle  match  at  "Dollymount,  Ireland,  was 
won  by  the  American  team  over  the 
Irish,  by  a  score  of  1292  points  to  .1280. 

188O.      June.      A   collision   occurred 

on    Long    Island    Sound,   between    the 

"  Narragansett  "  and  the  "  Stonington.'' 

While  sinking,  the  former 

1880.     June    30.  -X.rr> 

Law  against        took    fire.      Different    esti- 
jtsuits  in  mates    of   the   loss   of   life 

France  executed.        ,  .       . 

place   it    between    twenty- 


five  and  one  hundred.  An  investiga- 
tion showed  that  the  captains  did  not 
understand  the  code  of  signals  by  which 
they  should  have  been  guided. 

1880.  July  1.  The  boiler  of  the 
steamer  "  Mary "  exploded  at  Hotel 
St.  Louis  dock,  on  Lake  Minnetonka. 
Four  persons  were  killed,  and  others 
wounded.  The  boiler  was  known  to 
be  unsafe,  but  was  permitted  to  run 
without  official  inspection. 

1880.  July  3.  The  workingmen  of 
California  deposed  Dennis  Kearney  from 
the  headship  of  their  party.  He  was 
threatened  with  mob  violence.  The 
mass  of  the  party  became  convinced 
that  he  was  a  blind  leader. 

1880.  July  17.  The  national  con- 
vention of  prohibitionists  met  at  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  and  nominated  Gen.  Neal 
Dow  of  Maine,  for  president,  and  A.  W. 
Thompson  of  Westville,  Ohio,  for  vice- 
president. 

1880.  July  21.  The  Hudson  Kiver 
Tunnel  caved  in,  and  was  flooded  with 
water,  causing  the  death  of  twenty-two 
persons.  It  was  afterward  found  that 
some  of  the  adjustments  had  been  care- 
lessly made,  and  the  safeguards  had  not 
been  sufficient.  The  disaster  arose  from 
the  endeavor  to  save  expense.  It  was  a 
long  time  before  the  remains  could  be 
excavated.  The  work  was  afterward 
begun  again,  and  is  now  proceeding  on  a 
safer  scale. 

1880.  The  Chilian  transport  "  Loa  " 
was  exploded  in  Callao  Bay.  A  torpedo 
launch,  loaded  with  fruit  and  vegetables, 
was  sent  among  the  blockading  squadron 
by  the  Peruvians.  It  was  finally  taken 
by  the  "  Loa,"  and  as  the  cargo  was  re- 
moved, the  lessening  of  the  weight  caused 
machinery  in  connection  with  300  pounds 
of  dynamite  to  work,  and  a  terrible  ex- 


892 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


plosion  followed.     The  "  Loa  "  immedi- 
ately sunk,  and  150  men  perished. 

1880.  July  29.  The  independent 
people's  labor  party  held  a  national  con- 
vention at  Sharon,  Penn.,  and  nominated 
Garfield  and  Arthur  as  their  presidential 

ticket. 

DR.  TAMER'S  FAST. 

1880.  Aug.  7.  The  attempt  which 
was  being  made  by  Dr.  Tanner  of  Min- 
nesota, to  live  forty  days  without  food, 
came  to  a  successful  close  by  the  expira- 
tion of  the  time  allotted.  The  experi- 
ment was  made  in  New  York,  under  the 
charge  of  physicians,  although  the  ar- 
rangements were  not  so  complete  as  to 
have  absolutely  prevented  the  secret  pas- 
sage of  food  to  the  victim,  had  it  been 
desired  to  accomplish  it.  This,  however, 
is  thought  not  to  have  been  done.  A 
great  deal  of  Dr.  Tanner's  time  was  spent 
upon  a  couch.  At  times  he  was  taken 
out  to  ride.  He  frequently  took  a  swal- 
low of  water,  with  which  to  moisten  and 
rinse  out  his  mouth.  A  large  number  of 
visitors  daily  gazed  upon  his  emaciated 
form,  and  expressed  their  sympathy. 
But  the  experiment,  while  professedly 
made  in  the  interest  of  science,  in  deter- 
mining the  power  of  the  will  over  human 
life,  did  not  command  any  great  respect 
from  the  people  at  large.  Dr.  Tanner 
claims  that  he  had  fasted  at  a  previous 
period  for  forty  days,  and  that  he  there- 
fore knew  what  he  was  doing.  His 
daily  condition  was  reported  over  the 
country.  At  certain  times  it  seemed  as 
if  he  would  not  live  many  hours.  Dur- 
ing the  next  day  or  two  after  the  close 
of  his  fast,  Dr.  Tanner  ate  heartily  of  a 
large  number  of  kinds  of  food  without 
1890.  August.  any  apparent  ill  effects.  He 

Cologne     cathe-      advertjsed    a    series     Qf    lec. 
aral      completed 

after  630  years,    tures  in   different  parts   of 


the  country.  His  services  were  sought  by 
lecture  agencies  at  high  price,  but  he  de- 
clined them,  and  preferred  to  lecture  upon 
his  own  account.  The  result  was,  com- 
plete failure.  Nowhere  could  he  gain 
an  audience,  a  proof  that  his  experiment 
only  caused  a  slight  temporary  excite- 
ment. 

For  the  sake  of  comparison  an  account 
is  here  added  of  a  fast  of  a  month,  which 
in  its  circumstances  exceeds  in  importance 
the  fast  of  Dr.  Tanner.  The  account  is 
taken  from  "  Underground  Life,  or  Mines 
and  Miners,  a  work  translated,  adapted 
to  the  present  state  of  British  mining,  and 
edited  by  H.  W.  Bristow,  F.  R.  S.  of  the 
geological  survey;  Honorary  Fellow  of 
King's  College,  London;  published  in 
America  by  D.  Appleton  &  Co." 

"  The  story  of  Giraud,  who  was  exca- 
vating a  well  near  Lyons,  1854:  The 
poor  fellow,  dashed  to  the  bottom  of  the 
hole  by  a  fall  of  the  ground  from  above, 
which  had  been  perhaps  insufficiently 
propped,  beheld  a  sort  of  vault  suddenly 
form  above  his  head,  which  crushed  him 
under  its  weight,  and  kept  him  prisoned, 
together  with  his  fellow  workman.  The 
question  then  was,  how  to  save  these  poor 
fellows.  It  was  necessary  to  dig  a  new 
shaft  near  the  first,  and  then  to  connect 
the  two  by  means  of  a  drift-way,  which 
should  strike  it  at  the  point  where  the  ac- 
cident had  taken  place.  In  spite  of  all  the 
exertions  which  were  made,  a  whole 
month  was  spent  in  bringing  the  opera- 
.  tion  to  a  close,  for  fresh  falls  occurred  in 
the  new  workings  themselves. 

"  Giraud  and  his  comrade  heard  the 
noise  of  the  picks,  and  replied  to  the 
workmen,  thinking  every  moment  that 
the  hour  of  deliverance  was  at  hand. 
Vain  hope!  The  second  man  died.  Hun- 
ger added  its  horrors  to  the  sufferings  of 


1877-1881.] 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


893 


the  survivor,  as  in  the  sad  story  of  Ugo- 
lino. 

"  Giraud,  a  person  of  greater  energy 
than  his  companion,  bore  up.  The 
corpse  of  his  friend,  which  lay  near  him, 
poisoned  the  little  air  which  he  had  to 
breathe ;  but  the  desire  to  live,  sustained 
him.  Neither  hunger,  nor  this  unpleas- 
ant proximity,  cast  down  this  man;  he 
wished  not  to  die.  He  carried  on  the 
contest  for  an  entire  month.  Every  mo- 
ment it  was  expected  that  he  would  be 
reached,  when  some  fresh  accident  hap- 
pened, which  rendered  it  necessary  to 
begin  the  work  anew.  Giraud  did  not 
succumb;  he  replied  distinctly  to  all  the 
questions  that  were  put  to  him.  France, 
indeed  all  Europe,  watched  the  contest 
day  after  day,  and  a  bulletin  was  p'ub- 
lished  every  evening,  of  the  day's  prog- 
ress. 

"On  the  thirtieth  day  victory  was 
achieved,  and  Giraud  saved.  Pale,  wan, 
and  reduced  to  a  skeleton,  his  body 
was  a  mass  of  sores.  Gangrene  had  at- 
.acked  all  his  limbs,  caused  by  the  corpse 
which  for  three  weeks  had  been  rotting 
by  his  side.  The  unfortunate  well-dig- 
ger v/as  carried  to  the  hospital  at  Lyons, 
where,  after  lingering  on  for  some  time, 

he  expired." 

FAST  TROTTING. 

1880.  Aug.  12.  The  remarkable 
time  of  a  mile  in  2  m.  1 1  ^£  sec.,  was 
made  on  the  track  at  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
by  St.  Julien  and  Maud  S.  This,  at  the 
time,  was  the  fastest  record  ever  made  in 
the  world,  but  was  beaten  later  in  the 
summer  both  by  St.  Julien  and  Maud  S. 
St.  Julien,  who  was  owned  and  driven  by 
Orrin  Hickok  of  California,  had  a  pre- 
vious record  of  2  :i2^.  Maud  S.,  owned 
by  Vanderbilt,  gained  by  this  record,  the 
reputation  of  being  the  queen  of  the  turf. 


1880.     Aug.  16.      The  Knight  Tem- 
plars of  the  United  States  met  in  a  grand 
convention      at      Chicago.    1880.   Aug.  is. 
There     had    never    before    ou  Bull,  the 

,  celebrated  -via- 

been  so  large  a  gathering  linisti  died  in 
of  this  character.  The  Norway. 
city  was  thronged  with  guests,  and  mag- 
nificent parades  took  place  each  day. 
The  exercises  lasted  throughout  the  week, 
and  the  expense  of  the  week's  levity  was 
enormous.  The  occasion  had  been  an- 
ticipated for  months.  The  lake  front  of 
the  city  was  crowded  with  tents,  and  the 
streets  were  full  of  showy  uniforms. 
The  military  evolutions  of  some  of  the 
encampments  were  very  fine. 

1880.  Aug.  18.  The  island  of  Ja- 
maica was  devastated  by  a  fearful  hurri- 
cane, which  brought  great  suffering  on 
the  peasantry,  and  destroyed  many 
whole  villages. 

1880.  Aug.  19.  A  surrender  of 
Sioux  Indians  took  place  at  Fort  Keogh, 
Montana,  to  the  United  States  troops. 
On  the  following  day  still  more  gave 
themselves  up.  The  whole  number  in 
the  two  surrenders  was  eight  hundred. 

GEN.  ALBERT  J.  MYER. 

1880.  Aug.  24.  Gen.  Albert  J. 
Myer,  better  known  all  over  the  country 
as  « Old  Probabilities,"  died  at  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  aged  fifty-one  years.  He  was 
born  at  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  September  20, 
1828.  He  was  thoroughly  educated  at 
Geneva  College,  where  he  graduated  in 
1847.  A  course  of  study  in  medicine 
followed,  until  1851.  The  appointment 
of  assistant  surgeon  in  the  United  States 
army  was  received  by  him  in  1854.  The 
work  of  the  signal  service  before  the 
Civil  War,  was  undeveloped,  but  his  at- 
tention was  turned  to  it.  From  1858  to 
1860  he  served  in  that  department,  and 


894 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


in  1860  became  chief  signal  officer  of  the 
army.  His  full  attention  was  now  di- 
rected to  the  increase  of  the  efficiency  of 
this  branch,  and  with  such  success  as  to 
have  made  it  through  the  Civil  War  a 
great  power.  He  rose  in  rank  to  brevet 
brigadier-general.  After  the  war  he  se- 
cured the  addition  of  signal  service 
studies  to  the  courses  at  West  Point  and 
Annapolis.  He  had  already  begun 
weather  work  for  the  army,  but  gradu- 
ally his  labor  in  this  respect  widened, 
until  our  Weather  Bureau  was  put  into 
its  present  shape.  Much  of  its  efficiency 
has  been  due  to  his  constant  supervision, 
and  good  judgment.  His  later  years  had 
been  given  to  this  work.  Though  in 
the  prime  of  life  he  succumbed  to  disease, 
and  thus  left  a  large  sphere  of  useful  gov- 
ernment service  vacant.  The  meteo- 
rological service  of  the  United  States, 
which  had  grown  up  under  his  care,  has 
become  the  leading  one  of  the  world, 
surpassing  all  others  in  importance. 

1880.  Aug.  27.  St.  Julien,  the  Cali- 
fornia trotter,  beat  his  own  previous  rec- 
ord, and  that  of  Maud  S.,  by  going  a 
mile  over  the  course  at  Hartford  in 
2:nj^.  This  beat  the  world,  but  was 
again  beaten  by  Maud  S.  at  Chicago, 
September  18. 

CHIEF  OVRAT 

1880.  Aug.  28.  Chief  Ouray  of  the 
Utes,  died  at  Los  Pinos  Agency,  Colo- 
rado. His  loss  caused  considerable  dis- 
may among  the  United  States  officers 
who  had  to  deal  with  the  Utes,  for  his 
influence  had  always  been  in  favor  of 
peace.  Ouray  owned  a  farm  of  sixty 
acres,  which  he  managed  with  a  good 
degree  of  success,  being  quite  apt  at  the 
study  of  agriculture.  His  services  were 


very  influential  in  connection  with  the 
threatened  trouble  over  the  Meeker 
massacre.  His  life  was  of  excellent 
character,  his  intellect  clear,  and  his  sym- 
pathy deep  and  strong.  His  place  was 
afterward  filled  by  the  Utes,  by  the  elec- 
tion of  Sapavanari.  Ouray  had  never  had 
but  one  son,  who  had  been  captured  a  long 
time  ago,  when  twelve  years  old,  by  the 
Sioux. 

1880.  Aug.  29.  The  steamer  Vera 
Cruz  was  lost  off  the  coast  of  Florida,  in 
a  hurricane  of  fearful  power.  She  had 
eighty-two  persons  aboard,  and  only 
eleven  reached  the  shore,  after  a  terrible 
experience  of  twenty-four  hours  in  cling- 
ing to  piece's  of  the  wreck.  The  steamer 
was  apparently  overwhelmed,  and  com- 
pletely destroyed  in  a  very  short  time 
by  the  tornado.  There  was  apparently 
nothing  which  could  be  done  to  save  her. 
The  same  storm  ruined  a  large  portion 
of  the  Florida  orange  crop,  to  the  amount 
of  $1,500,000. 

MEXICAN  TROUBLES. 

1880.  August.  The  first  prelimi- 
nary session  of  the  tenth  congress  was 
dissolved  upon  convening.  The  reason 
of  the  dissolution  was  the  preponderating 
number  of  members  present,  without 
official  credentials.  Some  newspapei's 
created  a  sensation  by  announcing  that  a 
conspiracy  existed  between  Gen.  Trevino 
and  the  American  Gen.  Orr,  to  establish 
a  republic  of  Sierra  Madra,  composed  of 
the  states  of  Nuevo  Leon,  Durango,  Chi- 
huahua, San  Luis  Potosi,  and  Tamaulipas, 
and  afterward  for  the  annexation  of  the 
new  republic  to  the  United  States.  During 
the  month  there  were  also  some  religious 
troubles  between  Catholics  and  Protes- 
tants. A  number  of  Protestants  were 


1877-1881.] 

stoned  and  assassinated  near  Guadalajara, 
while  erecting  a  place  of  public  wor- 
ship. The  Catholic  priest  cynically  of- 
fered to  confess  the  assassinated  persons- 

FOREIGN  INTERFERENCE  IN  PERU. 

1880.  Sept.  3.  It  was  announced 
that  if  Chili  and  Peru  did  not  come  to 
terms,  England,  France,  and  Italy  would 
act  in  concert  to  protect  the  lives  of 
foreigners,  and  insure  their  property 
against  destruction.  The  French  resi- 
dents of  Lima  were  well  provided  for? 
but  the  Germans  and  Italians  were  in 
a  helpless  condition.  The  Chilians  pos- 
sessed a  bitter  hatred  against  the  Italians. 
One  day  later  London  authorities  an- 
nounced that  a  preliminary  peace  had 
been  signed,  containing  the  following 
main  articles:  Peru  "surrenders  the 
monitors  Mancocapac  and  Atahualpa, 
razes  the  fortifications  of  Callao,  sur- 
renders all  the  artillery  of  Callao,  en- 
gages to  not  augment  her  navy  within 
twenty  years,  and  will  reimburse  to  Chili 
the  cost  of  the  war.  Chili  engages  to 
pay  half  of  the  exterior  debt  of  Peru." 
But  this  afterward  came  to  nothing,  and 
the  war  continued. 

THE  MEXICAN  ELECTION. 

1880.  Sept.  9.  According  to  dis- 
patches received  at  Washington,  the 
elections  in  Mexico  passed  off  peaceably 
in  almost  every  state  in  the  republic- 
President  Diaz  was  elected  'a  senator 
from  Matehuala.  "It  was  feared  that 
Garcia  De  La  Cadina,  governor  of 
Zacetecas,  might  incite  a  revolution  in 
that  state,  but  no  outbreak  occurred  there, 
nor  anywhere  else,  of  any  consequence. 
The  press  of  the  country  of  all  parties 
condemned  the  revolutionary  measures, 
and  declared  that  Mexico  had  passed 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


895 


through  her  revolutionary  period.  There 
was  marked  activity  in  trade  in  Ameri- 
can machinery,  and  in  mining."  Gen. 
Gonzales  was  elected  president. 

NEW  GOVERNMENT  OF  SANTO 
DOMINGO. 

1880.  Sept.  15.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Me- 
rino, the  newly  elected  president  of  Santo 
Domingo,  in  his  inaugural  address,  speak- 
ing of  foreign  relations,  declared  his  in- 
tention to  enter  into  the  most  intimate 
relations  possible,  with  the  South  Ameri- 
can republics.  He  also  announced  his 
profound  adhesion  to  the  papal  power. 

TIME  DISTANCED. 

1880.  Sept.  18.  After  considerable 
persuasion  the  manager  of  Vanderbilt's 
beautiful  queen  of  the  turf,  Maud  S., 
allowed  her  to  trot  a  fast  mile  upon  the 
grounds  of  the  Chicago  Jockey  Club, 
and  she  made  the  unprecedented  time  of 
2:10^,  beating  St.  Julien's  Hartford 
record  by  one  half  second,  and  thus 
placing  herself  at  the  head  of  the  world. 

AMERICAN  AND  MEXICAN  RAILWAYS. 

1880.  September.  The  project  was 
discussed  to  a  great  extent  in  the  United 
States,  among  leading  capitalists,  of  build- 
ing extensive  railway  lines  through 
Mexico.  This  was  expected  to  open  up 
communication  with  the  outer  world,  and 
give  a  special  impetus  to  American  trade. 
Gen.  Grant  of  the  United  States,  in  a 
letter  to  Gen.  Matias  Romero,  said: 
"  There  is  now  no  doubt  that  the  work 
of  the  railroads  will  progress  rapidly,  and 
that  Mexico  will  commence  to  enjoy  a 
progress  admirable,  and  a  prosperity  ex- 
traordinary. If  we  could  in  the  United 
States  bring  in  the  most  important  per- 
sons, we  could  form  a  syndicate  which 


896 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


would  carry  through  these  enterprises 
without  the  conditions  which  will  now 
be  necessary  to  undertake  them;  but 
my  idea  is  now  for  the  government  to 
issue  bonds  at  6  per  cent,  per  annum, 
organizing  a  liberal  system  of  banking 
on  this  basis,  which  banks  will  issue 
notes  receivable  for  all  public  debts,  and 
thus  preserve  the  national  credit.  Mex- 
ico could  thus  in  a  few  years,  from  the 
products  of  her  soil,  export  two  hundred 
millions  in  value  per  annum,  and  receive 
in  return  the  products  of  our  manufact- 
ures. But  if  Mexico  can  preserve  her 
precious  metals,  in  addition  to  her  other 
productions,  she  will  enrich  herself  suffi- 
ciently to  obviate  the  necessity  of  foreign 
importations.  I  can  only  repeat  that  if 
Mexico  can  peaceably  elect  her  next 
president  without  revolution,  it  is  certain 
that  her  prosperity  will  be  secured,  and 
that  both  republics  will  unquestionably 
be  the  recipients  of  benefits.  Please  ex- 
press my  views  to  the  parties  most  inter- 
ested, and  I  am,  etc.,  U.  S.  GRANT." 

LAST  FRANKLIN  SEARCH  PARTY. 

1880.  September.  An  expedition 
which  had  been  out  in  the  Arctic  regions 
in  order  to  examine  any  still  existing 
relics  of  Sir  John  Franklin  and  his  men, 
returned  to  New  Bedford,  after  an  ex- 
perience of  great  difficulty.  They  had 
been  gone  eleven  months  and  four  days, 
having  made  a  sledge  journey  of  3,000 
miles.  The  party  was  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lieut.  Frederick  Schwatka,  U. 
S.  A.  They  buried  more  than  twenty 
skeletons,  and  identified  the  remains  of 
Lieut.  John  Irving  by  a  medal  he  wore. 
Relics  were  brought  home  which  have 
great  interest  as  reminders  of  the  Arctic 
expedition  which  has  caused  the  world 
such  great  perplexity. 


RUGBl',   TENN. 

1880.  Oct.  5.  An  industrial  colony, 
founded  by  Mr.  Thomas  Hughes,  the 
well-known  Englishman,  was  formally 
opened  by  appropriate  ceremonies,  Mr. 
Hughes  himself  making  an  address. 
His  primary  object  in  starting  the  idea  of,, 
and  locating  the  colony,  was  to  form 
some  place  where  younger  sons  of  Eng- 
lish nobility  or  persons  from  the  English 
middle  classes,  or  enterprising  persons 
from  other  countries,  might  find  a  fair 
opening  for  their  abilities.  Special  at- 
tention is  to  be  given  to  temperance  and 
education,  the  whole  being  under  emi- 
nently Christian  influences.  The  settle- 
ment started  with  great  promise  of  success.. 

BENJAMIN  PEIRCE. 

1880.  Oct.  6.  Benjamin  Peirce,  the 
.leading  mathematician  of  America,  died, 
aged  seventy-one  years.  He  was  born  at 
Salem,  Mass.,  April  4,  1809.  He  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College  in  1829,  and 
by  his  appointment  as  tutor  in  1831,  he 
began  that  long  course  as  instructor  in 
the  college,  which  has  been  exceeded 
only  by  one  in  the  history  of  the  institu- 
tion. He  at  once  began  work  upon  a 
series  of  text-books  in  mathematics  which 
he  issued  between  1836  and  1846.  His 
books  were  marked  by  original  methods, 
which  have  very  widely  influenced 
mathematical  teaching  in  America.  In 
1843  he  gave  such  attention  to  the  fa- 
mous comet  of  that  year,  by  lectures  and 
otherwise,  as  to  secure  the  establishment 
of  the  Cambridge  Observatory.  His 
verification  of  Le  Verrier's  mathematical 
calculations  upon  the  perturbations  of 
Uranus,  and  criticisms  upon  them,  his 
decisive  work  upon  the  question  of  the 
fluidity  of  Saturn's  rings,  his  service  in 
connection  with  the  American  Nautical 


1877-1881.] 

Almanac,  his  vast  assistance  to  the  Coast 
Survey,  and  final  efficient  superintendency 
of  it  after  the  death  of  Prof.  Bache,  in 
1867,  all  revealed  the  wonderful  accuracy 
and  power  of  his  mind.  All  through  his 
work  in  these  respects  was  interwoven 
much  abstruse  mathematical  work  which 
equaled  if  it  did  not  excel,  any  similar 
work  in  the  world.  This  was  especially 
notable  along  the  line  of  algebra,  the 
numerous  forms  of  the  application  of 
which,  he  developed  greatly  beyond 
what  had  ever  been  done  in  the  world. 
Nor  were  his  thoughts  confined  to  purely 
mathematical  lines.  He  extended  his 
investigations  into  the  realms  of  other 
sciences,  and  into  philosophical  and  moral 
spheres.  He  was  possessed  of  a  singular 
breadth  of  mind.  He  was  fervid  and 
imaginative,  at  the  same  time  that  he  was 
keen  and  clear.  His  heart,  also,  was 
high  in  its  religious  tone. 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


897 


1880.  Oct.  12.  Water  burst  into  the 
Ford  Pit  of  the  Albion  mines,  Stellaton, 
Nova  Scotia.  The  mine  managers  and 
clergy  united  in  an  appeal  to  the  people 
of  Canada  and  the  United  States,  to  aid 
in  the  relief  of  sufferers,  as  the  severe 
Canadian  winter  was  already  upon  them, 
and  they  were  almost  destitute.  It  was 
stated  in  this  appeal  that  the  loss  of  life 
was  fifty  men  and  boys.  The  disaster  had 
made  thirty-three  widows  and  a  hundred 
and  ten  orphans ;  and  seven  hundred  men, 
supporting  a  population  of  two  thousand, 
were  thrown  out  of  employment  by  the 
destruction  of  the  mines. 

1880.  Oct.  12.  Election  in  Indiana. 
A  great  republican  victory  was  gained 
in  Indiana,  by  a  majority  of  6,000,  in 
1880.  Oct.  s.  place  of  a  democratic  ma- 
^c^pLr  J°rity  of  14,000  votes  at  the 
died.  preceding  election.  The 

57 


republicans  did  not  expect  to  do  any 
more  than  diminish  considerably  the 
democratic  majority,  and  the  country 
was  surprised  at  the  change.  It  discour- 
aged many  of  the  democrats,  and  gave 
great  cheer  to  the  supporters  of  Garfield. 
It  was  especially  helpful  to  the  latter, 
since  their  expectations  in  regard  to 
Maine  had  been  so  wofully  disappointed 
in  September  by  the  disputed  result. 
Ohio  was  also  carried  by  the  republicans 
on  this  date. 

1880.  Oct.  13.  The  inauguration  of 
Gen.  Rocca  as  president  of  the  new  Ar- 
gentine government,  caused  great  rejoic- 
ing in  Buenos  Ayres.  The  change 
seemed  to  give  universal  satisfaction. 

1880.  Oct.  14.  Death  of  the  Apache 
Chief.  Mexican  troops  pursued  Victorio, 
the  Indian  chieftain,  and  engaged  in  bat- 
tle. The  chief  was  killed,  together  with 
fifty  of  his  warriors  and  eighteen  women 
and  children.  For  months  this  wild  chief 
had  been  baffling  every  force  sent  against 
him. 

1880.  Oct.  16.  The  Canadian  gold 
mines  in  the  region  of  Beance,  about  fif- 
ty-five miles  from  Quebec,  attracted  con- 
siderable attention,  and  speculation  rap- 
idly began.  Stock  companies  with  con- 
siderable capital  were  organized.  Dur- 
ing this  same  year  unusual  excitement  ex- 
isted over  gold  mines  in  almost  every 
one  of  the  United  States. 

1880.  Oct.  '  16.  The  congress  of 
Santo  Domingo,  by  legislative  enact- 
ment, decided  that  it  was  the  earthly  re- 
mains of  Christopher  Columbus  that  were 
found  in  the  cathedral  in  1877.  Provi- 
sion was  accordingly  made  for  the  erec 
tion  of  a  suitable  monument,  toward 
which  Santo  Domingo  gave  $10,000, 
and  invited  all  other  American  govern- 
ments to  contribute. 


898 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


LADIES'  DEPOSIT  COMPANY. 


1880.  Oct.  16.  A  great  swindle  in 
Boston,  which  had  been  in  operation  for 
some  time,  in  receiving  deposits  of 
money  from  ladies  under  the  promise 
Of  paying  at  the  rate  of  eight  per 
cent,  per  month,  was  overthrown  by 
Lhe  arrest  of  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Howe 
arc1  Miss  Julia  A.  Gould,  its  mana- 
gers. The  company  had  started  off  with 
the  app/oval  of  a  large  number  of  women 
who  would  have  been  supposed  to  know 
better  than  to  trust  its  business  basis. 
The  deposits  were  very  large,  and  the 
money  was  apparently  spent  by  the  man- 
agers with  great  freedom.  The  expos- 
ure of  its  false  pretences  brought  many  a 
depositor  to  grief.  This  is  a  specimen  of 
attempts  which  have  been  made  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  world.  One  is  said  to 
have  lived  in  another  country  for  fifteen 
years. 

1880.  Oct.  16.  The  mediation  of 
the  United  States,  which  had  been  ac- 
cepted by  Peru  and  Chili  for  the  settle- 
ment of  their  war  difficulties,  fell  through 
because,  at  a  meeting  of  the  representa- 
tives of  Peru,  Bolivia  and  Chili,  the  lat- 
ter demanded  the  cession  of  territory 
which  Peru  refused  to  make.  The  war 
was  therefore  to  be  carried  on  with  in- 
creased vigor. 

STORM  HORRORS. 

1880.  Oct.  16-18.  The  most  disas- 
trous storm  known  to  the  sailors  of  the 
great  lakes  occurred,  causing  great  losses 
bf  life  and  shipping.  The  shores  of 
Lake  Michigan  in  some  places  were 
strewn  with  wrecks.  The  greatest  loss 
Was  the  steamer  "  Alpena,"  of  the  Good- 
rich line,  which  went  down  near  Hol- 
land, Michigan,  with  all  on  board.  The 


loss  of  life  was  estimated  at  about  seventv 

tf 

persons,  including  some  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  Grand  Haven,  Michigan. 
The  captain,  Nelson  Napier,  was  a  brave 
and  trusted  officer,  and  had  been  sailing 
on  the  lake  for  almost  a  half  a  century. 
Numerous  other  vessels  were  lost,  and 
many  persons  drowned. 


1880.     Oct.    18.      A   snowstorm    of 

great  severity  swept  across  the  Argentine 
Republic,  and  destroyed  1,500,000  head 
of  cattle. 

THE  MOREY  LETTER. 

1880.  Oct.  20.  The  great  excite- 
ment caused  by  the  issue  of  a  pretended 
letter  from  Garfield  to  a  man  named 
Morey  at  Lynn,  Mass.,  favoring  Chinese 
immigration,  was  heightened  by  the 
denial  by  Garfield  of  any  knowledge  of 
the  letter.  Circumstances  soon  showed  it 
to  be  a  forgery.  No  such  man  was  known 
in  Lynn.  The  postmark  on  the  envelope 
was  not  in  use  when  the  letter  was  dated 
and  sent.  Kenward  Philp,  an  editor  of 
Truth,  in  New  York,  was  arrested  on 
the  charge  of  having  forged  the  letter, 
but  he  afterward  swore  he  did  not.  Two 
witnesses  were,  however,  brought  for- 
ward, who  made  full  confession  of  the 
procedure  as  one  calculated  to  hinder 
Garfield's  election.  Philp  was  afterward 
held  on  a  charge  of  criminal  libel. 

LYDIA   MARIA    CHILD. 

1880.  Oct.  20.  Mrs.  Lydia  Maria 
Child  died  at  Way  land,  Mass.,  aged 
seventy-eight  years.  She  was  born  at 
Medford,  Mass.,  February  11,1802.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Francis,  her  father, 
David  Francis,  being  a  baker.  Her  hus- 
band, whom  she  married  in  1828,  was 
David  Lee  Child  of  Boston,  a  lawyer  of 


1877-1881.] 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


899 


eminent  and  varied  ability.  Miss  Fran- 
cis had  already  made  a  reputation  as  a 
writer.  When  twenty-two  years  of  age 
she  published  her  first  work,  an  Indian 
story  entitled  "  Hobomok."  In  1825 
she  published  a  story  of  the  Revolution, 
entitled  "  The  Rebels,"  which  had  much 
powerful  writing  in  it.  The  "Juvenile 
Miscellany,"  the  first  periodical  of  the 
kind  in  the  country,  was  established  by 
her  in  1826,  and  remained  under  her 
charge  eight  years.  "  The  Girl's  Own 
Book,"  "The  Mother's  Book,"  "The 
History  of  the  Condition  of  Woman  in 
all  Ages,"  "The  Biographies  of  Good 
Wives,"  and  "  The  American  Frugal 
Housewife,"  written  during  different 
years,  all  had  a  very  wide  and  healthful 
influence  upon  the  practical  life  of  her 
sex.  During  the  years  of  the  anti- 
slavery  agitation  she  strenuously  espoused 
the  cause  of  the  negro,  and  wrote  ex- 
tensively upon  the  subject.  Her  later 
writings  were  numerous  and  fruitful. 
Her  last  years  were  happily  spent.  She 
was  known  as  favoring  the  greatly  in- 
creasing movement  in  the  direction  of 
female  education,  and  also  as  approving 
the  effort  to  gain  the  rights  of  citizen- 
ship for  woman.  She  died  suddenly,  and 
left  a  record  of  great  activity. 

1880.  Oct.  31.  A  great  anti- Chinese 
riot  occurred  in  Denver,  Colorado.  A 
mob  assailed  the  quarter  of  the  place  in 
which  the  Chinese  lived,  tore  open  and 
sacked  their  dwellings,  drove  the  inmates 
out  with  storms  of  abuse  and  injury, 
and  for  a  long  time  held 

1880.      Oct.    27.  .  _ 

The  Irish  Land    the    city    in    terror.      The 
League  appeals    citizens  finally  rose  for  their 

for  aid.  .  ,        .  .     . 

own  protection,  and,  aided 
by  the  military,  succeeded  in  quelling  the 
riot,  but  not  till  great  harm  had  been 


done  to  life  and  property.  It  was  on  the 
eve  of  the  presidential  election,  and  it  is 
thought  that  the  excitement  against  the 
Chinese  was  indirectly  perhaps  a  fruit  of 
the  forged  Morey  letter. 

1880.  October.  A  shortened  tran- 
sit of  the  mail  from  Australia  to  Eng- 
land, which  had  usually  been  carried  by 
way  of  the  Suez  canal,  was  made  by 
taking  it  to  San  Francisco,  thence  by 
special  train  to  New  York,  and  by  the 
Guion  steamer  Arizona  to  England.  The 
old  trip  consumed  usually  about  forty-five 
days.  The  new  trial  trip  was  made  in 
forty-one  days,  with  more  than  one  day 
used  in  delays  along  the  route. 

PROGRESS  OF  THE  WAR  IN  PERU. 

1880.  October.  The  Chilians  con- 
tinued the  devastation  of  the  northern 
provinces  of  Peru.  They  lost  a  sloop, 
the  "  Covadongo,"  by  a  strategy.  The 
sloop  picked  up  an  empty  boat  at  sea, 
which  exploded  on  being  hoisted  on 
deck,  and  the  "Covadongo"  immedi- 
ately*sunk.  It  had  been  captured  by  the 
Chilians  during  the  Spanish  aggressions 
of  1864.  Only  four  of  the  crew  were 
saved.  "  The  magnificent  sugar  planta- 
tions of  Palo  Seco  and  San  Bernard 
were  burned  by  the  invaders,  the  owners 
having  refused  to  pay  money  demanded. 
Live  stock,  sugar,  rice,  etc.,  about  the 
village  of  Pueblo  Nuevo  were  seized, 
and  the  village  burned.  The  custom 
house  and  rolling  stock  of  the  railroad, 
were  also  burned.  A  portion  of  the 
troops  went  to  Supo,  and  continued  the 
work  of  plunder,  and  destroyed  the  port 
and  neighboring  hacienda  by  fire.  At 
Payta  and  Sullana  all  the  rolling  stock 
was  burned.  The  Chilians  captured  the 
American  steamer  Isluga,  and  expressed 
their  intention  to  capture  the  Colombian 


900 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


schooner  Tumaco,  which  they  said  had 
carried  war  material  to  Supo.  They 
finally  steamed  away  in  the  direction  of 
the  rich  departments  of  La  Libertad  and 
Lambayeque."  The  Chilians  claimed 
to  have  an  armed  force  of  25,000  men, 
with  which  to  move  against  Lima.  The 
United  States  and  English  authorities 
sent  in  a  note  to  the  Chilian  authorities 
protesting  against  the  barbarities  which 
usually  followed  their  victories.  The 
note  also  declared  that  the  lives  and  prop- 
erty of  foreigners  must  be  respected. 


1880.  October.  Don  Candido  Bari- 
ero,  president  of  Paraguay,  died,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Gen.  Caballero,  min- 
ister of  the  interior. 

TWENTY-FOURTH  PRESIDENTIAL    CAM- 
PAIGN. 

1880.  Nov.  2.  The  presidential 
campaign  which  ended  in  the  United 
States  upon  this  date  with  the  election  of 
Garfield  and  Arthur,  the  nominees  of  the 
republican  party,  was  marked  by  very 
hard  work.  Each  side  was  determined 
to  win.  The  nomination  of  James  A. 
Garfield  for  president  had  drawn  back  to 
the  republican  party  a  great  many  of  the 
"independents"  who  were  in  danger  of 
deserting  it,  and  would  have  deserted 
it,  had  Grant  or  Elaine  been  nom- 
inated. The  campaign  was  carried  on 
with  harmony  of  action  in  the  republican 
camp.  The  opponents  of  Garfield  un- 
dertook to  bring  him  into  disrepute  by 
the  resurrection  of  the  charge  that  he 
was  involved  in  the  Credit  Mobilier  to 
the  extent  of  $329,  and  by  the  circula- 
tion of  his  connection  with  the  De  Gol- 
lyer  contract,  but  both  failed  to  have 
much  weight.  A  curious  feature  of  the 
campaign  was  the  democratic  measure 


of  chalking  329  over  the  country,  east 
and  west,  on  fences,  gate-posts,  houses, 
and  sidewalks.  The  opponents  of  Han- 
cock, the  democratic  nominee,  endeavored 
to  make  headway  against  him  by  bring- 
ing up  the  "  famous  order,"  which  was 
circulated  freely,  and  by  his  position 
upon  the  tariff.  The  severest  of  all  op- 
position to  the  democratic  ticket  fell  upon 
the  person  of  the  candidate  for  vice-presi- 
dent, W.  H.  English  of  Indiana,  whose 
business  relations  were  searched  out,  and 
whose  dealings  with  mortgages,  fore- 
closures, sales,  etc.,  were  spread  before 
his  fellow  citizens  with  great  minuteness. 
Other  minor  charges  were  made  on  both 
sides.  The  "Solid  South"  played  a 
prominent  part  in  the  republican  oratory 
of  the  campaign.  During  the  campaign 
Gen.  Neal  Dow,  the  nominee  of  the  pro- 
hibition party  for  president,  wrote  a  letter 
advising  his  supporters  to  vote  for  Gar- 
field  and  Arthur.  Confidence  in  the  re- 
publican party,  shaken  by  the  adminis- 
trations of  Grant,  seemed  to  have  re- 
vived in  many  quarters,  and  the  result 
was,  a  victory  of  its  nominees.  The  re- 
publicans, in  accomplishing  this,  laid 
great  stress  upon  the  purity  and  financial 
success  of  the  administration  of  President 
Hayes,  as  going  to  show  that  a  change 
would  be  disastrous.  The  democrats 
bent  all  their  oratory  to  the  task  of  show- 
ing that  a  change  was  demanded,  and 
would  be  profitable  for  the  country.  In 
the  result  it  was  found  that  out  of  the  369 
electoral  votes  cast,  Garfield  and  Arthur 
received  214,  and  Hancock  and  English 
155.  Neither  Dow  and  Thompson,  the 
prohibition  candidates,  nor  Weaver  and 
Chambers,  the  greenback  candidates,  re- 
ceived any  electoral  votes.  The  returns 
of  the  popular  vote  seemed  to  show  that 
out  of  a  total  of  somewhat  over  9,000,000 


1877-1881.] 

ballots,  Garfield  and  Arthur  had  a  plu- 
rality of  about  3,000.  One  great  feature 
of  the  presidential  campaign  was  the  gain 
in  congressmen  by  the  republicans,  a  gain 
sufficient  to  give  them  control  of  the 
house,  and  within  one  of  a  majority  in 
the  senate. 

1880.  Nov.  7.  Rev.  H.  W.  Thomas, 
D.  D.,  a  Methodist  clergyman  who  had 
been  prominent  as  pastor  of  the  Cente- 
nary church,  Chicago,  but  who  had  been 
brought  before  the  Rock  River  Confer- 
ence on  charges  of  heresy,  and  had  been 
given  a  supernumerary  relation  until  a  trial 
could  be  held,  began  the  experiment  of 
preaching  in  Hooley's  Theater,  Chicago. 
The  undertaking  was  named  the  Peo- 
ple's church,  and  has  since  held  its  way 
very  prosperously. 

LUCRETM  MOTT. 

.1880.  Nov.  11.  Mrs.  Lucretia  Mott 
died  at  her  home  near  Philadelphia, 
aged  eighty-eight  years.  She  was  born 
at  Nantucket,  Jan.  3,  1793.  Upon  com- 
ing to  years  of  maturity  she  began  to 
think  very  deeply  upon  questions  of 
humanity,  especially  the  abolition  of 
slavery.  During  her  younger  years  she 
lived  in  Boston,  and  later  in  Philadelphia. 
She  married  James  Mott  in  181 1,  and  in 
a  few  years  began  preaching  among 
the  Friends.  After  1818  she  traveled 
through  many  states  in  this  service. 
She  took  her  stand  in  1827  with  the 
Hicksite  Quakers.  From  this  time  on 
through  the  Garrison  troubles,  the  mob 
era,  and  the  early  political  abolition  at- 
tempts, she  was  closely  associated  with 
everything  anti-slavery  in  its  character. 
She  was  a  woman  of  unflinching  cour- 
age, and  impressive  mien.  She  always 
aided  in  the  escape  of  slaves  from  bond- 


THE   VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


901 


age,  and  was  deeply  interested  in  every- 
thing which  promised  to  ameliorate  the 
condition  of  the  race.  Her  mental  facul- 
ties were  retained  unimpaired  to  the  end 
of  her  life. 


1880.      Nov.    11.      A    banquet   was 

given  in  New  York,  by  Senor  Romero, 
formerly  minister  from  Mexico  to  the 
United  States  at  which  General  Grant 
and  other  Distinguished  persons  were 
present.  The  object  in  view  was  a  friend- 
ly discussion  of  the  material  interests  of 
Mexico,  and  the  possibility  of  developing 
them  by  a  system  of  railway  communica- 
tion with  the  United  States.  Speeches 
were  made,  among  them  a  noticeable  one 
by  Gen.  Grant,  who  showed  that  he  had 
closely  studied  the  situation  of  Mexico. 
A  committee  was  appointed  to  look  into 
the  matter,  with  the  view  of  establishing 
a  line  of  railroad  to  the  City  of  Mexico. 
The  matter  commends  itself  very  widely 
to  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  as  a 
step  which  will  be  of  value  to  each  coun- 
try concerned. 

NEW  CHINESE  TREATY. 

1880.  Nov.  18.  A  new  treaty  with 
the  Chinese,  in  regard  to  Chinese  immi- 
gration, was  concluded  at  Shanghae, 
China.  The  contents  were  not  fully 
known  until  January,  when  the  text  was 
published,  and  was  found  to  concede  to 
the  United  States  the  right  to  limit  or 
control  Chinese  immigration,  though  not 
to  prohibit  it  altogether.  One  agreement 
provided  that  the  citizens  of  either  coun- 
try should  not  be  permitted  to  carry 
opium  into  the  other.  Other  minor 
agreements  were  made,  all  bearing  upon 
a  just  understanding  between  the  two 
countries.  An  active  opposition  sprang 
up  against  the  ratification  of  the  treaty. 


902 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


THE  ADVANCE  AGAINST  LIMA. 

1880.  Dec.  1.  The  final  advance 
against  Lima  was  begun  by  the  Chilian 
army.  The  invaders  had  increased  their 
stores,  and  their  rank  and  file,  and  had 
pillaged  all  the  villages,  and  devastated 
all  property  of  any  value,  on  their  march. 
The  people  of  Lima  were  confident  of  an 
easy  victory  over  the  invaders,  as  their 
army  outnumbered  that  of  the  Chilians 
by  20,000  well  armed  soldiers.  The 
Peruvians  daily  increased  their  forces  at 
Lima  by  new  battalions.  The  principal 
men  of  the  city,  however,  removed  their 
families  and  household  furniture  to  ships, 
and  prepared  for  instant  departure. 
Iquique,  which  had  been  destroyed  by  fire, 
was  almost  deserted;  also  all  the  towns 
of  Southern  Peru.  The  Chilians  num- 
bered over  30,000,  and  the  Peruvians  and 
their  allies  about  50,000.  All  were  anx- 
iously awaiting  the  conflict. 


1880.    Dec.  6.     Gen.  W.  B.  Hazen 

was  announced  as  the  successor  of  Gen. 
Myer,  as  head  of  the  Signal  Service  of 
the  United  States. 

1880.  Dec.  14.  The  Panama  canal 
project  came  up  in  the  United  States 
congress.  A  resolution  was  referred  to 
the  committee  on  foreign  affairs,  setting 
forth  that  the  construction  of  the  canal  by 
a  foreign  power  was  hostile  to  the  estab- 
lished policy  of  the  United  States,  and  a 
direct  violation  of  the  Monroe  doctrine. 
The  opinion  of  congressmen  was  divided 
upon  the  matter.  R.  W.  Thompson, 
secretary  of  the  navy,  resigned  in  order 
to  take  charge  of  the  work  of  promoting 
the  interests  of  the  scheme  in  the  United 
States.  In  the  meantime  de  Lesseps, 
the  energetic  French  engineer,  was  push- 
ing his  work  of  raising  funds. 


1880.  Dec.  18.  Ponca  Committee. 
Owing  to  the  difficulty  in  settling  the 
Ponca  matter,  a  committee  of  investigra- 

*  O 

tion  was  appointed  by  the  Interior  De- 
partment, consisting  of  Gen.  G.  Crook, 
Gen.  N.  A.  Miles,  Mr.  W.  Stickney  of 
Washington,  D.  C.,  and  Mr.  W.  Allen 
of  Newton,  Mass.  Just  at  this  time  a 
delegation  of  Ponca  Indians  appeared  at 
Washington,  and  said  that  if  they  could 
have  money  for  the  lands  once  occupied 
by  them,  but  now  in  possession  of  Sioux, 
they  would  give  up  all  claim  to  them, 
and  remain  in  the  Indian  Territory. 

1880.  Dec.  21.  The  wrecking  law 
of  Canada  came  up  for  discussion  in  the 
Dominion  parliament,  because  several 
important  Canadian  cargoes  had  recently 
been  lost,  because  of  the  clause  in  the 
law  forbidding  an  American  tug  to  assist 
in  saving  a  vessel  wrecked  in  Canadian 
waters.  A  desire  was  expressed  that  the 
correspondence  between  the  two  govern- 
ments in  relation  to  the  matter,  should  be 
made  public. 

1880.  Dec.  27.  A  gang  of  outlaws 
in  New  Mexico  was  broken  up  by  the 
authorities.  Its  leader  was  known  as 
«  Billy  the  Kid."  He  and  his  followers 
had  made  themselves  a  great  terror. 
Two  were  killed,  and  four  lodged  in  pris- 
on. At  first  the  enraged  citizens  seemed 
determined  to  lynch  them,  but  this  step 
was  prevented.  The  success  in  destroy- 
ing these  outlaws  was  widely  applauded. 

REV.  K  H.  CHAPIX.  D.  D. 

1880.  Dec.  27.  Rev.  Dr.  Chapin, 
the  leading  Universalist  divine  of  the 
country,  died  in  New  York,  aged  sixty- 
six  years.  He  was  born  at  Union  Vil- 
lage, Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  29, 
1814.  He  gained  a  fair  education,  which 
he  completed  at  a  seminary  at  Benning- 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


903 


ton,  Vt.  His  first  preaching  soon  after 
was  as  pastor  of  a  mixed  congregation  of 
Unitarians  and  Universalists  at  Rich- 
mond, Va.  He  was  settled  in  1848 
1880.  Dec.  23.  over  the  Fourth  Universal- 
Mr*.  cros.^  .  t  hurch  having  in  the 

"  George  Eliot," 

died.  meantime  lived  in  Charles- 

town  and  Boston.  His  entire  remaining 
service  was  with  this  church  in  New 
York.  Dr.  Chapin  was  widely  known 
as  an  eloquent  and  popular  lecturer,  as 
well  as  preacher.  He  has  published  sev- 
eral volumes,  and  has  constantly  been  a 
hard  worker.  His  system  at  last  gave 
way  to  the  burdens  laid  upon  it,  and  he 
was  obliged  to  lay  aside  his  active  efforts, 
for  only  a  short  time,  however,  before 
his  death. 

1880.  Dec.  29.  A  severe  cold  snap, 
accompanied  by  snow,  did  great  dam- 
age throughout  the  United  States.  At 
Greensboro,  N.  C.,  snow  fell  to  a  depth 
of  more  than  fifteen  inches.  The  cold 
and  storm  prostrated  business  entirely  in 
some  sections  of  the  South.  The  orange 
orchards  of  Florida  suffered  great  dam- 
age. The  cold  was  beyond  anything  ex- 
perienced for  several  years. 

"OKLAHOMA." 

1880.  December.  The  band  of  "  Ok- 
lahoma raiders,"  under  the  leadership  of 
Captain  Payne,  attempted  to  gain  pos- 
session of  lands  in  the  Indian  territory 
which  belonged  to  the  Indians.  Although 
commanded  to  disperse  by  the  govern- 
ment authorities,  the  band  remained  in 
camp  just  outside  the  line  of  the  territory. 
During  this  month  the  government  troops 
grew  in  numbers,  and  presented  a  more 
formidable  appearance  than  at  first.  Three 
new  companies  of  cavalry  arrived.  The 
would-be  settlers  declared  their  legal 


right  to  the  lands  in  question,  and  asserted 
that  they  could  raise  one  thousand  men 
on  forty-eight  hours'  notice.  Captain 
Payne  issued  a  secret  circular  to  mem- 
bers of  the  association,  notifying  them  to 
be  ready  to  move  into  the  Indian  terri- 
tory at  a  moment's  notice.  It  seems  that 
their  plan  was  to  quietly  collect  five 
thousand  men  and  move  on  Oklahoma 
before  the  government  forces  could  dis- 
cover their  rendezvous.  By  the  exer- 
tions of  the  United  States  authorities, 
however,  the  raid  was  a  failure.  This  is 
the  largest  attempt  which  has  yet  been 
made.  It  took  on  a  semi-religious  char- 
acter. Preaching  was  held  in  camp  by 
the  raiders  every  Sunday.  It  is  thought 
that  this  movement  was  aided  by  the  de- 
sires of  several  railroad  companies,  which 
wished  to  get  right  of  way  through  the 
territory. 

1880.  December.  The  Irish  agita- 
tion extended  to  Canada,  and  produced 
uneasiness  among  the  Canadians.  At 
one  time  it  was  rumored  that  Quebec 
was  to  be  fortified  against  a  possible  up- 
rising of  the  Irish.  But  this  was  after- 
ward denied,  although  there  was  un- 
doubtedly more  or  less  hidden  excitement 
in  the  Dominion. 

1880.  December.  An  important  de- 
cision was  rendered  in  the  English 
courts  in  the  suit  brought  by  the  postal 
authorities  against  the  Edison  Telephone 
company  for  infringement,  on  the 
ground  that  the  telephone  is  practically  a 
telegraph,  of  which  the  government  holds 
a  monopoly.  The  decision  was  against  the 
Edison  company.  The  telegraph  depart- 
ment of  the  English  postal  service  is  now 
about  to  add  telephones  to  its  equipment. 

1880.  December.  A  serious  charge 
was  made  by  Prof.  H.  T.  Hind,  an  emi- 


904 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


nent  Canadian  scholar,  that  the  evidence 
brought  before  the  Halifax  Commission 
upon  the  basis  of  which  an  award  of 
$5,500,000  was  given  in  favor  of  Eng- 
land, and  paid  by  the  United  States,  was 
false  evidence  prepared  for  the  occasion. 
He  charged  that  the  returns  of  the  pre- 
ceding years,  if  truly  given,  would  not 
have  justified  such  an  award,  and  de- 
manded an  investigation.  This  seems  to 
warrant  the  indignation  which  was  felt 
in  the  United  States  at  the  time  of  the 
award.  It  is  uncertain  what  steps  will 
be  taken  in  regard  to  it. 

1880.  The     tenth    census    of    the 
United  States  was  taken,  and  showed  a 
population   of  50,152,866   people.     The 
rate   per    cent,    of    increase    maintained 
before  the  Civil  War  had  been  recovered. 
It  was  found  curiously  that  there  were 
6,677,360    foreign-born    persons   in    the 
country,    and    6,577,151    blacks.       The 
foreign-born  population  in  its  proportion 
to  the  native-born  had  fallen  off  one  and 
a  half  per  cent,  since  1870.     The  blacks 
had  increased  in  their  proportion  about 
two-thirds  of  one  per  cent.     Since  1870 
the  native  white  population  had  increased 
thirty-one  per  cent.,  and  the  black  thirty- 
five  per  cent. 

1881.  Jan.  4.     An  apology  was  pub- 
lished by  the  New  York  Truth  for  hav- 
ing published   the  Morey  letter   against 
•Gen.  Garfield. 

1881.  Jan.  8.  George  Q.  Cannon, 
the  Mormon  delegate  to  congress,  was 
•denied  a  certificate  of  election  by  Gov. 
Murray  of  Utah,  on  the  ground  that  he 
had  never  been  naturalize  ,d,  with  an 
additional  statement  that  he  could  not, 
if  now  naturalized,  be  sent  up  to  con- 
gress, because,  in  having  more  than  one 
wife,  he  was  living  in  violation  of  a  law 
of  the  land.  Therefore,  although  Can- 


non had  received  by  far  the  most  votes,  a 
certificate  was  issued  to  A.  G.  Campbell, 
the  Gentile  nominee. 

TELEGRAPH  MONOPOLY. 

1881.  Jan.  12.  An  announcement 
was  made  which  brought  regret  to  many 
a  business  man,  that  the  Western  Union, 
the  American  Union,  and  the  Atlantic 
and  Pacific  telegraph  companies,  had 
formed  a  consolidated  company,  under 
the  name  of  the  first  mentioned,  with  a 
capital  of  $80,000,000.  The  reductions 
in  rates  which  have  at  times  been  secured, 
are  no  longer  certain.  Injunctions  were 
obtained  in  New  York  against  the  con- 
solidation, but  were  afterward  dissolved. 
New  York  merchants  struggled  hard, 
but  in  vain.  The  consolidation  hastened 
several  immature  schemes  to  a  head,  and 
before  long  other  companies  will  be  in 
the  field.  It  may  lead  to  the  discussion 
of  the  question  of  government  telegraphy. 

WORLD'S  FAIR    OF  1883. 

1881.  Jan.  13.  Gen.  Grant  was 
elected  president  of  the  World's  Fair 
Commission,  and  accepted  the  same. 
The  undertaking  seemed  to  have  gone 
forward  slowly,  and  it  was  now  hoped 
that  great  advance  would  1881.  Januarv_ 


be  made.     The  Inwood  site,    F^ruary.  Brit- 

_  _  .  isk    reverses    in 

north  of  New  York  city,  South  Africa, 
was  chosen  as  the  place  of  Boers  victorious 
the  exposition.  But  enthusiasm  in  re- 
gard to  the  matter  was  very  slight.  At 
a  later  date  Gen.  Grant  resigned  his 
office,  and  concentrated  his  attention  upon 
the  interests  of  Mexican  railway  schemes. 

1881.  Jan.  15.  The  complete  res- 
toration of  peace  in  Cuba  was  an- 
nounced in  the  Spanish  Cortes.  This 
was  a  strange  sound  for  that  assembly  to 


LIMA,   PERU. 


TOWER   ROCK,   MISSISSIPPI   RIVER. 


905 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


907 


hear,   after   all  the  eft      s  of  the  insur- 
gents for  so  many  years. 

THE  FALL  OF  L.      /. 

1881.  Jan.  17.  Lima,  th  -st  strong- 
hold of  the  Peruvians,  surrende  ;J  uncon- 
ditionally to  the  Chilian  an:  ,-.  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Baquedano.  'i  ..e  cap- 
ture of  the  city  was  the  result  z.:  the 
three  bloody  battles  of  Chorillos,  Bar- 
raca,  and  Miraflores.  The  heights  of 
Chorillos,  above  which  the  Peruvians 
had  entrenched  themselves,  were  stormed 
and  taken  by  the  Chilians  three  days  be- 
fore the  capture  of  Lima.  The  fortifica- 
tion was  distant  from  the  capital  about 
seven  miles.  Around  and  near  it  were 
several  minor  points  of  great  strength. 
The  Peruvians  were  surprised  in  the 
dense  fog  of  the  morning,  by  their  ene- 
mies. The  surprise,  together  with  their 
natural  cowardice,  caused  them  to  flee, 
panic-stricken,  from  their  post,  toward 
Lima.  The  Chilians,  with  their  usual 
brutality,  cut  them  down  without  mercy ; 
and  before  the  Peruvians  had  reached 
their  capital,  five  thousand  of  their  num- 
ber were  lost.  The  others,  notwith- 
standing the  efforts  of  the  more  coura- 
geous of  the  officers  to  rally  them,  came 
pouring  into  Lima  with  exaggerated 
stories  of  the  battle,  in  order  to  excuse 
their  cowardly  retreat.  The  wounded 
filled  the  air  with  demoniacal  cries, 
spreading  terror  among  the  defenceless 
foreigners,  and  the  women  and  children. 
Some  men  of  rank,  even  at  this  desperate 
hour,  took  advantage  of  the  turmoil  and 
the  destruction  of  their  fellow-country- 
men, to  incite  a  revolution  for  the  purpose 
of  gi'atifying  their  own  petty  ambitions. 
It  would  have  been  impossible  to  gaze 
upon  a  more  ungodly  scene  than  Lima 
presented  at  this  time.  Next  Barraca  and 


Lurin  fell,  and  the  remaining  Peruvian 
forces  fell  back  before  the  Chilians  to 
Miraflores,  which,  if  captured,  must  leave 
the  capital  defenceless.  The  last  day 
came.  Miraflores  marked  a  bloody  Chil- 
ian victory.  Lima  was  doomed.  The 
Peruvians  were  now  in  the  hands  of  a 
merciless  enemy,  whom  they  had  at- 
tempted to  conquer  two  years  before. 
The  battle  brought  into  action  25,000 
Peruvians,  and  30,000  Chilians.  The 
former  had  begun  the  defence  of  Lima 
with  nearly  50,000  men.  At  Miraflores, 
Gen.  Pierola,  president  of  Peru,  and 
commander-in-chief  of  the  army,  escaped 
by  flight.  Gen.  Piedras,  his  brother, 
and  the  Peruvian  minister  of  war,  were 
taken  prisoners.  The  diplomatic  body  at 
Lima  urged  the  conclusion  of  an  armis- 
tice, and  asked  that  the  body  of  President 
Pierola  be  protected.  After  a  short  ar- 
mistice Gen.  Baquedano  demanded  the 
unconditional  surrender  of  Lima.  The 
French  and  English  admirals  demanded 
of  the  Chilians  that  the  lives  and  property 
of  foreigners  be  respected ;  if  this  was  not 
done  they  would  at  once  take  charge  of 
the  Chilian  fleet  in  Peruvian  waters. 
Gen.  Baquedano  ordered  the  Italian  emi- 
grants to  be  killed,  and  announced  that  he 
would  not  guarantee  the  safety  of  the  life 
and  property  of  any,  private  or  neutral. 
The  English  ships  were  cleared  for 
action;  but  soon  Lima  surrendered,  and 
the  combined  cry  of  the  Chilian  victors 
and  the  Peruvian  mob  was,  for  a  time, 
"  Down  with  foreigners ! "  But  at  length, 
something  having  a  semblance  to  human- 
ity possessed  the  Chilians,  and  peace 
reigned,  and  the  wounded  were  given  a 
chance  to  die .  untortured,  and  the  blood 
allowed  to  dry  in  the  streets  of  Lima. 
President  Pierola  fled  to  the  mountains. 
The  Chilians  now  ^occupied  Lima,  and 


908 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


the  whole  of  Peru,  and  they  were  in  a 
position  to  dictate  terms  according  to 
their  own  wishes,  unless  foreign  powers 
holding  Peruvian  bonds,  and  interested  in 
Peruvian  commerce,  should  interfere. 
The  war  had  been  to  Peru  almost  one  of 
extermination.  On  the  part  of  the  Chil- 
ians it  had  been  one  of  unrestrained  mur- 
der and  plunder.  The  fall  of  Lima  was 
regarded,  under  existing  circumstances, 
which  are  well  known,  as  due  to  the  cow- 
ardice of  the  Peruvians  engaged  in  its 
outer  defences.  But  a  correspondent  of  a 
prominent  American  newspaper  throws 
some  light  upon  the  matter,  and  accounts 
for  the  apparent  inexcusable  surrender  of 
Lima  and  Callao.  He  claims  that  "there 
were  traitors  in  the  Peruvian  army,  with- 
out whose  assistance  the  Chilians  would 
probably  have  been  repulsed.  At  the 
close  of  the  battle  of  Miraflores,  which 
resulted  advantageously  for  the  Peruvians, 
Pierola,  the  commander,  who  had  been  in 
the  saddle  for  four  days  and  nights,  fell 
asleep  on  the  field.  While  he  was  uncon- 
scious, the  traitors,  who  held  subordinate 
commands,  disbanded  the  army,  and 
advised  the  men  to  anticipate  the  Chilians 
by  pillaging  Lima  and  Callao.  They 
obeyed,  and  the  riot  which  ensued  was 
only  quelled  when  the  foreign  residents 
organized  to  protect  their  property,  and 
attacked  the  mob  with  excellent  effect. 

ISTHMUS  SCHEMES. 

1881.  Jan.  20.  An  argument  was 
made  before  the  congressional  committee 
on  Foreign  Affairs,  by  ex-secretary 
Thompson,  in  favor  of  allowing  the  de 
Lesseps  Panama  canal  scheme  to  pro- 
ceed without  protest.  He  pleaded  at 
considerable  length  that  the  Monroe  doc- 
trine was  not  involved  in  the  project.  On 
the  same  day  an  argument  was  made  be- 


fore the  same  committee  by  Capt.  Eads. 
in  favor  of  a  scheme  for  a  ship  railway 
across  the  Isthmus  of  Tehuantepec,  for 
which  he  had  already  obtained  great 
concessions  from  the  Mexican  govern- 
ment. Capt.  Eads,  who  is  known  by  his 
successful  work  in  building  the  jetties  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  River,  mak- 
ing the  channel  as  safe  as  any  in  the 
world,  proposed  to  raise  vessels  out  of  the 
water,  transport  them  across  the  Isthmus 
upon  a  track,  and  float  them  in  the 
Pacific  Ocean  without  difficulty.  His 
scheme  failed  to  find  ready  support.  Dur- 
ing this  month  Gen.  Grant  had  a  long 
article  in  the  "  North  American  Review" 
in  favor  of  a  Nicaragua  canal,  to  be  car- 
ried through  by  American  enterprise. 
In  the  meantime  work  has  already  begun 
upon  the  de  Lesseps  canal. 

THE  EGYPTIAN  OBELISK. 

1881.  Jan.  22.  After  a  long  period 
of  careful  and  successful  effort  in  trans- 
porting the  Egyptian  obelisk  to  Amer- 
ica, it  was  set  upon  its  pedestal  in  Cen- 
tral Park,  New  York,  without  injury. 
It  was  brought  across  the  ocean  in  the 
hold  of  the  steamer  "Dessouk,"  into 
which  it  was  put  through  the  side.  When 
the  vessel  reached  New  York  it  was 
drawn  out  and  placed  upon  a  track,  along 
which  it  was  slowly  moved  to  its  destina- 
tion. Once  there  it  was  clamped  and 
fitted  with  cables  by  which  it  could  be 
swung  into  place.  It  weighed  2191^  tons, 
and  was  sixty-eight  feet  long,  yet  the  pro- 
cess of  raising  it  from  its  horizontal  posi- 
tion, and  lowering  it  into  its  place  upon 
the  pedestal,  was  done  with  utmost  ease 
within  five  minutes.  The  work  was 
under  charge  of  Commander  Gorringe. 
Mr.  William  H.  Vanderbilt  was  the  re- 
sponsible party  in  purchasing  the  obelisk, 


1877-1881.] 

and  paying  its  expenses  hither.  It  was 
formally  presented  to  the  city,  Feb.  22, 
-with  an  address  by  Secretary  Evarts. 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


909 


1881.  Feb.  2.  A  message  on  the 
Tonca  report  was  sent  to  congress  by 
President  Hayes,  favoring  the  result  of 
the  investigation  which  had  been  given 
Jan.  26,  and  recommending  that  legis- 
lation be  taken  in  accordance  therewith  to 
provide  that  all  parties  of  the  Poncas  be 
permitted  to  stay  where  they  shall  select, 
freely,  and  be  reimbursed  for  all  losses. 
He  also  recommended  that  Indian  treat- 
ment be  improved  by  several  much 
needed  steps,  in  regard  to  property,  etc. 

1881.  Feb.  2.  The  presidential  fund 
of  $250.000,  raised  with  particular  refer- 
ence to  Gen.  Grant,  and  the  interest  of 
which  is  to  be  applied  in  the  future  for 
the  senior  ex-president  of  the  United 
States,  was  completed. 

1881.  Feb.  3.  Cadet  Whittaker  Trial. 
The  trial  of  Whittaker  reopened  at  New 
York  by  an  adjournment  from  Jan.  20, 
and  began  to  drift  on  its  way  through  a 
«low  examination  of  Gen.  Schofield  and 
other  witnesses.  One  or  two  little  sen- 
sations were  caused  by  pretended  bright 
«pots  in  the  additional  evidence.  But  the 
matter  hung  on  without  affording  any 
•clear  solution  to  the  problem. 

EXTENSIVE  STORMS. 
1881.  Feb.  7.  For  the  past  week 
•storms  had  been  raging  in  different  parts 
of  the  United  States.  Railroads  in  the 
Northwest  had  been  blockaded,  a  great 
portion  of  New  Orleans  had  been  inun- 
dated by  the  bursting  of  the  levees  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  and  the  Sacramento 
Valley  in  California  was  flooded,  3,500 
square  miles  being  overflowed.  The 
damage  everywhere  was  very  great. 


The   winter  at  the   South    as    well    as 
North  was  proving  one  of  unusual  sever- 
ity.   On  the  8th  the  weight    isai.  Feb.  5. 
of  snow  on  the  roof  of  the    ™om,a*Car~ 

lyle  died,  aged 

New  York  Central  depot  86  years. 
at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  caused  the  walls  to 
fall,  burying  trains  and  people.  Five 
persons  were  killed.  Great  floods  were 
reported  in  Oregon.  During  the  rest  of 
this  month  floods  occurred  in  many  sec- 
tions. Toledo,  Ohio,  Washington,  D.  C., 
and  other  places,  were  filled  with  water, 
so  that  boats  were  used  on  the  principal 
streets.  An  ice-gorge  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  was  broken  up  by  firing  cannon 
balls  into  it.  Steamers  sailed  over  flooded 
districts  in  California.  Bridges  were  in 
many  places  swept  away. 


1881.  Feb.  9.  The  electoral  count 
took  place  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  in  the 
presence  of  both  houses  of  congress,  and 
a  large  crowd  of  strangers.  No  confu- 
sion occurred,  but  the  decision  was 
reached  in  a  very  quiet  way.  Garfield 
and  Arthur  were  declared  elected.  Upon 
a  motion  in  the  house  subsequently  to 
affirm  the  result,  a  single  "  no  "  was  given 
in  opposition,  by  Thomas  Turner  of 
Kentucky,  who  gained  a  brief  notoriety 
by  this  spiteful  act. 

FERNANDO  WOOD. 

1881.  Feb.  13.  Fernando  Wood,  an 
American  politician,  died  at  Hot  Springs, 
Arkansas.  He  was  born  in  Philadel- 
phia, June  14, 1812,  of  Quaker  parentage, 
and  began  life  in  New  York  as  a  cigar 
maker.  He  entered  politics,  and  was 
elected  mayor  of  New  York  three  times, 
in  which  position  he  was  the  first  real 
"boss"  whose  power  that  city  ever  en- 
joyed. He  was  afterward  elected  to  con- 
gress from  a  New  York  city  district,  and 


910 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


with  some  intermissions  continued  in  this 
position  until  his  death.  He  sympathized 
with  the  South  during  the  war,  and  was 
always  an  ardent  free  trader  and  demo- 
crat. He  was  twice  a  leading  candidate 
for  speaker,  but  was  defeated.  He  died 
from  a  combined  attack  of  gout  and  rheu- 
matism. 

1881.  Feb.  23.  The  constitution- 
ality of  the  liquor  amendment  to  the 
state  constitution  of  Kansas,  was  decided 
favorably  by  the  supreme  court  of  the 
state,  which  declared  that  the  state  had 
a  right  to  prohibit  the  manufacture  and 
sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  as  a  beverage. 

MATTHEW  H.  CARPENTER. 

1881.  Feb.  24.  Matthew  Hale  Car- 
penter, an  American  statesman  and  law- 
yer, died  at  Washington.  He  was  born 
at  Moretown,  Vermont,  Dec.  22,  1824. 
His  mother  died  when  he  was  a  child, 
and  at  the  age  of  ten  Matthew  was 
placed  under  the  care  of  Governor  Dil- 
lingham,  whose  daughter  he  afterward 
married.  He  studied  at  West  Point  Mil- 
itary Academy  from  1843  to  1845.  He 
studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1846,  but  subsequently  continued  his 
study  for  two  years  under  Rufus  Choate. 
He  removed  to  the  West  in  1848,  and 
settled  in  Beloit,  Wisconsin.  He  became 
district  attorney,  and  soon  became  known 
throughout  the  country  as  a  brilliant  and 
able  lawyer.  He  succeeded  James  R. 
Doolittle  as  United  States  senator  from 
Wisconsin  in  1869.  In  earlier  years  he 
had  been  a  democrat  of  the  Stephen  A. 
Douglas  type,  but  at  the  close  of  the  re- 
bellion he  had  allied  himself  with  the  re- 
publican party.  In  the  senate  Mr.  Carpen- 
ter distinguished  himself  for  his  brilliancy 
in  debate  upon  all  questions  involving 


constitutional  law.  He,  however,  paid 
little  attention  to  the  regular  routine  of 
senatorial  work.  On  the  death  of  Henry 
Wilson  he  became  president  of  the  sen- 
ate. In  1875  he  was  defeated  for  a  re- 
election to  the  senate  by  a  combination  of 
democrats  and  dissatisfied  republicans, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Angus  Cameron. 
He  then  engaged  in  an  extensive  law 
practice  in  the  United  States  courts.  Mr.. 
Carpenter  was  elected  to  succeed  Timo- 
thy O.  Howe  as  United  States  senator  in 
1879.  He  died  in  this  position.  In  his 
last  term  he  distinguished  himself  in  the 
debate  on  the  Fitz  John  Porter  bill.  He 
cared  but  little  for  statesmanship,  and 
was  unsuited  for  committee  work.  He 
loved  the  law  with  all  the  ardor  of  a  fer- 
vid nature,  and  devoted  his  time  to  its 
practice.  As  an  orator  he  had  few  equals. 
His  last  days  were  passed  in  great  phys- 
ical weakness.  His  brilliant  wit  shone- 
out  in  the  midst  of  his  utter  prostration. 
He  was  accustomed  to  watch  his  phys- 
ical symptoms,  and  question  his  medical 
attendant  upon  the  progress  of  his  dis- 
ease. A  day  or  two  before  his  death  he 
suffered  an  acute  attack  unlike  anything 
he  had  previously  experienced.  He  at 
once  questioned  the  doctor,  who  told  him 
that  it  was  some  derangement  of  the  large 
intestine,  called  the  colon.  "  Then,"  said 
Mr.  Carpenter  at  once,  "  there  is  a  little 
more  time;  we  never  come  to  a  full  stop 
at  a  colon." 

The  great  comment  upon  Mr.  Carpen- 
ter's life  is,  "  what  he  might  have  done." 

1881.    Feb.  25.     A  great  financial 

excitement  occurred  in  New  York  and 
other  business  centers,  by  the  increased 
prospect  that  the  funding  bill,  providing 
for  bonds  at  three  per  cent.,  would  be- 
come a  law.  The  bill  had  been  forced 


1877-1881.] 

upon  congress  by  the  persistency  of  the 
democrats,  and  was  now  fairly  in  a  way 
to  get  to  the  president  for  his  signature. 
Banks,  in  many  places,  at  once  retired 
some  of  their  circulation,  and  a  stringency 
in  the  money  market  was  the  result. 
Stocks  went  down,  and  interest  went  up. 
But  the  senate  at  once  repealed  the  tax 
on  bank  deposits,  and  $10,000,000  worth 
of  bonds  were  called  for  by  Secretary 
Sherman,  and  the  danger  passed  by. 

VIOLENT  STORMS. 

1881.  Feb.  26-March  5.  Storms 
of  unprecedented  extent  and  severity  vis- 
ited the  United  States,  especially  the 
Northwest.  The  railroads  were  block- 
aded, and  in  many  places,  before  com- 
munication could  be  opened,  fuel  and 
other  supplies  were  exhausted.  A  great 
deal  of  suffering  resulted.  In  some  places 
families  were  obliged  to  burn  railroad 
ties,  telegraph  poles,  and  the  beams  of 
bridges.  In  some  cases  two  or  more 
families  moved  into  one  house,  and  burned 
the  others  for  firewood.  The  snow  cov- 
ered some  sections  to  a  great  depth. 
Before  the  effect  of  the  first  storm  was 
lost,  others  set  in  of  still  greater  violence. 
Chicago  was  cut  off  from  nearly  every 
quarter.  Prices  of  provisions  went  up  in 
some  cases  to  more  than  double  their 
former  amount.  When  the  blockade 
was  raised,  the  accumulated  mails  were 
moved  to  all  points  with  difficulty.  Such 
an  experience  had  been  seldom  known. 

MENTOR. 

1881.  Feb.  28.  Gen.  Garfield  and 
his  family  left  their  home  at  Mentor, 
Ohio,  for  Washington,  D.  C.  His  life 
since  his  election  had  been  one  of  great 
publicity,  in  spite  of  the  retired  spot 
which  he  made  his  home.  Mentor  be- 


THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


911 


came  minutely  known  in  all  parts  of  the 
country.  The  neighborhood,  postoffice, 
telegraph  station,  house,  orchard,  furni- 
ture, etc.,  were  pictured  and  described  far 
and  wide.  Scarcely  a  day  passed  with- 
out visits  from  politicians,  delegations, 
curiosity  hunters,  those  who  wished  office, 
and  those  who  wished  to  know  who  was 
to  have  office.  The  appointments  for 
the  cabinet  were  special  subjects  for 
rumor.  In  the  midst  of  all  Gen.  Garfield 
seems  never  to  have  lost  his  dignity  or 
good  sense,  but  to  have  remained  the 
same  careful,  discriminating  statesman  he 
had  grown  to  be. 

FUNDING  BILL  VETOED. 

1881.  March  3.  President  Hayes 
at  once  vetoed  the  funding  bill,  which 
had  passed  both  houses  of  congress,  and 
sent  it  back  with  his  message,  which  bore 
chiefly  on  the  injury  which  would  result 
to  national  banks  if  the  proposed  bill  be- 
came a  law.  Thus  a  "  three  per  cent." 
is  not  a  possibility  of  the  present. 

INAUGURATION  DAY. 

1881.  March  4.  In  spite  of  the 
'stormy  season  in  great  sections  of  the 
country,  "  Inauguration  Day "  passed 
successfully  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and 
James  A.  Garfield  of  Ohio,  and  Chester 
A.  Arthur  of  New  York,  were  inaugu- 
rated president  and  vice-president  of  the 
United  States  for  the  term  of  four  years. 
Washington  was  thronged.  The  pro- 
cession was  of  excellent  character  and 
proportions,  the  review  of  the  military 
was  a  pleasing  feature,  the  inaugural 
ceremonies  were  simple  and  impressive, 
the  inaugural  address  was  marked  by 
good  sense  and  moral  tone,  with  some 
eminently  clear  expressions  upon  im- 
portant points,  the  ball  and  reception  in 


912 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


the  hall  of  the  new  National  Museum 
were  a  success,  and  the  day  ended  with 
great  gratification.  During  the  next  two 
or  three  days  the  crowd  melted  away  to 
their  homes,  save  a  great  horde  of  hun- 
gry office  seekers  who  now  waited  for 
the  spoils. 

1881.  March  5.  When  people  arose 
on  the  morning  after  the  inauguration, 
they  had  a  great  curiosity  in  regard  to  the 
first  acts  of  the  new  administration.  The 
public  mind  had  been  tense  for  months. 
Garfield  had  been  hailed  on  many  hands, 
North  and  South,  as  a  deliverer  for  the 
people  from  the  clasp  of  politicians.  The 
enthusiasm  of  the  nomination  at  Chicago 
was  followed  by  an  affectionate  and  yet 
critical  watch  upon  all  the  words  and 
deeds  of  the  unexpected  candidate  dur- 
ing the  campaign.  After  his  election,  in 
the  midst  of  the  joy  at  the  success  with 
which  the  president-elect  was  bearing 
himself  in  an  elevation  of  manliness  and 
dignity  wholly  satisfactory,  there  was 
yet  a  suppressed  fear  that  the  prevailing 
tendencies  in  the  Republican  party,  so 
opposite  in  character,  would  one  or  the 
other,  find  him  deficient  in  wisdom  at 
some  unexpected  point  in  dealing  with 
them.  >  His  home  at  Mentor  was  the 
resort  of  visitors  from  all  parts  of  the 
Union,  and  on  all  kinds  of  errands.  His 
furniture  and  carpets  were  spoiled,  and 
his  garden  destroyed  by  the  tramp  of  the 
intruders.  He  was  before  the  country  in 
the  newspaper  press  of  all  places.  His 
life  was  dissected,  and  his  habits  and  man- 
ners spread  open  for  the  gossip  of  the 
nation.  There  was  no  longer  any  priv- 
acy. He  and  his  family  were  suddenly 
pushed  out  into  the  public  gaze  in  a  dis- 
concerting way.  But  he  did  not  fail  the 
judgment  of  men.  In  speeches,  in  con- 
versations, in  all  his  bearing,  there  was  a 


height  of  manhood  visible,  which  at  last 
took  definite  form  before  the  minds  of 
others,  and  came  to  be  trusted  in  by 
them.  His  life  and  character  were  fast 
losing  the  element  of  uncertainty  which 
always  attaches  to  the  movements  of  a 
person  in  a  new  situation.  The  work  of 
making  up  his  cabinet  had  been  done 
with  remarkable  reserve.  Conjecture 
had  followed  conjecture  rapidly,  only  to 
follow  its  predecessors,  when  like  them 
pricked  with  the  point  of  some  slight  cir- 
cumstance. After  all,  the  severest  test 
was  now  at  hand.  The  sections  of  the 
Republican  party  could  give  over  the 
apparent  hostility  of  their  clash  in  the 
national  convention  at  Chicago,  so  long 
as  they  were  trying  to  secure  the  favor 
of  the  President-elect;  but  they  would  be 
unable  to  keep  their  manners  decent  and 
their  tempers  down,  when  the  new  presi- 
dent should  distribute  to  the  one  a  bit 
more  'of  public  patronage  than  to  the 
other.  Hence  the  morning  of  March  5 
saw  a  great  company  of  American  citi- 
zens making  an  alert  and  vigorous  move- 
ment toward  the  securing  of  office,  and 
behind  them  a  still  larger  company  wish- 
ing that  the  patronage  might  be  managed 
in  a  way  satisfactory  to  individual  feel- 
ings, friendship,  and  political  sympathies.. 
The  American  people  had  had  a  long 
training  in  the  spoils  system,  and  the 
great  game  was  now  to  be  attempted  on 
a  larger  scale  than  ever  before.  There 
was  a  slight  hush  until  it  was  known 
what  persons  had  been  nominated  by  the 
president  for  Cabinet  officers.  This  was 
soon  revealed.  The  following  were  con- 
firmed at  once  by  the  senate  in  special 
session  upon  nomination  by  the  pres- 
ident : 

JAMES  G.  BLAiNE,of  Maine,  Secretary 
of  State. 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR    OF  LIFE. 


917 


the  midst  of  the  strife  for  the  possession 
of  the  senate  offices  a  new  difficulty  was 
thrown.  The  "dead-lock"  continued  in 
full  force.  Senator  Mahone  was  again 
assailed,  especially  by  Senator  Johnston 
of  Virginia,  and  spoke  again  at  length, 
giving  his  position  upon  the  debt  ques- 
tion and  related  interests.  The  fight  was 
going  all  through  March  into  a  deeper 
discussion  of  political  principles.  Mean- 
while the  principal  nominations  made  by 
President  Garfield  were  deferred.  The 
three  which  drew  the  attention  of  the 
country  were  the  nomination  of  Robert- 
son, of  Stanley  Matthews,  of  Ohio,  to 
be  an  associate-justice  of  the  supreme 
court,  and  of  William  E.  Chandler,  of 
New  Hampshire,  to  be  solicitor  general. 
All  through  March  the  battle  was  con- 
tinued to  the  irritation  of  large  numbers 
in  all  parts  of  the  country.  Party  cau- 
cuses were  held  by  the  senators  of  the 
different  parties,  but  without  any  clear 
result.  Senator  Davis  and  Senator  Ma- 
hone  were  the  subjects  of  much  specula- 
tion and  attention.  Both  parties  were 
in  doubt.  Does  Mahone's  course  indicate 
that  a  new  movement  is  to  take  place  in 
the  South?  was  a  question  anxiously  de- 
bated. The  month  of  April  was  spent 
in  conflict  by  the  senate,  and  disgust  by 
the  country  at  large.  On  the  2oth  of 
April  Senator  Frye  made  a  vigorous  at- 
tack upon  the  democracy,  and  on  the 
other  hand  on  the  28th,  Senator  Butler 
tried  to  show  that  the  republicans  had 
made  a  bargain  with  Mahone.  Nothing 
decisive  however  occurred  till  May  4th, 
when  the  "dead-lock  "  was  broken  by  the 
senate  by  going  into  executive  session 
and  acting  upon  certain  of  the  nomina- 
tions which  had  accumulated.  Senators 
Conkling  and  Platt  were  hard  at  work 
to  destroy  any  possibility  of  the  confir- 


mation of  Robertson,  and  at  this  date  it 
was  whispered  around  that  the  republi- 
cans had  agreed  to  go  into  executive  ses- 
sion till  all  the  nominations  except  that 
of  Robertson  were  acted  upon,  and  then 
adjourn.  This  was  checkmated  by  Pres- 
ident Garfield  by  sending  in  to  the  senate 
on  May  5th,  a  withdrawal  of  all  the 
New  York  nominations  then  before  it, 
except  that  of  Robertson.  This  was  an 
unexpected  turn.  President  Garfield 
contended  that  it  was  the  prerogative  of 
the  senate  to  accept  or  reject  the  nomina- 
tions which  it  was  his  prerogative  to 
make,  and  that  it  was  a  violation  of  their 
duty  to  avoid  action  upon  any  name  sent 
in  for  confirmation.  By  this  action  of 
President  Garfield,  the  senators  from 
New  York  were  completely  alienated 
from  the  administration,  and  stung  to 
rage.  Senator  Conkling  claimed  that  he 
represented  in  the  matter  the  feeling  of 
the  people  of  New  York.  When  he 
began  to  see,  however,  that  he  could  not 
control  the  affair  as  he  wished,  and  that 
the  firmness  of  President  Garfield  was 
likely  to  win  the  day,  he  raised  the  cry 
that  he  was  overborne  by  the  fact  that 
public  patronage  was  on  the  side  of  his 
opponent.  Stanley  Matthews  was  con- 
firmed on  May  i2th  by  one  majority. 
It  soon  appeared  that  the  senators  would 
act  upon  Robertson's  nomination,  and 
that  he  was  likely  to  be  confirmed.  This 
led  to  the  next  great  step  on  the  part  of 
the  New  York  senators.  On  May  I4th 
they  telegraphed  to  Gov.  Cornell  of 
New  York,  their  resignation  of  the 
places  held  by  them  in  the  senate  of  the 
United  States,  and  upon  the  morning  of 
May  1 6th  the  resignations  were  commu- 
nicated to  the  senate  and  to  the  country 
at  large.  A  long  letter  appeared  in  the 
public  print  in  which  Conkling  and  Platt 


918 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


attempted  to  justify  their  course.  Ru- 
mors of  the  resignation  of  various  cabi- 
net officers  swept  through  the  nation,  and 
agitation  ran  high.  The  trust  in,  and 
respect  for,  President  Garfield,  remained 
very  great.  The  attention  of  the  public 
was  now  transferred  from  Washington 
to  Albany.  The  two  senators  threw 
themselves  upon  the  legislature  of  their 
state  for  re-election  as  a  commendation 
of  their  course.  Affairs  at  Washington 
assumed  a  quieter  phase.  Robertson 
was  confirmed  upon  May  i8th,  and  on 
the  1 9th  the  withdrawn  nominations 
were  all  sent  back  to  the  senate  for  ac- 
tion. The  senate  dragged  along  without 
special  interest  until  adjournment. 

The  struggles  at  Albany  deepened 
into  a  mere  partisan  contest,  whose  de- 
tails it  were  not  well  to  relate.  Vice- 
President  Arthur  descended  to  the  arena 
and  worked  for  the  justification  of  his 
friends.  There  were  charges  of  bribery 
and!  some  attempted  investigations,  but  a 
failure  to  elect.  The  Republicans  at- 
temped  to  hold  caucuses,  but  a  quorum  of 
the  party  would  not  join  in  them.  Fruit- 
less ballots  were  taken  again  and  again. 
From  day  to  day  the  fierce  and  heated 
battle  wore  on,  neither  party  gaining  the 
ascendancy  in  any  decided  way,  although 
it  became  clearer  and  clearer  that  Sena- 
tors Conkling  and  Platt  could  not  be  re- 
elected.  From  all  quarters  came  up 
remonstrances  sent  in  by  the  people 
against  the  men  who  had  left  their  posts 
when  there  was  need  for  them  in  the 
senate.  The  "  Stalwart"  element  of 
New  York  found  itself  unable  to  ac- 
complish what  it  fondly  dreamed  before- 
hand it  could  do  with  ease.  Mutual 
accusations  found  a  large  place  in  the 
weary  weeks  which  followed,  and  the 
nation  experienced  a  sickening  sensation 


while  the  days  of  May  and  June  were 
passing.  It  seemed  as  if  the  men  who- 
were  charged  with  the  affairs  of  the 
country,  and  were  under  the  obligation 
to  exercise  their  greatest  wisdom,  were 
prone  to  fall  into  exhibitions  of  the  great- 
est folly.  Albany  was  a  scene  of  lobby- 
ism  and  partisanship,  which  continued 
into  the  summer,  and  ended  only  after 
the  president's  assassination,  when  the 
feeling  of  the  country  would  not  permit 
it  to  be  prolonged.  Messrs.  Miller  and 
Lapham  were  then  elected  in  place  of 
Conkling  and  Platt. 

In  the  meantime  some  good  work  was 
being  done  at  Washington  in  the  admin- 
istration of  several  departments,  in  the 
Post  Office  Department  especially;  Sec- 
retary James  got  upon  the  track  of  cer- 
tain great  expenditures  'of  money  for 
needless  mail  service  in  the  extreme  West. 
Some  of  the  postal  routes  were  laid  out 
across  tracts  of  country  where  scarcely 
any  mail  was  ever  sent,  and  where  an 
appropriation  was  made  at  first  for  an 
occasional  mail.  But  through  jobbery,. 
Congress  established  daily  lines  for  which 
the  contractors  charged  the  same  per 
trip  as  they  were  to  have  for  the  oc- 
casional service  provided  for  at  first,  and 
they  reaped  enormous  profits.  The  men 
who  brought  these  things  about  were 
soon  known,  and  investigations  were  be- 
gun. But  it  has  proved  exceedingly 
difficult  to  get  hold  of  and  convict  any  one. 
The  work  is  still  going  on  in  July, 
1882.  It  has  been  subject  to  the  delays 
incident  to  the  excitements  through 
which  the  country  has  passed  the  last 
few  months.  Yet  during  this  time  Post- 
master-General James  reduced  the  cost 
of  service  over  those  routes  by  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  dollars.  Thus  the  coun- 
try is  not  obliged  to  await  the  trial  of 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


919 


the  men  who  fraudulently  managed  the 
contracts,  but  the  benefit  of  the  exposure 
is  felt  at  once  in  a  saving  of  much  m6ney.- 
It  yet  remains  to  settle  the  "  Star  Route" 
frauds  in  the  courts  of  the  nation.  But 
the  effect  has  been  wholesome,  and  pub- 
lic faith  in  our  officials  has  revived  very 
greatly. 

During  the  time  that  these  affairs  were 
coming  on  at  Albany  and  Washington 
President  Garfield  was  entrenching  him- 
self more  and  more  firmly  in  the  hearts 
of  the  people.  His  bearing  under  all  his 
burdens  was  extraordinary.  Mrs.  Gar- 
field  was  brought  down  nigh  to  death 
during  these  spring  months  by  a  severe 
attack  of  typhoid  fever.  This  laid  do- 
mestic as  well  as  national  care  upon  the 
heart  of  the  chief  magistrate,  and  nobly 
did  he  bear  the  load.  After  a  trying  ill- 
ness Mrs.  Garfield  recovered,  and  was 
ready  none  too  soon  for  the  care  which 
was  to  be  thrust  upon  her  so  terribly. 
President  Garfield  was  well-nigh  worn 
out.  He  had  been  enduring  a  constant 
strain  since  the  nomination  in  Chicago, 
and  had  borne  up  under  it  remarkably. 
The  summer  was  planned  for  as  a  time 
of  recreation,  of  visiting,  and  recupera- 
tion. But  it  was  not  to  be  as  had  been 
planned.  The  heat  of  summer  brought 
distress  instead  of  rest  from  labor.  The 
long  and  sickening  political  broils  were 
to  be  followed  by  a  long  and  weary  sea- 
son of  slow  death.  The  discipline  of 
years  was  to  be  compressed  into  a  few 
weeks.  Well  would  it  be  if  the  lesson 
should  be  learned  so  fully  as  to  prevent 
the  need  of  receiving  the  same  instruction 
again.  The  results,  invaluable  as  indica- 

O  * 

tions  of  certain  conditions  and  tendencies 
in  American  political  life,  were  impressive 
at  the  moment,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that 
they  were  not  easily  put  aside  from  the 
heart  and  mind. 


JAMES  T.  FIELDS. 

1881.  April  24.  James  T.  Fields,  a 
resident  of  Boston,  widely  known  for  his 
connection  with  the  publishing  business, 
and  for  his  wide  acquaintance  with  au- 
thors, as  well  as  for  his  own  literary 
abilities,  died,  aged  64  years.  He  was 
born  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  in  1820,  and 
obtained  the  usual  New  England  school 
education  in  that  place,  graduating  at  the 
High  School  at  the  age  of  13.  He  soon 
went  to  Boston,  and  began  clerking  in 
the  book  store  of  Carter  &  Hendon  in 
1834.  He  proved  efficient  and  intelli- 
gent, and  his  life  was  fixed  in  its  flow. 
It  could  not  be  that  one  so  appreciative 
of  the  business  he  was  following,  and  so 
apt  in  seeing  its  possibilities,  should  be 
content  to  remain  in  the  employ  of 
others.  In  process  of  time,  Mr.  Fields 
entered  upon  business  as  an  owner.  His 
marked  fitnesses  now  began  to  appear.  He 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  young  literary 
men  and  drew  to  himself  those  of  all 
qualities.  He  will  long  be  remembered 
by  the  generation  now  passing  away,  as 
having,  over  the  sacred  little  room  in  the 
"  Old  Corner  Book  Store,"  on  the  comer 
of  Washington  and  School  streets,  in 
Boston,  where  so  many  young  authors, 
now  known  all  over  the  land,  went  to 
consult  about  their  first  writings,  many  a 
conversation  in  that  spot  which  has 
affected  American  literature  very  deeply. 
Mr.  Fields  was  instrumental  in  bringing 
forward  some  of  Hawthorne's  writings, 
thus  giving  to  the  world  the  possessions 
which  otherwise  the  self-depreciation  of 
the  author  would  have  destroyed.  This 
is  particularly  true  of  "  The  Scarlet  Let- 
ter." In  this  way  it  came  to  pass  that 
Mr.  Fields  at  last  had  upon  his  publish- 
ing list  the  chief  portion  of  American 
workers  in  literature.  His  appreciation 


920 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT 


of  their  good  qualities,  and  his  kindly 
words  of  encouragement,  cheered  the 
spirits  and  confirmed  the  pursuits  of  more 
than  one.  The  strength  of  American 
literature  appeared  through  that  channel. 
Mr.  Fields  had  a  keen  literary  taste, 
which  made  him  a  faithful  student  of 
English  literature.  He  became  in  his 
later  years  a  genial  critic  and  interesting 
lecturer  in  this  province.  His  own  ability 
was  also  used  in  various  ways.  He 
issued  several  small  volumes  of  poems, 
but  is  most  widely  known  by  "  Yester- 
days with  Authors,"  in  which  he  gives 
interesting  chit-chat  concerning  the  emi- 
nent writers  he  had  been  associated  with. 
Nor  could  any  one  give  a  larger  list  than 
he,  for  his  acquaintance  had  extended  to 
the  leading  literary  characters  of  Eng- 
land. .  He  had  been  abroad  and  met 
them  in  their  homes.  His  friendship 
with  them  was  of  the  most  genial  sort, 
and  his  recollections  of  his  author-friends 
throw  floods  of  light  upon  their  inner 
characteristics.  Mr.  Fields  was  the  one 
who  first  issued  Tennyson's  poems  in 
America.  Browning  was  also  introduced 
to  American  readers  by  him.  His  ac- 
quaintance with  Dickens  was  very  in- 
timate, and  the  second  visit  of  Dickens 
to  America  is  due  to  Mr.  Fields.  We  owe 
also  to  Mr.  Fields  the  collected  works  of 
De  Quincey.  Besides  his  occasions  of 
meeting  his  author-friends,  Mr.  Fields 
preserved  a  constant  correspondence  with 
many  of  them,  and  thus  came  to  have  a 
great  treasure  of  letters.  These  were  of 
inestimable  value  to  his  affection.  Mr. 
Fields'  course  in  publishing  was  prosper- 
ous, and  he  was  obliged  to  move  from 
the  "  Corner"  to  larger  quarters.  For 
years  he  edited  the  "Atlantic  Monthly." 
After  he  withdrew  from  the  firm  he  was 
known  henceforth  as  a  lecturer.  In  this 


way  he  appeared  before  many  who  had 
never  seen  him,  but  who  learned  to  value 
his  Accounts  of  authors  and  literature. 
His  health  was  somewhat  broken  by 
signs  of  a  heart  trouble,  and  he  guarded 
himself  so  far  as  he  could  against  un- 
usual exertion.  He  was  cheerful  and 
sustained.  The  end  came  suddenly 
while  his  wife  was  reading  to  him  in 
company  with  a  few  friends.  A  slight 
sound  was  heard,  and  by  the  time  his 
wife  could  reach  his  side,  his  head  had 
dropped,  and  his  spirit  had  gone.  Mr. 
Fields'  influence  was  a  very  salutary  and 
cheerful  one  over  all  with  whom  he 
came  into  contact.  During  the  days  of 
his  clerkship  in  Boston  in  his  teens,  he 
formed  friendships  Which  remained  till 
death.  He  and  several  intimate  com- 
panions, E.  P.  Whipple  among  them, 
began  the  collection  of  private  libraries, 
and  before  they  were  twenty-one  years 
old,  each  had  a  very  good  nucleus.  In 
his  later  years  Mr.  Fields'  library  was 
choice  in  several  respects  in  which  he  had 
the  leading  chance  as  a  publisher,  specially 
in  manuscripts  and  autographs.  This 
came  about  because  he  was  not  merely  a 
publisher,  but  also  a  man  of  pure  and 
discriminating  literary  tastes.  He  had 
an  ideal  which  he  had  set  before  himself, 
and  he  reached  it  very  successfully. 

To  his  most  intimate  friends  Mr. 
Fields  was  a  man  of  great  and  genuine 
good-nature,  and  almost  always,  of  irre- 
pressible buoyancy.  His  wit  was  brilliant 
and  his  fondness  for  practical  jokes  was 
apparent  in  the  cases  of  many  people 
who  thought  themselves  quite  above  the 
publisher.  With  his  friends  in  private 
he  severely  ridiculed  anything  like 
pretension. 

His  memory  will  linger  with  those 
who  knew  him  best,  and  his  influence  on 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


921 


American  and  English  authorship  will  be 
ineffaceable,  although  his  name  "will  not 
be  known  very  long  in  the  future.  •*•  His 
life  has  taken  strong  hold  in  the  up- 
building of  the  kingdom  of  letters. 

His  home  was  a  delightful  place,  and 
was  always  open  to  those  who  would  en- 
joy it.  He  took  a  great  interest  in  the 
treasures  which  made  the  place  so  delight- 
ful, and  was  always  willing  that  others 
should  enter  into  the  joy  of  them.  Many 
little  gatherings  there  partook  of  enter- 
tainment, both  temporal  and  mental,  from 
Mr.  Fields  and  his  wife.  Not  often  does 
a  man  have  the  privilege  of  obtaining  so 
many  things  with  which  to  make  home 
an  elevated  spot,  for  the  possessions  of 
Mr.  Fields  were  in  many  cases  things 
which  would  have  never  been  obtained 
by  money,  but  came  from  affectionate 
friends.  In  this  respect  he  probably  sur- 
passed any  other  American. 

THE  REVISED  XEW  TESTAMENT. 

1881.  May  21.  After  several  years 
of  labor  the  revision  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, which  had  been  awaited  with 
great  eagerness  and  curiosity,  was  issued 
to  the  world  in  the  midst  of  its  business 
and  political  bickerings.  The  gospel  of 
peace  and  good-will  and  charity  was 
brought  out  in  language  differing  from 
that  which  had  been  the  heritage  of  the 
churches  for  centuries  in  the  English 
Bible. 

This  revision  was  a  part  of  the  revision 
of  the  whole  Bible  now  going  on,  which 
had  its  origin  in  the  Church  of  England. 
A  feeling  had  been  developed  in  recent 
years  that  the  old  version  could  be 
amended  with  great  profit.  A  new 
translation  was  not  desirable  or  desired. 
But  many  things  led  to  the  conviction 
that  a  revision  by  eminent  scholars  would 


promote  the  welfare  of  the  Christian 
churches.  The  study  of  the  Greek  and 
Hebrew  languages  had  made  in  recent 
times  vast  progress.  The  knowledge  of 
Bible  lands  had  become  very  much  en- 
larged. Recent  travelers  had  explored 
almost  every  foot  of  it.  Several  very 
important  manuscripts  had  been  dis- 
covered, and  their  variations  threw  light 
upon  many  a  passage.  The  whole  science 
of  Biblical  criticism  is  a  growth  of 
modern  times.  While,  therefore,  the  old 
version  has  justly  been  considered  an 
English  classic,  and  has  been  reverenced 
for  its  literary  excellence,  even  where  it 
has  not  been  received  as  the  Word  of 
God,  yet  the  scholarship  of  the  present 
feels  that  the  time  has  come  for  a 
better  rendering  in  many  passages. 
The  demand  did  not  arise  among  the 
common  people.  The  new  version 
would  have  a  great  work  to  do  in  sup- 
planting the  old  in  the  hearts  of  the 
believers  who  were  uninstructed  in  learn- 
ing. The  first  movement  to  secure  a  re- 
vision occurred  in  the  Convocation  of 
Canterbury,  of  the  Church  of  England. 
A  commission  of  eight  bishops  and  eight 
presbyters,  sixteen  eminent  scholars  in 
all,  was  appointed  May  6th,  1870,  to  take 
the  matter  in  charge,  and  "  to  invite  the 
co-operation  of  any  eminent  for  scholar- 
ship, to  whatever  nation  or  religious  body 
they  may  belong."  The  commission 
therefore  appointed  nearly  forty  scholars 
from  the  various  denominations  of  Great 
Britain.  Almost  every  one  accepted  the 
appointment.  Cardinal  Newman  and 
Dr.  Pusey  declined.  This  large  body  of 
revisers  was  divided  into  an  Old  Testa- 
ment and  a  New  Testament  company. 
The  English  revisers  did  not  think  best  to 
proceed  without  inviting  eminent  Ameri- 
can scholars  to  join  them.  It  was  the 


922 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


wish  to  make  the  revision  acceptable  to 
the  whole  English-speaking  race  through- 
out the  world.  The  churches  of  America 
therefore  had  nothing  to  say  about  the 
matter.  The  whole  authority  was  resi- 
dent, so  far  as  it  existed  at  all,  in  the 
Convocation  of  Canterbury,  and  all  were 
willing  that  the  mother  church  of  all 
should  lead  in  the  arrangements.  The 
matter  was  adjusted.  Invitations  were 
accepted  by  American  scholars,  and  two 
companies  were  formed  by  them,  as  by 
the  English  co-laborers.  The  American 
companies  met  every  month  in  the  Bible 
House,  New  York,  and  the  English  re- 
visers met  in  the  Jerusalem  Chamber, 
and  the  Chapter  Library  of  Westminster. 
Communications  were  constantly  held 
across  the  Atlantic,  and  the  work  of  each 
committee  passed  under  the  criticism  of 
the  other.  The  American  committee 
began  work  in  October,  1872.  The  New 
Testament  was  completed  by  the  two 
•committees  in  October,  1880,  but  arrange- 
ments for  its  issue  consumed  some  time 
before  it  could  be  given  to  the  public. 

The  names  of  the  members  of  the 
New  Testament  company  in  England 
.are  as  follows: 

The  Right  Rev.  Charles  John  Ellicott, 
D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Salisbury. 

The  Very  Rev.  Edward  Henry  Bick- 
-ersteth,  D.  D.,  Dean  of  Litchfield. 

The  Very  Rev.  Arthur  Penrhyn  Stan- 
ley, D.  D.,  Dean  of  Westminster. 

The  Very  Rev.  Robert  Scott,  D.  D., 
Dean  of  Rochester. 

The  Very  Rev.  Joseph  Williams 
Blakesley,  B.  D.,  Dean  of  Lincoln. 

The  Most  Rev.  Richard  Chenevix 
Trench,  D.  D.,  Archbishop  of  Dublin. 

The  Right  Rev.  Joseph  Barber  Light- 
foot,  D.  D.,  LL.D.,  Bishop  of  Durham. 

The  Right  Rev.  Charles  Wordsworth, 


D.    C.    L.,    Bishop    of    St.    Andrews. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Angus,  D.  D.,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Baptist  College,  Regent's 
'Park,  London. 

The  Rev.  David  Brown,  D.  D.,  Princi- 
pal of  the  Free  Church  College, 
Aberdeen. 

The  Rev.  Fenton  John  Anthony  Hort, 
D.  D.,  Fellow  of  Emanuel  College, 
Cambridge. 

The  Rev.  William  Gibson  Humphrey, 
London. 

The  Rev.  Benjamin  Hall  Kennedy,  D. 
D.,  Canon  of  Ely. 

The  Ven.  William  Lee,  D.  D.,  Arch- 
deacon of  Dublin. 

The  Rev.  William  Milligan,  D.  D., 
Professor  of  Divinity  and  Biblical  Criti- 
cism, Aberdeen. 

The  Rev.  William  F.  Moulton,  D.  D., 
Master  of  the  Leys  School,  Cambridge. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Newth,  D.  D.,  Prin- 
cipal of  New  College.  Hampstead, 
London. 

The  Ven.  Edwin  Palmer,  D.  D.,  Arch- 
deacon of  Oxford. 

The  Rev.  Alexander  Roberts,  D.  D., 
Professor  of  Humanity,  St.  Andrew's. 

The  Rev.  Frederick  Henry  Ambrose 
Scrivener,  LL.D.,  London. 

The  Rev.  George  Vance  Smith,  D.D., 
Carmarthen. 

The  Rev.  Charles  John  Vaughan,  D. 
D.,  Master  of  the  Temple,  London. 

The  Rev.  Brooks  Foss  Westcott,  D. 
D.,  Canon  of  Peterborough  and  Pro- 
fessor of  Divinity,  Trinity  College, 
Cambridge. 

The  Rev.  J.  Troutbeck,  Westminster. 

The  following  members  of  the  English 
New  Testament  company  died  during 
the  progress  of  the  work. 

The  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Wilber- 
force.  Bishop  of  Winchester,  died  in  1873. 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


923 


The  Very  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Alford, 
Dean  of  Canterbury,  died  in  1871. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  John  Eadie,  Professor 
in  Glasgow,  died  in  1876. 

Mr.  Samuel  Prideaux  Tregelles,LL.D., 
died  in  1875. 

The  latter  never  took  any  active  part 
in  the  task,  on  account  of  poor  health. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Merivale,  Dean 
of  Ely,  resigned  his  position  upon  the 
committee. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  John  Henry  Newman 
was  asked  to  serve  upon  the  New  Testa- 
ment company,  but  declined. 

The  names  of  the  members  of  the 
New  Testament  company  in  America 
were  as  follows: 

Ex-President  T.  D.  Woolsey,  D.  D., 
LL.D.,  New  Haven. 

Professor  J.  Henry  Thayer,  D.  D., 
Theological  Seminary,  Andover,  Mass. 

Professor  Ezra  Abbott,  D.  D.,  LL.D., 
Divinity  School,  Harvard  University, 
Cambridge,  Mass. 

The  Rev.  J.  K.  Burr,  D.  D.,  Trenton, 
N.J. 

President  Thomas  Chase,  LL.D.,  Ha- 
verford  College,  Penn. 

Chancellor  Howard  Crosby,  D.  D., 
LL.D.,  New  York  University,  New 
York. 

Prof.  Timothy  D  wight,  D.  D.,  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  Yale  College. 

Professor  A.  C.  Kendrick,  D.  D., 
LL.D.,  University  of  Rochester,  Roches- 
ter, N.  Y. 

The  Right  Rev.  Alfred  Lee,  D.  D., 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Delaware. 

Professor  Matthew  B.  Riddle,  D.  D., 
Theological  Seminary,  Hartford,  Conn. 

Professor  Philip  Schaff,  D.  D.,  LL.D., 
Union  Theological  Seminary,  New  York. 

Professor  Charles  Short,  LL.D.,  New 
York. 


The  Rev.  E.  A.  Washburn,  D.  D., 
Calvary  Church,  New  York. 

The  following  members  died  during 
the  progress  of  the  work. 

Professor  James  Hadley,  LL.D.,  Yale 
College,  New  Haven,  died  in  1872. 

Professor  Henry  B.  Smith,  D.  D., 
LL.D.,  Union  Theological  Seminary, 
New  York,  died  in  1877. 

Professor  Horatio  B.  Hackett,  D.  D., 
LL.D.,  Theological  Seminary,  Roches- 
ter, N.  Y.,  died  in  1876. 

Professor  Charles  Hodge,D.D.,  LL.D., 
Theological  Seminary,  Princeton,  N.  J., 
died  in  1878. 

The  two  following  resigned  their  ap- 
pointments : 

Rev.  G.  R.  Crooks,  D.D.,New  York. 

Rev.  W.   F.   Warren,  D.  D.,  Boston. 

These  two  companies,  the  English 
and  the  American,  worked  with  great 
care  at  the  task  upon  which  they  began, 
at  the  sacrifice  of  personal  comfort,  and 
without  financial  recompense.  A  finance 
committee  was  raised  to  take  charge  of 
the  traveling  expenses  of  the  revisers. 
These  expenses  were  met  in  America  by 
voluntary  contributions  from  wealthy 
men.  In  England  the  University  Press- 
es pay  the  expenses,  and  have  the  exclu- 
sive privilege  of  issuing  the  revision. 

The    following   principles   were    laid 

down  for  the  guidance  of  both  committees. 

(  i.  "To  introduce  as  few  alterations  as 

possible   into  the  text  of  the  authorized 

version  consistently  with  faithfulness. 

2.  "To  limit,  as  far  as  possible,  the  ex- 
pression  of    such  alterations  to  the  lan- 
guage    of     the    authorized     or    earlier 
versions. 

3.  "Each   company   to  go  twice  over 
the  portion  to  be  revised,  once  provision- 
ally, the  second  time  finally. 

4.  "That   the  text  to  be  adopted  be 


924 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


that  for  which  the  evidence  is  decidedly 
preponderating;  and  that  when  the  text 
so  adopted  differs  from  that  from  which 
the  authorized  version  was  made,  the  al- 
teration be  indicated  in  the  margin. 

5.  "To  make  or  retain    no    change   in 
the  text  on  the  second  final  revision  by 
each  company,  except  two-thirds  of  those 
present   approve    of    the   same;   but  on 
the    first    revision    to    decide  by    simple 
majorities. 

6.  "In  every  case  of  proposed  altera- 
tion that  may  have  given  rise    to    discus- 
sion, to  defer  the  voting  thereon  till  the 
next  meeting,  whensoever  the  same  shall 
be  required  by  one-third  of  those  present 
at  the  meeting,  such   intended  vote  to  be 
announced    in   the    notice    for   the   next 
meeting. 

7.  "To    revise  the    headings  of  chap- 
ters, pages,  paragraphs,  italics,  and  punc- 
tuation. 

8.  "To  refer  on  the  part  of  each  com- 
pany, when  considered  desirable,  to  di- 
vines, scholars,  and  literary  men,  whether 
at  home  or  abroad,  for  their  opinions." 

Guided  by  these  principles,  the  two 
companies  worked  slowly  and  conserva- 
tively. The  method  adopted  was  for 
each  company  to  make  its  suggested 
changes,  independently,  and  then  submit 
them  for  the  approval  of  the  other.  In 
this  way  it  was  found  in  the  end  that 
about  fifty  per  cent,  of  all  changes  were 
arrived  at  simultaneously,  by  the  two 
companies  working,  without  a  knowledge 
of  each  other's  action.  Of  the  remain- 
ing changes  many  were  of  slight  impor- 
tance, so  that  concessions  were  readily 
made  upon  both  sides  for  the  sake  of 
uniformity.  In  this  way  the  final  result 
became  a  very  harmonious  one.  But 
after  all  the  concessions  which  the  Eng- 
lish revisers  were  willing  to  make  to  the 


American,  there  remained  quite  a  list  of 
changes  suggested  by  the  latter,  and 
deemed  of  sufficient  importance  by  them 
to  be  issued  in  an  appendix. 

The  publication  of  the  revision  was 
an  important  occurrence  for  the  Bible- 
reading  public.  The  day  was  antici- 
pated very  eagerly  for  various  reasons. 
Some  had  a  theological  curiosity  to  satis- 
fy, to  see  if  peculiar  beliefs  would  re- 
ceive any  greater  support  by  the  changes 
made.  The  right  to  publish  an  Ameri- 
can edition  had  not  been  claimed  by  the 
American  revisers,  hence  the  first  sheets 
were  to  be  received  here  from  England. 
They  arrived  in  New  York  and  were 
stored  away  till  the  morning  of  issue. 
Several  publishing  houses  in  this  country 
made  arrangements  to  secure  copies  at 
the  earliest  possible  moment,  in  order  to 
set  workmen  at  the.  task  of  getting  out 
special  editions  within  a  few  days.  Ad- 
vance orders  were  sent  in  from  all  parts 
of  the  country.  It  was  announced  that 
on  the  morning  of  the  2ist,  the  issue  of 
the  books  would  begin  when  midnight 
had  arrived.  Drays  waited  at  the  ware- 
house during  the  earlier  part  of  the 
night  in  order  to  get  the  first  lots  to  be 
taken  away  to  publishers,  or  to  the 
various  morning  trains  running  from  the 
city.  The  delivery  proceeded  very  rap- 
idly. Several  hundred  thousand  copies 
were  issued  during  the  day.  Composi- 
tors were  at  once  set  to  work  upon  itr 
for  publishing  houses  and  newspaper 
presses.  The  whole  of  the  revision  was 
issued  by  several  of  the  newspapers  of 
the  country  in  extra  editions.  The  coun- 
try was  flooded.  The  New  Testament 
was  read  everywhere.  Clergymen  be- 
gan to  preach  upon  it,  and  associations  to 
discuss  it.  Within  two  or  three  weeks 
its  sale  was  enormous.  Its  reception  was 


1877-1881 ] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


925 


very  favorable  in  many  quarters,  and 
quite  unfavorable  in  others.  Criticisms 
as  well  as  commendations  began  to  be 
visited  upon  it.  Charges  of  serious  de- 
fects were  made.  But  in  spite  of  all,  it 
was  adopted  for  use  in  many  institutions 
and  churches.  It  took  more  than  a  gen- 
eration for  the  old  version  to  win  its  way 
and  establish  itself.  It  will  not  be 
strange  if  this  new  version  take  nearly 
a  generation,  for  many  who  have  been 
accustomed  to  the  old  will  never  give  it 
up.  There  is  also  a  feeling  growing  up 
in  this  country  that  a  still  further  revi- 
sion must  be  made,  and  that  before  long. 
No  move  has  yet  been  made  toward  this 
end.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  some  further 
changes  will  be  made  by  competent  men, 
that  our  English  Bible  may  go  down  the 
centuries  as  a  treasure  made  fresh  and 
bright  by  the  loving  skill  of  the  present. 
To  bequeath  such  a  legacy  is  one  of  the 
greatest  blessings  which  can  be  conferred 
on  posterity.  Hundreds  of  thousands 
will  be  made  better  by  the  quickened  in- 
terest in  the  word,  the  understanding  of 
which  is  better  than  riches,  and  the  spirit 
inculcated  by  which  is  purer  than  gold. 

THOMAS  A.  SCOTT, 

1881.  May  21.  Col.  Thomas  A. 
Scott,  the  great  railroad  king,  died  at 
his  country  residence  at  Woodburn,  Del- 
aware Co.,  Penn.  He  was  born  in  Lon- 
don, Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  in  the  home 
of  his  father,  who  kept  a  tavern  on  the 
road  from  Pittsburg  to  Chambersburg. 
The  place  was  known  among  travelers 
as  "  Tom  Scott's  Tavern."  The  prop- 
erty was  small,  and  the  family  large. 
The  lad  was  soon  left  fatherless,  and 
had  to  begin  his  battle  with  the  world 
when  not  more  than  fourteen  years  of 
age.  He  had  received  a  common  school 


education,  and  took  his  place  a*  a  clerk 
in  a  country  store.  When  nearly  twenty 
years  of  age,  he  secured  a  position  with 
his  brother-in-law  who  was  toll-collector 
at  Columbia.  In  this  place  he  exhibited 
great  intelligence,  and  became  so  useful 
that  in  six  years  he  was  transferred  to 
Philadelphia,  where  he  was  given  a  re- 
sponsible position.  At  this  time  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  was  being  started, 
and  Scott  was  made  station  agent  at 
Duncansville.  In  two  years  he  was  ap- 
pointed Superintendent  of  the  Western 
Division.  The  following  is  related  of 
his  engagement  to  serve  as  station  agent: 

Young  Scott  had  been  recommended 
to  Mr.  J.  Edgar  Thomson  for  the  posi- 
tion, and  the  latter  telegraphed  him  to 
c6me  to  Harrisburg  immediately.  The 
next  day  while  Mr.  Thomson  was  sit- 
ting in  his  office,  in  walked  a  visitor 
who  was  a  picture  of  manly  beauty,  and 
who  bore  about  him  such  a  breezy  air 
of  independence  as  plainly  indicated  that 
corporation  chieftains  had  no  terrors  for 
him.  His  long  yellow  hair  straggled 
over  his  shoulders,  a  wide-brimmed 
slouch  hat  was  perched  on  the  back  of 
his  head,  his  pants  were  tucked  in  his 
boots,  and  his  hands  were  exploring  the 
very  depths  of  his  pockets. 

"Young  man,  what  do  you  want?" 
inquired  Engineer  Thomson,  looking  at 
him  sharply. 

"I  believe  you  telegraphed  for  me," 
was  the  response  in  a  very  clear  but 
respectful  tone,  but  with  no  indication  of 
embarrassment. 

"  What  is   your  name?" 

"  Thomas  A.  Scott." 

"  Are  you  the  young  man  Dr.  Given 
recommended  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

The   chief   engineer,  after  a  long  and 


926 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


earnest  scrutiny  of  the  long  hair,  the 
big  hat,  the  boot-encased  pants,  and 
pocket-hidden  hands,  said  suddenly  and 
brusquely,  "  I  don't  think  you  will  suit 
me." 

"That  doesn't  make  a  bit  of  difference 
to  me,"  replied  the  fair  young  man  with 
the  golden  locks,  not  one  whit  abashed. 
"  I  made  up  my  mind  to  come  down 
here  any  way  and  try  you  for  a  month, 
and,  if  I  liked  you,  to  stay,  and  if 
I  didn't,  I  would  mighty  soon  tell  you 
so.  Good-day,  sir." 

"Hold  on  there,"  called  out  Chief 
Thomson,  as  the  young  man  was  walk- 
ing away.  "  Come  back  here.  I  guess 
I  will  try  you  for  a  month." 

And  he  tried  him  for  many  years 
afterward. 

Mr.  Scott  developed  a  fitness  for  cal- 
culation and  for  administration.  In  1858 
he  became  Superintendent  of  the  whole 
Pennsylvania  Railroad.  He  was  made 
vice-president  in  1860  and  president  in 
1874,  succeeding  Mr.  J.  Edgar  Thomson 
in  the  latter  position.  When  the  Civil 
War  broke  out,  the  government  at 
Washington  recognized  in  Mr.  Scott  a 
needed  aid,  and  appointed  him  Assistant 
Secretary  of  War,  with  the  rank  of  col- 
onel. He  was  given  special  charge  of  the 
transportation  of  the  Northern  armies. 
He  held  the  place  only  about  one  year, 
and  then  returned  to  his  railroad  work. 
He  was  of  great  service,  however,  to  the 
government  at  la'ter  times  during  the 
war.  When  our  soldiers  were  in  dan- 
ger of  becoming  destitute  of  ammunition 
at  Antietam,  Col.  Scott  started  with  a 
train  loaded  with  powder,  and  made  such 
haste  that  the  wheel  boxes  began  to 
smoke.  The  employees  on  the  train 
did  not  quite  fancy  this;  but  in  spite  of 
this  he  hurried  on,  for  a  halt  would  prob- 


ably have  prevented  them  from  arriving 
at  the  scene  of  action  in  time.  When 
he  reached  the  journey's  end,  the  danger 
had  become  great,  but  the  exigency  was 
met.  He  was  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Hooker 
for  a  time  at  the  close  of  1863,  and 
assisted  very  effectually  in  using  railroad 
lines  which  had  been  injured,  and  in  for- 
warding not  less  than  50,000  men  to 
Chattanooga.  He  once  more  returned 
to  his  railroad  duties.  In  the  years  fol- 
lowing the  war  he  became  the  greatest 
railroad  manager  in  America.  His  con- 
nection with  railroads  soon  extended  be- 
yond the  Pennsylvania  company,  and  he 
became  an  important  mover  in  the  Pa- 
cific lines.  -  He  was  interested  in  a  pro- 
p»sed  Texas  Pacific  road.  In  1871—2 
he  was  President  of  the  Union  Pacific, 
and  in  1873  was  made  President  of  the 
Atlantic  &  Pacific  line.  At  one  time  he 
was  engaged  in  the  Northern  Pacific 
movement.  His  interest  in  trans-conti- 
nental lines  was  intense. 

His  health  broke  down  somewhat  in 
1880,  and  he  resigned  the  presidency  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Company,  after  he  had 
made  vain  attempts  to  get  rest  and 
strength  by  travel.  Special  difficulties 
increased,  and  at  last  he  succumbed  to 
them. 

Col.  Scott  was  a  man  who  made  him- 
self. His  abilities  were  very  great,  and 
he  made  full  use  of  them  in  railroad  in- 
terests. No  other  man  will  outrank  him 
among  the  American  "  railroad  kings  " 
of  the  present  generation. 


OF  GARFIELD. 

1881.  July  2.  A  fearful  shock  was 
given  to  the  country  by  the  news  tele- 
graphed to  all  quarters  that  Pres.  Gar- 
field  had  been  shot  down  in  the  depot  at 
Washington  when  about  to  take  the 


1877-1881.] 

train  for  an  extended  trip  through  the 
East.  People,  in  spite  of  the  disgusting 
fight  at  Albany,  were  settling  down  into 
the  conviction  that  the  administration 
was  to  be  a  prosperous  one,  and  that 
trade  was  to  be  fairly  successful  in  every 
direction.  The  intensest  agitation  was 
produced  in  a  moment.  Nothing  like  it 
had  occurred  save  in  the  death  of  Lin- 
coln. Passions  of  various  kinds  mingled 
in  the  souls  of  men.  They  stormed  and 
wept.  Strong  men  cried  like  children, 
and  gloom  prevailed  everywhere,  at  the 
South  as  well  as  at  the  North.  It  was 
uncertain  at  first  whether  he  was  killed 
outright  or  not.  Soon  the  news  came 
that  he  ,was  alive,  but  wounded  with 
great  seriousness.  It  was  not  known  by 
his  attendants  whether  he  had  a  chance 
for  life.  Gradually  the  news  became 
more  authentic  and  detailed.  The  peo- 
ple drank  in  every  item. 

It  seems  that  Pres.  Garfield  had 
brought  his  duties  into  such  order  as  to 
be  able  to  seek  a  little  release  from  the 
burdens  he  had  been  bearing.  He  there- 
fore planned  to  start  upon  a  trip  in  which 
he  should  be  joined  by  Mrs.  Garfield, 
who  had  been  seeking  health  at  Long 
Branch,  and  with  a  few  friends  take  in 
the  college  commencement  at  his  Alma 
Mater  at  Williamstown,  Mass.,  after 
which  a  summer  journey  should  be  made 
through  a  number  of  the  New  England 
States.  Everything  promised  great  de- 
light. The  president  was  cheered  by 
the  anticipation,  and  started  from  the 
White  House  for  the  depot  in  the  best 
-of  spirits.  The  hand-spring  which  he 
turned  across  the  bed  in  his  room  in  the 
morning  because  his  vigorous  young  son 
bantered  him,  has  become  a  mark  of  his 
good  nature.  "  Don't  you  wish  you 
•could  do  that?"  was  hardly  uttered  by 


THE   VIGOR    OF  LIFE. 


927 


the  boy  before  his  deed  was  equaled  by 
his  father.  After  various  duties  and 
good-byes,  President  Garfield  left  the 
White  House  for  the  depot  in  company 
with  Secretary  Blaine.  At  the  depot 
they  sat  in  the  carriage  talking  when  it 
was  found  that  they  had  ten  or  fifteen 
minutes  before  the  starting  of  the  train. 
Near  the  time  for  the  train  to  move, 
they  alighted  and  passed  into  the  depot 
through  the  ladies'  waiting-room  toward 
the  general  waiting-room  beyond.  Be- 
fore that  was  reached,  however,  a  man 
who  had  been  walking  backward  and 
forth  in  the  ladies'  room  stepped  into  the 
passage  way  from  the  outer  door  behind 
them  and  fired  a  pistol  at  the  president. 
The  ball  was  found  afterward  to  have 
struck  his  arm.  In  a  moment  the  assas- 
sin fired  again,  and  the  president  fell. 
There  were  enough  people  in  and  around 
the  place  to  make  a  crowd  immediately, 
and  before  the  murderer  could  escape  he 
was  clutched  and  given  into  the  charge 
of  officers.  He  was  hurried  away  into 
confinement.  Had  he  been  exposed 
until  the  people  were  delivered  from  the 
paralysis  of  the  first  amazement,  he 
would  have  been  torn  to  pieces  before 
he  could  have  been  secreted. 

We  give  the  following  statement  by 
District  Attorney  Corkhill  of  the  various 
efforts  of  the  assassin  to  kill  President 
Garfield: 

"  The  interest  felt  by  the  public  in  the 
details  of  the  assassination,  and  the  many 
stories  published,  justify  me  in  stating 
that  the  following  is  a  correct  and  accu- 
rate statement  concerning  the  points  to 
which  reference  is  made:  The  assassin, 
Charles  Guiteau,  came  to  Washington 
City  on  Sunday  evening,  March  6, 1881, 
and  stopped  at  the  Ebbitt  House,  remain- 
ing only  one  day.  He  then  secured  a 


928 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


room  in  another  part  of  the  city,  and  had 
boarded  and  roomed  at  various  places, 
the  full  details  of  which  I  have.  On 
Wednesday,  May  18,  1881,  the  assassin 
determined  to  murder  the  president.  He 
had  neither  money  nor  pistol  at  the  time. 
About  the  last  of  May  he  went  into 
O'Meara's  store,  corner  of  Fifteenth  and 
F  Streets,  this  city,  and  examined  some 
pistols,  asking  for  the  largest  caliber. 
He  was  shown  two  similar  in  caliber  and 
only  different  in  price.  On  Wednesday, 
June  8,  he  purchased  a  pistol  for  which 
he  paid  $10,  he  having  in  the  meantime 
borrowed  $15  of  a  gentleman  in  this 
city  on  the  plea  that  he  wanted  to  pay 
his  board  bill.  On  the  same  evening, 
about  y  o'clock,  he  took  the  pistol  and 
went  to  the  foot  of  Seventeenth  Street, 
and  practiced  firing  at  a  board,  firing  ten 
shots.  He  then  returned  to  his  board- 
ing place  and  wiped  the  pistol  dry  and 
wrapped  it  in  his  coat  and  waited  his 
opportunity.  On  Sunday  morning,  June 
15,  he  was  sitting  in  Lafayette  Park  and 
saw  the  president  leave  for  the  Christian 
Church  on  Vermont  Avenue,  and  he  at 
once  returned  to  his  room,  obtained  his 
pistol,  put  it  in  his  pocket,  and  followed 
the  president  to  church.  He  entered  the 
church,  but  found  he  could  not  kill  him 
there  without  danger  of  killing  some  one 
else.  He  noticed  that  the  president  sat 
near  a  window.  After  church  he  made 
an  examination  of  the  window  and  found 
he  could  reach  it  without  any  trouble, 
and  that  from  this  point  he  could  shoot  the 
president  through  the  head  without  hitting 
any  one  else.  The  following  Wednes- 
day he  went  to  the  church,  examined  the 
location  and  the  window,  and  became 
satisfied  he  could  accomplish  his  purpose. 
He  determined  to  make  the  attempt 
at  the  church  the  following  Sunday. 


Learning  from  the  papers  that  the  presi- 
dent would  leave  the  city  on  Saturday, 
the  i8th  of  June,  with  Mrs.  Garfield  for 
Long  Branch,  he  therefore  decided  to 
meet  him  at  the  depot.  He  left  his 
boarding  place  about  5  o'clock  Saturday 
morning,  June  i8th,  and  went  down  to 
the  river  at  the  foot  of  Seventeenth 
Street,  and  fired  five  shots  to  practice  his 
aim  and  be  certain  his  pistol  was  in  good 
order.  He  then  went  to  the  depot,  and 
was  in  the  ladies'  waiting-room  of  the 
depot,  with  his  pistol  ready,  when  the 
presidential  party  entered.  He  says 
Mrs.  Garfield  looked  so  weak  and  frail 
that  he  had  not  the  heart  to  shoot  the 
president  in  her  presence,  and  as  he  knew 
he  would  have  another  opportunity,  he 
left  the  depot.  He  had  previously  en- 
gaged a  carriage  to  take  him  to  the  jail. 
On  Wednesday  evening,  the  president 
and  his  son,  and  I  think  United  States 
Marshal  Henry,  went  out  for  a  ride. 
The  assassin  took  his  pistol  and  followed 
them,  and  watched  them  for  some  time 
in  hopes  the  carriage  would  stop;  but 
no  opportunity  was  given.  On  Friday 
evening,  July  1st,  he  was  sitting  on  the 
seat  in  the  park  opposite  the  White 
House,  when  he  saw  the  president  come 
out  alone.  He  followed  him  down  the 
avenue  to  Fifteenth  Street,  and  then 
kept  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street 
upon  Fifteenth,  until  the  president  en- 
tered the  residence  of  Secretary  Elaine. 
He  waited  at  the  corner  of  Fifteenth  and 
H  Streets  for  some  time,  and  then,  as  he 
was  afraid  he  would  attract  attention,  he 
went  into  the  alley  in  the  rear  of  Mr. 
Morton's  residence,  examined  his  pistol 
and  waited.  The  president  and  Secre- 
tary Elaine  came  out  together,  and  he 
followed  over  to  the  gate  of  the  White 
House,  but  could  get  no  opportunity  to 


MRS.  ELIZA  GARFIELD. 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR    OF  LIFE. 


931. 


use  his  weapon.  On  the  morning  of  Sat- 
urday, July  3d,  he  breakfasted  at  the 
Riggs  House  about  7  o'clock.  He  then 
walked  up  into  the  park  and  sat  there 
for  an  hour.  He  then  took  a  horse-car 
and  rode  to  Sixth  Street,  got  out  and 
went  into  the  depot  and  loitered  around 
there;  had  his  shoes  blacked;  engaged  a 
hackman  for  $2  to  take  him  to  the  jail ; 
went  out  of  sight  and  took  his  pistol  out 
of  his  hip -pocket  and  unwrapped  the 
paper  from  around  it,  which  he  had  put 
there  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the 
perspiration  from  the  body  dampening 
the  powder;  examined  his  pistol;  care- 
fully tried  the  trigger,  and  then  returned 
and  took  a  seat  in  the  ladies'  waiting- 
room,  and  as  soon  as  the  president  en- 
tered, advanced  behind  him  and  fired 
two  shots. 

"  These  facts  I  think  can  be  relied 
upon  as  accurate,  and  I  give  them  to  the 
public  to  contradict  certain  false  rumors 
in  connection  with  the  most  atrocious  of 
atrocious  crimes." 

The  president  had  fallen  helpless.  He 
was  speedily  cared  for  by  the  people 
present,  laid  upon  a  mattrass,  and  taken 
tenderly  to  a  room  above.  Soon  after- 
ward he  dictated  a  message  to  his  wife. 
I  want  you  to  send  a  message  to 
'Crete.'  Tell  her  I  am  seriously  hurt, 
how  seriously  I  cannot  say.  I  am  my- 
self, and  hope  she  will  come  to  me  soon. 
I  send  my  love  to  her." 

Physicians  had  now  arrived.  Dr.  D. 
W.  Bliss,  Surgeon- General  J.  K.  Barnes, 
Dr.  J.  J.  Woodward,  and  Dr.  Robert 
Reyburn  were  there,  and  decided  to  at 
once  attempt  the  removal  of  the  presi- 
dent to  the  White  House.  The  wound 
was  examined  temporarily.  An  ambu- 
lance was  prepared,  and  soon  the  presi- 
dent was  conveyed  as  rapidly  as  possible 


through  the  streets  along  which  he  had 
just  now  passed  in  health,  to  the  White 
House,  where  he  was  to  wear  away 
through  so  many  weary  weeks.  The 
city  was  convulsed  from  one  end  to  the 
other.  The  news  spread  like  wildfire, 
and  crowds  attended  the  ambulance  and 
filled  the  spaces  around  the  White  House 
gates.  The  members  of  cabinet,  some 
of  whom  had  been  at  the  depot,  all  came 
to  the  White  House  and  began  their 
anxious  and  loving  watch  over  the 
stricken  form  of  their  chief.  The 
grounds  and  house  were  closely  guarded, 
and  bulletins  were  soon  issued  to  keep 
the  public  informed  as  to  the  latest  con- 
dition of  the  president.  From  this  time 
on  the  White  House  was  the  center  of 
the  thought  of  the  nation.  During  the 
nights  when  the  president  was  at  all 
worse,  the  people  never  entirely  deserted 
the  street  in  front  of  his  abode,  but 
waited  in  the  darkness  for  the  news  they 
could  glean  from  couriers  passing  in  and 
out.  A  severe  reaction  set  in  during  the 
first  two  or  three  days,  and  it  was  not 
thought  the  sufferer  could  live.  At  one 
time  when  President  Garfield  asked 
.what  chance  he  had  for  life,  he  was  told 
by  his  physician,  "  One  in  a  hundred." 
"  Then,  doctor,"  he  said,  "  we  will  take 
that  chance."  Many  of  the  first  nights 
were  nights  of  gloom,  as  during  some  of 
them  it  was  feared  that  the  president 
could  not  survive  till  morning.  At  times 
his  pain  was  very  severe.  He  experi- 
enced very  trying  sensations  in  the  feet 
and  limbs,  showing  that  nerves  had  been 
greatly  injured.  He  called  these  sensa- 
tions "  tiger-clawing."  From  the  first 
the  president's  good-nature  and  strong 
self-possession  kept  him  up.  His  forti- 
tude and  patience  were  invaluable  lessons 
to  all  around  him  as  well  as  the  best  aids 


932 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


to  the  treatment  he  was  undergoing. 
Immediately  upon  the  president's  fall 
at  the  depot,  the  message  he  had  ordered 
was  sent  to  his  wife  at  Long  Branch,  and 
her  journey  in  returning  to  Washington 
began.  She  knew  not  how  severely  her 
husband  was  injured,  and  every  prepara- 
tion was  made  for  a  rapid  trip.  The 
locomotive  was  put  over  the  road  at  sixty 
miles  an  hour.  An  accident  occurred  to 
the  engine  at  one  point,  but  another  was 
found  at  once,  and  the  rest  of  the  way 
completed.  In  the  early  evening  Mrs. 
Garfield  reached  the  White  House.  Be- 
fore she  could  get  to  the  bedside,  her 
husband  began  to  sink,  having  kept  him- 
self up  by  a  great  effort  of  the  will  until 
he  knew  that  Mrs.  Garfield  had  entered 
the  house.  The  rest  retired  from  the 
room,  and  she  entered  it  with  only  the 
children  near.  No  eye  saw  the  meeting 
there,  nor  did  any  one  hear  the  words  of 
greeting  between  husband  and  wife  in 
that  trying  hour.  In  a  few  minutes  the 
physicians  returned  to  the  room,  and 
found  the  president  very  weak  and  in  a 
sinking  condition.  The  fluctuations  of 
hope,  the  worn .  hearts,  the  fighting 
against  despair,  the  attempts  to  sustain 
one  another's  courage,  marked  the  scene 
from  this  time  on.  Amid  it  all,  Mrs. 
Garfield  stood  pre-eminent  for  fortitude. 
She  did  not  think  of  surrendering  to  the 
calamity,  and  it  was  not  till  the  last 
moment  came  at  Elberon  that  she  ceased 
to  inspire  those  about  her  to  cling  to 
hope  and  maintain  their  efforts.  Even 
when  the  physicians  gave  up  at  times, 
she  absolutely  refused  to  give  up,  and  de- 
clared that  nothing  must  be  left  undone 
for  the  saving  of  the  life  so  precious  to 
her  and  the  nation.  Her  example  finds 
almost  no  parallel  in  history.  To  her 
husband's  faith  and  patience,  and  to  hers 


also  in  a  large  measure,  is  it  due  that 
such  a  successful  resistance  was  made  so 
long  a  time  to  the  fatal  termination  of 
the  wound.  The  American  people  will 
always  remember  it.  The  long  strain 
upon  the  hearts  of  the  people  was  soon 
somewhat  relieved  by  news  that  the 
president  was  evidently  convalescing. 
Smiles  began  to  take  the  place  of  tears 
and  anxiety.  Hope  revealed  itself  in  the 
changed  appearances  of  men.  The  bulle- 
tins continued  to  foster  this  cheerfulness. 
From  day  to  day  they  were  dispatched 
everywhere  to  telegraph  offices  and  to 
newspapers.  Soon  fears  began  to  arise 
that  malarial  poisoning  would  take  place 
from  the  Potomac  flats.  Signs  of  ap- 
proaching difficulty  began  to  show  them- 
selves, and  were  afterward  found  to  have 
originated  in  gatherings  of  pus  within 
the  body  at  different  points.  These  were 
opened,  and  relief  was  afforded.  As 
these  obstacles  in  the  way  of  recovery 
began  to  appear,  the  heart  of  the  country 
grew  despondent  again.  It  was  silently 
feared  that  no  medical  skill  could  prevent 
the  recurrence  of  them  until  the  strength 
of  the  patient  had  given  way,  and  death 
ensued.  During  the  extreme  hot  weather 
elaborate  means  were  taken  to  cool  the 
chamber  of  suffering  by  the  arrangement 
of  large  stores  of  ice  from  which  air 
should  be  brought  into  President  Gar- 
field's  room.  After  considerable  experi- 
menting, the  arrangement  was  made  in  a 
successful  manner,  and  a  great  alleviation 
of  distress  followed,  so  far  as  it  arose 
from  the  oppressive  weather.  But  by- 
and-by  the  president,  in  spite  of  the 
cheerfulness  he  had  uniformly  assumed, 
began  to  long  for  a  change.  It  after  a 
while  grew  apparent  that  a  change  of 
scene  and  air  was  very  necessary.  Still 
it  did  not  seem  expedient  to  make  the 


1877-1881.] 

attempt  to  secure  it.  There  were  grave 
doubts  about  the  ability  of  President 
Garfield  to  endure  the  fatigue.  So  the 
days  crept  by,  and  when  his  wishes  be- 


933 

filled  every  mind.  The  president  had 
been  through  some  very  serious  physical 
crises,  and  it  became  apparent  that  a  few 
more  of  the  same  kind  would  exhaust 


LAST   LOOK.   AT  THE  SEA. 


came  known  to  people  throughout  the 
land,  hundreds  became  impatient  with 
his  physicians  because  they  did  not  at- 
tempt the  removal.  At  last  this  desire 


even  his  wonderful  vitality.  So  the 
physicians  began  to  plan  for  his  removal. 
Everything  was  made  ready,  and  on 
Sept.  6th  it  was  undertaken  and  carried 


934 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


through  with  success.  A  special  car  was 
provided,  and  the  president's  mattrass 
was  so  laid  upon  spring  boards  running 
across  the  car,  as  to  reduce  the  jar  to  a 
very  slight  amount.  The  run  from 
Washington  to  Long  Branch,  a  distance 
of  233  miles,  was  made  in  about  seven 
and  one-half  hours.  A  track  was  laid 
from  Franklyn  Cottage,  into  which  he 
was  to  be  taken,  and  after  his  safe  de- 
posit in  his  room,  he  seemed  to  show 
comparatively  little  evidence  of  fatigue. 
It  was  hoped  that  the  result  would  justify 
the  removal.  It  certainly  promised  to 
do  so. 

SIDNEY  LAXIER* 

1881.  Sept.  8.  Sidney  Lanier,  a 
Southern  literary  gentleman  of  consider- 
able genius,  died  at  Lynn,  Polk  county, 
North  Carolina,  of  consumption,  which 
had  been  wearing  him  away  for  several 
years.  He  was  born  at  Macon,  Georgia, 
in  1842.  His  father  was  a  prominent 
lawyer,  but  the  son  took  most  readily  to 
literary  studies.  His  tastes  in  this  direc- 
tion were  very  noticeable,  and  while  quite 
young  he  laid  the  foundation  for  the  ex- 
tensive knowledge  of  English  literature, 
which  made  him  an  authority  on  that 
subject  in  his  maturity.  He  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Confederate  army  during  the 
war,  and  aftei'ward  studied  law,  which 
he  began  to  practice  in  Baltimore  in 
1871.  His  frail  health  unfitted  him  for 
work  at  the  bar,  and  he  afterward  con- 
fined himself  to  literary  work.  His 
work  in  the  latter  line  was  always  of  the 
most  conscientious  sort.  He  was  ap- 
pointed lecturer  on  English  literature  at 
John  Hopkins  University  in  1872.  He 
wrote  the  cantata  which  was  sung  at  the 
opening  of  the  Centennial  Exposition, 
May  10,  1876.  During  his  last  years  he 


published  several  volumes  of  prose  and 
poetry,  besides  editing  the  "Boys'  Frois- 
sart"  and  "Boys'  King  Arthur,"  a  service 
which  rendered  him  very  useful  to  the 
young  folks  of  the  country  at  large. 
Much  in  his  poetry  was  far  short  of  the 
highest  qualities,  but  he  had  poetical  tal- 
ent, and  his  death  is  a  positive  loss  to 
American  literature. 

QEN.  BURNSIDE. 

1881.  Sept.  13.  Gen.  Ambrose  E. 
Burnside  of  Rhode  Island,  a  member  of 
the  senate  of  the  United  States,  died  at 
his  residence  at  Bristol,  R.  I.,  of  spasms 
of  the  heart.  He  was  born  at  Liberty, 
Ind.,  May  23,  1824,  and  finished  his  edu- 
cation with  a  course  at  West  Point, 
where  he  graduated  in  1847.  The  ap- 
pointment to  the  Military  Academy  was 
secured  by  his  father,  who  was  greatly 
desirous  of  having  one  son  educated  as  a 
soldier.  Mr.  Burnside,  senior,  was  a 
lawyer,  and  had  had  a  successful  prac- 
tice. But  reverses  had  come,  and  the 
boys  of  the  family  had  to  work  for  its. 
support.  Ambrose  began  behind  the 
counter  in  a  country  store,  for  which 
business  he  had  little  liking.  He  became 
well  known  for  qualities  which  were  ap- 
parent in  his  later  years,  and  had  no  diffi- 
culty in  securing  the  favor  of  members 
of  congress  toward  his  appointment  as 
a  cadet. 

After  his  graduation  he  was  first  ap- 
pointed to  the  Second  United  States  Ar- 
tillery, but  was  very  soon  transferred  to 
the  Third  United  States  Artillery.  He 
was  immediately  sent  to  Mexico  and  be- 
came a  part  of  Gen.  Patterson's  division. 
After  the  Mexican  war  was  over  he 
served  on  the  commission  for  running 
the  boundary  between  the  United  States 
and  Mexico,  as  quartermaster.  He  made 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


937 


a  remarkable  trip  of  1200  miles  in  sev- 
enteen days,  across  the  plains  from  the 
Gila  country,  in  order  to  carry  dispatches 
to  Pres.  Fillmore.  It  was  a  dangerous 
journey  in  those  days,  but  he  made  it 
attended  by  three  men  only.  After  some 
less  important  service  he  left  the  service  in 
1 85  3,  by  the  resignation  of  his  commission. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  invented  a 
breechloading  rifle,  and  now  set  up  a 
factory  in  Rhode  Island,  but  the  manu- 
facture of  it  did  not  prove  a  success.  He 
now  became  treasurer  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad,  and  was  at  one  time  in 
business  in  Chicago  with  Gen.  George 
B.  McClellan.  When  the  Civil  War 
broke  out  he  at  once  responded,  and 
within  a  few  days  after  the  president's 
call  for  troops,  he  was  in  Washington 
with  500  men  ready  for  service.  He 
was  made  a  brigadier-general  after  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run.  During  the  early 
months  of  1862  he  led  the  famous  expe- 
dition which  captured  Roanoke  Island, 
New  Berne  and  Beaufort.  The  State  of 
Rhode  Island  voted  him  a  sword  of 
honor  for  his  gallantry  and  success,  and 
a  commission  as  major-general  of  volun- 
teers 4was  given  Gen.  Burnside,  dated 
March  18,  1862.  On  Sept.  14,  1862,  he 
gained  the  battle  of  South  Mountain. 
At  Antietam  he  led  the  left  wing  and 
maintained  his  position  as  well  as  he 
could  in  the  fierceness  of  the  conflict. 
He  made  a  chivalrous  and  successful  ad- 
vance, but  was  forced  back  for  want  of 
support.  Nov.  7th  he  was  put  in  com- 
mand to  succeed  McClellan,  but  before 
long  he  suffered  reverses  which  led  to 
severe  criticism,  and  was  superseded  by 
Hooker.  In  East  Tennessee  he  did 
effective  service  at  a  later  day,  and  was 
in  the  later  months  of  the  war  connected 
with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  as  com- 


mander of  the  Ninth  Corps.  He  was 
in  the  most  important  battles  fought  by 
Grant,  and"  was  discharged  only  when 
hostilities  had  ceased,  on  April  15,  1865. 
His  military  career  has  been  the  subject 
of  criticism,  but  he  was  a  brave  officer. 
He  was  probably  lacking  in  the  highest 
gifts  which  go  to  make  up  an  eminent 
commander  of  large  armies,  and  would 
rank  rather  with  those  who  can  accom- 
plish much  with  smaller  forces.  'His 
personal  qualities  made  him  popular  with 
large  numbers,  and  his  career  was  one  of 
constant  and  honorable  service. 

He  \vas  elected  governor  of  Rhode 
Island  in  1866,  and  remained  such  by  re- 
election till  1871. 

He  visited  Europe  during  the  war  be- 
tween France  and  Germany,  and  at- 
tempted to  secure  terms  of  peace,  or  at 
least  an  armistice.  He  was  admitted 
within  the  lines  and  conferred  with  Bis- 
marck and  the  French  minister,  but  with- 
out avail.  In  1875  he  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  Senate  from  Rhode  Island, 
and  in  1880  was  re-elected  for  the  term 
expiring  in  1887.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  the  affairs  of  the  senate,  and  near 
the  close  of  his  life  was  planning  and 
urging  the  passage  of  a  bill  providing  a 
fund  for  education  from  the  proceeds  of 
the  sale  of  public  lands. 

He  left  neither  wife  nor  children.  His 
wife  died  some  years  ago. 

His  funeral  services  were  impressive, 
being  joined  in  by  a  large  number  of 
State  and  United  States  officials,  and 
bodies.  Rhode  Island  showed  her  citi- 
zen great  honor,  and  lamented  his  death 
very  greatly.  His  personal  virtues  were 
worthy  of  mark. 

DEATH  OF  GARFIELD. 
1881.     Sept.  19.     Before   many  days 


938 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


had  passed,  after  the  removal  of  Presi- 
dent Garfield  to  Elberon,  it  began  to  be 
apparent  that  the  unexpected  crisis 
would  occur  there  as  well  as  at  Wash- 
ington, and  the  conviction  settled  down 
into  the  minds  of  the  people  that  the 
president  was  losing  rather  than  gaining. 
Chills  appeared  and  induced  hopelessness 
in  many.  Prayers  for  the  life  of  the 
president  were  going  up  on  every  hand. 
An  unceasing  volume  of  prayer  had 
risen  to  God  since  the  president  was  first 
struck  down.  The  last  few  days  of  his 
life  were  days  of  great  weakness.  It 
seemed  unprecedented  that  vitality  should 
still  exist  in  the  exhausted  frame.  The 
end  came  quickly  when  it  came.  On 
the  evening  of  Sept.  19,  after  careful  at- 
tention and  inquiries  into  his  condition, 
the  physicians  and  friends  left  for  the 
night,  leaving  the  watchers  by  the 
bedside. 

It  was  Gen.  Swaim's  turn  to  watch 
during  the  first  part  of  the  night,  and 
he  has  told  the  story  of  the  last  scene. 
After  Mrs.  Garfield  had  been  urged  to 
retire  for  the  night  that  she  might  rest, 
and  had  left  the  room,  Gen.  Swaim  says, 
*'I  immediately  felt  his  hands,  feet  and 
knees.  I  thought  that  his  knees  seemed 
somewhat  cold,  and  got  a  flannel  cloth 
and  heated  it  at  the  fire  and  laid  it  over 
his  limbs.  I  also  heated  another  cloth 
and  laid  it  over  his  right  hand,  and  then 
sat  down  in  a  chair  beside  his  bed.  I 
was  scarcely  seated  when  Dr.  Boynton 
came  in  and  felt  the  president's  pulse.  I 
asked  him  how  it  seemed  to  him.  He 
replied :  *  It  is  not  as  strong  as  it  was 
this  afternoon,  but  very  good.'  I  said, 
«  He  seems  to  be  doing  well.'  '  Yes,'  he 
answered,  and  passed  out.  He  was  not 
in  the  room  more  than  two  minutes, 
onortly  after  this  the  president  awoke. 


As  he  turned  his  head  on  awakening,  I 
rose  and  took  hold  of  his  hand.  I  was 
on  the  left  hand  side  as  he  lay.  I  said, 
'  You  have  had  a  very  comfortable 
sleep.'  He  said  '  Oh,  Swaim,  this  ter- 
rible pain,'  placing  his  right  hand  on  his 
breast  over  the  region  of  his  heart.  I 
asked  him  if  I  could  do  anything  for 
him.  He  said,  '  Some  water.'  I  went 
to  the  other  side  of  the  room  and  poured 
about  an  ounce  and  a  half  of  Poland 
water  into  a  glass  and  gave  him  to  drink. 
He  took  the  glass  in  his  hand,  I  raising 
his  head  as  usual,  and  he  drank  the  water 
very  naturally.  I  then  handed  the  glass 
to  the  colored  man,  Daniel,  who  came  in 
during  the  time  I  was  getting  the  water. 
Afterward  I  took  a  napkin  and  wiped 
his  forehead,  as  he  usually  perspired  on 
awaking.  He  then  said,  <O!  Swaim, 
this  terrible  pain!  Press  your  hand  on 
it.'  I  laid  my  hand  on  his  chest.  He 
then  threw  both  hands  up  to  the  side 
and  about  on  a  line  with  his  head  and 
exclaimed, '  Oh !  Swaim,  can't  you  stop 
this?'  and  again, '  Oh!  Swaim! ' 

"I  then  saw  him  looking  at  me  with  a 
staring  expression.  I  asked  him  if  he 
was  suffering  much  pain.  Receiving  no 
answer  I  repeated  the  question  with  like 
result.  I  then  concluded  that  he  was 
either  dying  or  was  having  a  severe 
spasm,  and  called  to  Daniel,  who  was  at 
the  door,  to  tell  Dr.  Bliss  and  Mrs.  Gar- 
field  to  come  in  immediately,  and  glanced 
at  the  small  clock  hanging  on  the  chan- 
delier nearly  over  the  foot  of  his  bed, 
and  saw  that  it  was  ten  minutes  after 
ten  o'clock.  Dr.  Bliss  came  in  within 
two  or  three  minutes.  I  told  Daniel  to 
bring  the  light,  a  lighted  candle  behind 
the  screen  near  the  door.  When  the 
light  shone  full  on  his  face  I  saw  that 
he  was  dying.  When  Dr.  Bliss  came  in 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


939 


Si  moment  after  I  said,  '  Doctor,  have  you 
any  stimulant;  he  seems  to  be  dying. 
He  took  hold  of  his  wrist  as  if  feeling 
for  his  pulse  and  said, '  Yes,  he  is  dying.' 
I  then  said  to  Daniel,  '  Run  and  arouse 
the  house.'  At  that  moment  Col.  Rock- 
well came  in,  when  Dr.  Bliss  said,  '  Let 
us  rub  his  limbs,'  which  we  did. 

"In  a  few  moments  Mrs.  Garfield  came 
in  and  said,  'What  does  this  mean? '  and 
a  moment  after  exclaimed,  'Oh,  why  am 
I  made  to  suffer  this  cruel  wrong?'  At 
half-past  ten  p.  M.  he  breathed  his  last 
•calmly  and  peacefully. 

"At  the  final  moment  the  following 
persons  were  present :  Mrs.  Garfield  and 
Mollie,  Drs.  Bliss,  Agnew  and  Boynton, 
Gen.  Swaim,  Col.  and  Mrs.  Rockwell, 
J.  Stanley  Brown,  C.  O.  Rockwell  and 
Daniel  Spriggs." 

The  physicians  agreed  that  life  was 
extinct  by  twenty-five  minutes  before 
eleven  o'clock.  Mrs.  Garfield  was  soon 
•obliged  to  leave  the  room  under  the 
•weight  of  her  grief,  which  broke  upon 
her  overwhelmingly,  and  threatened  to 
sweep  away  all  her  remaining  strength. 
She  gained  her  own  room  and  after 
three  or  four  minutes  came  forth  again 
with  her  accustomed  control  and  took 
her  place  at  the  side  of  her  dead  hus- 
band, where  she  sat  for  three  hours. 
The  members  of  the  cabinet  soon  learned 
of  the  sad  event  and  came  to  the  Frank- 
lyn  cottage.  Attorney  Gen.  MacVeagh 
was  the  first  of  them  to  get  the  news 
.and  reach  the  place.  Mrs.  Garfield  ex- 
pressed her  inability  to  decide  what 
should  be  done  with  the  remains  till  she 
had  had  time  to  regain  her  composure. 

The  great  cloud  so  long  dreaded  had 
now  settled  down.  The  stricken  wife 
and  children  were  now  bereaved  with  a 
great  sorrow.  The  news  went  over  the 


world,  and  never  has  the  death  of  any 
person  caused  a  wider  mourning  or  a 
greater  and  more  universal  sense  of  per- 
sonal bereavement.  When  the  English 
lady  inquired  of  her  servant  what  made 
him  and  his  fellows  feel  so  deeply  the 
death  of  President  Garfield,  the  reply 
was,  "  We  feel  that  he  was  one  of  us." 
His  death  was  received  with  grief 
throughout  the  world.  The  expression 
of  sympathy  in  Europe  was  well-nigh 
universal.  The  morning  after  the  presi- 
dent's death  the  various  consulates  were 
visited  by  officials  anxious  to  send  mes- 
sages of  condolence  to  the  United  States 
government  and  to  Mrs.  Garfield.  In 
England  the  public  buildings  of  the  chief 
cities  displayed  flags  at  half-mast,  and 
the  church  bells  were  tolled.  In  Liver- 
pool, at  the  conclusion  of  the  Cathedral 
services,  the  organist  played  the  "  Dead 
March  in  Saul,"  the  large  congregation 
standing,  and  many  weeping.  The  royal 
standard  was  displayed  at  half-mast  dur- 
ing the  day  at  St.  Martin's  Church,  Lon- 
don. The  Lord  Mayor,  on  taking  his 
seat  at  the  Mansion  House,  expressed 
profound  sorrow  at  the  news.  Earl 
Granville  telegraphed  Mr.  Lowell,  "I  am 
deeply  grieved,"  and  sent  also  a  cable 
message  to  Mrs.  Garfield  and  the  gov- 
ernment through  the  Secretary  of  State. 
Queen  Victoria  sent  a  personal  message 
to  Mrs.  Garfield,  and  on  the  day  of  the 
funeral  at  Washington,  a  wreath  of 
flowers.  The  English  court  were  direct- 
ed to  wear  mourning  for  eight  days  from 
the  2ist.  Messages  of  condolence  were 
sent  by  the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales 
and  by  Prince  Teck  and  his  wife.  The 
Ecumenical  Methodist  Council  passed 
resolutions  of  sympathy.  The  people 
generally  of  all  classes,  and  the  press 
joined  in  expressions  of  regret. 


940 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


In  Paris,  the  official  announcement  of 
the  president's  death  did  not  reach  the 
United  States  Legation  till  the  middle  of 
the  day,  but  all  through  the  morning 
Mr.  Morton  had  been  receiving  visits  of 
condolence  at  his  residence  from  officers 
and  other  people  of  distinction.  The 
second  meeting  of  the  Electrical  Con- 
gress was  adjourned  on  receiving  the 
news,  and  the  foreign  commissioners  to 
the  Congress  went  in  a  body  to  the 
United  States  Commission  to  express 
their  sympathy.  M.  Cochery,  Minister 
of  Posts  and  Telegraphs,  postponed  his 
official  reception.  In  Berlin,  the  flags 
raised  in  honor  of  the  marriage  of  the 
Emperor's  granddaughter  with  the 
Crown  Prince  of  Sweden,  were  lowered 
to  half-mast.  The  Emperor  directed 
that  his  si  nee  rest  sympathy  should  be 
sent  to  Mrs.  Garfield  and  the  government. 
The  King  and  Queen  of  Italy  sent  mes- 
sages of  condolence.  The  Belgian  and 
Spanish  Courts  were  directed  to  wear 
mourning  for  eight  days.  There  have 
been  also  messages  of  condolence  from 
the  government  of  Holland;  from  the 
Parliaments  of  Victoria,  New  South 
Wales,  South  Australia,  and  New  Zea- 
land ;  from  the  government  of  Italy,  on 
behalf  of  the  King  and  the  people,  and 
from  Cardinal  Jacobini,  the  Papal  Secre- 
tary of  State,  on  behalf  of  the  Pope; 
from  the  Swiss  Federal  Council;  from 
the  Municipal  Council  of  Dublin,  and 
from  various  boards  of  trade  and  private 
business  men.  Monday  was  generally 
kept  in  Europe  as  a  day  of  public  prayer, 
the  services  being  timed,  so  far  as  possible, 
to  coincide  with  the  funeral  ceremonies 
at  Cleveland.  The  streets  of  the  chief 
cities  showed  flags  at  half-mast,  and  the 
shutters  of  business  houses  were  partly 
closed.  The  bells  of  parish  churches 


were  tolled.  The  Lord  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  who,  earlier  in  the  week, 
had,  in  his  official  capacity,  forwarded  a 
message  of  condolence  on  behalf  of  the 
clergy,  delivered  the  address  at  St.  Mar- 
tin's-in-the-Fields.  In  all  the  royal 
palaces  the  blinds  were  drawn.  The 
London  Stock  Exchange  was  closed 
three  hours  earlier  than  usual,  and  the 
American  department  was  closed  all 
day. 

"  As  soon  as  the  news  of  the  presi- 
dent's death  was  received  at  the 
Western  Union  telegraph  office  in 
New  York  city,  two  messenger 
boys  were  hurried  out  to  find  the 
bell-ringer  of  St.  Paul's  church.  It  was 
not  far  from  eleven  o'clock — about  the 
quietest  time  of  night  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  city.  St.  Paul's  bell  broke  the 
stillness,  and  three  minutes  later  the 
heavy  tolling  in  the  belfry  of  Trinity 
church  made  the  air  throb.  The  sound 
fell  with  sad  significance  on  the  ears  of 
all  who  heard  it.  As  the  other  bells  be- 
gan tolling  in  churches  further  up  the 
island,  the  news  was  borne  to  many  who 
otherwise  would  not  have  heard  it  till 
morning.  Windows  were  thrown  open 
and  heads  thrust  out,  and  then  the  sad 
news  imparted  by  the  tolling  bells  was 
carried  to  those  of  the  household  who 
had  been  sleeping.  Never  before  was 
the  news  of  an  event  which  was  not 
announced  in  the  metropolis  till  an  hour 
before  midnight,  so  generally  distributed 
at  night  throughout  the  city." 

When  the  news  was  received  at  Rich- 
mond, Virginia,  the  governor  of  that 
State  ordered  the  Richmond  howitzers, 
under  Lieut.  Barrett,  to  fire  a  mourning 
salute  of  minute-guns.  This  battery  of 
howitzers  fired  the  first  Confederate  gun 
in  the  battle  of  Big  Bethel,  and  in  all 


MRS.  LUCRETIA  R.  GARFIELD. 


1877-1881.] 

probability  fired  the  last  one  at  Ap- 
pomattox. 

It  was  a  mournful  thing  to  send  a 
message  to  old  Mrs.  Eliza  Garfield,  the 
aged  mother  of  the  president,  that  her 
dear  son  James  had  at  last  departed  this 
life.  She  was  living  in  Solon,  Ohio, 
with  a  married  daughter  named  Mrs. 
Larabee.  Messages  had  been  sent  her 
as  soon  __  as  possible  after  the  shooting  of 
the  president,  and  she  had  preserved  a 
calmness  through  all  her  anxiety  which 
was  remarkable.  It  showed  the  strength 
of  character  she  possessed,  and  revealed 
the  fact  that  the  character  of  her  son 
James  had  been  founded  in  hers.  Mrs. 
Eliza  Garfield  is  a  woman  like  many 
whose  lives  of  faith  in  God  and  patience 
in  duty  have  entered  into  this  nation  for 
its  good.  Numberless  children  have  been 
blessed  by  such  mothers  and  have  been 
made  wise  and  strong  by  them. 

Mrs.  Garfield  had  waited  patiently 
every  day  for  the  news  from  her  son. 
The  message  of  death  arrived  at  Solon 
very  early  in  the  morning  of  Tuesday, 
Sept.  20,  before  the  aged  woman  had 
arisen.  The  attempt  was  made  to  keep 
the  news  from  her  after  she  came  from 
her  room,  till  she  had  eaten  her  break- 
fast. But  after  expressing  desire  to  hear, 
she  by  chance  saw  the  fatal  telegram  on 
the  shelf  and  insisted  upon  knowing 
what  it  said.  It  could  be  kept  no  long- 
er. When  it  was  told  her  as  gently  as 
possible  that  the  spirit  of  her  James  had 
passed  away  the  night  before,  the  moth- 
er's heart  was  full  to  bursting.  Her  soul 
went  out  for  the  one  whom  she  had  seen 
raised  up  to  be  the  pride  of  a  nation. 
She  could  see  him  no  more  on  earth, 
and  she  at  once  declared  that  she  should 
not  "  be  long  after  him."  The  aged 
woman  was  to  be  80  years  old  on  the 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


943 


following  day.  Her  life  was  past,  and 
for  her  work  had  ceased.  Her  toil  had 
been  great  in  its  time,  and  her  faith  had 
been  equally  great.  It  was  sad  to  think 
that  her  son  should  be  cut  off  before  he 
had  come  to  the  fulness  of  his  mother's 
years.  His  death,  however,  may  have 
been  a  greater  power  than  his  life  could 
possibly  have  been.  The  life  of  the 
whole  nation  was  affected  thereby. 

On  Tuesday  morning  Mrs.  Garfield 
received  at  Elberon  a  cable  message 
from  Queen  Victoria,  as  follows : 

"Words  cannot  express  the  deep  sym- 
pathy I  feel  with  you  at  this  terrible 
moment.  May  God  support  and  com- 
fort you  as  He  alone  can. 

"VICTORIA    R. 

The  sorrow  of  America  touched  the 
heart  of  England's  queen  deeply,  and 
both  countries  were  moved  by  the  sight 
of  the  two  women,  both  of  whom  had 
gone  through  seas  of  trouble,  which  the 
elevation  to  power  could  not  prevent 
from  washing  over  them. 

An  autopsy  was  performed  upon  the 
body  of  President  Garfield  between  the 
hours  of  4  o'clock  and  8  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  of  Tuesday.  The  thought 
of  having  an  examination  was  very  dis- 
agreeable to  Mrs.  Garfield,  and  at  first 
she  would  not  consent  to  it.  But  upon 
further  consideration  she  finally  yielded 
her  objections.  It  was  conducted  under 
the  supervision  of  the  attending  physi- 
cians, the  work  being  chiefly  done  by 
Acting  Assistant  Surgeon  D.  S.  Lamb 
of  the  Army  Medical  Museum,  Wash- 
ington. Dr.  Andrew  H.  Smith,  of  Elbe- 
ron, was  also  called  in  as  a  witness  to  the 
faithfulness  of  the  report.  The  following 
official  announcement  of  the  result  was 
issued. 

"  By   previous    arrangement    a   post- 


944 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


mortem  examination  of  the  body  of  , 
President  Garfield  was  made  this  after- 
noon, in  the  presence  and  with  the  as- 
sistance of  Drs.  Hamilton,  Agnew,  Bliss, 
Barnes,  Woodward,  Reyburn,  Andrew 
H.  Smith,  of  Elberon,  and  Acting  Assist- 
ant Surgeon  D.  S.  Lamb  of  the  Army 
Medical  Museum,  Washington.  The 
operation  was  performed  by  Dr.  Lamb. 
It  was  found  that  the  ball  after  fractur- 
ing the  right  eleventh  rib,  had  passed 
through  the  spinal  column,  in  front  of 
the  spinal  canal,  fracturing  the  body  of 
the  first  lumbar  vertebra,  driving  a  num- 
ber of  small  fragments  of  bone  into  the 
adjacent  soft  parts,  and  lodging  below 
the  pancreas,  about  two  inches  and  a 
half  to  the  left  of  the  spine,  and  behind 
the  peritoneum,  where  it  had  become 
completely  encysted.  The  immediate 
cause  of  death  was  secondary  hemor- 
rhage from  one  of  the  mesenteric  arteries 
adjoining  the  track  of  the  ball,  the  blood 
rupturing  the  peritoneum,  and  nearly  a 
pint  escaping  into  the  abdominal  cavity. 
This  hemorrhage  is  believed  to  have 
been  the  cause  of  the  severe  pain  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  chest  complained  of 
just  before  death.  An  abscess  cavity  six 
inches  by  four  in  dimensions  was  found 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  gall  bladder,  be- 
tween the  liver  and  the  transverse  colon, 
which  were  strongly  adherent.  It  did 
not  involve  the  substance  of  the  liver, 
and  no  communication  was  found  be- 
tween it  and  the  wound.  A  long  sup- 
purating channel  extended  from  the  ex- 
ternal wound  between  the  loin  muscles 
and  the  right  kidney,  almost  to  the  right 
groin.  This  channel,  now  known  to  be 
due  to  the  burrowing  of  pus  from  the 
wound,  was  supposed  during  life  to  have 
been  the  track  of  the  ball.  On  an  exam- 
ination of  the  organs  of  the  chest  evi- 


dences of  severe  bronchitis  were  found 
on  both  sides,  with  broncho-pneumonia 
of  the  lower  portions  of  the  right  luno-, 
and,  though  to  a  much  less  extent,  of  the 
left.  The  lungs  contained  no  abscesses, 
and  the  heart  no  clots.  The  liver  was 
enlarged  and  fatty,  but  free  from  abscesses. 
Nor  were  any  found  in  any  other  organ, 
except  the  left  kidney  which  contained 
near  its  surface  a  small  abscess,  about 
one-third  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  In 
reviewing  the  history  of  the  case  in  con- 
nection with  the  autopsy,  it  is  quite  evi- 
dent that  the  different  suppurating  sur- 
faces, and  especially  the  fractured,  spongy 
tissue  of  the  vertebra,  furnish  a  sufficient 
explanation  of  the  septic  condition  which 
existed. 

"D.  W.  BLISS. 

"J.  K.  BARNES. 

"J.  J.  WOODWARD. 

"  ROBERT  REYBURN. 

"  FRANK   H.  HAMILTON. 

"D.  HAYES  AGNEW. 

"ANDREW  H.  SMITH. 

"D.  S.  LAMB." 

It  afterward  became  clear  that  some 
of  the  attending  physicians  had  not  been 
quite  satisfied  as  to  the  course  and  loca- 
tion of  the  ball.  Controversy  sprang 
up  in  various  outside  quarters,  and  for  a 
time  the  matter  was  a  theme  of  painful 
and  harassing  discussion.  It  was  held 
in  many  cases  that  the  life  of  President 
Garfield  had  been  ignorantly  and  shame- 
fully sacrificed.  The  clamor  was  main- 
tained till  it  seemed  to  overstep  all 
bounds  of  decency.  It  was  fruitless  and 
sickening,  and  has  at  last  died  away. 
The  privilege  of  criticism  was  exercised 
till  everybody  was  wearied.  In  the 
pang  of  grief  attending  the  loss  it  seemed 
as  if  something,  though  no  one  knew 


1877-1861.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


945 


what,    might   have   been  done  to   have 
prevented  it. 

The  news  of  President  Garfield's 
death  was  at  once  telegraphed  to  Vice- 
P resident  Arthur,  at  New  York,  and 
reached  him  at  his  home  about  mid- 
night. The  message  was  sent  by  the 
members  of  the  Cabinet  who  were  at 
Elberon,  and  was  as  follows: 

"  HON.   CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR,  No.  123 

Lexington  Avenue,  New  York: 

"  It  becomes  our  painful  duty  to  in- 
form you  of  the  death  of  President  Gar- 
field,  and  to  advise  you  to  take  the  oath 
of  office  without  delay.  If  it  concurs 
with  your  judgment,  we  will  be  very 
glad  if  you  will  come  down  on  the 
earliest  train  to-morrow  morning. 

"WiLLiAM  WINDOM,  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury. 

"  WILLIAM  H.  HUNT,  Secretary  of  the 
Navy. 

"  THOMAS  L.  JAMES,  Postmaster- 
General. 

"  WAYNE  MAC~VEAGH,  Attorney- 
General. 

"  S.  J.  KIRKWOOD,  Secretary  of  the 
Interior." 

Mr.  Arthur  at  once  telegraphed  back 
as  follows:  , 

"  I  have  your  telegram,  and  the  intel- 
ligence fills  me  with  profound  sorrow. 
Express  to  Mrs.  Garfield  my  deepest 
sympathy. 

«C.  A.  ARTHUR." 

Mr.  Arthur  had  heard  the  news  from 
another  source  before  this  telegram 
reached  him,  and  was  greatly  affected. 
He  at  once  took  steps  to  comply  with 
the  wish  of  the  Cabinet,  and  Judge 
Brady  administered  the  oath  in  Mr. 
Arthur's  parlor,  nine  persons  in  all  being 
present,  viz.:  Mr.  Elihu  Root,  Dr.  P.  C. 
Van  Wyck,  District  Attorney  Rollins, 
Police  Commissioner  French,  Judge 
Donahue,  Mr.  Arthur's  private  secretary, 
J.  C.  Reed,  Judge  Brady,  Mr.  Arthur, 


and  his  son.  The  brief  ceremony  oc- 
curred at  five  minutes  past  two  o'clock. 
The  ceremony  was  renewed  in  Wash- 
ington when  the  new  president  arrived 
there  on  Thursday,  because  Judge  Brady 
was  a  State  and  not  a  national  judge, 
and  no  national  record  would  therefore 
exist.  Chief-Justice  Waite  administered 
the  oath  in  the  presence  of  ex-Presidents 
Grant  and  Hayes,  Gen.  Sherman,  the 
Cabinet,  ex-Justice  Strong  and  a  few 
Senators  and  Representatives.  President 
Arthur  followed  the  administration  of 
the  oath  with  the  reading  of  a  brief 
address  of  excellent  taste  and  spirit.  He 
experienced  deep  emotion  in  so  doing,  as 
he  had  at  the  midnight  ceremony  at  his 
own  home  in  New  York.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  Cabinet  tendered  President 
Arthur  their  resignations;  but  he  refused 
to  consider  them,  saying  that  he  desired 
them  to  serve  until  some  future  time.  In 
all  his  first  contact  with  the  duties  of  his 
new  office,  President  Arthur  revealed 
modesty  and  a  great  sense  of  propriety, 
which  gained  for  him  good  opinions 
everywhere.  The  following  is  his  ad- 
dress which,  owing  to  the  circumstances 
of  its  origin,  is  worthy  of  preservation : 

PRESIDENT  ARTHUR'S  ADDRESS. 

"  For  the  fourth  time  in  the  history  of 
the  republic,  the  Chief  Magistrate  has 
been  removed  by  death.  All  hearts  are 
filled  with  grief  and  horror  at  the  hid- 
eous crime  which  has  darkened  our  land, 
and  the  memory  of  the  murdered  presi- 
dent, his  protracted  sufferings,  his  un- 
yielding fortitude,  the  example  and 
achievements  of  his  life,  and  the  pathos 
of  his  death,  will  forever  illumine  the 
pages  of  our  history. 

"  For  the  fourth  time  the  officer 
elected  by  the  people,  and  ordained  by 


946 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


the  Constitution  to  fill  the  vacancy  so 
created,  is  called  to  assume  the  executive 
chair.  The  wisdom  of  our  fathers,  fore- 
seeing even  the  most  dire  possibilities, 
made  sure  that  the  government  should 
never  be  imperiled  because  of  the  uncer- 
tainty of  human  life.  Men  may  die,  but 
the  fabrics  of  our  free  institutions  remain 
unshaken.  No  higher  or  more  assuring 
proof  could  exist  of  the  strength  and  per- 
manency of  popular  government  than 
the  fact  that  though  the  chosen  of  the 
people  be  stricken  down,  his  constitutional 
successor  is'  peacefully  installed  without 
shock  or  strain,  except  the  sorrow  which 
mourns  the  bereavement.  All  the  noble 
aspirations  of  my  lamented  predecessor 
which  found  expression  in  his  life,  the 
measures  devised  and  suggested  during 
his  brief  administration  to  correct  abuses 
and  enforce  economy,  to  advance  the 
prosperity  and  promote  the  general  wel- 
fare, to  insure  domestic  security,  and 
maintain  friendly  and  honorable  rela- 
tions with  the  nations  of  the  earth,  will 
be  garnered  in  the  hearts  of  the  people, 
and  it  will  be  my  earnest  endeavor  to 
profit,  and  to  see  that  the  nation  shall 
profit  by  his  example  and  experience. 
Prosperity  blesses  our  country ;  our  fiscal 
policy  fixed  by  law  is  well  grounded  and 
generally  approved ;  no  threatening  issue 
mars  our  foreign  intercourse ;  and  the 
wisdom,  integrity  and  thrift  of  our  peo- 
ple may  be  trusted  to  continue  undis- 
turbed in  the  present  assured  career  of 
peace,  fraternity  and  welfare.  The  gloom 
and  anxiety  which  have  enshrouded  the 
country  must  make  repose  especially 
welcome  now.  No  demand  for  speedy 
legislation  has  been  heard;  no  adequate 
occasion  is  apparent  for  an  unusual  ses- 
sion of  Congress.  The  Constitution  de- 
fines the  functions  and  powers  of  the 


Executive  as  clearly  as  those  of  either  of 
the  other  departments  of  the  govern- 
ment, and  he  must  answer  for  the  just 
exercise  of  the  discretion  it  permits,  and 
the  performance  of  the  duties  it  imposes. 
Summoned  to  these  high  duties  and  re- 
sponsibilities, and  profoundly  conscious 
of  their  magnitude  and  gravity,  I  assume 
the  trust  imposed  by  the  Constitution, 
relying  for  aid  on  divine  guidance  and 
the  virtue,  patriotism  and  intelligence  of 
the  American  people." 

During  the  reading  of  his  inaugural 
President  Arthur  showed  indications  of 
deep  emotion,  and  in  his  whole  bearing 
were  proofs  that  he  realized  the  signifi- 
cance of  the  situation  in  which  -he  was 
called  to  take  the  chief  magistracy  of 
the  United  States.  The  people  every- 
where were  gratified  at  the  spirit  he 
exhibited.  Seldom  are  men  placed  in 
such  delicate  positions.  Seldom  has  one 
gone  through  the  opening  duties  of  such 
a  new  position  with  equal  fitness  and 
impressive  dignity.  From  all  sides  came 
commendations  of  his  course,  and  the 
people  began  to  feel  that,  although  the 
man  they  loved  had  fallen,  they  still 
might  continue  to  trust  in  the  perpetuity 
of  their  institutions. 

Mr.  Arthur  visited  Elberon  on  Tues- 
day the  2oth,  and  conveyed  personally  to 
Mrs.  Garfield  his  sorrow  at  her  loss. 
He  returned  immediately  to  New  York. 

Within  a  few  days  President  Arthur 
issued  the  following  proclamation: 

BY     THE     PRESIDENT     OF     THE      UNITED 
STATES      OF     AMERICA. 

A  PROCLAMATION. 

Whereas,  In  His  inscrutable  wisdom 
it  has  pleased  God  to  remove  from  us 
the  illustrious  head  of  the  nation,  James 


CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR. 


947 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


949 


A.  Garfield,  late  President  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  and 

Whereas,  It  is  fitting  that  the  deep 
grief  which  fills  all  hearts  should  mani- 
fest itself  with  one  accord  toward  the 
throne  of  infinite  grace,  and  that  we 
should  bow  before  the  Almighty  and 
seek  from  Him  that  consolation  in  our 
affliction,  and  that  sanctification  of  our 
loss,  which  he  is  able  and  willing  to 
vouchsafe. 

Now,  therefore,  in  obedience  to  the 
sacred  duty,  and  in  accordance  with  the 
desire  of  the  people,  I,  Chester  A.  Ar- 
thur, President  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  do  hereby  appoint  Monday 
next,  the  26th  day  of  September,  on 
which  day  the  remains  of  our  honored 
and  beloved  dead  will  be  conveyed  to 
their  last  resting  place  on  earth,  to  be  ob- 
served throughout  the  United  States  as  a 
day  of  humiliation  and  mourning,  and 

1  earnestly    recommend     all   people    to 
assemble  on  that  day  in  their  respective 
places  of  divine  worship,  there  to  render 
alike  their  tribute  of    sorrowful    submis- 
sion to  the  will  of  Almighty   God,  and 
of    their    reverence    and    love    for    the 
memory  and  character  of  our  late    chief 
magistrate. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto 
set  my  hand  and  caused  the  seal  of  the 
United  States  to  be  affixed.  Done  at  the 
city  of  Washington,  on  the  22d  of  Sep- 
tember, in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1881, 
and  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States  the  one  hundred  and  sixth. 

CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR. 
Signed  by  the  President. 

[SEAL.]          JAMES  G.  BLAINE, 

Secretary  of  State. 

On  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  the 

2  ist,  at  Elberon,  the  public   had    their 
first  opportunity  of  gazing  upon  the   re- 


mains of  him  whose  life  and  sufferings 
had  appealed  so  forcibly  to  their  aspira- 
tions and  their  sympathy.  At  half-past 
eight  o'clock  upon  that  morning,  the  first 
hushed  steps  of  the  people  at  large 
passed  into  the  hall  of  silence,  and  the 
long  train  of  mourners  began  to  pass  the 
casket  which  held  all  that  was  mortal  of 
James  A.  Garfield.  Several  thousand 
persons  were  already  in  waiting,  and 
when  the  doors  were  opened  the  lines 
were  formed  in  single  file.  Surprise 
and  disappointment  rested  upon  many 
faces  as  the  sight  of  the  dead  president's 
countenance  was  first  caught.  It  was 
so  worn,  so  emaciated,  and  so  changed, 
that  thousands  of  those  who  passed  the 
remains  at  the  different  cities,  saw  in  it 
not  a  familiar  feature.  To  some  the 
sight  was  positively  painful,  because  the 
contrast  with  the  face  which  they  had 
known  familiarly  in  health,  revealed  the 
seas  of  trouble  through  which  President 
Garfield  had  passed.  The  remains  were 
dressed  in  the  suit  which  President  Gar- 
field  had  worn  upon  the  day  of  his  in- 
auguration. After  the  people  had  been 
allowed  to  pass  for  an  hour  through  the 
hallway  of  Franklyn  Cottage,  where  the 
remains  were  exposed  to  view,  the  doors 
were  closed  and  Rev.  Charles  J.  Young, 
pastor  of  the  First  Reformed  Church  of 
Long  Branch  village,  conducted  a  reli- 
gious service,  in  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Gar- 
field  and  family  friends,  with  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Cabinet  land  their  wives.  At 
the  close  of  the  service,  which  was  about 
ten  minutes  in  length,  the  remains  were 
at  once  borne  to  the  funeral  car  in  wait- 
ing by  the  side  of  the  cottage  on  the 
tracks  which  had  been  used  in  bringing 
the  president  thither.  The  train,  consist- 
ing of  an  engine  and  four  cars,  was 
draped  heavily  in  black.  After  the  re- 


950 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


mains  had  been  placed  in  the  car  pre- 
pared for  them  and  the  friends,  officials, 
attendants  and  guards  had  taken  their 
places  in  the  others,  the  train  moved 
away  from  the  cottage  at  ten  o'clock.  At 
Elberon  station  President  Arthur  and 
ex-President  Grant  joined  the  funeral 
party,  having  come  to  that  point  on  a 
special  train  from  New  York.  At  about 
a  quarter-past  ten  the  train  moved  away 
from  the  station.  The  engine  which  had 
brought  the  president  to  Elberon,  had 
been  attached  at  the  station,  under  the 
charge  of  engineer  Paige,  and  fireman 
Gwinnell,  who  had  had  charge  of  it  at 
that  time.  The  people  had  been  silent 
spectators  of  these  last  proceedings. 
They  stood  bowed  and  uncovered  while 
the  chief  arrangements  were  being  made. 
The  burden  of  a  great  grief  rested  upon 
them,  and  after  the  funeral  train  had  dis- 
appeared from  their  sight,  they  broke  up 
with  sober  faces,  and  slow,  reverential 
steps.  Along  the  route  of  the  train 
thousands  of  people  were  gathered. 
Buildings  were  draped,  and  flags  were 
flying  at  half-mast.  The  students  from 
Princeton  College  were  at  Princeton 
Junction,  where  they  had  assisted  the 
people  in  strewing  the  track  for  a  hun- 
dred yards  with  flowers.  Everywhere 
heads  were  uncovered,  and  many  eyes 
were  full  of  tears.  At  Wilmington, 
and  Baltimore,  and  West  Philadelphia, 
very  large  crowds  filled  all  available 
space  for  seeing  the  train  pass.  At  4:41 
o'clock  the  train  reached  Washington, 
where  preparations  had  been  made  to 
transfer  the  casket  to  the  Capitol.  Army 
and  navy  officers  formed  a  guard  of 
honor  to  the  procession  on  its  way  from 
the  depot.  The  streets  were  crowded, 
doors  and  windows  were  filled  at  all 
points.  The  friends  took  seats  in  the 


carriages,  the  casket  was  placed  in  the 
hearse,  after  the  band  stationed  at  the 
depot  had  played  "Nearer  my  God  to 
Thee,"  the  escort  was  formed,  and  the 
procession  moved.  Along  the  route  to 
the  Capitol  the  crowd  extended  the  en- 
tire distance.  Pennsylvania  Avenue  was 
filled  to  its  capacity,  and  at  the  Capitol 
the  whole  space  was  filled.  All  classes 
were  present,  the  colored  population  of 
the  region  being  out  in  great  numbers. 
At  the  Capitol  the  remains  were  placed 
upon  the  catafalque  arranged  for  them  in 
the  rotunda.  The  officials  of  the  nation 
attended  the  removal,  and  were  the  first 
to  look  upon  the  remains  when  the  cas- 
ket was  opened.  The  whole  building 
was  draped,  inside  and  outside,  in  an  im- 
pressive manner,  especially  the  walls  and 
heights  of  the  rotunda.  Crape  was  vis- 
ible on  all  hands.  The  catafalque  upon 
which  the  remains  were  placed  in  the 
center  of  the  rotunda,  was  the  one  used 
in  1865  for  the  remains  of  President 
Lincoln.  It  was  composed  of  two  plat- 
forms, one  upon  the  other,  the  upper  be- 
ing the  smaller.  The  floral  decorations 
were  elaborate  and  beautiful.  The 
wreath  of  white  rose-buds,  sent  from  the 
British  Legation,  by  orders  telegraphed 
from  Queen  Victoria,  was  the  finest  single 
portion  of  the  display,  and  was  inscribed 
as  follows: 

"  Queen  Victoria  to  the  memory  of  the 
late  President  Garfield.  An  expression 
of  her  sorrow  and  sympathy  with  Mrs. 
Garfield  and  the  American  Nation. 

«  September  22d,   1881." 

As  soon  as  the  members  of  the  admin- 
istration, of  congress,  and  the  officers  of 
the  army  and  navy  had  viewed  the  re- 
mains, the  doors  were  opened  to  the  peo- 
ple and  the  lines  began  to  pass  the  casket 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


951 


upon  each  side,  which  continued  during 
all  the  night  of  Wednesday  and  the  day  of 
Thursday  until  Friday  at  eleven  o'clock, 
although  the  casket  itself  was  closed  at 
half-past  six  Thursday  evening,  because 
the  face  began  to  show  signs  of  decom- 
position. The  people  passed  the  casket 
at  the  rate  of  sixty  a  minute,  or  100,000 
persons  during  the  time  it  was  open  to 
view.  The  sight  was  a  most  impressive 
one,  to  see  these  thousands  steadily  mov- 
ing through  the  rotunda  without  conver- 
sation or  noise  of  any  kind  except  the 
tramp  of  the  feet,  and  even  that  sounded 
hushed  or  muffled. 

At  eleven  o'clock  of  Friday  all  persons 
were  removed  from  the  room,  even  the 
guard  being  set  outside  instead  of  inside, 
and  Mrs.  Garfield  entered  the  rotunda 
alone,  the  lid  of  the  casket  having  been 
once  more  opened  before  her  entrance. 
The  solemnity  of  her  solitary  visit  to  the 
wasted  form  of  her  devoted  husband  will 
never  be  known.  She  was  all  alone  with 
her  dead.  No  human  eye  saw  her  grief. 
It  was  an  experience  which  the  Ameri- 
can nation  will  do  well  to  remember,  for 
here  can  be  seen  the  extreme  agony 
brought  by  the  calamity  following  upon 
elevation  to  the  supreme  place  of  power 
in  the  nation's  gift. 

At  twelve  o'clock  the  casket  was  again 
closed  to  be  opened  no  more. 

At  3  o'clock  the  funeral  services  were 
held  in  the  rotunda  under  the  charge  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Power,  pastor  of  the  Christian 
Church  of  Washington  where  President 
Garfield  attended.  The  singing  was  fur- 
nished by  the  Philharmonic  Society  of 
Washington.  The  rotunda  was  filled 
with  the  highest  officers  of  the  nation, 
and  with  the  representatives  of  foreign 
nations.  The  service  consisted  of  music, 
a  Scripture  reading  by  Rev.  Dr.  Rankin, 


pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church 
of  Washington,  a  prayer  by  Rev.  Isaac 
Errett,  of  Cincinnati,  an  address  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Power,  and  a  closing  prayer 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Butler.  At  the  con- 
clusion of  the  service  the  remains  were 
removed  to  the  funeral  train  in  waiting 
to  bear  them  to  Cleveland.  The  show 
of  honor,  the  escort,  the  vast  crowds, 
were  as  on  the  day  when  the  re- 
mains were  brought  from  Elberon.  For 
the  last  time  the  body  of  President  Gar- 
field  was  borne  along  the  streets  where 
his  form  had  been  seen  familiarly  for  so 
many  years.  A  few  minutes  past  five 
o'clock  the  train  started  on  its  mournful 
way.  Besides  the  family  and  intimate 
friends  of  the  deceased,  it  carried  a  large 
number  of  senators  and  representatives. 
At  all  the  cities  along  the  route  large 
numbers  of  officials  and  organized  bodies, 
such  as  Grand  Army  Posts,  were  present 
to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  the  mur- 
dered president.  At  smaller  places  large 
numbers  of  people  gathered,  and  even  be- 
tween stations  for  miles  the  inhabitants 
were  ranged  along  the  track.  In  many 
cities  and  towns  bells  were  tolled,  and 
minute  guns  fired.  Workmen  of  all  sorts 
crowded  to  behold  the  train.  All  was 
sorrowful,  thoughtful,  reverent.  Thus 
the  passage  was  made  till  Cleveland  was 
reached  about  half-past  one  o'clock.  At 
that  city  the  casket  was  removed  from 
the  car  and  placed  in  a  hearse,  to  be  car- 
ried to  the  catafalque  which  had  been 
prepared  for  it  in  the  center  of  the  city. 
The  streets  through  which  the  procession 
passed  exhibited  the  same  great  crowds, 
and  the  same  numerous  marks  of  grief  as 
had  been  seen  in  Washington.  P  rominent 
in  the  procession  were  forty-six  men,  vet- 
erans from  Gen.  Garfield' s  old  regiment 
the  Forty-second  Ohio  Volunteers.  Their 


952 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


battle-flags  were  carried  bound  up  and 
heavily  wound  with  crape.  The  place 
prepared  for  the  honor  of  the  remains 
while  they  lay  in  state  was  a  beautiful 
pavilion  forty-five  feet  square,  inclosing 
a  raised  catafalque  upon  which  the  casket 
was  to  be  exposed.  The  pavilion  stood 
at  the  intersection  of  Ontario  and  Supe- 
rior streets.  The  floral  decorations  were 
extensive  and  symbolic,  and  were  set  off 
with  mottoes.  The  wreath  of  the  Queen 
still  lay  upon  the  foot  of  the  casket  where 
it  was  placed  at  first.  The  body  was 
placed  on  the  catafalque,  the  guards  were 
set,  the  companies  marched  away,  and 
soon  night  fell  upon  the  scene.  The 
whole  vicinity,  however,  was  brightly 
lighted  up  during  the  night  with  electric 
lights,  and  made  a  vision  long  to  be  re- 
membered. On  Sunday  morning  the 
crowd  was  formed  in  two  lines  of  three 
or  four  abreast  and  allowed  to  pass  by  the 
side  of  the  catafalque  in  such  a  way  as  to 
enable  the  persons  passing  by  to  see  the 
casket.  A  scene  like  that  in  Washing- 
ton now  took  place.  Old  and  young,  rich 
and  poor,  the  eminent  and  the  unknown 
passed  in  groups,  families,  and  ranks. 
Fully  150,000  passed  in  this  way  before 
the  order  was  given  on  Monday  for  the 
column  to  be  stopped  on  account  of  the 
approach  of  the  funeral  ceremonies.  Dur- 
ing Sunday  the  religious  services  at  the 
churches  all  had  one  burden,  the  nation's 
loss.  It  was  an  unusual  experience  for 
the  city  of  Cleveland.  At  10:30  on 
Monday,  the  26th,  the  funeral  ceremo- 
nies began  in  the  midst  of  the  public 
square,  around  the  catafalque.  The 
Cleveland  Vocal  Society  furnished  music, 
Bishop  Bedell,  of  Ohio,  read  the  Scrip- 
ture, Rev.  Ross  C.  Houghton  offered 
prayer,  Rev.  Isaac  Errett,  of  Cincinnati, 
delivered  the  funeral  address.  Gen.  Gar- 


field's  favorite  hymn  was  sung,  and  Rev. 
Dr.  C.  S.  Pomeroy  offered  prayer. 
The  following  is  the  hymn : 

"Oh,  reapers  of  life's  harvest, 

Why  stand  with  rusted  blade 
Until  the  night  draws  round  thee, 

And  day  begins  to  fade? 
Why  stand  ye  idle,  waiting 

For  reapers  more  to  come  ? 
The  golden  morn  is  passing, 

Why  sit  ye  idle,  dumb? 

"  Thrust  in  your  sharpened  sickle 

And  gather  in  the  grain ; 
The  night  is  fast  approaching, 

And  soon  will  come  again. 
The  Master  calls  for  reapers, 

And  shall  He  call  in  vain? 
Shall  sheaves  lie  there,  ungathered, 

And  waste  uoon  the  plain? 

"  Mount  up  the  heights  of  wisdom 

And  crush  each  error  low. 
Keep  back  no  words  of  knowledge 

That  human  hearts  should  know. 
Be  faithful  to  thy  mission 

In  service  of  thy  Lord, 
And  then  a  goJden  chaplet 

Shall  be  thy  just  reward." 

At  the  close  of  tne  ceremonies,  prep- 
aration was  made  for  the  final  march  to 
the  beautiful  cemetery,  where  the  body 
of  the  president  was  to  be  laid.  Amid 
the  firing  of  minute  guns,  the  tolling 
of  bells  in  all  parts  of  the  city,  the 
mournful  cadences  of  "  Nearer  my  God 
to  Thee,"  played  by  the  Marine  Band  of 
Washington,  the  procession  formed  and 
moved.  It  stretched  away  for  the  six 
miles  between  the  square  and  the  ceme- 
tery. Finally  the  funeral  car  and  the 
mourners  reached  the  cemetery  and  were 
driven  within  the  inclosure  of  the 
guards.  Rev.  J.  H.  Jones,  chaplain  of 
the  42d  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteers, 
made  an  address,  and  after  the  singing  of 
a  Latin  ode  from  Horace  entitled  "  To 
Arestius  Fuscus "  the  benediction  was 


953 


1877-1881.] 

pronounced  by  Rev.  Pres.  Hinsdale,  of 
Hiram  College.  The  end  had  come  and 
the  guard  was  set  which  is  renewed 
day  by  day  for  the  preservation  of  the 
tomb  from  all  violation.  The  procession 
departed  and  the  great  crowds  melted 
away,  but  every  day  since  then  persons 
from  all  parts  of  the  country  have  visited 
the  cemetery,  and  looked  sorrowfully 
through  the  grated  door  of  the  tomb. 
During  Monday,  the  26th,  memorial  ser- 
vices were  held  in  all  parts  of  the  country 
and  orations  were  pronounced  in  com- 
memoration of  the  life  and  public  labors 
of  the  nation's  dead  chief.  It  was  a  day 
long  to  be  remembered,  and  many  young 
men  gained  new  views  of  patriotism  and 
character  while  meditating  upon  the 
sentiments  uttered  concerning  James  A. 
Garfield.  His  death  will  prove  a  mighty 
saving  force  in  reaching  and  preserving 
the  vital  principles  of  the  American 
people.  His  life  has  entered  into  the 
national  life.  His  thoughts,  but  much 
more  his  fortitude  and  patience  in  suffer- 
ing, have  elevated  the  national  character. 
It  only  remains  in  this  place  to  give 
an  account  of  President  Garfield's  life 
and  characteristics  in  their  salient  features. 
The  eulogy  upon  him  pronounced  by 
Hon.  James  G.  Blaine  in  the  House  of 
Representatives,  will  be  given  in  full  at 
its  proper  date,  and  sets  forth  fully  the 
main  facts.  After  the  excitement  of  the 
funeral  ceremonies  were  over,  the  people 
were  depressed  with  the  thought  that 
their  most  typical  American  had  been 
taken  away  from  them.  The  nation  sat 
in  the  shade  of  a  sorrow  of  gigantic 
magnitude.  The  smoke  of  the  pistol 
shot  fired  by  Guiteau  on  the  2d  of  July 
had  settled  down  upon  all  our  homes. 
It  stifled  all  our  breaths.  Its  echo  re- 
verberated through  the  chambers  of  all 


THE   VIGOR    OF  LIFE. 


955 


our  hearts.  Why  this  universal  sense 
of  loss  ?  Everywhere  men  felt  bereaved 
as  if  they  had  lost  some  one  of  their 
own  kith  and  kin.  What  brings  the 
experience  of  a  man  near  to  his  country- 
men and  institutes  a  deep  fellowship  be- 
tween him  and  them  ?  President  Gar- 
field's  life  answers  these  questions.  He 
was  of  his  country  in  a  most  thorough 
and  hearty  sense.  He  had  received  no 
other  training  than  such  as  she  could 
give.  He  had  come  out  from  among 
people  who  had  labored  for  their  living 
and  had  reached  his  own  success  by  labor 
of  the  most  careful  kind.  The  privileges 
he  had  enjoyed  were  simply  the  privi- 
leges of  service,  and  he  had  become  the 
leading  man  of  the  nation  by  service. 
Men  reach  the  highest  character,  Presi- 
dent Garfield's  career  teaches  us,  not 
simply  by  being  wrought  upon  and 
moulded  and  developed  by  the  influences 
of  education,  society,  and  religion,  but  by 
the  fUll-souled  entrance  upon  work  for 
the  country  and  mankind.  In  giving 
his  life  to  others  he  gained  the  most 
vitality  and  became  great.  His  final 
great  act  of  surrender  was  simply  this 
accustomed  principle  visible  in  its  most 
trying  test. 

James  A.  Garfield  was  born  Nov.  19, 
1831,  and  was  consequently  two  months 
less  than  50  years  of  age  when  he  died. 
His  oirth-place  was  in  Cuyahoga  county, 
Orange  township,  in  Northeastern  Ohio. 
His  father  and  mother  were  both  of  New 
England  stock,  and  came  West  in  the  tide 
of  emigration  to  what  was  then  frontier 
soil.  A  log  cabin  was  the  shelter  of  the 
little  family,  and  a  little  clearing  lay 
around  it,  in  which  the  hard  working 
Abram  Garfield  was  trying  to  get  enough 
to  support  his  family  with.  But  disaster 
came  in  the  death  of  the  father,  when 


956 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


James,  the  youngest  of  four  children, 
was  not  yet  two  years  old.  The  moth- 
er's faith  and  strength  of  character  now 
appeared.  She  assumed  the  manage- 
ment of  the  farm,  held  the  family  to- 
gether for  a  time  under  her  own  care,  and 
successfully  fought  the  battle  of  life. 
The  farm  was  at  last  paid  for.  In  the 
little  household  of  mother  and  children, 
the  influences  were  favorable  to  the 
development  of  intelligence  and  high 
ambition.  The  mother  wisely  helped 
the  ambition  of  the  children  in  the  way 
of  reading  and  study,  and  brooded  cher- 
ishingly  over  all  their  child  aspirations 
to  accomplish  anything  in  the  world. 
Mrs.  Garfield  hoped  that  her  children 
might  not  be  deprived  of  school  privi- 
leges, although  so  far  away  from  the 
portions  of  the  country  most  greatly  fa- 
vored in  this  respect.  A  corner  of  her 
farm,  though  the  whole  covered  no  more 
than  thirty  acres,  was  given  by  her  in 
this  spirit  for  the  building  of  a  school- 
house,  in  which  the  children  of  the 
vicinity  might  be  taught.  From  five 
years  of  age  the  young  James  went  to 
school  in  the  house  erected  on  his  moth- 
er's farm,  but  was  early  obliged  to  mix 
his  study  with  hard  work.  This  con- 
tinued till  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  had  seen  enough  of  the  world 
in  his  little  sphere,  and  had  tasted  the 
pleasure  of  learning  to  a  degree  sufficient 
to  inspire  him  with  the  idea  of  getting  a 
complete  education,  so  far  as  schools  of 
higher  learning  .could  give  it.  Toward 
this  he  had  been  growing  ever  since  his 
mind  began  to  expand. 

One  of  the  experiences  which  worked 
to  this  end,  was  the  fever  for  a  sailor's 
life,  which  came  upon  him  before  he 
reached  the  above  age,  and  which  led  to 
the  oft-quoted  canal-boat  service.  He 


attempted  to  get  a  position  upon  some 
lake  vessel,  but  failed.  Afterward  in  his 
search  he  fell  upon  the  chance  of  working 
on  a  canal-boat,  and  the  characteristic 
trait  which  followed  him  all  his  life,  of 
doing  with  his  might  what  his  hands 
found  to  do,  was  apparent  in  the  lad. 
The  experience  was  a  rough  one,  but  it 
revealed  in  him  an  ability  to  look  out  for 
himself.  Muscle  and  pluck  were  necess- 
ary among  such  men  as  he  fell  in  with, 
and  both  graces  were  his. 

The  experience,  however^  led  him  to 
go  home,  but  he  still  evidently  meditated 
finding  a  life  of  the  same  kind  on  a 
larger  scale  at  some  future  day.  The 
thought  of  the  ocean  had  great  power 
over  him,  and  the  ideas  which  he  had 
picked  up  in  his  reading,  moved  him  to 
seek  the  romance  of  life  upon  it.  When 
he  went  home  from  his  canal-boat  ser- 
vice he  was  more  thoughtful,  and  was 
ready  for  the  final  discipline  of  prepara- 
tion for  an  entirely  different  life  from 
that  which  he  had  laid  out  for  himself. 
That  discipline  came  in  an  attack  of  ma- 
larial fever,  which  laid  him  aside  for 
some  months,  and  left  him  too  weak  to 
endure  hard  work.  He  was  therefore 
ready  to  comply  with  the  wish  of  his 
mother,  and  go  to  school.  Geauga  Sem- 
inary was  in  a  neighboring  county,  and 
with  seventeen  dollars  in  hand  he  made 
his  entrance  upon  life  at  that  institution. 
By  working  at  whatever  employment 
he  could  get,  he  was  enabled  to  continue 
his  studies,  and  after  three  years  he  made 
his  way  to  Hiram  College,  in  Portage 
county,  Ohio.  Before  entering  Geauga 
Seminary,  he  sought  the  advice  of  a  phy- 
sician upon  the  question  of  whether  he 
was  fitted  for  the  work  of  getting  and 
using  an  education.  The  physician  was 
a  stranger  to  him,  but  uttered  such  an 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR    OF  LIFE. 


957 


emphatic  assurance  of  success  if  he  at- 
tempted to  study,  that  young  Garfield 
considered  the  advice  final,  and  turned 
away  from  the  old  time  dreams  of  life  on 
the  sea.  The  current  of  his  energies 
was  now  set  in  its  flow. 

When,  after  three  years  of  study  at  the 
seminary,  intermingled  with  much  hard 
work  and  some  teaching,  he  presented 
himself  at  Hiram  College,  the  subjects 
he  had  learned  were  only  a  part  of  the 
great  development  which  had  begun 
within  him.  An  account  of  his  first  at- 
tempt to  get  work  in  the  latter  institu- 
tion is  given  by  Mr.  Frederick  Wil- 
liams, one  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  to 
whom  he  made  his  wish  known :  "  The 
Board  was  in  session  with  closed  doors, 
when  the  doorkeeper  entered  and  said 
there  was  a  young  man  at  the  door  very 
desirous  of  seeing  the  Board  without  de- 
lay. No  objection  being  made,  the 
young  man  entered,  and  addressing  the 
Board,  said : 

" '  Gentlemen,  I  want  an  education, 
and  would  like  the  privilege  of  making 
the  fires  and  sweeping  the  floors  of  the 
building  to  pay  part  of  my  expenses.'  " 

Mr.  Williams,  seeing  in  his  bearing 
and  countenance  an  earnestness  and  intel- 
ligence that  was  more  than  common, 
said  to  the  Board,  "  Gentlemen,  I  think 
we  had  better  try  this  young-  man." 
Another  said  to  him,  "How  do  we  know, 
young  man,  that  the  work  will  be  done 
as  we  want?" 

"Try  me,"  was  the  answer;  "try  me 
two  weeks,  and  if  it  is  not  done  to  your 
entire  satisfaction  I  will  retire  without  a 
word." 

They  took  him  at  his  word,  and  so 
Garfield  was  duly  installed  as  janitor 
and  bell-ringer  of  the  institution  over 
which  he  was  afterward  to  preside.  He 


now  pushed  on  in  his  studies  and  entered 
the  junior  class  of  Williams  College,  at 
Williamstown,  Mass.,  in  1854.  In  this 
institution  he  manifested  all  the  zeal  and 
the  untiring  patience  which  he  had  hith- 
erto shown,  together  with  a  large  array 
of  associated  qualities  which  won  for  him 
a  large  place  in  the  hearts  of  all  who 
came  to  know  him  as  teachers,  or  fellow- 
pupils,  or  townsmen.  He  was  all  the 
time  growing  in  every  element  of  man- 
hood, and  was  attaining  the  character 
which  was  to  fit  him  for  great  and  rapid 
advancement  in  the  line  of  usefulness 
which  he  was  afterward  to  follow.  In 
1856  he  graduated,  at  the  age  of  25 
years. 

He  was  now  in  debt  to  the  amount  of 
$450,  and  had  few  possessions  outwardly, 
but  was  rich  inwardly  with  what  could 
not  be  taken  away  from  him  by  any 
misfortune  or  calamity.  Now  began  the 
career  which  ended  so  tragically  on  the 
i  pth  of  September,  1881.  He  had  not 
merely  cultivated  the  mind  and  the  out- 
ward morals  of  life,  but  while  in  his 
teens  had  had  very  steady  and  deep 
thoughts  of  religious  consecration.  In 
March  of  1850  he  joined  the  Church  of 
the  Disciples,  or  Campbellites  or  Chris- 
tians, and  was  ever  an  honored  member 
of  that  denomination.  At  a  later  time, 
during  his  teaching  life  in  Ohio,  he  was 
accustomed  to  preach  in  neighboring 
places.  His  religion  grew  into  a  very 
healthful  form  of  faith,  which  took  deep 
root  in  his  soul,  and  was  able  to  sustain 
him  in  his  later  trying  experiences. 

One  writer  says :  "  There  was  nothing 
of  the  bigot  about  him.  He  welcomed 
all  honest  discussion,  and  was  always 
willing  to  throw  off  old  opinions  if  con- 
vinced they  were  erroneous.  In  his  re- 
ligious views  he  might  have  been  called 


958  PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 

a  rationalistic  Christian.  I  doubt  if  he 
could  have  passed  a  successful  catechis- 
ing on  the  doctrinal  points  of  any  ortho- 
dox creed,  but  on  such  essential  matters 
as  a  Belief  in  the  divine  guidance  of  the 
universe  and  the  immortality  of  the  hu- 
man soul,  his  faith  was  unshaken.  Mod- 
ern materialism  made  no  impression 
upon  him.  The  argument  that  the  mind 
is  only  a  phenomenon  of  matter,  he 
thought  a  stupid  reversal  of  the  truth. 
The  soul  or  life-principle  was  the  real 
thing,  he  maintained,  and  the  phases  of 
matter  only  its  transient  and  varying  ex- 
pression. His  religious  nature  and  opin- 
ions were  developed  by  the  experiences 
and  needs  of  life,  not  by  prolonged  ab- 
stract thinking." 

He  always  sought  to  attain  a  poise  of 
faith  and  character,  and  his  success  in 
that  direction  is  plainly  visible  in  the  last 
trying  weeks  of  his  life. 

After  graduation  from  Williams  he  was 
elected  instructor  in  Ancient  Languages 
at  Hiram  College,  then  known  as  the 
Western  Eclectic  Institute.  Within  two 
years  he  was  elected  president  of  it,  and 
remained  such  till  he  entered  the  army. 
Into  the  work  of  teaching  he  put  all  the 
strength  of  his  life,  and  left  his  mark 
upon  the  whole  company  of  students  un- 
der his  charge.  Nor  was  this  in  any 
general  way,  for  he  formed  personal  re- 
lations with  them  individually,  and  thus 
c  ;tere  1  the  life  of  each  as  a  controlling 
force.  His  own  life  was  full  of  reading 
and  study,  and  service  of  many  kinds. 
He  preached,  he  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar;  he  lectured,  and  withal 
he  maintained  steadily  his  work  of  in- 
struction. This  period  of  his  life  opens 
the  whole  matter  of  his  mental  abilities 
and  breadth  of  work.  From  the  time 
that  he  had  devoured  the  little  reading 


he  could  find  at  home  in  his  early  boy- 
hood, he  had  fed  his  mind  unceasingly 
with  everything  he  could  read  or  observe. 
He  had  taken  hold  of  the  different  lines 
of  study  in  his  courses  with  equal  facility 
and  determination.  He  was  therefore 
rounded.  He  had  taken  the  metaphysical 
honor  in  his  class  at  graduation,  but  was 
well  prepared  to  teach  in  other  lines. 
His  reading  was  always  extensive  and 
severe.  During  his  college  career  he 
stepped  into  the  domain  of  higher  Eng- 
lish literature  for  the  first  time.  He  found 
Shakespeare,  and  before  long  began  to 
read  some  of  the  best  fiction  and  poetry. 
His  tastes  were  high.  He  read  exten- 
sively in  connection  with  his  literary 
work  in  college  essays,  society  debates, 
and  writing  for  college  periodicals.  In 
speaking  he  attained  readiness  and  sys- 
tem. He  obtained  what  is  never  obtained 
by  many,  the  power  of  holding  up  gen- 
eral ideas.  He  could  arrange  his  thoughts 
consecutively  and  thus  with  power. 

Gen.  Garfield's  method  of  study  from 
the  very  first  was  to  collect  all  possible 
information  upon  the  subject  which  pre- 
sented itself,  and  draw  from  this  the  facts 
in  the  case  in  an  exhaustive  and  continu- 
ous application.  During  the  last  year 
of  his  college  life  he  became  aroused  up- 
on the  Kansas  struggle  by  a  lecture 
ivhich  he  heard,  and  went  back  to  his 
room  to  gather  all  documents  bearing 
upon  the  question,  and  by  his  clear 
and  vigorous  study  of  them,  the  course 
of  his  political  life  was  set  firmly  in  op- 
position to  slavery.  He  was  never  again 
indifferent  to  the  pressing  political  ques- 
tions of  the  day.  Whenever  he  foresaw, 
as  he  did  during  his  Congressional  life, 
that  certain  great  questions  of  finance, 
etc.,  would  come  to  the  front  before  long 
he  began  studying  them  with  all  his 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR    OF  LIFE. 


959 


might  and  was  therefore  ready  to  enter 
into  them  intelligently. 

A  writer  speaking  of  this,  says : 
"  The  secession  of  South  Carolina  in 
December,  1860,  convinced  him  that  there 
would  be  a  civil  war  of  unusual  duration 
and  vigor.  He  resolved  to  enter  when 
the  time  came.  At  Columbus  there  was 
a  federal  arsenal  nominally  garrisoned 
by  two  or  three  officers,  a  sergeant  and 
a  file  of  foot.  He  procured  from  one  of 
the  officers  a  complete  list  of  the  West 
Point  text-books,  bought  them,  and 
mastered  them  between  January  i,  1861, 
and  July  i,  1861,  when  he  entered  the 
army  and  hired  the  sergeant  to  drill  him 
two  nights  each  week  in  saber,  musket, 
bayonet  and  drill  exercises.  He  was 
made  a  West-Pointer  and  a  soldier  in  all 
requirements  by  this  method  in  seven 
months,  besides  attending  to  all  his  sena- 
torial duties  at  the  same  time.  Both 
Buell  and  Rosecrans,  on  this  account,  put 
him  ahead  at  once,  and  he  justified  their 
confidence  by  his  efficiency.  In  1863, 
"when  he  entered  Congress,  he  was  put  on 
the  Banking  and  Currency  committee, 
and  found  he  knew  nothing  of  finance. 
"So,  having  acquired  German  at  Williams, 
he  set  to  work  and  mastered  a  reading 
knowledge  of  French  with  which  he 
learned  from  original  sources  the  details 
of  John  Law  experiments  in  fiatism  and 
inflation.  This  grounded  him  in  his  hard 
money  views  forever.  He  rose  always  at 
seven,  and  occupied  the  half  hour  which 
he  gave  to  bathing  and  dressing  with 
translating  daily  ten  lines  of  some  classic 
in  a  dead,  and  ten  lines  of  some  classic  in  a 
modern  language.  He  alternated  French 
and  Latin  with  German  and  Greek  in 
this  way,  and  got  up  over  3,000  lines  of 
them  each  year.  Between  half-past  seven 
and  eight  he  always  read  some  English 


book  of  which  he  wanted  the  information. 
At  eight  he  breakfasted,  and  then  punc- 
tuated his  meal  with  the  newspapers  and 
his  mail.  His  aim  was  after  he  retired 
from  the  presidency,  to  found  a  Western 
college  equal  to  Yale  or  Harvard,  at 
Cleveland,  and  die  a  universal  president, 
'  gomif  out  at  the  same  hole  at  which  he 
went  in.'  These  facts,  of  which  the  cor- 
rectness can  be  trusted,  throw  a  light  on 
the  man  as  a  scholar,  with  which  no  di- 
vided opinion  of  him  as  a  politician  will 
interfere." 

In  his  committee  work  during  his  Con- 
gressional service,  he,  more  than  other 
chairmen,  led  his  committee  into  long  and 
practical  consideration  of  the  matters  be- 
fore them.  If  it  was  to  draw  a  bill  for 
the  census,  he  spent  a  long  time  with 
them  in  studying  the  methods  of  foreign 
countries,  and  thus  succeeded  in  getting  a 
comprehensive  view  of  the  science  of 
statistics.  As  chairman  of  the  Appropria- 
tion committee  he  led  the  way  in  a  simi- 
lar careful  study  of  the  opportunities  of 
the  government,  and  the  legitimate  cost 
at  every  step  was  a  matter  of  careful  cal- 
culation. In  all  these  respects  he  had 
the  genius  for  labor.  He  was  more  than 
industrious.  He  was  an  apt  and  careful 
laborer,  but  he  showed  the  greatest  tact 
in  putting  his  labor  into  any  field.  He 
maintained  also  his  general  scholarship 
at  a  high  standard,  and  was  thus  a  man 
of  broad  sympathies.  During  an  indis- 
position of  three  weeks  in  1875?  ne  says 
in  a  letter  that,  "  Since  I  was  taken  sick 
I  have  read  the  following:  Sherman's 
two  volumes,  Leland's  English  Gypsies, 
George  Barrow's  '  Gypsies  of  Spain.' 
Barrow's  Romany  Rye,  Tennyson's 
Mary,  seven  volumes  of  Froude's  Eng- 
land, several  plays  of  Shakespeare,  and 
have  made  some  progress  in  a  new  book 


960 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


which  I  think  you  will  be  glad  to  see — 
'The  History  of  the  English  People,' 
by  Professor  Green,  of  Oxford."  It  is 
well  known  that  he  had  a  great  love  for 
the  works  of  Horace,  and  had  probably 
made  a  greater  examination  during  his 
political  career  of  different  editions  of  this 
poet,  than  anybody  else  in  the  country, 
except  a  few  professional  linguists.  He 
was  about  equally  fond  of  Tennyson, 
and  could  quote  extensively  from  both. 
Another  method  of  his  literary  work  was 
to  collect  from  papers  and  periodicals 
important  information,  and  excerpts,  put- 
ting them  into  scrap-books,  which  accu- 
mulated their  contents  till  they  became 
great  treasures  of  knowledge  and  infor- 
mation. No  man  of  his  day  and  of  his 
age  had  gathered  greater  stores  of  learn- 
ing or  had  them  more  immediately  at 
his  command. 

The  above  mental  training  took  away 
from  his  political  career  everything  like 
fanaticism.  A  man  of  extensive  and  pro- 
found training  cannot  be  a  fanatic.  What 
the  fanatic  sees  as  one  thing  to  be  carried 
through  no  matter  what  it  costs,  because 
all  else  is  wrong,  the  thoroughly  and 
broadly  trained  educator  or  statesman 
sees  in  its  relations  with  a  thousand  other 
needed  movements,  and  hence  knows  the 
great  waste  and  injury  arising  from  hasty 
and  simple  action.  Gen.  Garfield  stood 
high  up,  and  his  eye  swept  a  wide  range. 
He  was  very  quick  to  see  relations  and  in 
this  way  he  frequently  foiled  his  political 
opponents  in  legislation.  When  some 
unwarranted  legislation  was  proposed,  he 
would  introduce  some  temporary  step  by 
the  adoption  of  which  in  the  course  of  a 
few  months  the  absurdity  of  the  proposed 
legislation  would  be  seen  indisputably. 

As  a  soldier,  the  career  of  Gen.  Gar- 
field  is  told  quite  fully  in  Elaine's  eulogy. 


He  was  a  brave  and  earnest  fighter,  and 
exercised  an  admirable  care  over  the 
troops  under  his  charge.  Their  needs 
always  appealed  to  him  very  strongly, 
and  he  was  foremost  in  seeing  the  needs 
met.  In  service  he  was  promoted  be- 
cause it  was  seen  that  in.  such  stuff  as  he 
was  made  of  the  country  had  its  surest 
defence.  This  is  visible  all  along  the 
rapid  rise  of  Gen.  Garfield  from  the  day 
he  graduated  at  college  till  he  was  in- 
augurated president  of  the  United  States. 
From  teaching  to  the  head  of  the  insti- 
tution in  which  he  taught,  thence  to  the 
army,  and  promoted  therein  for  faithful 
service,  thence  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, thence  to  the  Senate,  but  be- 
fore he  could  take  his  seat  therein,  elected 
president.  Step  by  step  the  way  was 
opened  before  him,  and  he  sought  noth- 
ing. When  the  honor  of  nomination 
was  thrust  upon  him  at  Chicago  and  he 
tried  to  ward  off  the  event,  it  was  a  gen- 
uine act  revealing  a  genuine  man.  He 
deliberately  determined  at  the  first  of 
his  career  that  whatever  position  he  oc- 
cupied should  come  to  him  unsought. 
This  was  the  key  to  his  life  of  usefulness- 
He  worked  in  each  place  undisturbed  by" 
the  self-seeking  for  promotion  which 
makes-  the  labor  of  some  men  so  ineffici- 
ent. He  never  lost  time  or  strength  in 
planning  to  seize  some  place  above  him. 
Hence  his  fitness  for  it  when  it  came  tc» 
him. 

Gen.  Garfield  obtained  a  wide  hold 
upon  the  hearts  of  all  men  with  whom 
he  came  into  contact.  He  was  popular 
with  his  college  classmates,  with  some  of 
whom  he  maintained  the  closest  intimacy 
till  he  died.  His  classmates  did  much 
during  the  presidential  campaign  to  help 
his  election.  He  was  keenly  alive  to  all 
such  esteem.  The  honors  heaped  upon 


1877-1881.]  THE    VIGOR   OF  LIF&. 

him  never  made  him  unmindful  of  fam- 
ily or  friends.  His  is  not  the  greatness 
which  is  removed  and  distant  from  all 
except  a  few.  He  was  one  of  the  people 
in  his  home-like  tastes.  He  enjoyed  his 
home,  and  during  the  last  years  of  his 
life  he  considered  Mentor  a  paradise. 
It  was  his  resting  place,  in  the  sense 
in  which  home  alone  can  be  such.  Dur- 
ing his  last  sickness  he  sometimes  longed 
to  be  in  Mentor,  and  spoke  of  going 
thither,  unawares  to  himself.  His  own 
ouse  and  farm  were  dear  to  him. 

But  besides  this  love  for  home  he  loved 
his  country  and  its  people.  With  him 
politics  consisted  in  the  study  of  the  good 
of  the  land,  the  whole  land.  Its  methods 
were  constant  subjects  of  meditation  with 
him.  He  had  a  pride  in  the  standing 
and  integrity  of  the  nation  among  other 
nations.  What  he  did  was  for  the  nation. 
When  he  wrote  his  autograph  at  one 
time  during  his  sickness,  it  was  not  known 
at  the  time  that  he  had  written  above  it 
a  significant  Latin  phrase,  Strangulatus 
pro  republica.  When  it  was  finally  made 
public  it  revealed  the  man's  heart  and 
the  secret  of  its  great  patience.  If  he 
was  suffering  for  the  country  he  could  be 
still.  He  could  labor  for  it  by  endur- 
ance as  well  as  by  action.  His  work 
was  greater  than  he  knew.  The  day  be- 
fore his  death  it  is  related  that  he  said  to 
Col.  Rockwell: 

"  Old  boy !  do  you  think  my  name 
will  have  a  place  in  human  history?" 

Col.  Rockwell  answered : 

"  Yes,  a  grand  one,  but  a  grander  one 
in  human  hearts.  Old  fellow!  you 
mustn't  talk  in  that  way.  You  have  a 
great  work  yet  to  perform." 

In  a  moment  President  Garfield  said 
deliberately  as  if  he  knew  the  end  * 

"  No,  my  'work  is  done" 


963 

But  Col.  Rockwell  was  right  in  spite 
of  the  fact  that  President  Garfield  by 
this  significant  statement  prophesied  his 
own  death.  President  Garfield  was  to 
do  a  great  work  for  the  American  people 
and  for  American  politics.  From  all 
parts  of  the  country  came  messages  of 
sorrow  during  his  days  of  suffering. 
Dr.  Bliss  relates  that  among  these  from 
the  South  one  message  came  from  an  ex- 
confederate,  when  the  question  of  the 
president's  removal  to  Elberon  was 
being  canvassed.  He  wrote :  "  If  you 
need  or  desire  it,  I  can  furnish  a  corps 
whose  loving  hearts  and  loyal  arms  shall 
bear  the  wounded  president  to  Elberon 
as  tenderly  as  mother  ever  carri  ed  babe." 

This  feeling  of  anxiety  and  helpful- 
ness prevailed  everywhere  in  the  country. 
Everywhere  it  was  painful  to  witness  the 
sense  of  helplessness.  Much  of  the  criti- 
cism on  his  medical  care  arose  from  the 
necessity  laid  on  so  many  of  standing  by 
and  doing  nothing  but  wait  the  end  in 
fear  and  trembling. 

It  should  never  be  forgotten  that  the 
power  of  President  Garfield  was  drawn 
firm  and  deeply,  rooted  in  moral  and  re- 
ligious character.  The  integrity  of  some 
men  is  a  human  affair  with  apparently  no 
blemish,  but  entirely  wanting  in  moral 
and  religious  flavor  or  tone.  Not  so  with 
President  Garfield.  He  believed  that  his 
life  had  been  subject  to  the  divine  guid- 
ance, and  that  the  divine  aid  had  come 
into  it  and  helped  and  strengthened  him. 
This  was  behind  all  he  did.  It  was  the 
resting  place  of  his  heart.  His  strength 
was  from  a  higher  source  than  his  own 
unaided  will.  He  never  protruded  his 
religion  in  a  public  manner  before  the 
eyes  of  men.  But  it  was  because  it  was 
so  free  from  cant  and  technicality,  that  it 
availed  him  so  much  in  the  day  of  his  clis- 


964 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


tress.  It  was  also  his  support  in  suffer- 
ing because  he  had  made  it  a  reality  in 
the  day  of  his  strength.  It  is  probable 
that  if  he  had  got  well  again,  the  poli- 
ticians and  office-seekers  would  have  ob- 
literated the  service  of  his  suffering,  by 
their  criticisms  of  his  character  and 
methods.  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  says 
that  a  man  "  has  a  right  to  be  employed, 
to  be  trusted,  to  be  loved,  to  be  revered." 
As  a  nation  we  are  in  danger  of  forget- 

o  o 

ting  this.  The  criticisms  of  the  press, 
and  of  disappointed  partisans,  distress  a 
great  many  homes,  and  blacken  falsely  a 
great  many  characters.  President  Gar- 
field  set  the  boundary  of  life  against  the 
work  of  malice  in  this  respect.  He  was 
allowed  to  suffer  and  die,  that  it  might 
appear  better  to  the  American  people  to 
have  one  character  stamped  before  them 
iu  colors  of  pure  virtue  and  religion,  rather 
than  have  that  same  character  subjected 
to  the  inevitable  process  of  unfair  criticism 
and  blackening  lies.  Eighty  days  of  pain 
showed  us  that  we  did  not  half  know  the 
man.  His  enemies  had  called  him  weak, 
but  this  charge  looked  foolish  in  the  light 
of  his  last  terrible  experience.  He  was 
taken  away  when  the  pressure  of  our 
knowledge  of  the  man  was  greatest.  He 
has  moved  us  to  a  better  life,  and  thus  has 
riot  died  in  vain.  He  "  rests  from  his  la- 
bors, and  his  works  do  follow  him."  A 
people  grateful  for  his  service  raised  a 
fund  of  several  hundred  thousand  dollars 
for  his  widow  and  children.  The  affec- 
tion of  the  land  flows  out  toward  the 
noble-hearted,  brave  woman  who  ex- 
hibited qualities  equal  to  those  of  her 
husband,  and  whose  name  will  always  be 
associated  with  his  in  history. 

MICHIGAN  FOREST  FIRES. 
1881.     September.     A  portion  of  the 


newer  territory  in  Michigan  was  terribly 
devastated  by  fire  during  this  month. 
About  twelve  hundred  square  miles  were 
swept  over  by  the  awful  visitant,  and 
hundreds  of  families  who  were  trying  to 
get  a  foot-hold  in  the  wilderness  were  de- 
prived of  all  their  possessions.  The  sum- 
mer had  been  dry  and  the  crops  had  been 
injured  somewhat  by  reason  of  it.  But 
the  inhabitants  of  the  region  had  gone  on 
clearing  up  large  tracts,  and  hoping  for 
better  success.  They  worked  away  at 
their  tasks,  and  near  the  close  of  summer 
began  to  burn  up  the  stumps  and  brush 
to  make  way  for  the  next  season.  Every- 
thing was  so  dry  that  these  fires  soon  got 
beyond  all  control,  and  by  the  middle  of 
the  month  the  flames  which  had  been 
kindled  to  assist  man,  had  consumed  many 
homes  and  blackened  a  whole  region,  be- 
sides destroying  many  lives  and  mak- 
ing others  insane.  Terrible  scenes  oc- 
curred on  the  attempt  to  flee  from  the  path 
of  the  flames.  Those  who  have  never 
experienced  the  like,  cannot  imagine  with 
what  fierceness, rapidity,  and  irresistibility 
a  fire  will  swallow  up  everything  in  its 
way  when  once  it  has  gained  headway 
No  true  description  can  be  given  of  it. 
The  tract  devastated  lies  in  Huron, 
Tuscola  and  Sanilac  counties.  About 
five  hundred  lives  were  lost,  fifteen 
hundred  and  more  families  were  driven 
from  their  homes  and  rendered  pen- 
niless. The  smoke  of  the  conflagra- 
tion settled  over  the  country  like  a  pall, 
and  the  terrific  roar  of  the  flames  could 
be  heard  for  miles.  People  fled  to  places 
which  were  not  safe,  or  else  perished  in 
trying  to  save  their  cattle.  The  condi- 
tion was  beyond  description  when  relief 
parties  reached  the  vicinity.  Donations 
from  all  quarters  at  once  began  to  flow  in, 
and  money  was  raised  in  the  larger  cities, 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR    OF  LIFE. 


965 


but  winter  found  many  sufferers  who 
could  not  be  made  comfortable,  and  the 
funds  at  hand  have  been  too  small  to  sup- 
ply the  needs.  Years  of  toil  were  ob- 
literated in  the  few  days  of  affliction,  and 
strong  men  were  reduced  to  beggary,  and 
in  many  instances  were  left  without  a 
family,  wives  and  children  having  been 
consumed.  The  calamity  was  one  of  the 
few  terrible  ones  of  the  kind  which  have 
befallen  sections  of  our  country. 

JOSMH  a.  HOLLAND. 

1881.  Oct.  12.  Dr.  J.  G.  Holland, 
the  well-known  author,  lecturer,  journal- 
ist and  poet,  died  suddenly  of  angina 
pectorts.  By  his  death,  America  lost 
one  of  her  most  useful  citizens  and  men 
of  literature.  His  range  of  service  was 
wide,  and  the  character  of  it  most  health- 
ful. His  life  was  given  to  the  work  of 
building  up  American  character  in  its 
purest  and  highest  forms.  He  was  ap- 
parently still  In  the  strength  of  life, 
having  been  born  in  Belchertown,  Mass., 
July  24,  1819,  and  being  therefore  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  in  the  63d  year  of  his 
age.  His  career,  like  that  of  many 
of  America's  most  famous  men,  was 
one  of  early  poverty  and  severe  dis- 
cipline in  the  school  of  work.  His  life 
has  a  hundred  mouths  to  proclaim  the 
benefit  of  toil. 

He  came  of  good  English  stock — none 
better.  His  father  and  mother  were 
Connecticut  people,  the  former  being  a 
descendant  of  John  and  Judith  Holland, 
who  came  to  America  with  the  church 
which  settled  at  Dorchester  and  after- 
ward migrated  to  Connecticut.  The 
family  consisted  of  keen,  intelligent 
members  all  along  the  line,  down  to  the 
subject  of  the  present  sketch.  No  wealth 
descended  to  the  father  of  Dr.  Holland, 


and  life  was  therefore  always  a  contest 
for  bread  and  butter,  in  the  home  in 
which  the  young  Josiah  grew  up.  But 
a  very  good  inheritance  of  brains  came 
to  him.  He  had  a  considerable  degree 
of  inventive  talent.  The  boys  of  the 
household  partook  of  this.  Dr.  Holland 
himself  at  various  times  gave  birth  to 
ingenious  ideas  for  mechanical  use,  one 
of  them  being  a  steam  plow,  another  a 
stylographic  pen,  and  a  third  a  lamp  to 
be  used  in  railway  cars. 

The  school  privileges  of  the  little  boy 
were  chiefly  confined  to  the  winter 
months,  during  which  the  hard-working 
sons  of  the  New  England  laborers  have 
been  accustomed  to  go  to  the  "  district 
schools  "  to  get  what  little  learning  they 
could.  Many  a  "district  school  "  in  New 
England,  has  been  a  "  higher  academy" 
of  learning  in  the  range  of  studies  taught. 
The  influences  within  them  have  moulded 
many  a  sensitive  mind  toward  elevated 
intellectual  and  moral  attainments.  It 
has  thus  come  to  pass  that  many  lads, 
struggling  with  poverty  in  their  own 
homes,  have  been  benefited  by  the  severe 
discipline  of  their  early  years.  The 
school  has  kept  them  from  remaining 
mere  clodhoppers,  because  it  has  stimu- 
lated their  minds  with  the  sound  of  the 
higher  studies.  A  few  weeks'  schooling 
in  the  winter  has  been  better  in  many 
cases  than  the  whole  year  of  study  for 
lads  with  greater  outward  possessions 
and  favors.  Dr.  Holland  felt  that  he 
was  indebted  to  the  hard  discipline  of  his 
early  years  for  much  that  enabled  him 
to  succeed  in  the  undertakings  of  his 
later  years.  One  of  the  last  editorials  he 
wrote  for  "  The  Century "  was  upon 
"Poverty  as  a  Discipline."  In  it  he  said: 

"  We  often  hear  it  said  of  a  man  that 
he  has  had  great  advantages.  We  have 


966 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


meant  by  this  simply  the  advantages 
which  wealth  could  buy — university 
training,  travel,  high  society,  books,  etc. 
It  is  not  often  that  we  hear  poverty 
spoken  of  as  an  advantage;  yet  we  be- 
lieve it  to  be  demonstrably  true  that  of 
all  the  advantages  which  come  to  any 
young  man,  this  is  the  greatest. 

"  Twice  within  the  easy  memory  of 
this  generation,  a  man  who  started  at 
the  lowest  extreme  of  the  social  scale, 
has  risen  to  be  the  president  of  the 
United  States." 

Among  the  benefits  resulting  from  this 
early  training  he  enumerated  thrifty 
habits,  self- helpfulness,  self-trust,  and 
profound  sympathy  with  the  people. 

The  parents  of  Dr.  Holland  lived  in  a 
number  of  Massachusetts  towns  in  suc- 
cession, in  the  attempt  to  secure  the 
means  of  support.  Heath,  Belchertown, 
South  Hadley,  Granby,  Northampton, 
were  all  on  the  list.  The  young  Josiah 
took  his  full  share  in  working  in  facto- 
ries for  the  money  with  which  to  buy 
the  necessities  of  life.  But  at  North- 
ampton a  larger  effort  was  made  toward 
an  education.  Josiah  began  attending 
the  high  school,  and  entered  into  the 
new  experience  with  great  zest,  all  the 
more  so  because  it  was  his  own  plan,  for 
his  father  had  told  him  that  he  must  look 
out  for  himself  if  he  wished  to  struggle 
for  learning.  Even  then  the  literary  ten- 
dencies of  the  lad  were  beginning  to  re- 
veal themselves.  His  early  verses  date 
from  this  period.  School  training,  how- 
ever, was  not  for  this  young  man.  He 
broke  down  in  the  work  of  studying,  and 
had  to  give  up  his  cherished  plan  of  con- 
tinuous attendance  at  school.  It  was  a 
great  disappointment  to  him,  but  it  did 
not  stop  the  activity  of  his  mind.  He 
exercised  the  ingenuity  of  the  Yankee 


lad,  and  worked  his  own  way  by  teach- 
ing penmanship  and  other  brief  occupa- 
tions. His  mind  was  more  or  less  unset- 
tled during  this  whole  period,  in  respect 
to  his  work  for  life.  His  chosen  way 
along  the  path  of  a  complete  school  and 
college  training  had  been  broken  off 
abruptly  by  sickness,  and  it  seemed  un- 
wise to  renew  the  attempt.  But  educa- 
tion of  some  sort  was  still  uppermost  in 
his  mind.  It  was  proving  to  be  of  the 
kind  known  as  self-education,  but  some- 
thing it  must  be.  The  young  man  would 
not  sink  down  into  a  manual  laborer,, 
with  no  mental  outlets.  If  he  became  a 
worker  with  his  hands  for  life,  it  would 
be  with  an  active  brain  above  and  behind 
them.  It  seems  that  he  had  entertained 
the  idea  of  writing  for  the  press  even  as 
early  as  these  days  of  uncertainty.  He 
read  his  poems  to  friends,  but  while  they 
enjoyed  the  privilege,  they  discouraged 
him  from  undertaking  to  get  a  living  by 
literary  labor.  It  is  sometimes  the  case 
that,  while  a  young  man  tries  many 
things,  and  does  not  succeed,  or,  at  least, 
sufficiently  so  to  bind  him  to  any  one  of 
them  for  life,  and  in  the  discouragement 
concludes  at  times  that  there  is  nothing  for 
him  to  do,  he  may  all  the  while  be  tread- 
ing along  the  edge  of  his  chosen  sphere, 
and  casting  glances  over  the  boundary 
which  separates  it  from  other  callings. 

In  Dr.  Holland's  case,  a  choice  was 
made  in  favor  of  the  study  of  medicine. 
But  the  struggle  with  scant  means  was 
not  over.  It  attended  him  during  the 
next  few  years,  and  at  times  it  seemed 
as  if  there  never  would  be  an  honorable 
and  useful  place  in  the  world  for  him. 
But  his  heart,  even  in  the  midst  of  fam- 
ily bereavement,  did  not  entirely  give 
way,  and  he  graduated  from  Berkshire 
Medical  College  in  1844. 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


967 


In  company  with  a  classmate  named 
Bailey  he  settled  down  for  the  practice 
of  his  profession  at  Springfield.  There 
was  still  a  lack  of  harmony  with  his 
chosen  calling.  He  had  not  yet  found 
himself.  The  distaste  for  the  practice  of 
medicine  was  aided  in  its  determination 
of  his  future  life  by  the  long  and  slow 
process  of  gaining  a  place  as  an  accepted 
practitioner,  and  by  the  necessity  of  hav- 
ing recourse  in  the  meantime  to  other 
means  of  support.  It  was  nearing  the 
time  when  his  first  public  venture  was  to 
be  made  in  the  field  of  journalism.  In 
1845  Miss  Elizabeth  Chapin  of  Spring- 
field became  his  wife.  Some  of  his  pro- 
ductions had  already  been  printed  in  the 
"Knickerbocker  Magazine"  and  else- 
where. But  soon  came  an  attempt  of 
his  own.  He  saw  the  need  of  more  and 
better  family  reading,  and  issued  the 
prospectus  of  the  "  Bay  State  Weekly 
Courier,"  which  he  proposed  to  send  forth 
as  "A  New  Family  Newspaper,"  through 
the  country.  The  aims  of  Dr.  Holland 
in  this  undertaking  were  high  and  were 
in  line  with  all  he  afterward  did  in  jour- 
nalism. The  promises  of  the  young  "  ed- 
itor and  proprietor  "  were  broad  in  their 
scope,  for  the  "  inalienable  rights  of  man" 
were  put  foremost  in  the  things  to  be 
fought  for.  Not  yet  however,  had  this 
coming  journalist  and  author  found  him- 
self. The  Courier  was  a  failure.  It 
sank  beneath  its  own  load  in  six  short 
months.  Dr.  Holland  now  became  a 
teacher  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  for  three 
months,  and  afterward  in  Vicksburg, 
Miss.  In  the  latter  place  he  laid  good 
foundations,  for  within  a  year  he  suc- 
ceeded in  arranging  many  things  which 
had  hitherto  been  unaccomplished.  But 
this  was  not  his  work,  and  in  1850  when 
he  was  called  to  Massachusetts  with  his 


wife,  on  account  of  the  illness  of  the  lat- 
ter's  mother,  he  was  nearer  the  great 
work  of  his  life  than  he  suspected.  In 
utter  lack  of  anything  to  do,  he  was 
hired  upon  the  "  Springfield  Republican" 
as  assistant  editor,  at  the  rate  of  $480 
a  year.  He  was  the  only  assistant  in 
those  early  days  of  effort  on  the  part  of 
Mr.  Bowles  to  establish  a  general  news- 
paper of  high  character.  His  aptitude 
for  such  work  soon  showed  itself,  and 
his  whole  heart  began  to  take  possession 
of  him  in  his  daily  tasks.  He  had  now 
found  himself.  The  second  year  he  re- 
ceived $700,  and  by  that  time  he  had 
proved  himself  invaluable.  He  now 
bought  a  quarter  interest  for  $3,500  in 
notes.  Here  and  now  the  great  work  of 
Dr.  Holland's  life  began.  It  was  due  to 
him  that  the  "Republican"  began  to 
broaden  its  pages  in  a  literary  way.  He 
prepared  a  series  of  letters  upon  social 
life,  and  afterwards  wrote  a  serial  history 
of  Western  Massachusetts.  His  first 
novel,  "  Bay  Path,"  also  appeared  in  the 
"  Republican,"  and  at  a  later  day,  the 
letters  of  "  Timothy  Titcomb."  The 
latter  struck  the  popular  vein  and  led  to 
the  final  great  success  of  Dr.  Holland  in 
the  way  of  authorship.  While  many 
publishers  would  not,  even  after  they  had 
been  so  popular  in  newspaper  form,  un- 
dertake their  publication  in  book  form, 
Mr.  Charles  Scribner  was  at  once  struck 
by  them  on  hearing  them  read,  and  issued 
the  book  from  his  press.  It  verified  his 
faith  in  it.  Nearly  500,000  copies  of  that 
and  of  Dr.  Holland's  subsequent  writings 
have  been  sold  by  the  Scribners  in  book 
form,  to  say  nothing  of  the  thousands 
who  have  read  his  productions  in  maga- 
zines and  newspapers. 

The  poem  of  "  Bittersweet "  appeared 
in  1858,  and  was  yet  more  successful  than. 


968 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


the  Titcomb  letters  (which  have  sold  to 
over  60,000  copies.)  Its  sale  has  run  up 
to  75,000  copies,  besides  its  circulation  in 
the  collected  poems.  "  Gold-foil,"  which 
appeared  serially  as  "  Preachings  from 
Popular  Proverbs,"  was  put  in  covers 
in  1859; "  Miss  Gilbert's  Career,"  a  novel, 
was  issued  the  following  year;  "  Lessons 
in  Life,"  in  1861 ;  and  the  "  Letters  to  the 
Joneses,"  in  1863;  a  volume  of  lectures 
was  published  in  1865,  and  in  the  same 
year  appeared  Dr.  Holland's  "  Life  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,"  which  was  sold  by 
subscription,  and  brought  him  more 
money  than  he  probably  ever  dreamed 
of  possessing  during  his  early  life.  The 
climax  of  his  fame  and  popular  success 
as  an  author  of  books  was  attained  in 
1868  when  the  poem  "  Kathrina  "  ap- 
peared. It  has  outstripped  all  its  fel- 
lows in  popular  favor,  and  outsold  all 
other  American  poems  except  Longfel- 
'low's  "  Hiawatha."  The  sales  now  ag- 
gregate over  99,000.  "  The  Marble 
Prophecy,"  a  poem  founded  on  the  La- 
ocoon,  was  issued  in  1872,  and  then  ap- 
peared in  succession,  in  the  pages  of 
Scribner's  Monthly  first,  and  afterward 
in  book  form,  the  later  group  of  novels, 
« Arthur  Bonnicastle,"  "  Sevenoaks," 
and  "Nicholas  Minturn."  Though 
reaching  a  sale  far  in  advance  of  most 
novels  of  their  time,  they  have  not  at- 
tained to  the  popularity  of  the  author's 
first  works.  Yet  they  contain  some  of 
his  best  writing.  "  The  Mistress  of  the 
Manse  "  appeared  in  1875. 

In  1867,  after  sturdy  service  upon  the 
«  Springfield  Republican,"  at  one  time 
having  been  sole  editor  while  Mr.  Bowles 
made  his  unsuccessful  attempt  to  start  a 
similar  paper  in  Boston,  Dr.  Holland  sold 
out  his  quarter  interest  in  the  "  Republi- 
can "  for  $50,000.  His  life  in  the  mean- 


time had  been  a  steady  growth  in  all 
valuable  directions,  moral  and  spiritual, 
as  well  as  intellectual.  He  had  reaped  n 
sufficient  income  from  his  interest  in  the 
"  Republican"  to  put  him  beyond  the 
question  of  what  he  should  do  for  a  liv- 
ing, and  his  only  desire  was  to  have  the 
rest  of  his  life  prove  useful  to  his  gener- 
eration.  His  life  in  Springfield  had  done 
very  much  for  the  place,  in  ways  which 
will  never  cease  to  strengthen  the  city. 

His  connection  with  the  churches  of 
the  city  was  large  and  most  helpful.  At 
first  he  was  a  member  of  the  South  Con- 
gregational Church,  of  which  Dr.  Buck- 
ingham became  pastor  in  1847.  He 
afterward  removed  his  relations  to  the 
North  Church,  and  finally  he  helped  to 
found  and  build  up  "  Memorial  Church," 
because  with  a  few  others  he  thought 
that  an  independent  church  would  do 
great  good.  In  all  these  churches  he 
used  his  talents.  In  the  choir  and  the 
Sabbath-school  he  was  a  constant  aid. 
His  religious  views  were  thoroughly 
evangelical  in  spirit,  but  not  doctrinal  in 
form.  The  life  of  God  in  man  was 
everything  to  him.  This  lay  back  of 
all  his  journalistic  work  and  gave  the 
best  aspect  to  his  life.  He  preached 
truly  and  with  great  effect  upon  the 
people  at  large.  He  brought  moral 
truth  very  near  to  the  hearts  and  minds 
of  men.  His  work  in  this  was  one  of 
the  largest  works  ever  done  by  a  literary 
man. 

In  1 868  Dr.  Holland  made  a  trip  to 
Europe.  Before  he  went,  Mr.  Charles 
Scribner  invited  him  to  take  the  editorial 
charge  of  "  Hours  at  Home,"  but  he  de- 
clined the  offer.  At  Geneva,  Switzer- 
land, he  met  Mr.  Roswell  Smith,  who 
was  a  resident  of  Indiana,  and,  upon  one 
of  their  walks,  they  talked  over  the  possi- 


1877-1881.]  THE  VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 

bility  of  starting  a  new  magazine.  The 
scheme  took  shape  quickly  in  their  minds 
and  was  determined  upon.  When  they 
returned  to  America  they  managed  with 
Mr.  Charles  Scribner  to  undertake  the 
publication  of  such  a  periodical.  In  this 
way  Scribner's  Monthly  was  founded,  and 
soon  was  floating  on  the  full  tide  of  suc- 
cess. It  was  the  constant  work  of  its 
originators  to  make  it  better  every  month. 
Dr.  Holland's  time,  energy  and  money 
were  all  put  into  this  enterprise. 

His  life  now  began  to  center  in  New 
York,  and  before  he  died  it  made  a  large 
place  for  itself  there.  He  built  up  a 
house  there,  and  had  a  summer  house  on 
one  of  the  Thousand  Islands  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  River.  His  position  was  one 
of  complete  independence  so  far  as  money 
was  concerned.  But  disease  began  to 
appear,  a  disease  which  threatened  his 
life  at  any  moment,  disease  of  the  heart. 
Still  he  was  calm  and  happy.  His  con- 
fidence in  God  was  great.  His  own 
words  in  reference  to  life's  work  were : 
"  I  account  the  honor  of  occupying  a  pure 
place  in  the  popular  heart — of  being  wel- 
comed in  God's  name  into  the  affec- 
tionate confidence  of  those  for  whom  life 
has  high  meanings  and  high  issues,  of 
being  recognized  as  among  the  benefi- 
cent forces  of  society,  the  greatest  honor 
to  be  worked  for  and  won  beneath  the 
stars." 

Dr.  Holland  valued  very  greatly  the 
position  he  held  in  the  popular  heart. 
He  prized  the  regards  and  affection  of 
the  poor.  He  was  generous  toward  all 
men.  All  his  work  and  all  his  methods 
with  men  were  controlled  by  the  thought 
of  being  helpful  to  others.  He  was 
strong  in  that  his  life  was  a  unit. 

His  sensitiveness  and  affection  were 
shown  in  his  relations  to  his  parents. 


969 

He  loved  and  respected  his  father  not- 
withstanding his  reverses.  And  Mark 
Traften  relates  that  "  when  in  1867  the 
venerable  woman  and  loved  mother  died, 
Dr.  Holland  and  a  brother  of  his  now 
asleep,  stepped  to  the  head  of  the  casket, 
and  taking  the  handles,  bore  the  loved 
form  to  the  hearse,  and  at  the  grave  ten- 
derly laid  her  in  her  lowly  bed.  And  so 
she  who  had  so  often  borne  these  sons  in 
their  helplessness  upon  her  bosom,  was 
now  in  return  by  them  borne  to  her  re- 
pose. There  were  no  dry  eyes  witness- 
ing that  act  of  filial  tenderness.  'My 
mother,'  said  the  doctor  after  the  funeral 
'  was  so  diffident  and  sensitive  that  she 
was  always  ill  at  ease  in  the  presence  of 
strangers,  and  I  could  not  bear  to  see 
strange  hands  lifting  her  worn-out  frame.' 
It  showed  the  womanly  tenderness  of 
his  manly  heart." 

One  of  his  associate  editors  gives  the 
following  interesting  account  of  Dr. 
Holland's  final  day  at  the  office.  "  Dr. 
Holland  was  at  his  post  till  the  very  last. 
His  last  day  was  a  busy  one,  and  full  of 
interest  and  pleasure.  He  was  writing 
his  editorials;  he  was  talking  over  new 
projects;  he  had  time  to  go  out  to  see 
some  beautiful  stained-glass  windows, 
whose  rich  and  exquisite  tones  gave  him 
the  greatest  delight;  but  especially  the 
day  was  devoted  by  him  to  thoughts  of- 
our  late  president,  whom  he  knew  per- 
sonally. The  first  thing  he  said  in  the 
morning  when  he  came  in  was  something 
about  Garfield;  he  burst  out  with  an 
ejaculation  of  '  What  a  magnificent  man 
the  president  was  —  what  a  knight- 
errant!'  He  went  on  to  describe  his  ap- 
pearance in  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, the  hush  that  went  over  the  House 
when  he  arose  to  speak,  and  the  ease  and 
courtliness  of  his  bearing. 


970 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


"  Dr.  Holland  was  engaged  that  day 
in  writing  an  editorial  (which  remains 
unfinished)  on  poverty  as  a  means  of  de- 
veloping character;  and  his  illustrations 
were  taken  from  the  lives  of  Lincoln  and 
Garfield.  While  writing  this  a  book  was 
handed  to  him,  entitled 'Garfield's  Words.' 
For  an  hour  or  so  he  pored  over  its  pages, 
reading  aloud  to  one  of  his  associates,  the 
passages  that  struck  him  as  most  telling. 
He  laughed  his  approval  at  one  bit  after 
another  of  sententious  humor;  his  voice 
trembled  at  every  passage  made  pathetic 
by  the  president's  tragic  fate.  Among 
the  quotations  he  was  greatly  pleased  to 
find  one  peculiarly  appropriate  to  the  sub- 
ject of  which  he  was  at  that  very  mo- 
ment treating. 

"The  last  poem  that  was  submitted  to 
him  as  editor,  and  accepted  by  him,  was 
a  poem  on  Garfield,  written  by  one  of 
the  younger  members  of  the  editorial 
staff;  and  the  last  words  that  he  himself 
wrote,  in  the  unfinished  editorial,  were 
about  the  president,  and  might  almost  be 
used  as  his  own  epitaph." 

The  funeral  of  Dr.  Holland  was  at- 
tended by  a  remarkable  assembly  of 
literary  and  professional  men,  and  gave 
evidence  of  the  power  of  his  life.  His 
pastor  was  Dr.  Bevan,  of  whose  church, 
the  Brick  Presbyterian  Church,  he  was  a 
member. 

Memorial  services  of  an  impressive 
character  were  held  in  Springfield  at  the 
"  Memorial  Church."  He  left  a  wife  and 
two  daughters,  also  a  son  at  Yale  College. 

It  bar  been  said  since  his  death  that 
"  Dr.  Holland  is  the  only  American  author 
living  or  dead,  whose  words  and  career 
had  become  the  study  of  a  special  society, 
which  annually  celebrated  his  birthday, 
and  commemorated  the  places  associated 
either  with  his  life  or  his  books." 


YORKTOWN  CENTENNIAL. 
1881.  Oct.  19.  The  celebration  of  the 
surrender  of  Yorktown.  by  Cornwallis  on 
the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  that 
Revolutionary  event,  was  planned  for 
through  the  summer,  and  considerable 
genuine  interest  was  aroused  in  the 
prospect  of  making  it  a  national  affair. 
A  Yorktown  Centennial  Asssociation 
took  charge  of  the  preparations  and  laid 
out  a  programme  to  cover  all  of  the 
days  from  Oct.  i3th.  But  much  of  the 
planning  for  those  preliminary  days  re- 
sulted in  nothing,  because  the  place  was 
not  ready.  Addresses  which  had  been 
written  were  not  delivered  because  no 
body  assembled  thus  early  to  hear  them, 
and  a  ball  and  other  fancy  portions  of 
the  programme  did  not  come  off.  Never- 
theless troops  gathered  from  different 
parts  of  the  Union,  and  the  little  Vir- 
ginia village  became  full  of  bustle.  Gen. 
Hancock  entered  into  his  headquarters, 
and  the  scene  began  to  take  on  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  military  camp.  Captain 
Sinclair's  light  battery  of  the  Third  Ar- 
tillery from  Fort  Hamilton,  New  York, 
marched  460  miles  in  going  to  Yorktown. 
Soon  there  were  thousands  of  visitors. 
The  river  in  front  was  filled  with  ship- 
ping of  all  kinds,  among  which  were 
two  French  frigates.  The  Moore  house 
in  which  the  articles  of  Cornwallis's  ca- 
pitulation were  signed,  was  a  center  of 
curiosity.  A  portion  of  the  encamp- 
ment was  very  attractive  in  the  display 
made.  Governor  Cornell  of  New  York 
had  his  headquarters  in  a  pavilion  fur- 
nished in  the  highest  style,  the  whole 
at  a  cost  of  $5,000.  There  was  a  notice- 
able difference  in  the  order  and  neatness 
of  the  camps  of  the  regular  troops  and 
of  the  militia,  in  favor  of  the  former. 
The  general  approaches  to  the  situation 


1877-1881.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


971 


were  disagreeable.  The  region  is  sandy 
and  clouds  of  dust,  raised  by  the  throngs 
of  vehicles  and  foot  people,  filled  the  air 
to  suffocation.  The  United  States  Gov- 
ernment contributed  a  portion  of  the 
preparation  in  providing  the  place  of  en- 
campment with  street  lamps,  and  with 
water  pipes  and  with  twelve  hundred 
hospital  tents. 

The  really  effective  portion  of  the  cele- 
bration took  place  on  Tuesday,  Wed- 
nesday and  Thursday,  the  iSth,  I9th,  and 
2oth.  On  the  first-named  day  President 
Arthur  and  the  principal  officers  of  the 
government  with  those  of  the  army  and 
navy,  arrived  at  Yorktown  and  were  re- 
ceived with  great  demonstrations.  With 
them  were  the  French  and  German 
guests  who  had  come  to  this  country  for 
the  sake  of  visiting  the  celebration.  Af- 
ter the  ceremonies  of  reception,  the  cor- 
nerstone of  the  Yorktown  Centennial 
Monument  was  laid  in  their  presence. 
This  shaft  is  to  be  95  feet  high  on  the 
bluff  overlooking  the  river. 

On  Wednesday  occurred  the  principal 
literary  exercises,  and  on  Thursday  the 
great  military  parade  was  held  in  the 
presence  of  President  Arthur  and  all  the 
officials,  home  and  foreign.  Friday  closed 
the  anniversary  with  grand  naval  review. 

The  whole  was  attended  with  consid- 
erable discomfort  and  disappointment,  but 
many  things  were  agreeable  in  spite  of 
the  disagreeable.  An  impressive  and 
courteous  salute  was  paid  to  the  English 
flag,  and  the  occasion  served  to  bring  out 
the  fact  that  the  celebration  was  not  held 
through  hostility  to  England.  The  Ger- 
man guests  remained  in  the  country  to 
visit  the  chief  cities  before  returning  to 
their  own  land.  This  they  did  to  their 
own  great  pleasure.  The  total  results  of 
the  anniversary  are  not  large,  and  the  dis- 


play connected  with  it  was  not  so  orderly 
and  effective  as  it  was  desired.  But  it 
revived  an  interest  in  the  history  of  the 
land,  and  takes  a  place  in  the  list  of  cen- 
tennial celebrations  being  held  from  year 
to  year.  It  was  more  ambitious  than 
most  of  them,  and  in  spite  of  partial  fail- 
ure to  fulfil  its  plans,  it  can  hold  its  place 
as  one  of  the  most  noticeable.  Among 
the  products  of  the  celebration  will  re- 
main the  very  fitting  address  of  Presi- 
dent Arthur,  in  which  all  citizens  will 
take  a  pride  as  having  been  eminently 
suitable  to  the  occasion,  and  the  oration 
by  Robert  C.  Winthrop  which  will  live 
as  the  chief  literary  memorial  of  the  an- 
niversary. But  besides  these,  the  order 
issued  by  President  Arthur  for  the  salu- 
tation of  the  English  flag  is  worthy  of 
presentation  for  its  language  and  its  spirit. 
It  was  as  follows: 

"  In  recognition  of  the  friendly  rela- 
tions so  long  and  so  happily  subsisting 
between  Gieat  Britain  and  the  United 
States,  in  the  trust  and  confidence  of 
peace  and  good-will  between  the  two 
countries  for  all  the  centuries  to  come, 
and  especially  as  a  mark  of  the  profound 
respect  entertained  by  the  American  peo- 
ple, for  the  illustrious  sovereign  and  gra- 
cious lady  who  sits  upon  the  British 
throne,  it  is  hereby  ordered  that  at  the 
close  of  these  services  commemorative 
of  the  valor  and  success  of  our  forefathers 
in  their  patriotic  struggle  for  indepen- 
dence, the  British  flag  shall  be  saluted 
by  the  forces  of  the  Army  and  Navy  of 
the  United  States  now  at  Yorktown. 
The  Secretary  of  War  and  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy  will  give  orders  accordingly. 

"  By  the  President, 

"  CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR. 

"JAMES  ELAINE, 

Secretary  of  State." 


972 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


JOHN  W.  FORNEY. 

1881.  Dec.  9.  Col.  John  W.  Forney 
who  has  been  known  for  a  generation  in 
the  politics  and  journalism  of  the  United 
States  died  in  Philadelphia.  His  journ- 
alistic tastes  developed  at  an  early  age,  for 
•when  only  nineteen  years  of  age  he  be- 
came proprietor  of  the  "  Lancaster  Intelli- 
gencer." He  never  gave  up  his  connec- 
tion with  the  press  of  Pennsylvania,  al- 
though at  times  his  duties  and  political 
positions  were  such  as  to  take  him  away 
from  his  home.  In  1859  and  1860  he 
was  clerk  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, and  from  1860  to  1866  he  was  sec- 
retary of  the  Senate.  He  was  a  keen 
observer,  and  read  men  very  shrewdly. 
He  was  a  ready  writer  and  turned  every- 
thing to  account.  He  found  abundance 
of  material  with  which  he  could  spice 
and  direct  all  his  editorial  articles  and 
thus  made  himself  one  of  the  leading 
journalists  of  the  time.  He  was  a  ready 
champion  of  earnest  temperament,  and 
never  halted  to  see  what  tact  would  dic- 
tate, but  pushed  on  in  his  advocacy  or 
condemnation,  as  it  might  be.  Yet  he 
was  not  lacking  in  wisdom.  He  was 
quick  and  knew  pretty  well  how  to  con- 
duct his  measures  so  as  to  secure  his  end. 
He  was  unselfish  and  would  at  any  time 
subject  himself  to  trouble  in  the  service 
of  others.  He  was  a  good  counselor  and 
was  thus  invaluable  to  many  to  whom  he 
could  give  no  further  aid.  Col.  Forney 
was  an  excellent  companion,  sought  for 
by  a  large  circle  of  friends,  and  respected 
for  his  integrity  and  ability.  He  wrote 
a  work  entitled  "  Reminiscences  of  Public 
Men,"  which  sold  very  widely.  Col.  For- 
ney was  known  all  over  the  country 
through  his  political  connections  and 
views.  But  he  had  passed  out  of  sight 
partially  in  the  last  few  years,  since  the 


new  era  of  the  nation  has  been  develop- 
ing. He  was  said  to  have  been  very 
quick  to  see  and  ready  to  help  young  men 
of  talent.  It  is  related  that  "  on  the  day 
the  "Press"  was  first  published,  a  small 
boy  passing  the  office,  saw  an  announce- 
ment on  the  bulletin  board  that  a  boy 
was  wanted  to  read  proof.  He  walked 
into  the  building,  saw  the  business  man- 
agjer,  and  was  at  once  employed.  He 
gave  his  name  as  John  Russell  Young, 
Some  years  afterward  Col.  Forney,  then 
in  Washington,  wrote  to  Luther  Ring- 
wait,  managing  editor  of  the  "Press," 
and  now  editor  of  the  "  Railway  World," 
complimenting  him  on  two  striking  edi- 
torials that  appeared  in  the  columns  of 
the  "Press."  Mr.  Ringwalt  replied  that 
the  editorials  were  not  his  composition, 
but  were  the  work  of  Young,  the  form- 
er proof-boy.  The  promising  young 
journalist  was,  as  quickly  as  word  could 
be  sent  to  Philadelphia,  advanced  to  a 
prominent  position  on  the  paper." 

/.  /.  ffstYJSS. 

1881.  Dec.  17.  Dr.  Isaac  j.srael 
Hayes,  well  known  for  his  Arctic  explo- 
rations, died  suddenly  of  disease  of  the 
heart,  aged  forty-eight  years.  He  was 
born  in  Chester,  Penn.,  and  studied  at 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  graduated  in  medical  study  at  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  Dr.  Kane  was  about 
starting  for  the  Arctic  Ocean  in  the  sec- 
ond Grirmell  expedition,  and  Dr.  Hayes 
making  an  offer  of  his  services  was  ap- 
pointed surgeon.  His  experience  on  this 
voyage  was  one  which  was  calculated  to 
fit  him  for  further  independent  investiga- 
tion. When  it  was  seen  that  the  expe- 
dition must  break  up,  a  portion  of  the 
crew,  Dr.  Hayes  among  them,  under- 
took to  reach  the  Danish  settlement  of 


1877-1881.] 


THE    VIGOR    OF  LIFE. 


973 


Upernavik,  in  Lower  Greenland.  After 
three  months  of  exposure,  this  •was  found 
impossible,  and  they  returned  to  the  "Ad- 
vance." When  the  expedition  reached 
the  United  States,  Dr.  Hayes  was  full  of 
zeal  for  another.  He  proposed  it  to  his 
friends,  but  did  not  receive  much  encour- 
agement at  first.  He  declared  that  there 
was  an  open  Polar  Sea,  and  that  having 
been  accustomed  to  the  region  for  two 
years,  he  could  live  in  the  northern  ex- 
posure as  well  as  an  Esquimaux  could. 
Dr.  Kane  died,  but  this  sad  end  of  his 
predecessor's  life  made  no  difference  with 
him.  He  was  unchangeable  in  his  plans 
to  go.  He  finally  secured  the  purchase 
of  the  schooner  "Spring  Hill,"  and  chang- 
ing the  name  to  "United  States,"  he  sailed 
in  her  in  charge  of  an  expedition.  This 
was  in  1860.  The  first  part  of  his  voy- 
age was  successful.  The  schooner  ar- 
rived Aug.  2d  at  the  promontory  of 
Swarte  Huk,  within  the  Arctic  Circle. 
In  his  description  of  the  scene  at  this 
point,  he  says :  "  The  air  was  warm,  al- 
most as  a  summer's  night  at  home,  and 
yet  there  were  the  icebergs  and  the  bleak 
mountains  with  which  the  fancy,  in  this 
land  of  green  hills  and  waving  forests, 
can  associate  nothing  but  cold  repulsive- 
ness.  The  sky  was  bright  and  soft,  and 
strangely  inspiring  as  the  skies  of  Italy. 
The  bergs  had  wholly  lost  their  chilly 
aspect,  and  glittering  in  the  blaze  of  the 
brilliant  heavens,  seemed  in  the  distance 
like  masses  of  burnished  metal  or  solid 
flame.  Nearer  at  hand,  they  were  huge 
blocks  of  Parian  marble,  inlaid  with 
mammoth  gems  of  pearl  and  opal.  One 
in  particular  exhibited  the  perfection  of 
the  grand.  Its  form  was  not  unlike  that 
of  the  Coliseum,  and  it  lay  so  far  away 
that  half  its  height  was  buried  beneath 
the  line  of  blood-red  waters.  The  sun 


slowly  rolling  along  the  horizon,  passed 
behind  it,  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  old 
Roman  ruin  had  suddenly  taken  fire." 
In  the  winter  quarters  of  1860— i,  at  Port 
Foulke,  Dr.  Hayes  was  successful  in 
keeping  his  men  in  good  health  and  spir- 
its, although  he  lost  most  of  his  dogs. 
In  April,  1861,  he  set  out  on  his  daring 
expedition  across  the  vast  field  of  ice  tc 
the  north.  For  twenty-five  days  he 
pushed  on  under  every  discouragement. 
But  he  was  indomitable,  even  when  his 
men  began  to  fail,  and  could  go  no  fur- 
ther. He  chose  three  of  them  and  pushed 
on,  the  rest  going  back  to  the  schooner. 
For  fourteen  days  more  he  kept  on,  till 
his  best  and  strongest  companion  gave 
out  entirely.  Putting  a  second  in  charge 
of  the  exhausted  man,  he  himself  with 
the  remaining  man  pushed  on  still  fur- 
ther, until  he  was  obliged  to  stop,  be- 
cause of  seams  and  rotten  ice.  He  had 
reached  latitude  81°  37',  and  claimed 
that  his  eyes  rested  beyond  upon  the 
open  Polar  Sea.  Parry  had  gone  be- 
yond this  latitude,  but  not  upon  land. 
Hayes  then  came  back  to  the  schooner, 
and  returned  to  the  United  States  in 
October.  He  now  entered  the  army  as 
surgeon,  and  had  charge  of  the  hospital 
at  West  Philadelphia,  which  he  built. 
In  1869  he  made  another  trip  to  Green- 
land, and  made  explorations  in  examin- 
ing the  country.  He  issued  two  books 
relating  to  this  trip,  entitled  "  Cast  Away 
in  the  Cold"  and  "the  Land  of  Desola- 
tion." Dr.  Hayes  still  believed  in  Arctic 
exploration,  and  was  willing  to  undertake 
still  further  ventures  in  that  direction. 
But  no  opportunity  offered,  the  charge  of 
the  expedition  of  1875  not  being  given  to 
him,  much  to  his  disappointment.  Polit- 
ical life  opened  to  him,  and  he  was  in 
his  State  Assembly  for  five  years.  He 


974 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


won  reputation  as  a  lecturer  on  the  open 
polar  sea  and  kindred  topics.  He  was 
honored  with  gold  medals  by  the  Geo- 
graphical Society  of  Paris  and  the  Royal 
Geographical  Society  of  London. 

1881.  Dec.  21.  The  Loss  of  the  Je- 
annette  (see  July  8,  1879)  was  tele- 
graphed from  Irkoutsk,  Siberia,  by  Mr. 
Melville,  engineer  of  the  ill-fated  steam- 
er. She  was  crushed  by  ice,  June  13,  in 
latitude  77°  15'  North  and  longitude 
157°  East,  her  officers  and  crew  escap- 
ing in  three  boats,  under  Commander  De 
Long,  Lieut.  Chipp  and  Engineer  Mel- 
ville. They  got  separated  in  a  gale,  Sept. 
13.  On  the  1 6th,  DeLong  and  party 
landed  a  little  east  of  the  mouth  of  the 
Lena.  On  the  1 7th,  Melville,  more  fortu- 
nate, reached  an  island  in  the  delta,  and 
moving  up  the  river  fell  in  with  some 
natives  on  the  I9th,  insuring  the  safety  of 
himself  and  party.  Nindeman  and  Noros, 
of  DeLong's  party,  reached  Bolonenga, 
Siberia,  Oct.  29,  and  were  saved.  Chipp 
and  party  have  not  been  heard  of. 

LEOXtiRD  BACON. 

1881.  Dec.  24.  Rev.  Dr.  Leonard 
Bacon,  for  over  forty  years  pastor  of  the 
Center  Congregational  Church,  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  and  widely  known  for 
his  varied  gifts  of  mind,  died  at  New 
Haven,  aged  eighty.  His  mental  and 
bodily  vigor  was  maintained  to  the  last. 

Dr.  Bacon  was  born  in  Detroit,  Mich., 
Feb.  19,  1802,  of  David  and  Alice  Bacon. 
The  father  was  a  missionary  to  the  Ojib- 
ewa  Indians,  but  removed  to  the  Western 
Reserve  in  Ohio  in  1804,  and  helped  tc 
found  the  town  of  Tallmadge.  Leonard 
was  sent  in  1812  to  his  uncle,  Leonard 
Bacon  of  Hartford,  to  be  educated.  He 
graduated  at  Yale  in  1820,  and  went  to 
Andover  to  study  theology,  graduating 


in  1824,  He  was  settled  over  the  Center 
Church  in  1825,  and  continued  in  full 
labor  till  1866,  when  he  was  made  pastor 
emeritus.  From  1866  to  1871  he  served 
as  acting  professor  of  revealed  theology 
in  Yale  Theological  Seminary,  and  after 
that  became  lecturer  upon  ecclesiastical 
polity  and  American  church  historv. 
He  lectured  upon  questions  of  ecclesias- 
tical jurisprudence  in  the  Yale  Law 
School.  But  his  labors  were  abundant 
beyond  his  routine  duties.  He  had  great 
breadth  of  mind,  fertility  of  resource,  and 
productive  power.  He  early  became  in- 
terested in  the  subject  of  slavery  and  be- 
gan to  discuss  it  in  public  essays  in  1833. 
A  collection  of  them  was  published  in 
1846.  A  copy  of  the  book  was  sent  to 
Dr.  Bacon's  uncle,  Beaumont  Parks,  who 
lived  in  Springfield,  Illinois.  Mr.  Parks 
loaned  the  volume  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  and 
the  latter  told  friends  of  Dr.  Bacon  years 
afterward,  that  his  views  on  the  subject 
of  slavery  were  first  settled  into  convic- 
tions by  reading  that  book.  Its  clear 
reasoning  aided  the  mind  of  the  future 
president  in  coming  to  conclusions  upon 
this  great  matter.  Such  a  work  so  well 
accomplished  was  a  work  in  season. 
Another  of  Dr.  Bacon's  writings  came 
into  notoriety  through  another  channel. 
The  work  was  entitled  "  The  Address  of 
the  Christian  Alliance,"  and  drew  forth 
a  papal  bull  from  Pope  Gregory  XVI., 
who  put  it  on  the  Index  Expurgatorius. 
Dr.  Bacon  was  a  constant  contributor  to 
the  "Christian  Spectator"  for  sixteen  years 
from  1822.  He  helped  to  found  "The 
New  Englander"  in  1843  anf^  ^as  contrib- 
uted over  a  hundred  articles  to  its  pages 
since  then.  In  1850,  with  Rev.  Dr.  R.  S. 
Storrs  and  Dr.  J.  P.  Thompson,  he  found- 
ed "The  Independent"  and  was  editorially 
with  it  for  years.  Yale  College  ap- 


1877-1881.] 

pointed  him  professor  of  rhetoric  in  1839, 
but  he  refused  the  place.  He  was  a 
prominent  candidate  for  the  presidency 
of  the  college  at  the  time  when  Dr. 
Woolsey  was  elected.  He  published  a 
"Life  of  Richard  Baxter,"  a  "Manual 
for  Young  Church  Members,"  a  work 
entitled  "Thirteen  Historical  Discourses 
•on  the  Completion  of  Two  Hundred 
Years  from  the  Beginning  of  the  First 
Church  in  New  HaVen,"  "  Christian 
Self  Culture,"  "Introductory  Essay  to 
Conybeare  and  Howson's  Life  of  St. 
Paul,"  and  his  best  work  entitled  "  Gen- 
esis of  the  New  England  Churches." 
The  latter  is  a  standard  book  on  New 
England  history. 

All  this  gives  little  idea  of  his  activity. 
During  the  early  years  of  the  slavery 
agitation  he  was  full  of  the  theme,  and 
in  press  and  pulpit  took  his  position,  and 
was  constantly  and  widely  influential  in 
"the  struggle.  In  conventions,  associa- 
tions and  gatherings,  both  religious  and 
historical,  he  was  always  present  and 
active.  His  services  in  these  respects 
were  innumerable  and  invaluable.  His 
directness,  clearness,  and  inimitable  wit 
in  debate  secured  for  him  a  close  atten- 
tion at  all  times.  He  did  not  have  the 
so-called  graces  of  oratory, but  his  strength 
as  a  speaker  and  preacher  lay  in  his 
powerful  reasoning  and  pithy  statements. 
He  had  some  of  the  qualities  of  a  poet, 
and  these  appeared  in  many  of  his  public 
utterances.  But  his  leading  qualities 
were  of  the  journalistic  order.  These 
made  him  the  man  of  wide  usefulness 
that  he  was.  He  wrote  the  purest  Eng- 
lish and  possessed  a  kindly  heart.  He 
was  helpful  to  the  young  men  who  be- 
came acquainted  with  him,  and  led  some 
of  them  up  to  larger  lives.  He  believed 
that  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  should  enter 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


975 


very  variously  into  the  moral  and  literary 
work  of  the  world,  and  exemplified  the 
idea  successfully  in  his  own  life.  His 
own  usefulness  took  a  wide  and  power- 
ful hold  on  his  generation.  He  preached 
his  last  sermon  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  a 
month  before  his  death,  and  was  in  the 
pulpit  of  Center  Church  on  the  Sabbath 
before  his  death.  He  lectured  in  the 
Theological  Seminary  for  the  last  time 
on  Thursday.  He  retired  on  Friday 
evening  as  usual,  and  was  taken  quite 
early  on  Saturday  morning  with  the  at- 
tack which  after  a  few  hours  of  suffering 
removed  him  from  the  world. 

His  first  wife,  Miss  Lucy  Johnston,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  1825,  died  in 
1843.  In  1847  Miss  Catharine  E.Terry 
of  Hartford,  became  his  wife,  and  sur- 
vives him.  He  had  fourteen  children 
five  of  whom  died  before  him.  His  sons, 
Rev.  L.  W.  Bacon,  D.  D.,  of  Norwich, 
Rev.  E.  W.  Bacon  of  New  London, 
Rev.  T.  R.  Bacon  of  New  Haven,  Dr. 
Francis  Bacon,  of  New  Haven,  with 
their  brothers  Arthur  and  Theodore  Ba- 
con, lawyers,  served  as  pall  bearers  at 
the  funeral  service. 

Dr.  Bacon  had  moulded  a  great  many 
minds  and  still  lives  in  the  great  thoughts 
and  onward  movements  of  his  country. 
Few  men  have  had  a  larger  and  better 
usefulness  than  he.  His  works  for  men 
were  full  of  strength,  and  his  character 
was  a  testimony  to  the  truth  of  the  things 
he  believed. 

ATLANTA  COTTON  EXPOSITION- 

1881.  Dec.  31.  The  great  Cotton 
Exposition  which  was  opened  on  Octo- 
ber 5th,  was  closed  after  a  most  success- 
ful exhibition.  This  was  the  leading  ex- 
hibition of  the  country  during  1881,  in 
fact,  the  most  extensive  and  significant 


976 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


one  held  since  the  Centennial  Exposition 
at  Philadelphia  in  1876.  It  prophecies 
the  great  coming  prosperity  of  the 
Southern  States. 

The  exposition  was  not  planned  very 
long  beforehand.  The  conception  of  it 
was  largely  due  to  Mr.  Edward  Atkinson 
of  Boston,  the  eminent  student  of  finance 
and  statistics  of  all  kinds.  He  had  been 
traveling  through  the  South  and  study- 
ing its  products  and  capabilities.  He 
plainly  saw  that  a  new  era  lay  before 
those  States.  He  therefore  recommended 
to  some  of  his  acquaintances  there,  the 
holding  of  a  national  exhibition  of  in- 
dustry with  special  reference  to  putting 
before  the  world  the  products  of  the 
South,  and  the  interest  developing  there 
in  manufacturing.  The  idea  was  seized 
upon  by  those  men  who  felt  that  the  ag- 
ricultural products  of  the  South  ought  to 
be  manufactured  in  the  same  place.  At- 
lanta, Georgia,  a  city  of  40,000  inhabi- 
tants, at  once  sought  the  honor  of  its  lo- 
cation. Great  zeal,  unanimity,  and  de- 
light were  shown  in  the  project.  Sen- 
ator Brown  was  made  president  of  the 
company  put  in  charge  of  the  affairs  of 
the  exposition.  It  is  a  wonder  that  in  so 
short  a  time  so  much  by  way  of  prepa- 
ration could  be  done.  The  whole  scheme 
was  put  into  execution  between  February 
and  October,  and  on  opening  day  the  ex- 
hibition was  comparatively  complete  in 
all  its  arrangements.  Ground  was  broken 
for  the  buildings  about  the  first  of  June. 

The  sum  of  $150,000  was  first  raised 
for  buildings  and  expenses.  Atlanta 
gave  $50,000,  Boston  $10,000,  New 
York  $40,000,  Philadelphia  $12,000, 
Baltimore  $8,000.  When  it  became  evi- 
dent that  more  room  must  be  had  for  the 
numerous  exhibitors  from  all  parts  of  the 
country,  $50,000  additional  were  raised. 


The  location  of  the  exposition  was  in 
Oglethorpe  Park,  just  outside  Atlanta. 
Grounds  were  laid  off  so  as  to  permit  the 
growing  of  crops  of  cotton,  sugar-cane, 
rice  and  other  products,  and  the  large 
exposition  building  was  reared  in  the 
form  of  two  large  buildings  crossing  each 
other  at  the  center.  One  was  720  feet 
long  and  80  feet  wide.  The  other  was 
400  feet  long  by  So  feet  wide.  There 
were  two  additions,  one  100  feet  square, 
and  a  second  180  feet  by  70.  The  origi- 
nal idea  was  to  have  simply  an  exhibition 
of  cotton,  but  it  was  found  that  the  in- 
terests of  the  South  would  be  but  poorly 
represented  if  that  were  the  case.  The 
plan  was  therefore  broadened  and  ar- 
rangements were  made  for  other  pro- 
ducts, for  minerals  and  woods  and  for  art 
deposits.  Exhibitions  of  fruits  and  flow- 
ers, cattle  and  mules,  of  sheep  and  swine, 
of  dogs,  of  poultry,  and  of  dairy  pro- 
ducts, were  arranged  for  by  setting  apart 
special  days  for  them  respectively. 

On  October  27th,  a  reception  of  visit- 
ing governors  was  held  in  the  exposition 
building.  The  governors  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Kentucky,  North  Carolina  and 
Connecticut,  together  with  ex-governor 
Bross  of  Illinois,  were  shown  around  the 
exhibition  and  afterward  taken  into  the 
presence  of  a  large  audience  in  the  main 
hall,  where  addresses  were  made.  Gov- 
ernor Colquitt,  of  Georgia,  presided. 
During  the  day  while  the  governors  were 
examining  the  exhibit  cotton  was  picked 
from  the  plants  on  the  grounds,  ginned, 
spun,  and  woven  for  two  suits  of  clothes 
one  of  which  was  given  to  Governor 
Colquitt,  and  the  other  to  Governor 
Bigelow.  The  addresses  of  the  day 
contained  many  hearty  references  to 
the  beneficial  effects  of  labor  and  the 
development  of  industries  of  all  kinds, 


1877-1882.]  THE    VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 

also  to  the  better  relations  which  the  ex- 
hibition would  assist  in  bringing  about 
between  the  North  and  South.  Other 
gatherings  were  held  at  other  times  dur- 
ing the  fair,  with  similar  results  of  good 
will.  Thousands  of  people  from  all 
parts  of  the  Union  visited  Atlanta  during 
the  Exposition.  All  were  convinced  that 
the  South  held  immense  resources  which 
had  never  been  unfolded.  The  exhibi- 
tion was  comparatively  meager  in  finished 
products,  but  was  rich  in  processes  of 
manufacture.  This  was  the  great  end 
sought  and  attained.  Hence  it  was  not 
so  interesting  to  one  who  cared  only  to 
see  the  thing  which  had  been  turned  out, 
and  cared  not  for  the  ingenuity  displayed 
along  the  way.  The  exhibition  surprised 
Southerners  themselves,  who  had  always 
had  a  feeling  that  their  section  of  the 
country  was  the  richest  of  all,  but  who, 
when  they  saw  the  import  of  what  was 
piled  up  before  them,  were  convinced  that 
the  half  had  not  been  known  to  them. 
"Within  a  radius  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  from  Mount  Mitchell,  the  highest 
mountain  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
may  be  found  every  mineral  which  con- 
tributes to  the  arts,  and  every  variety  of 
timber  which  grows  between  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico." 
The  exhibition  proved  that  the  South  has 
its  eye  upon  these  treasures  and  is 
going  to  be  progressive  in  developing 
them. 


977 


JOHX  WILLIAM  DRAPER. 

1882.  Jan.  4.  Prof.  J.  W.  Draper 
died  at  his  home,  at  Hastings-on-Hudson 
in  his  yist  year.  He  was  born  near 
Liverpool,  England,  May  5th,  i8n,and 
his  early  schooling  was  in  England. 
He  came  to  the  United  States  where 
many  of  his  relations  were,  when  twenty - 

62 


two  years  old.  He  had  already  well 
developed  his  special  tastes  in  physical 
science  by  prolonged  and  patient  study. 
After  he  reached  America  he  studied 
medicine  at  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, graduating  in  1835  with  honor. 
Before  a  great  while  he  went  to  Hamp- 
den-Sidney  College,  Virginia,  under  ap- 
pointment as  professor  of  Chemistry, 
Physics,  and  Physiology.  He  continued 
here  till  1839,  when  he  became  associated 
with  the  University  of  the  City  of  New 
York  for  the  rest  of  his  life.  During 
his  first  professorship  he  began  the  re- 
searches which  were  ever  after  a  part  of 
his  life.  He  was  watchful  of  advances 
in  science  and  was  among  the  pioneers 
in  several  directions.  The  first  successful 
daguerreotype  ever  taken  was  produced 
by  him  of  his  sister.  He  investigated 
the  problems  of  spectrum  analysis,  but 
failed  to  reach  the  result  for  which  the 
world  was  waiting.  The  first  photo- 
graph of  a  celestial  object  ever  known 
to  be  taken  was  taken  by  him.  He  pre- 
pared text-books  on  Chemistry  and 
Natural  History,  and  continued  his  re- 
searches into  Light  with  such  success 
that  he  was  given  the  Rumford  medal  in 
1876,  one  of  the  highest  honors  in 
science. 

But  the  wide  ability  and  attainments 
of  Prof.  Draper  are  only  seen  in  full 
when  we  recollect  that  he  wrote  a  "  His- 
tory of  the  Intellectual  Development  of 
Europe,"  a  work  which  has  been  re- 
published  in  whole  or  in  parts,  in 
many  foreign  languages.  His  peculiar 
views  of  human  development  were  set 
forth  in  this  work,  as  he  himself  says 
that  it  was  intended  to  show  that  social 
advancement  is  as  completely  under  con- 
trol of  natural  law  as  is  bodily  growth. 
"The  life  of  an  individual  is  a  miniature 


978 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


of  the  life  of  a  nation."  He  studied  his- 
tory through  physiology.  Dr.  Draper's 
large  powers  of  generalization  were  ap- 
parent in  all  this  work,  and  it  received 
eminent  praise  abroad.  He  issued  a 
"  History  of  the  American  Civil  War," 
also  at  a  later  date  a  "History  of  the  Con- 
flict between  Science  and  Religion,"  the 
latter  of  which  has  done  much  to  bring 
his  views  into  disrepute  with  candid,  fair- 
minded  judges.  It  has  been  the  one 
publication  which  has  caused  Dr.  Draper 
to  be  most  widely  talked  about.  It  is  a 
one-sided  but  skilful  presentation  of  the 
attempts  of  religionists  to  crush  scientific 
investigation.  The  gifts  of  Dr.  Draper 
were  eminent  in  the  line  of  physical 
pursuits,  but  though  he  had  great  power 
of  generalization,  he  failed  where  so  many 
scientists  fail  in  true  breadth  outside  of  the 
realm  of  his  purely  scientific  examination. 
Fot  eight  months  he  had  been  ill  but 

O 

not  dangerously  so  in  the  opinion  of  his 
friends.  His  death  came  unexpectedly 
at  last,  and  brought  a  great  loss  upon  the 
scientific  world. 

RICHARD  HENRY  DANA. 

1882.  Jan.  6.  Richard  Henry  Dana, 
the  widely  known  lawyer  and  author, 
died  in  Rome,  Italy,  of  pneumonia,  the 
result  of  a  cold  caught  during  a  visit  to 
the  Basilica  of  St.  Paul's.  He  was  born 
in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  Aug.  i,  1815,  and 
was  consequently  in  his  6yth  year.  He 
was  the  son  of  the  eminent  poet  and  es- 
sayist of  the  same  name,  who  died  in 
1879,  at  an  advanced  age.  The  family  is 
one  of  culture,  and  the  son  was  one  of 
the  representatives  of  the  highest  intel- 
lectual and  social  life  of  the  United 
States.  His  grandfather,  Francis  Dana, 
was  chief-justice  of  Massachusetts  for 
fifteen  years. 


Richard  Henry  Dana,  Jr.,  received  a 
full  scholastic  training  and  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1837.  He  to°k  a  sea  voy- 
age during  his  collegiate  career  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health,  chiefly  an  eye  troublev 
and  recorded  his  experience  in  a  book, 
which  is  one  of  the  most  popular  of  the 
kind  ever  written,  entitled,  "  Two  Years 
Before  the  Mast."  Between  his  gradu- 
ation and  his  admission  to  the  bar  in 
Boston,  in  1840,  he  was  engaged  in  the 
study  of  law,  but  also  assisted  in  the  de- 
partment of  rhetoric  at  Harvard,  under 
Prof.  Channing.  His  attention  was  soon 
given  quite  exclusively  to  admiralty  cases, 
in  the  management  of  which  he  became 
very  speedily  a  leading  authority.  He 
published  in  1841  a  little  book  entitled 
"  The  Seaman's  Friend,"  containing  sea 
laws  and  customs.  His  law  practice  grew 
and  he  was  engaged  in  some  very  im- 
portant cases  during  the  succeeding  years. 
In  1861  he  was  appointed  United  States 
Attorney  for  Massachusetts,  and  con- 
ducted the  prize  cases  which  arose  during 
the  war  period  with  eminent  ability, 
laying  down  principles  which  were  after- 
ward established  in  all  the  U.  S.  courts. 
In  1867-8  he  was  counsel  for  the  United 
States  in  the  proceedings  against  Jefferson 
Davis.  He  edited  an  edition  of  Whea- 
ton's  "  International  Law."  This  was 
the  field  in  which  he  loved  to  work.  His 
views  in  it  were  comprehensive,  and  his 
last  residence  in  Europe  was  for  the  sake 
of  study  and  reflection  in  preparing  a 
complete  work  upon  this  subject. 

His  literary  abilities  were  also  of  a 
high  order,  as  can  be  seen  in  the  work 
issued  during  his  college  course.  "  To 
Cuba  and  Back  "  was  issued  by  him  in 
1869.  Biographical  sketches  of  Edward 
Channing  and  Washington  Allston  were 

o  o 

among  his  productions.     But    the  finish 


1877-1882.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


979 


and  power  of  his  ability  were  seen  in 
public  orations.  As  an  illustration  his 
eulogy  upon  Edward  Everett  is  most 
noticeable. 

His  political  career  was  an  honorable 
one,  in  length  and  quality  of  service. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  Free-Soilers,  and 
labored  in  that  line  with  his  coadjutors 
till  the  Republican  party  was  formed, 
when  he  took  an  active  part  in  establish- 
ing and  supporting  it  until  1872.  He 
assisted  on  the  side  of  freedom  in  the 
slave  cases  of  Shadrack  and  Anthony 
Burns  in  1853-4.  In  1876  Gen.  Grant 
nominated  him  to  succeed  Schenk  as 
Minister  to  Great  Britain,  but  the  Senate 
rejected  him,  much  to  their  own  dis- 
grace. Mr.  Dana  planned  henceforth 
to  carry  out  some  cherished  schemes  of 
study.  He  went  to  Europe  with  his 
family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  two 
daughters.  The  usefulness  of  Mr.  Dana 
was  very  wide  and  varied.  His  life  was 
an  upright  and  true  one.  His  religious 
connection  was  with  the  Episcopal 
Church,  which  he  aided  very  much  by 
his  wisdom.  He  was  prominent  in  its 
affairs  for  many  years.  Such  a  life  adds 
strength  to  all  the  demands  for  education 
and  culture  of  the  highest  kind  that  pos- 
terity may  have  the  Inheritance  of  gener- 
ations of  usefulness  for  their  possession 
and  their  stimulus.  The  "  London  Pall 
Mail  Gazette"  says  of  Mr.  Dana  since  his 
death,  "He  was  one  of  the  first  Ameri- 
can lawyers,  and  how  much  that  means 
is  beginning  to  be  known  to  those  who 
have  witnessed  the  singularly  brilliant 
career  of  Mr.  Benjamin  at  our  own  bar." 

JOHN  COTTON  SMITH. 

1882.  Jan.  9.  Rev.  Dr.  John  Cot- 
ton Smith,  one  of  the  foremost  men  in 
the  American  Episcopal  ministry,  died  in 


New  York,  aged  55  years.  He  gradu- 
ated at  Bowdoin  College,  Brunswick, 
Maine,  and,  after  preparing  for  the  min- 
istry, he  was  settled  over  Trinity  Church, 
Boston,  the  church  now  widely  known 
as  being  under  the  charge  of  Phillips 
Brooks,  as  rector.  Here  he  remained 
seven  years  and  then  entered  upon  his 
pastorate  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension 
in  New  York.  Bishop  Eastburn  of 
Massachusetts,  and  later  Bishop  Bedell 
of  Ohio,  preceded  Dr.  Smith  in  the 
charge  of  that  church.  Dr.  Smith  was 
scholarly  yet  full  of  sympathy  and  varied 
labors  for  the  people  under  his  care.  His 
abilities  as  a  writer  and  speaker  were 
large,  and  his  tastes  pure  and  worthy. 
His  influence  wide  in  his  own  denomina- 
tion and  reached  beyond  its  bounds  in 
many  directions.  His  culture  was  truly 
Christian. 

GUITEtiU'S  TRIAL. 

1882.  Jan.  25.  The  trial  of  Charles 
Jules  Guiteau,  for  the  murder  of  Presi- 
dent Garfield,  closed  with  the  verdict  of 
"Guilty  as  indicted."  Guiteau  was  ar- 
raigned Nov.  I4th,  before  the  District 
Supreme  Court  of  Washington  and  the 
trial  had  been  proceeding  since  that  time. 

The  murderer  of  the  president  had 
been  seized  upon  the  spot  where  the  ter- 
rible deed  was  executed.  He  was  hur- 
ried away  to  jail,  but  it  was  soon  known 
who  the  miscreant  was.  A  wretched 
life  history  was  brought  to  light.  Gui- 
teau had  been  known  by  the  boarding- 
house  keepers  of  Washington  as  a  man 
who  seemed  to  have  no  means  of  support 
and  little  money  except  what  he  could 
borrow,  but  was  relying  on  great  re- 
sources to  come.  From  a  boy  he  had 
been  drifting  around  the  world  in  a  silly, 
conceited  way.  His  parents  lived  at 


980 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


Freeport,  Illinois,  and  at  one  time  joined 
the  Oneida  Community  in  New  York. 
The  son  Charles  staid  in  the  Commu- 
nity longer  than  his  parents  did,  for  they 
do  not  seem  to  have  found  the  place 
congenial  and  left  in  a  little  while.  The 
son  in  later  years  ran  a  course  as  a  law- 
yer in  the  cities  of  New  York,  Chicago 
and  Milwaukee.  In  all  these  places  he 


were  to  be  changed  by  his  utterances  and 
writings.  He  advertised  himself  as  "  the 
Hon.  Charles  J.  Guiteau,  the  eloquent 
Chicago  lawyer, "  and  announced  his  lec- 
ture as  "  an  address  of  profound  thought, 
highly  praised  by  the  Eastern  press. " 
He  made  himself  a  nuisance  with  the 
owners  of  halls  and  hotel-keepers.  His 
bills  were  very  frequently  unpaid.  His 


THE  ASSASSIN   GUITBAU. 


impressed  those  who  knew  him  as  being 
a  very  peculiar,  eccentric,  cranky  man. 
Intermingled  with  these  efforts  to  obtain 
a  foothold  as  a  lawyer  were  various  ef- 
forts to  come  before  the  people  as  a  lec- 
turer and  an  author  upon  religious  topics, 
especially  upon  the  second  coming  of 
Christ.  All  his  attempts  in  this  direc- 
tion were  evidently  made  in  the  full  belief 
that  the  religious  views  of  the  generation 


chief  venture  in  the  publishing  way  was 
a  book  entitled  "  Truth,  A  Compan- 
ion to  the  Bible. "  His  legal  oddities  in 
New  York  were  exposed  by  the  "  Her- 
ald," and  he  afterward  instituted  a  suit 
against  James  Gordon  Bennett  for  libel. 
It  seems  that  he  would  take  a  claim  to 
collect  upon  condition  of  having  half  of 
it,  would  then,  if  the  debtor  was  not  will- 
ing to  pay,  offer  to  settle  with  him  for 


1877-1882.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


981 


half  the  claim,  and  if  accepted,  take  the 
money  as  his  half  of  the  sum  due,  and 
hand  over  nothing  to  his  client.  He  was 
subject  to  arrest  once  or  twice  and  became 
a.  very  unwelcome,  distrusted  man.  It 
was  still  thought  that  he  was  harmless, 
and  that  his  cranky  disposition  would 
find  vent  in  these  ways  without  great 
harm  to  any  one.  It  is  said  that  mem- 
bers of  his  own  family  have  thought  him 
insane,  and  upon  his  trial  for  murder  his 
relatives  showed  that  they  believed  this 
theory  of  his  crime.  He  at  one  time, 
while  living  with  his  sister,  Mrs.  Scoville, 
threatened  to  kill  her  but  did  not  pursue 
the  plan.  In  1871  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Bond,  of  Philadelphia,  but  she 
was  afterward  divorced  from  him. 
Through  various  crookednesses  he 
finally  reached  the  fall  of  1880,  when  he 
seems  to  have  taken  more  interest  in 
the  politics  of  the  country  than  ever 
before.  He  sought  the  company  of 
politicians,  and  prepared  a  speech  which 
he  thought  would  aid  the  election  of 
Garfield;  in  fact,  after  the  election 
was  over  he  took  great  pride  in  the 
aid  which  he  had  afforded  the  campaign, 
and  proposed  to  solicit  an  appointment  to 
some  important  foreign  mission  as  a  re- 
ward to  himself.  His  so-called  aid  in  the 
campaign  was  worthless  and  unrecog- 
nized. He  had  no  place  in  it  except  as  a 
deputy  of  the  lowest  possible  grade,  and 
that  by  his  own  arrangement,  and  in  his 
own  manner. 

But  this  did  not  affect  him.  He  must 
have  a  mission  and  therefore  began  to 
hang  around  Washington  and  follow 
President  Garfield's  footsteps  in  order  to 
secure  his  wish.  After  setting  his  am- 
bition upon  the  mission  to  England  or 
to  some  continental  nation,  he  finally 
condescended  to  ask  for  the  Paris  con- 


sulate. By  these  requests  he  annoyed 
Pres.  Garfield  and  Sec.  Blaine  until  his 
passions  began  to  be  aroused,  when  he 
came  to  understand  at  last  that  nothing 
would  be  done  for  him.  Then  he 
rose  in  his  conceit  to  the  position  of  a 
political  adjuster,  and  in  detecting  the 
disturbances  within  the  Republican 
party,  he  saw  as  he  fancied,  his  great 
opportunity  to  save  the  nation.  His 
spite  turned  against  Pres.  Garfield, 
whom  he  declared  to  himself  he  must  re- 
move. His  scheming  began  and,  after 
being  followed  for  the  weeks  of  the  early 
summer,  was  successful  in  the  terrible 
way  now  known  to  all  the  world  and  la- 
mented everywhere.  He  had  accom- 
plished his  fell  aesign  and  wreaked  his 
revenge  upon  the  worthy  chief  magis- 
trate of  the  nation. 

It  was  found  after  the  assassination 
that  Guiteau  had  gone  to  the  jail  previ- 
ously to  his  deed  and  examined  it,  and 
had  engaged  a  carriage  to  take  him  thith- 
er. His  aim  in  this  seemed  to  be  to  pro- 
tect him  from  the  fury  of  the  people. 
He  judged  rightly  in  feeling  that  they 
would  be  passionately  aroused  by  the 
deed  and  that  his  life  would  not  be  safe 
for  a  moment  if  he  were  within  their 
reach.  But  he  judged  wrongly  in  think- 
ing that  there  would  ever  be  a  reaction 
in  his  favor.  It  came  out  again  and 
again  upon  his  trial  that  he  supposed  the 
people  were  turning  toward  him  with 
profound  admiration. 

Immediately  after  his  incarceration  he 
was  closely  examined  by  D5st.-Attorney 
Corkhill,  and  the  chief  facts  in  his  scheme 
of  shooting  the  president  were  brought 
out  as  recorded  in  the  story  of  the  assas- 
sination. At  first  it  was  thought  that 
there  must  be  a  conspiracy  behind  the 
deed.  There  was  great  uncertainty  as 


982 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


to  the  extent  of  it.  But  finally  it  became 
clear  that  however  much  the  crime  might 
be  due  to  political  entanglements,  it  was 
not  due  directly  to  any  politicians  them- 
selves. Guiteau's  curious  note  to  Gen- 
eral Sherman  showed  the  crookedness  of 
his  mind,  but  could  not  be  taken  as  proof 
that  any  one  had  counseled  him  to  do  the 
deed.  The  note  was  as  follows  : 

"To  GENERAL  SHERMAN:  I  have 
just  shot  the  president.  I  shot  him  sev- 
eral times  as  I  wished  him  to  die  as  easily 
as  possible.  His  death  was  a  political 
necessity.  I  am  a  lawyer,  theologian 
and  politician.  I  am  a  Stalwart  of  the 
Stalwarts.  I  was  with  Gen.  Grant  and 
the  rest  of  our  men  in  New  York  during 
the  canvass.  I  am  going  to  the  jail. 
Please  order  out  the  troops  and  take  pos- 
session of  the  jail  at  once. 

"Very  respectfully, 

"CHARLES  GUITEAU." 

Similar  sentiments  were  avowed  in 
a  letter  found  on  his  person  directed  to 
the  White  House.  In  the  latter  he  stated 
that  "the  death  of  the  president  will 
unite  the  Republican  party  and  save  the 
republic."  This  he  reiterated  in  conver- 
sation afterward  with  visitors  to  his  cell. 

Guiteau  soon  began  to  have  callers 
and  grew  quite  elated  at  the  attention 
paid  to  him.  He  showed  himself  to  be 
a  vain,  unsettled  man  in  all  that  people 
had  to  do  with  him.  Time  wore  away 
with  him  day  after  day  in  various  em- 
ployments. He  busied  himself  in  writing 
a  great  deal.  He  prepared  statements 
for  the  press,  accounts  of  his  life,  etc.,  etc. 
His  nervousness  about  his  situation  was 
apparent  at  all  time?,  and  occasions  took 
place  when  he  exhibited  abject  coward- 
ice. The  attempt  of  Sergeant  Mason  to 
shoot  him  produced  this  condition  in 
great  measure.  This  attempt  was  made 


on  the  evening  of  Sept.  10,  at  the  change 
of  guard.  A  company  under  Captain 
McGilfray  went  upon  guard  at  that  time. 
When  the  carriage  containing  Sergeant 
Mason  reached  the  jail,  he  getting  out 
fired  his  rifle  almost  immediately  at  the 
•window  of  the  cell  in  which  Guiteau  was 
known  to  be.  Mason  did  not  attempt  to 
run,  but  waited  the  approach  of  his  cap- 
tain, and  said  to  him,  "  I  fired  the  shot, 
captain,  and  I  intended  to  kill  the  scoun- 
drel. I  did  not  enlist  to  guard  an  assas- 
sin." The  ball  was  found  to  have  en- 
tered the  cell,  passed  near  Guiteau  and 
frightened  him  exceedingly.  He  had 
previously  trusted  United  States  soldiers, 
but  now  he  did  not  know  whom, to  trust. 
His  terror  was  very  great.  When  found 
in  the  cell,  he  was  huddled  down  in  one 
corner.  Mason  was  immediately  impris- 
oned, and  during  the  winter  had  his  trial 
which  resulted  in  a  sentence  of  eight 
years'  hard  labor  in  the  penitentiary,  to- 
gether with  dismissal  from  the  army. 
This  sentence  was  met  with  indignation 
all  over  the  country,  and  many  had  be- 
lieved that  he  would  come  off  with  a 
merely  nominal  sentence.  Petitions  were 
at  once  circulated  and  received  thousands 
of  signatures,  but  it  seems  as  if  many 
must  have  acted  hastily  in  signing,  for- 
getting that  the  use  by  Sergeant  Mason- 
of  his  privilege  as  a  guard  to  do  that 
which,  if  accomplished,  would  have  been 
a  disgrace  to  the  nation,  was  a  use  which 
ought  to  be  heartily  condemned.  His 
duty  to  guard  was  a  sacred  one,  and  no 
one  against  whom  the  people  may  uprise 
is  to  be  safe  if  his  guards  are  to  take  his 
life  without  fear. 

Guiteau  finally  recovered  his  confidence 
to  a  partial  extent,  though  he  was  always 
ready  upon  any  slight  appearance  of 
danger  to  cower  before  it  in  mortal  terror. 


1877-1882.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LfFE. 


983 


At  last,  after  some  delays,  the  morn- 
ing came  when  it  was  announced  in  court 
that  they  were  ready  to  proceed  with  the 
trial.  Guiteau  was  represented  by  Geo. 
M.  Scoville  of  Chicago,  his  brother-in- 
law,  and  Mr.  Leigh  Robinson,  whom  the 
court  had  appointed  to  assist.  The  latter 
requested  that  the  case  might  be  post- 
poned five  days.  But  this  was  unexpect- 
ed by  Mr.  Scoville  and  by  Guiteau,  and 
was  disapproved 
by  them.  The 
latter  rose  ex- 
citedly and  de- 
c  1  a  r  e  d  that  he 
would  not  have 
Robinson  on  the 
case.  Judge  Cox 
decided  that  the 
trial  could  p  r  o- 
ceed,  and  this  led 
to  fit  rt  her  dis- 
agreement, so 
that  subsequently 
Robinson  asked 
to  be  relieved 
from  the  case 
entirely.  His 
wish  was  grant- 
ed. Judge  J.  K. 
Porter  of  New 
York  and  Mr. 
Davidge  of  the 
District  were  to 
assist  District-Attorney  Corkhill.  The 
work  of  obtaining  jurors  began  and 
proceeded  very  slowly,  because  so  many 
men  had  formed  opinions  which  they 
were  obliged  to  confess  were  decisive. 
Several  hundred  men  were  examined 
before  twelve  could  be  found  to  serve. 
Judge  Cox  ruled  that  the  previous 
formation  of  an  opinion  need  not 
necessarily  exclude  a  man,  if  he  could 


JUDGE  J.    D.    COX. 


declare  that  he  was  open  to  further  evi- 
dence. The  jury  was  completed  on 
Wednesday.  On  Thursday  the  case  for 
the  government  was  opened  by  Attorney 
Corkhill,  who  gave  a  detailed  account  of 
the  circumstances  of  the  deed  in  such  a 
way  as  to  show  a  long-premeditated  act, 
instigated  by  disappointment  in  politics. 
A  few  witnesses  were  brought  forward 
and  the  case  given  to  the  defense. 

When  Guiteau 
was  being 
brought  from  the 
jail  to  the  court- 
house  in  the 
p  r  i  s  o  n-v  a  n  ,  a 
large,  closely  in- 
closed omnibus, 
a  man  on  horse- 
back followed  for 
a  distance  and 
finally,  riding  up 
by  the  side  of  the 
van,  discharged  a 
pistol  into  it.  He 
had  not  correctly 
calculated  the  po- 
sition of  the  pris- 
oner, so  that  the 
ball  did  no  harm. 
The  assailant 
then  rode  on 
swiftly  and  es- 
caped, although 
the  policemen  fired  their  pistols  after 
him.  Great  excitement  was  produced. 
A  man  named  William  Jones  was  ar- 
rested, but  was  afterward  discharged 
because  they  could  not  identify  him. 

Among  the  witnesses  for  the  prose- 
cution were  Sec.  Blaine,  Dr.  Bliss,  Mr. 
Brown,  who  was  Pres.  Garfield's  private 
secretary,  and  Mr.  Maynard,  who  loaned 
Guiteau  money. 


984 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


Mr.  Scoville  opened  the  case  for  the 
defense  with  an  ingenious  plea,  claiming 
that  the  prisoner  was  insane.  Guiteau 
made  several  statements  during  the  first 
few  days  of  the  trial,  declaring  that  "  the 
pressure  of  the  Deity"  made  him  commit 
the  deed.  Upon  this  he  insisted  all 
through  the  long,  weary  trial.  Judge 
Cox  was  greatly  annoyed  by  the  numer- 
ous interruptions  by  the  prisoner,  and  de- 
clared that  Gui- 
teau should  be 
gagged  if  he  con- 
tinued  to  be 
noisy.  But  later 
in  the  trial  Judge 
Cox  said  very 
little  about  the 
noise,  and  was 
severely  con- 
demned in  many 
quarters.  But  it 
was  afterward 
shown  that  he 
had  taken  that 
course  deliberate- 
ly after  consulta- 
t  i  o  n  with  his 
associates,  who 
advised  it  for  the 
sake  of  letting 
certain  experts 
judge  whether 
the  prisoner  was 
truly  insane  or  not.  Guiteau  was  ac- 
cordingly watched  closely  by  a  large 
number  of  physicians  from  all  parts 
of  the  country,  the  most  of  them  being 
connected  with  institutions  for  the  insane, 
and  all  of  them  having  been  students  of 
the  insane.  When  they  came  to  testify, 
they  gave  it  as  their  almost  unanimous 
opinion  that  the  prisoner  was  responsible 
for  his  acts  on  July  2d. 


GEO.    M.   SCOVILLE. 


Guiteau  was  put  upon  the  stand  and 
kept  there  a  long  time  in  giving  testimo- 
ny. He  gave  many  details  of  his  life, 
with  opinions  upon  politics,  and  made  a 
great  deal  of  talk  about  his  theory  that 
he  was  inspired  by  the  Almighty  to  do 
the  deed  for  which  he  was  being  tried. 
He  was  very  abusive  in  his  replies  to 
Judge  Porter,  who  conducted  his  exami- 
nation for  the  prosecution.  Witnesses 
were  called  from 
Freeport,  111.,  and 
by  their  testimo- 
ny weakened  any 
claim  the  pris- 
oner might  have 
to  hereditary  in- 
sani  ty.  Mrs. 
D  u  n  m  i  r  e ,  the 
lady  from  whom 
Guiteau  had  been 
divorced,  was  put 
upon  the  stand 
and  denied  that 
she  had  ever  seen 
any  sign  of  in- 
sanity  in  the 
prisoner.  The 
prosecution 
strengthened  it- 
self through  the 
entire  month  of 
December,espec- 
ially  after  several 
experts  had  given  their  testimony  that 
Guiteau  looked  like  a  man  playing 
a  part. 

An  injury  was  also  done  to  the  de- 
fence by  the  delivery  of  a  lecture  by  Mr. 
Scoville  on  the  course  of  the  trial.  The 
lecturer  made  use  of  this  means  to  aid 
himself  financially,  for  the  long  time 
spent  in  the  case  began  to  drain  his  re- 
sources, which  were  small.  He  criticised 


1877-1882.] 


THE    VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


985 


the  press  and  the  pulpit  and  commended 
Judge  Cox.  On  Friday,  Dec.  23d,  Gui- 
teau  became  completely  disgusted  with 
his  brother-in-law  and  requested  that 
Charles  H.  Reed,  a  lawyer  from  Chicago 
who  had  been  a  witness  in  the  case,  be 
added  to  his  counsel.  This  was  done. 
Guiteau's  insolence  became  so  marked 
and  troublesome  that  Judge  Cox  threat- 
ened to  have  him  put  into  the  prisoner's 
dock,  instead  of  allowing  him  to  sit  by 
the  side  of  his  counsel  as  formerly.  He 
was  especially  excited  by  the  testimony 
of  expert  physicians  declaring  him  sane. 
"  He  admits  now  that  he  is  sane  at 
present  but  says  that  he  was  insane  when 
he  shot  the  president.  On  Friday  he 
said,  as  if  realizing  his  danger:  'I  guess 
it  will  take  an  act  of  God  to  straighten 
this  thing  out,  but  I  think  it  will  come. 
I  would  rather  have  God  Almighty  on 
my  side  and  have  the  whole  world 
against  me,  with  all  Corkhill's  money 
back  of  it.  I  will  take  my  chance  of 
that.  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  would 
as  lief  die  on  the  gallows  as  die  from 
malaria  or  anything  else.  I  shall  not  go 
till  my  time  comes.  I  am  happy.  I 
sleep  well,  I  eat  well,  and  I  feel  well.' 
At  another  time  addressing  the  jury  he 
said  '  One  of  the  jury  has  lost  his  wife 
and  I  am  sorry  for  it.  I  go  so  far  as  to 
say  that  one  of  those  jurymen  will  get 
off  that  panel  as  an  act  of  God,  if  I  can't 
get  justice  in  any  other  way.  God  knows 
that  I  would  not  have  shot  the  president 
if  He  had  not  put  it  on  me.'  When  the 
Court  was  adjourned  on  Saturday  after- 
noon till  Tuesday,  Guiteau  said,  'To-mor- 
row is  Christmas.  I  wish  the  Court, 
the  jury  and  the  American  people  and 
everybody  else  a  happy  Christmas.  I  am 
happy.'  Dr.  MacDonald,  superintend- 
ent of  the  Ward's  Island  Insane  Hos- 


pital, testified  Tuesday  that  in  his  talks 
with  Guiteau  the  latter  had  told  him  that 
he  expected  to  be  acquitted  on  the  ground 
of  insanity,  and  would  then  be  taken  to 
the  asylum.  '  And  stay  there  all  your 
life?'  asked  the  Doctor.  <  Oh,  no,'  said 
he  '  I  have  been  studying  up  the  law  on 
that  subject.  I  shall  have  a  commission 
of  lunacy.  They  will  adjudge  me  sane 
and  I  shall  be  released.'  Guiteau  on  be- 
ing asked  why  he  published  the  state- 
ment regarding  the  progress  of  the  trial, 
which  was  telegraphed  to  some  newspa- 
pers on  December  17,  replied,  'I  need 
money.  Business  is  business.  I  was 
offered  a  hundred  dollars  to  make  that 
statement  for  publication,  and  I  took  it; 
I  shall  be  glad  to  furnish  more  of  the 
same  kind  at  that  price  any  time.'  " 

On  new  year's  day,  Guiteau  held  a 
reception  at  the  jail  and  had  more  than 
200  calls,  the  majority  of  the  callers  be- 
ing ladies.  This  was  condemned  on  all 
hands  as  indecent.  The  condemnation 
led  to  the  closer  confinement  of  Guiteau, 
and  his  greater  isolation  from  the  world. 

On  Wednesday,  Jan.  4,  the  hearing  of 
witnesses  was  concluded  and  certain  law 
points  were  submitted  to  Judge  Cox  for 
his  ruling.  The  argument  on  these  took 
up  several  days,  but  on  Tuesday,  Jan.  12, 
the  arguments  to  the  jury  began.  These 
continued  several  days.  Mr.  Scoville's 
address  was  filled  with  abuse  of  different 
parties,  especially  the  "  Stalwart "  lead- 
ers, whom  he  charged  with  the  respon- 
sibility of  the  crime.  He  continued 
speaking  for  five  days.  He  declared 
that  there  was  a  conspiracy  to  hang  an 
insane  man. 

Guiteau  applied  for  permission  to  ad- 
dress the  jury,  and  was  at  first  refused  by 
Judge  Cox,  but  the  refusal  was  after- 
ward withdrawn  and  Guiteau  read  at>. 


986 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT, 


address  which  had  already  been  printed 
in  the  newspapers. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  trial  Guiteau 
received  several  bids  for  his  body  after 
death.  A  dime  museum  in  Baltimore 
offered  $1,800  for  it  and  another  offer  of 
$5,000  was  received  for  it.  One  man 
intended  to  prepare  it  as  much  like  life 
as  possible  and  then  exhibit  it  around  the 
country. 

Judge  Porter  made  the  closing  address 
on  the  case  in  presenting  it  to  the  jury 
and  finished  Wednesday,  Jan.  25,  at  three 
o'clock.  Judge  Cox 
then  gave  the  jury  the 
privilege  of  hearing 
the  charge  then  or  of 
waiting  till  Thursday. 
They  signified  a  desire 
to  go  on  at  once,  and 
Judge  Cox  delivered 
his  charge.  He  told 
them  that  if  they  found 
from  the  "  whole  evi- 
dence that  at  the  time 
of  the  commission  of 
the  homicide  the 
prisoner  was  laboring 
under  such  a  defect  of 
his  reason  that  he  was 
incapable  of  under- 
stand i  n  g  what  he 
was  doing,  or  of  seeing  that  it  was  a 
wrong  thing  to  do,"  they  must  acquit 
him.  But  if  "  he  was  under  no  insane 
delusion,  but  had  the  possession  of  his 
faculties,  and  had  power  to  know  that 
his  act  was  wrong;  and  if  of  his  own  free 
will  he  deliberately  conceived  the  idea 
-and  executed  the  homicide,  then  whether 
his  motive  were  personal  vindictiveness, 
political  animosity,  or  a  desire  to  avenge 
supposed  political  wrongs,  or  a  morbid 
desire  for  notoriety,  or  if  you  are  unable 


JUDGE  J.    K.    PORTER. 


to  discover  any  motive  at  all,  the  act  is 
simply  murder,  and  it  is  your  duty  to  find 
a  verdict  of  guilty  as  indicted." 

The  charge  ended,  the  jury  withdrew. 
There  was  a  movement  in  the  crowd, 
exhausted  by  the  almost  continuous  ses- 
sion of  seven  hours,  but  the  voice  of 
Marshal  Henry  rang  loudly  through 
the  gloom  that  those  who  wished  could 
retire,  that  those  who  remained  must 
keep  silence.  There  was  a  silence  of  a 
few  moments,  during  which  all  eyes 
were  riveted  upon  the  dark  corner  in  the 
room  where  the  dock 
is  located.  Only  those 
who  were  near  could 
see  the  expression  of 
the  prisoner.  He 
whispered  to  one  of  the 
guards  to  know  what 
he  thought  of  the 
chances,  and  received 
an  evasive  answer. 
Guiteau's  vanity  still 
gave  him  consolation, 
for  he  said :  "  I  am 
pretty  well  satisfied, 
but  I  would  rather 
have  had  it  stronger. 
I  thought  he  would 
refer  more  to  the  New 
York  case;  that  is  in 
my  favor.  Still,  if  the  case  should  go 
up,  the  court  in  bane  will  take  notice 
of  it."  But,  notwithstanding  his  as- 
sumed confidence,  he  had  a  very  ner- 
vous air  and  soon  began  to  show  signs 
of  fear.  The  supreme  moment  of  the 
trial  had  come  for  him.  He  became 
restive.  He  peered  anxiously  beyond 
the  lights  to  the  narrow  door  through 
which  the  jury  passed,  and  soon  he  rose 
and  said:  "If  Your  Honor  please,  can  I 
not  retire  to  the  marshal's  room?"  He 


1877-1882.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


98? 


felt  that  those  who  could  see  him  were 
watching  his  every  movement,  and  he 
for  once  was  oppressed  by  it.  The  re- 
quest was  granted,  and  he  remained  in 
the  marshal's  room  until  a  few  minutes 
before  the  verdict  was  brought  in. 

At  twenty  minutes  past  five  o'clock, 
upon  the  retirement  of  Guiteau,  the  Court 
ordered  a  recess  of  half  an  hour,  a  bailiff 
having  brought  down  word  that  the  jury 
would  be  ready  to  report  in  that  time. 
The  bailiff  had  misunderstood  the  jury. 
They  were  ready  in  five  minutes  after 
they  entered  the  jury  room,  and  the  ad- 
journment of  the  court  was  unnecessary. 
There  was  one  ballot,  in  which  eleven 
votes  were  "  guilty  "  and  one  was  blank. 
The  blank  vote  was  cast  by  the  German, 
who  desired  to  have  one  question  an- 
swered. The  foreman  answered  satis- 
factorily, when  the  verdict  was  immedi- 
ately made  unanimous.  Meanwhile,  the 
marshal  had  secured  some  thirty  candles, 
which  were  placed  about  the  reporters' 
table  and  upon  the  judge's  bench,  causing 
it  to  look  like  a  lighted  altar,  and  upon 
chairs  in  the  midst  of  the  audience.  They 
lighted  up  the  room  as  glowworms  light 
a  summer's  night,  and  the  picture  became 
still  more  striking.  The  candles  served 
later  to  give  the  audience  a  clear  view 
both  of  the  prisoner  and  the  jury. 

Shortly  after  5  130,  Guiteau  was  again 
brought  to  the  court-room,  officers  sur- 
rounding him  on  all  sides.  His  step  was 
somewhat  unsteady,  and  he  threaded  his 
way  through  the  narrow  space  in  the  dim 
light  with  difficulty ;  but  all  eyes  were 
turned  from  him  to  the  jury  box,  the  jury 
being  momentarily  expected.  Hardly 
was  Guiteau  seated  in  the  dock  when 
a  bailiff  announced  "  The  jury."  They 
entered  solemnly.  The  clerk  called 
%e  roll.  The  vast  mass  of  specta- 


tors    held    their    breaths    to    hear    the 
verdict. 

"Gentlemen  of  the  jury,"  said  the 
clerk  in  a  low  voice,  which  seemed  loud 
in  the  oppressive  stillness,  "  have  you 
agreed  upon  a  verdict?" 

Foreman  Hamlin  rose  and  answered, 
"  We  have." 

The  clerk  then  repeated  the  ancient 
formula,  "  How  say  you,  is  the  defendant 
guilty  or  not  guilty?" 

"  Guilty,  as  indicted,"  was  the  solemn 
response;  and  from  the  vast  audience 
there  came  involuntarily  a  unanimous 
burst  of  applause.  The  bailiffs  soon 
checked  it.  Scoville,  pale  and  nervous, 
rose,  and  with  a  voice  which  showed 
much  emotion,  gave  notice  of  a  motion 
for  a  new  trial  and  in  arrest  of  judg- 
ment. 

Guiteau,  when  the  jury  was  coming 
in,  sat  silent  in  the  dock.  His  manner 
was  no  longer  confident.  From  the  min- 
ute that  the  words  "  Guilty  as  indicted  " 
dropped  from  the  lips  of  the  foreman  he 
seemed  dazed,  but  it  was  only  for  a  mo- 
ment. He  was  a  convicted  murderer 
but  he  was  still  to  have  the  last  word. 
In  the  midst  of  the  noise  of  the  applause 
Guiteau  shouted,  "  My  blood  will  be  upon 
the  heads  of  that  jury — don't  you  forget 
it."  It  seems  that  the  jury  would  have 
rendered  the  same  verdict  upon  the  testi- 
mony even  without  the  long  and  search- 
ing arguments  of  Judge  Porter. 

The  decision  was  everywhere  received 
with  favor,  and  the  people  felt  a  great 
relief  when  the  strain  of  the  trial  was 
over.  Mr.  Scoville  immediately  filed  a 
motion  for  a  new  trial  upon  the  ground 
of  certain  exceptions  which  he  had  taken 
to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  court,  etc.  Judge 
Cox  announced  on  Saturday  his  refusal 
to  grant  a  new  trial,  and  proceeded  to 


JURYMEN  GUITEA.U  TRIAL. 

ybo 


JURYMEN  GUITEAU  TRIAL. 
989 


990 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


sentence  Guiteau.  Guiteau,  when  asked 
if  he  wished  to  say  anything  why  sen- 
tence of  death  should  not  be  passed  on 
him,  declared  his  innocence,  and  railed  at 
everybody. 

Judge  Cox  then  proceeded  to  pass 
sentence,  addressing  the  prisoner  as  fol- 
lows: 

"You  have  been  convicted  of  a  crime 
so  terrible  in  its  circumstances  and  so  far- 
reaching  in  its  results  that  it  has  drawn 
upon  you  the  horror  of  the  whole  world, 
and  the  execrations  of  your  countrymen. 
The  excitement  produced  by  such  an 
offense  made  it  no  easy  task  to  secure  for 
you  a  fair  and  impartial  trial ;  but  you 
have  had  the  power  of  the  United  States 
treasury  and  of  the  government  in  your 
services  to  protect  your  person  from  vio- 
lence and  to  procure  evidence  from  all 
parts  of  the  country.  You  have  had  as 
fair  and  impartial  a  jury  as  ever  assembled 
in  a  court  of  justice.  You  have  been  de- 
fended by  counsel  with  a  zeal  and  devo- 
tion that  merits  the  highest  encomium, 
and  I  certainly  have  done  my  best  to  se- 
cure a  fair  presentation  of  your  defense. 
Notwithstanding  all  this,  you  have  been 
found  guilty.  It  would  have  been  a 
comfort  to  many  people  if  the  verdict  of 
the  jury  had  established  the  fact  that 
your  act  was  that  of  an  irresponsible 
man.  It  would  have  left  the  people  the 
satisfying  belief  that  the  crime  of  politi- 
cal assassination  was  something  entirely 
foreign  to  the  institutions  and  civilization 
of  our  country,  but  the  result  has  denied 
them  that  comfort.  The  country  will  ac- 
cept it  as  a  fact  that  crime  can  be  com- 
mitted, and  the  court  will  have  to  deal 
with  it,  with  the  highest  penalty  known 
to  the  criminal  code,  to  serve  as  an  ex- 
ample to  others.  Your  career  has  been 
so  extraordinary  that  people  might  well 


at  times  have  doubted  your  sanity,  but 
one  cannot  but  believe  that  when  the 
crime  was  committed  you  thoroughly 
understood  the  nature  of  the  crime  and 
its  consequences  (Guiteau — '  I  was  acting 
as  God's  man') — and  that  you  had  moral 
sense  and  conscience  enough  to  recognize 
the  moral  iniquity  of  such  an  act.  (Pris- 
oner— '  That's  a  matter  of  opinion.') 
Your  own  testimony  shows  that  you  re- 
coiled with  horror  from  the  idea.  You 
say  that  you  prayed  against  it.  You  say 
that  you  thought  it  might  be  prevented. 
This  shows  that  your  conscience  warned 
you  against  it,  but  by  the  wretched  soph- 
istry of  your  own  mind  you  worked 
yourself  up  against  the  protest  of  your 
own  conscience.  What  motive  could 
have  induced  you  to  this  act  must  be  a 
matter  of  conjecture.  Probably  men  will 
think  that  some  fanaticism  or  morbid 
desire  for  self-exaltation  was  the  real  in- 
spiration for  the  act.  Your  own  testi- 
mony seems  to  controvert  the  theories  of 
your  counsel.  They  have  maintained 
and  thought,  honestly,  I  believe,  that  you 
were  driven  against  your  will  by  an  insane 
impulse  to  commit  the  act,  but  your  tes- 
timony showed  that  you  deliberately 
resolved  to  do  it,  and  that  a  deliberate 
and  misguided  will  was  the  sole  impulse. 
This  may  seem  insanity  to  some  persons, 
but  the  law  looks  upon  it  as  a  willful 
crime.  You  will  have  due  opportunity 
of  having  any  errors  I  may  have  com- 
mitted during  the  course  of  the  trial 
passed  upon  by  the  court  in  bane;  but 
meanwhile  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  pro- 
nounce the  sentence  of  the  law,  that  you 
be  taken  hence  to  the  common  jail  of  the 
District  from  whence  you  came,  and 
there  be  kept  in  confinement,  and  on 
Friday,  the  thirtieth  day  of  June,  1882, 
you  be  taken  to  the  place  prepared  for 


1877-1882.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


991 


the  execution  within  the  walls  of  said 
jail,  and  there,  between  the  hours  of  12 
M.  and  2  P.  M.,  you  be  hanged  by  the 
neck  until  you  are  dead,  and  may  the 
Lord  have  mercy  on  your  soul." 

As  the  last  solemn  words  fell  from 
Judge  Cox's  lips,  the  prisoner  echoed 
them,  but  in  a  far  different  tone  of  voice; 
for  it  was  in  a  voice  of  passionate  hatred 
that  he  cried  out:  "And  may  God  have 
mercy  on  your  soul.  I  had  rather  stand 
where  I  am  than  where  that  jury  does, 
-or  than  where  your  Honor  does.  I  am 
not  afraid  to  die.  Confound  you"  (he 
cried,  violently  struggling  with  the  dep- 
uty marshals  who  were  endeavoring  to 
repress  him),  "  leave  me  alone.  T  know 
where  I  stand  in  this  business.  I  am 
here  as  God's  man,  and  don't  you  forget 
it.  God  Almighty  will  curse  every  man 
who  has  had  anything  to  do  with  this 
.act.  Nothing  but  good  has  come  of 
General  Garfield's  removal,  and  that  will 
"be  posterity's  idea  of  it.  Everybody  is 
happy  here  except  a  few  cranks.  Noth- 
ing but  good  has  come  to  this  nation 
from  his  removal.  That  is  the  reason 
the  Lord  wanted  him  removed." 

The  prisoner  was  now  taken  back  to 
his  cell  and  put  under  close  watch  for 
fear  he  would  commit  suicide.  The  trial 
had  ended.  Many  things  in  it  had  ex- 
cited the  impatience  and  condemnation  of 
the  people  at  large,  but  on  the  whole 
satisfaction  was  afterward  felt  with  the 
whole  procedure.  The  press  of  England 
were  zealous  in  condemning  the  publicity 
of  the  trial,  and  the  leniency  which 
marked  the  course  of  it  on  its  worst  side. 
Guiteau  seemed  such  a  low  creature  that 
across  the  water  they  hardly  had  patience 
to  wait  for  the  proper  course  of  law. 

But  low  and  abhorred  as  he  was,  it 
was  necessary  to  try  him.  During  that 


trial  the  law  threw  around  him  its  pro- 
tecting aegis  and  uniformly  treated  him 
as  an  innocent  man.  He  had  as  fair,  as 
decent  a  trial  as  any  one  ever  enjoyed  in 
the  land ;  if  there  were  any  error  therein, 
it  was  in  the  too  great  leniency  to  the 
prisoner.  In  addition  to  his  own  brother- 
in-law,  the  court  assigned  him  counsel 
without  any  expense  to  him.  The  jury 
were  at  least  an  average  body  of  men,  all 
of  them  with  minds  open  to  acquittal,  if 
the  evidence  should  justify  such  a  verdict. 
Forty-three  witnesses  were  brought  in 
his  favor  not  only  from  the  vicinity,  but 
from  Maine  in  the  East  to  Wisconsin  in 
the  West.  Experts  in  medical  science 
were  summoned  in  his  behalf  at  great 
expense,  but  none  of  it  fell  on  him.  For 
seven  long  weeks  he  did  not  sit  in  the 
dock  as  criminals  are  generally  made  to 
do,  but  with  the  lawyers,  and  surrounded 
by  spectators.  He  not  only  called  many 
witnesses,  but  was  himself  for  four  days 
on  the  witness  stand;  a  most  remarkable 
event,  unknown  to  legal  science,  a  de- 
fendant on  the  stand  for  days,  sanely 
swearing  to  his  own  insanity.  He  con- 
tinually interrupted  the  court,  the  coun- 
sel and  the  witnesses,  with  coarse  and 
vulgar  interjections,  until  the  whole  land 
cried  out  against  the  court  for  permitting 
him  to  do  so.  After  this  long  and  fair 
and  honest  trial,  he  has  been  condemned 
and  now  only  awaits  the  final  sentence 
of  the  law,  unless,  which  is  hardly  likely 
to  take  place,  the  charge  of  the  court  be 
overruled  by  the  majority  of  the  justices. 
Looking  back  upon  this  trial  as  a 
thing  of  the  past,  it  seems  an  honorable 
and  creditable  event  to  our  country. 
There  was  deep  feeling  on  the  part  of 
the  community,  but  it  never  manifested 
itself  in  any  injustice  to  the  prisoner. 
Two  men  who  tried  to  injure  him  were 


992 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


immediately  thrown  into  confinement, 
and  one  is  now  suffering  punishment. 
Although  the  fact  of  the  crime  was  ac- 
knowledged, the  assassin  had  the  same 
treatment  as  the  most  innocent  man  could 
desire.  Not  a  thing  did  he  ask  for  that 
was  not  procured  for  him.  Whatever  of 
fairness  exists  in  the  trial  by  jury,  what- 
ever of  protection  in  the  formalities  or 
technicalities  of  the  law,  all  were  his. 
And,  if  he  has  been  found  guilty  and 
condemned  to  the  final  punishment  of 
the  law,  it  is  an  act  of  essential  justice,  of 
which  he  has  not  the  slightest  reason  to 
complain. 

BLAME'S  EULOGY  ON  GtiRFIELD. 

1882.  Jan.  27.  A  commemorative 
oration  upon  the  life  and  character  of 
James  A.  Garfield  was  delivered  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  in  the  presence 
of  all  the  United  States  officials  and  legis- 
lators by  Hon.  James  G.  Blaine,  Secre- 
tary of  State  in  the  Cabinet  of  Pres.  Gar- 
field.  A  full  audience  assembled,  and  at , 
12:30  Pres.  Davis  of  the  Senate,  said: 

"  This  day  is  dedicated  by  Congress 
for  memorial  services  to  the  late  president 
of  the  United  States,  James  A.  Garfield. 
I  present  to  you  Hon.  James  G.  Blaine, 
who  has  been  fitly  chosen  orator  for  the 
occasion." 

The  following  eulogy  was  then  de- 
livered by  Mr.  Blaine  in  a  very  deliberate 
and  restrained  and  impressive  manner. 
At  times  he  showed  that  he  felt  his  task 
very  deeply.  He  spoke  as  follows  from 
his  manuscript: 

MR.  PRESIDENT  :  For  the  second  time 
in  this  generation  the  great  departments 
of  the  government  of  the  United  States 
are  assembled  in  the  Hall  of  Representa- 
tives to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  a 
murdered  president.  Lincoln  fell  at  the 


close  of  a  mighty  struggle  in  which  the 
passions  of  men  had  been  deeply  stirred. 
The  tragical  termination  of  his  great  life 
added  but  another  to  the  lengthened  suc- 
cession of  horrors  which  had  marked  so 
many  lintels  with  the  blood  of  the  first- 
born. Garfield  was  slain  in  a  day  of 
peace,  when  brother  had  been  reconciled 
to  brother,  and  when  anger  and  hate  had 
been  banished  from  the  land.  "  Who- 
ever shall  hereafter  draw  the  portrait  of 
murder,  if  he  will  show  it  as  it  has  been 
exhibited  where  such  example  was  last 
to  have  been  looked  for,  let  him  not  give 
it  the  grim  visage  of  Moloch,  the  brow 
knitted  by  revenge,  the  face  black  with 
settled  hate.  Let  him  draw,  rather,  a 
decorous,  smooth-faced,  bloodless  demon; 
not  so  much  an  example  of  human  nature 
in  its  depravity  and  in  its  paroxysms  of 
crime,  as  an  infernal  being,  a  fiend  in  the 
ordinary  display  and  development  of  his 
character." 

From  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  at 
Plymouth  until  the  uprising  against 
Charles  I.,  about  20,000  emigrants  came 
from  old  England  to  New  England.  As 
they  came  in  pursuit  of  intellectual  free- 
dom and  ecclesiastical  independence 
rather  than  for  worldly  honor  and  profit, 
the  emigration  naturally  ceased  when 
the  contest  for  religious  liberty  began  in 
earnest  at  home.  The  man  who  struck 
the  most  effective  blow  for  freedom  of 
conscience  by  sailing  for  the  colonies  in 
1620  would  have  been  accounted  a  de- 
serter to  leave  after  1640.  The  opportu- 
nity had  then  come  on  the  soil  of  Eng- 
land, for  that  great  contest  which  estab- 
lished the  authority  of  Parliament,  gave 
religious  freedom  to  the  people,  sent 
Charles  to  the  block,  and  committed  to 
the  hands  of  Oliver  Cromwell  the  su- 
preme executive  authority  of  England. 


1877-1882.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


993 


The  English  emigration  was  never  re- 
newed, and  from  these  20,000  men,  with 
a  small  emigration  from  Scotland  and 
from  France,  are  descended  the  vast 
numbers  who  have  New  England  blood 
in  their  veins.  In  1685  the  revocation  of 
the  edict  of  Nantes  by  Louis  XIV.  scat- 
tered to  other  countries  four  hundred 
thousand  Protestantss  who  were  among 
the  most  intelligent  and  enterprising  of 
French  subjects — merchants  of  capital, 
skilled  manufacturers,  and  handicrafts- 
men, superior  at  the  time  to  all  others  in 
Europe.  A  considerable  number  of  these 
Huguenot  French  came  to  America,  a 
few  landed  in  New  England  and  became 
honorably  prominent  in  its  history.  Their 
names  have  in  large  part  become  Angli- 
cized, or  have  disappeared,  but  their 
blood  is  traceable  in  many  of  the  most 
reputable  families,  and  their  fame  is  per- 
petuated in  honorable  memorials  and 
useful  institutions. 

From  these  two  sources,  the  English 
Puritan  and  the  French  Huguenot,  came 
the  late  president — his  father,  Abram 
Garfield,  being  descended  from  the  one, 
and  his  mother,  Eliza  Ballou,  from  the 
other. 

It  was  good  stock  on  both  sides — none 
better,  none  braver,  none  truer.  There 
was  in  it  an  inheritance  of  courage,  of 
manliness,  of  imperishable  love  of  liberty, 
of  undying  adherence  to  principle.  Gar- 
field  was  proud  of  his  blood  ;  and,  with 
as  much  satisfaction  as  if  he  were  a  Brit- 
ish nobleman  reading  his  stately  ances- 
tral record  in  "  Burke's  Peerage,"  he 
spoke  of  himself  as  ninth  in  descent  from 
those  who  would  not  endure  the  oppres- 
sion of  the  Stuarts,  and  seventh  in  descent 
from  the  brave  French  Protestants  who 
refused  to  submit  to  tyranny  even  from 
the  Grand  Monarque. 

63 


General  Garfield  delighted  to  dwell  on 
these  traits,  and,  during  his  only  visit  to 
England,  he  busied  himself  in  discovering 
every  trace  of  his  forefathers  in  parish 
registries  and  in  ancient  army  rolls.  Sit- 
ting with  a  friend  in  the  gallery  of  the 
House  of  Commons  one  night,  after  a 
long  day's  labor  in  this  field  of  research, 
he  said,  with  evident  elation,  that  in 
every  war  in  which  for  three  centuries 
patriots  of  English  blood  had  struck 
sturdy  blows  for  constitutional  govern- 
ment and  human  liberty,  his  family  had 
been  represented.  They  were  at  Mars- 
ton  Moor,  at  Naseby  and  Preston  ;  they 
were  at  Bunker  Hill,  at  Saratoga,  and  at 
Monmouth,  and  in  his  own  person  had 
battled  for  the  same  great  cause  which 
preserved  the  Union  of  the  States.  Los- 
ing his  father  before  he  was  two  years 
old,  the  early  life  of  Garfield  was  one  of 
privation,  but  its  poverty  has  been  made 
indelicately  and  unjustly  prominent. 
Thousands  of  readers  have  imagined  him 
as  the  ragged,  starving  child,  whose  re- 
ality too  often  greets  the  eye  in  the 
squalid  sections  of  our  large  cities. 

General  Garfield's  infancy  and  youth 
had  none  of  their  destitution,  none  of 
their  pitiful  features  appealing  to  the  ten- 
der heart  and  to  the  open  hand  of  char- 
ity. He  was  a  poor  boy  in  the  same 
sense  in  which  Henry  Clay  was  a  poor 
boy;  in  which  Andrew  Jackson  was  a 
poor  boy;  in  which  Daniel  Webster  was 
a  poor  boy ;  in  the  same  sense  in  which  a 
large  majority  of  the  eminent  men  of 
America  in  all  generations  have  been 
poor  boys.  Before  a  great  multitude  of 
men — in  a  public  speech,  Mr.  Webster 
bore  this  testimony : 

"It  did  not  happen  to  me  to  be  born  in 
a  log  cabin,  but  my  elder  brothers  and 
sisters  were  born  in  a  log  cabin  raised 


994 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


amid  the  snowdrifts  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, at  a  period  so  early  that  when  the 
smoke  rose  first  from  its  rude  chimney 
and  curled  over  the  frozen  hills,  there 
wa«  no  similar  evidence  of  a  white  man's 
habitation  between  it  and  the  settlements 
on  the  rivers  of  Canada.  Its  remains 
still  exist.  I  make  to  it  an  annual  visit. 
I  carry  my  children  to  it  to  teach  them 
the  hardships  endured  by  the  generations 
which  have  gone  before  them.  I  love  to 
dwell  on  the  tender  recollections,  the  kin- 
dred ties,  the  early  affections,  and  the 
touching  narratives  and  incidents  which 
mingle  with  all  I  know  of  this  primitive 
family  abode." 

With  the  requisite  change  of  scene  the 
same  would  aptly  portray  the  early  days 
of  Garfield.  The  poverty  of  the  frontier, 
where  all  are  engaged  in  a  common 
struggle,  and  where  a  common  sympa- 
thy and  hearty  co-operation  "lighten  the 
burdens  of  each,"  is  a  very  different  pov- 
erty— different  in  kind,  different  in  influ- 
ence and  effect  from  that  conscious  and 
humiliating  indigence  which  is  every  day 
forced  to  contrast  itself  with  neighboring 
wealth,  in  which  it  feels  a  sense  of  grind- 
ing dependence.  The  poverty  of  the 
frontier  is  indeed  no  poverty.  It  is  but 
the  beginning  of  wealth,  and  has  the 
boundless  possibilities  of  the  future 
opening  before  it.  No  man  ever  grew 
up  in  the  agricultural  regions  of  the 
West  where  a  house-raising,  or  even  a 
corn-husking  is  a  matter  of  common  in- 
terest and  helpfulness,  with  any  other 
feeling  than  that  of  broad-minded,  gener- 
ous independence.  This  honorable  inde- 
pendence marked  the  youth  of  Garfield 
as  it  marks  the  youth  of  millions  of  the 
best  blood  and  brain  now  training  for  the 
future  citizenship  and  future  government 
of  the  republic.  Garfield  was  born  heir 


to  land,  to  the  title   of  free-holder  which 
has  been  the  patent  and  passport  of  self- 
respect  with  the  Anglo-Saxpn  race  ever 
since  Hengist  and   Horsa  landed  on   the 
shores  of  England.     His    adventure    on 
the  canal — an  alternative  between    that 
and  the  deck  of  a  Lake  Erie  schooner — 
was   a  farmer  boy's  device  for    ea/ning 
money,  just  as  the  New  England  lad  be- 
gins a  possibly  great  career  by  sailing  be- 
fore the  mast  on  a  coasting  vessel  or  on  a 
merchantman  bound  to  the  farther  India 
or  to  the   China  seas.     No   manly  man 
feels  anything  of  shame  in  looking  back 
to  early  struggles  with  adverse  circum- 
stances,   and    no  man  feels    a    worthier 
pride  than    when  he  has  conquered  the 
obstacles  to  his  progress.     But  no  one  of 
noble  mould  desires  to  be  looked  upon  as 
having  occupied    a   menial    position,    as 
having  been  repressed  by  a  feeling  of  in- 
feriority, or  as  having  suffered    the  evils 
of  poverty  until  relief  was  found   at  the 
hand  of  charity.   General  Garfield's  youth 
presented  no  hardships  which  family  love 
and  family  energy  did  not  overcome,  sub- 
jected him  to  no  privations  which  he  did 
not  cheerfully  accept,  and  left  no  memo- 
ries save  those  which  were  recalled  with 
delight,  and  transmitted  with  profit  and 
with  pride.     Garfield's  early  opportuni- 
ties for  securing  an  education  were  ex- 
tremely limited,  and  yet  were  sufficient 
to  develop  in  him  an  intense  desire  to 
learn.     He  could  read  at  three  years  of 
age,  and  each  winter  he  had  the  advan- 
tage of  the  district  school.     He  read  all 
the  books  to  be  found  within   the  circle 
of  his  acquaintance;  some  of  them  he  got 
by  heart.     While  yet  in  childhood    he 
was  a  constant  student  of  the  Bible,  and 
became  familiar  with  its  literature.     The 
dignity  and  earnestness  of  his  speech  in 
his  maturer  life  gave  evidence  of  this 


1877-1882.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


995 


early  training.  At  1 8  years  of  age  he 
was  able  to  teach  school,  and  thencefor- 
ward his  ambition  was  to  obtain  a  col- 
lege education.  To  this  end  he  bent  all 
his  efforts,  working  in  the  harvest  field, 
at  the  carpenter's  bench,  and  in  the  win- 
ter season  teaching  the  common  schools 
of  the  neighborhood. 

While  thus  laboriously  occupied,  he 
found  time  to  prosecute  his  studies  and  was 
so  successful  that  at  22  years  of  age,  he 
was  able  to  enter  the  junior  class  of  Wil- 
liams College,  then  under  the  presidency 
of  the  venerable  and  honored  Mark  Hop- 
kins, who,  in  the  fullness  of  his  powers, 
survives  the  eminent  pupil  to  whom  he 
was  of  inestimable  service. 

The  history  of  Garfield's  life  to  this 
period  presents  no  novel  features.  He 
had  undoubtedly  shown  perseverance, 
self-reliance,  self-sacrifice,  and  ambition — 
qualities  which  be  it  said  for  the  honor 
of  our  country,  are  everywhere  to  be 
found  among  the  young  men  of  America. 
But  from  his  graduation  at  Williams  on- 
ward, to  the  hour  of  his  tragical  death, 
Garfield's  career  was  eminent  and  excep- 
tional. Slowly  working  through  his 
educational  period — receiving  his  diplo- 
ma when  twenty-four  years  of  age,  he 
seemed  at  one  bound  to  spring  into  con- 
spicuous and  brilliant  success.  Within 
six  years  he  was  successively  president  of 
a  college,  State  senator  of  Ohio,  major- 
general  of  the  army  of  the  United  States, 
and  representative  elect  to  the  national 
Congress.  A  combination  of  honors  so 
varied,  so  elevated,  within  a  period  so 
brief,  and  to  a  man  so  young,  is  without 
precedent  or  parallel  in  the  history  of  the 
country. 

Garfield's  army  life  was  begun  with 
no  other  military  knowledge  than  such 
as  he  had  hastily  gained  from  books  in 


the  few  months  preceding  his  march  to 
the  field. 

Stepping  from  civil  life  to  the  head  of 
a  regiment,  the  first  order  he  received 
when  ready  to  cross  the  Ohio  was  to 
assume  command  of  a  brigade,  and  to 
operate  as  an  independent  force  in  East- 
ern Kentucky.  His  immediate  duty  was 
to  check  the  advance  of  Humphrey  Mar- 
shall, who  was  marching  down  the  Big 
Sandy  with  the  intention  of  occupying, 
in  connection  with  other  Confederate 
forces,  the  entire  territory  of  Kentucky, 
and  of  precipitating  the  State  into  seces- 
sion. This  was  at  the  close  of  the  year 
1 86 1.  Seldom,  if  ever,  has  a  young  col- 
lege professor  been  thrown  into  a  more 
embarrassing  and  discouraging  position. 
He  knew  just  enough  of  military  sci- 
ence, as  he  expressed  it  himself,  to  meas- 
ure the  extent  of  his  ignorance,  and  with 
a  handful  of  men  he  was  marching, 
through  winter  weather,  into  a  strange 
country,  among  a  hostile  population,  to 
confront  a  largely  superior  force  under 
the  command  of  a  distinguished  graduate 
of  West  Point,  who  had  seen  active  and 
important  service  in  two  preceding  wars. 
The  result  of  the  campaign  is  matter  of 
history.  The  skill,  the  endurance,  the 
extraordinary  energy  shown  by  Garfield, 
the  courage  he  imparted  to  his  men,  raw 
and  untried  as  himself,  the  measures  he 
adopted  to  increase  his  force  and  to  create 
in  the  enemy's  mind  exaggerated  esti- 
mates of  his  numbers,  bore  perfect  fruit 
in  the  routing  of  Marshall,  the  capture  of 
his  camp,  the  dispersion  of  his  force,  and 
the  emancipation  of  an  important  terri- 
tory from  the  control  of  the  rebellion. 
Coming  at  the  close  of  a  long  series  of 
disasters  to  the  Union  arms,  Garfield's 
victory  had  an  unusual  and  extraneous 
importance,  and  in  the  popular  judgment 


996 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


elevated  the  young  commander  to  the 
rank  of  a  military  hero.  With  less  than 
2,000  men  in  his  entire  command,  with  a 
mobilized  force  of  1,100,  without  cannon, 
he  had  met  an  army  of  5,000  and  defeated 
them,  driving  Marshall's  forces  success- 
fully from  two  strongholds  of  their  own 
selection,  fortified  with  abundant  artillery. 
Major  General  Buell,  commanding  the 
Department  of  Ohio,  an  experienced  and 
able  soldier  of  the  regular  army,  pub- 
lished an  order  of  thanks  and  congratu- 
lation on  the  brilliant  results  of  the  Big 
Sandy  campaign,  which  would  have 
turned  the  head  of  a  less  cool  and  sensi- 
ble man  than  Garfield.  Buell  declared 
that  his  services  had  called  into  action  the 
highest  qualities  of  a  soldier,  and  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  supplemented  these  words 
of  praise  by  the  more  substantial  reward 
of  a  brigadier  general's  commission  to 
bear  date  from  the  day  of  his  decisive 
victory  over  Marshall.  The  subsequent 
military  career  of  Garfield  sustained  its 
brilliant  beginning.  With  his  new  com- 
mission he  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  a  brigade  in  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  and 
took  part  in  the  second  and  decisive  day's 
fight  in  the  great  battle  of  Shiloh.  The 
remainder  of  the  year  1862  was  not  espe- 
cially eventful  to  Garfield,  as  it  was  not 
to  the  armies  with  which  he  was  serving. 
His  practical  sense  was  called  into 
exercise  in  completing  the  task  assigned 
him  by  General  Buell,  of  reconstructing 
bridges  and  re-establishing  lines  of  rail- 
way communication  for  the  army.  His 
occupation  in  this  useful  but  not  brilliant 
field  was  varied  by  service  in  courts- 
martial  of  importance  in  which  depart- 
ment of  duty  he  won  a  valuable  reputa- 
tion, attracting  the  notice  and  securing 
the  approval  of  the  able  and  eminent 
judge  advocate  general  of  the  army. 


That  of  itself  was  warrant  to  honorable 
fame;  for  among  the  great  men  who  in 
those  trying  days  gave  themselves  with 
entire  devotion  to  the  service  of  their 
country,  one  who  brought  to  that  service 
the  ripest  learning,  the  most  fervid  elo- 
quence, the  most  varied  attainments,  who' 
labored  with  modesty  and  shunned  ap- 
plause, who  in  the  day  of  triumph  sat 
reserved  and  silent  and  grateful  —  as 
Francis  Deak  in  the  hour  of  Hungary's 
deliverance — was  Joseph  Holt,  of  Ken- 
tucky, who  in  his  honorable  retirement 
enjoys  the  respect  and  veneration  of  all 
who  love  the  Union  of  the  States. 

Early  in  1863  Garfield  was  assigned 
to  the  highly  important  and  responsible 
post  of  chief  of  staff  to  General  Rose- 
crans,  then  at  the  head  of  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland.  Perhaps  in  a  great 
military  campaign  no  subordinate  officer 
requires  sounder  judgment  and  quicker 
knowledge  of  men  than  the  chief  of  staff 
to  the  commanding  general.  An  indis- 
creet man  in  such  a  position  can  sow 
more  discord,  breed  more  jealousy,  and 
disseminate  more  strife  than  any  other 
officer  in  the  entire  organization.  When 
General  Garfield  assumed  his  new  duties 
he  found  various  troubles  already  well 
developed,  and  seriously  affecting  the 
value  and  efficiency  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland.  The  energy,  the  impar- 
tiality, and  the  tact  with  which  he 
sought  to  allay  these  dissensions  and  to 
discharge  the  duties  of  his  new  position, 
will  always  remain  one  of  the  most  strik- 
ing proofs  of  his  great  versatility.  His 
military  duties  closed  on  the  memorable 
field  of  Chickamauga,  a  field  which, 
however  disastrous  to  the  Union  arms, 
gave  to  him  the  occasion  of  winning  im- 
perishable laurels.  The  very  rare  dis- 
tinction was  accorded  him  of  a  great  pro- 


1877-1881.] 

motion  for  his  bravery  on  a  field  that 
was  lost.  President  Lincoln  appointed 
him  a  major-general  in  the  army  of  the 
United  States  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
conduct  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga. 

The  Army  of  the  Cumberland  was  re- 
organized under  the  command  of  General 
Thomas,  who  promptly  offered  Garfield 
one  of  its  divisions.  He  was  extremely 
desirous  to  accept  the  position,  but  was 
embarrassed  by  the  fact  that  he  had,  a 
year  before,  been  elected  to  Congress, 
and  the  time  when  he  must  take  his  seat 
was  drawing  near.  He  preferred  to  re- 
main in  the  military  service,  and  had 
within  his  own  breast  the  largest  confi- 
dence of  success  in  the  wider  field  which 
his  new  rank  opened  to  him.  Balancing 
his  arguments  on  the  one  side  and  the 
other,  anxious  to  determine  which  was 
for  the  best,  desirous  above  all  things  to 
do  his  patriotic  duty,  he  was  decisively 
influenced  by  the  advice  of  President 
Lincoln  and  Secretary  Stanton,  both  of 
whom  assured  him  that  he  could,  at  the 
same  time,  be  of  especial  value  in  the 
House  of  Representatives.  He  resigned 
his  commission  of  major-general  on  the 
5th  day  of  December,  1863,  and  took 
his  seat  in  the  House  of  Representatives 
on  the  yth.  He  had  served  two  years 
and  four  months  in  the  army,  and  had 
just  completed  his  $26.  year.  The  Thir- 
ty-eighth Congress  is  pre-eminently  en- 
titled in  history  to  the  designation  of  the 
War  Congress.  It  was  elected  while 
the  war  was  flagrant,  and  every  member 
was  chosen  upon  the  issues  involved  in 
the  continuance  of  the  struggle.  The 
Thirty-seventh  Congress  had,  indeed, 
legislated  to  a  large  extent  on  war  meas- 
ures, but  it  was  chosen  before  any  one 
believed  that  secession  of  the  States 
•would  be  actually  attempted. 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE.  997 

The  magnitude  of  the  work  which  fell 
upon  its  successor  was  unprecedented, 
both  in  respect  to  the  vast  sums  of 
money  raised  for  the  support  of  the  army 
and  navy,  and  of  the  new  and  extraordi- 
nary powers  of  legislation  which  it  was 
forced  to  exercise.  Only  twenty-four 
States  were  represented,  and  182  mem- 
bers were  upon  its  roll.  Among  these 
were  many  distinguished  party  leaders 
on  both  sides,  veterans  in  the  public  ser- 
vice with  established  reputations  for  abil- 
ity, and  with  that  skill  which  comes  only 
from  parliamentary  experience.  Into 
this  assemblage  of  men  Garfield  entered 
without  special  preparation,  and  it  might 
almost  be  said  unexpectedly.  The  ques- 
tion of  taking  command  of  a  division  of 
troops  under  General  Thomas,  or  taking 
his  seat  in  Congress,  was  kept  open  till 
the  last  moment,  so  late,  indeed,  that  the 
resignation  of  his  military  commission 
and  his  appearance  in  the  House  were 
almost  contemporaneous.  He  wore  the 
uniform  of  a  major-general  of  the  United 
States  army  on  Saturday,  and  on  Mon- 
day in  civilian's  dress,  he  answered  to 
the  roll-call  as  a  Representative  in  Con- 
gress from  the  State  of  Ohio. 

He  was  especially  fortunate  in  the  con- 
stituency which  elected  him.  Descended 
almost  entirely  from  New  England 
stock,  the  men  of  the  Ashtabula  district 
were  intensely  radical  on  all  questions  re- 
lating to  human  rights.  Well  educated, 
thrifty,  thoroughly  intelligent  in  affairs, 
acutely  discerning  of  character,  not  quick 
to  bestow  confidence,  and  slow  to  with- 
draw it,  they  were  at  once  the  most  help- 
ful and  most  exacting  of  supporters. 
Their  tenacious  trust  in  men  in  whom 
they  have  once  confided  is  illustrated  by 
the  unparalleled  fact  that  Elisha  Whittle- 
sey,  Joshua  R.  Giddings,  and  James  A. 


998 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


Garfield  represented  the  district  for  fifty- 
four  years. 

There  is  no  test  of  a  man's  ability  in 
any  department  of  public  life  more  se- 
vere than  service  in  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives ;  there  is  no  place  where  so 
little  deference  is  paid  to  reputation  pre- 
viously acquired,  or  to  eminence  won 
outside;  no  place  where  so  little  consid- 
eration is  shown  for  the  feelings  or  the 
failures  of  beginners.  What  a  man 
gains  in  the  House,  he  gains  by  sheer 
force  of  his  own  character,  and  if  he 
loses  and  falls  back,  he  must  expect  no 
mercy,  and  will  receive  no  sympathy. 
It  is  a  field  in  which  the  survival  of  the 
strongest  is  the  recognized  rule,  and 
where  no  pretense  can  deceive,  and  no 
glamour  can  mislead.  The  real  man  is 
discovered,  his  worth  is  impartially 
weighed,  his  rank  is  irreversibly  decreed. 

With  possibly  a  single  exception,  Gar- 
field  was  the  youngest  member  in  the 
House  when  he  entered,  and  was  but 
seven  years  from  his  college  graduation. 
But  he  had  not  been  in  his  seat  sixty 
days  before  his  ability  was  recognized, 
and  his  place  conceded. 

He  stepped  to  the  front  with  the  confi- 
dence of  one  who  belonged  there.  The 
House  was  crowded  with  strong  men  of 
both  parties;  nineteen  of  them  have  since 
been  transferred  to  the  Senate,  and 
many  of  them  have  served  with  distinc- 
tion in  the  gubernatorial  chairs  of  their 
respective  States,  and  on  foreign  mis- 
sions of  great  consequence;  but  among 
them  all  none  grew  so  rapidly,  none  so 
firmly  as  Garfield.  As  is  said  by  Trev- 
elyan  of  his  parliamentary  hero,  Garfield 
succeeded,  because  all  the  world  in  con- 
cert could  not  have  kept  him  in  the  back- 
ground, and  because  when  once  in  the 
front  he  played  his  part  with  a  prompt 


intrepidity  and  a  commanding  ease  that 
were  but  the  outward  symptoms  of  the 
immense  reserves  of  energy  on  which  it 
was  in  his  power  to  draw.  Indeed, 
the  apparently  reserved  force  which  Gar- 
field  possessed  was  one  of  his  great  char- 
acteristics. He  never  did  so  well  but  that 
it  seemed  he  could  easily  have  done  bet- 
ter. He  never  expended  so  much  strength 
but  that  he  seemed  to  be  holding  addi- 
tional power  at  call.  This  is  one  of  the 
happiest  and  rarest  distinctions  of  an  ef- 
fective debater  and  often  counts  for  a& 
much  in  persuading  an  assembly  as  the 
eloquent  and  elaborate  argument.  The 
great  measure  of  Garfield's  fame  was 
filled  by  his  service  in  the  House  of 
Representatives. 

His  military  life,  illustrated  by  honora- 
ble performance  and  rich  in  promise,, 
was,  as  he  himself  felt,  prematurely  ter- 
minated and  necessarily  incomplete. 
Speculation  as  to  what  he  might  have 
done  in  a  field  where  the  great  prizes 
are  so  few,  cannot  be  profitable.  It  is 
sufficient  to  say  that  as  a  soldier  he  did 
his  duty  bravely;  he  did  it  intelligently; 
he  won  an  enviable  fame,  and  he  retired 
from  the  service  without  blot  or  breath 
against  him.  As  a  lawyer,  though  ad- 
mirably equipped  for  the  profession,  he 
can  scarcely  be  said  to  have  entered  on 
its  practice.  The  few  efforts  he  made  at 
the  bar  were  distinguished  by  the  same 
high  order  of  talent  which  he  exhibited 
on  every  field  where  he  was  put  to  the 
test,  and  if  a  man  may  be  accepted  as  a 
competent  judge  of  his  own  capacities 
and  adaptations,  the  law  was  the  profes- 
sion to  which  Garfield  should  have  de- 
voted himself.  But  fate  ordained  other- 
wise, and  his  reputation  in  history  will 
rest  largely  upon  his  service  in  the 
House  of  Representatives.  That  service 


1877-188^ ] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


999 


was  exceptionally  long.  He  was  nine 
times  consecutively  chosen  to  the  House, 
an  honor  enjoyed  by  not  more  than  six 
other  representatives  of  the  more  than 
five  thousand  who  have  been  elected 
from  the  organization  of  the  govern- 
ment to  this  hour. 

As  a  parliamentary  orator,  as  a  debater 
on  an  issue  squarely  joined  where  the 
position  had  been  chosen  and  the  ground 
laid  out,  Garfield  must  be  assigned  a 
very  high  rank.  More,  perhaps,  than 
any  man  with  whom  he  was  associated 
in  public  life,  he  gave  careful  and  system- 
atic study  to  public  questions,  and  he 
came  to  every  discussion  in  which  he 
took  part,  with  elaborate  and  complete 
preparation.  He  was  a  steady  and  inde- 
fatigable worker.  Those  who  imagine 
that  talent  or  genius  can  supply  the 
place  or  achieve  the  results  of  labor  will 
find  'no  encouragement  in  Garfield's  life. 
In  preliminary  work  he  was  apt,  rapid, 
and  skillful.  He  possessed  in  a  high  de- 
gree the  power  of  rapidly  absorbing  ideas 
and  facts,  and  like  Dr.  Johnson,  had  the 
art  of  getting  from  a  book  all  that  was 
of  value  in  it  by  a  reading  apparently  so 
quick  and  cursory  that  it  seemed  like  a 
mere  glance  at  the  table  of  contents.  He 
was  a  pre-eminently  fair  and  candid  man 
in  debate,  took  no  petty  advantage, 
stooped  to  no  unworthy  methods,  avoided 
personal  allusions,  rarely  appealed  to 
prejudice,  did  not  seek  to  inflame  passion. 
He  had  a  quicker  eye  for  the  strong 
point  of  his  adversary  than  for  his  weak 
point,  and  on  his  own  side  he  so  mar- 
shaled his  weighty  arguments  as  to 
make  his  hearers  forget  any  possible 
lack  in  the  complete  strength  of  his  posi- 
tion. He  had  a  habit  of  stating  his  op- 
ponent's side  with  such  amplitude  of  fair- 
ness and  such  liberality  of  concession  that 


his  followers  often  complained  that  he 
was  giving  his  case  away.  But  never 
in  his  prolonged  participation  in  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  House  did  he  give  his 
case  away,  or  fail  in  the  judgment  of 
competent  and  impartial  listeners  to  gain 
the  mastery. 

These  characteristics,  which  marked 
Garfield  as  a  great  debater,  did  not,  how- 
ever, make  him  a  great  parliamentary 
leader.  A  parliamentary  leader,  as  that 
term  is  understood  wherever  free  repre- 
sentative government  exists,  is  necessarily 
and  very  strictly  the  organ  of  his  party. 
An  ardent  American  defined  the  instinc- 
tive warmth  of  patriotism  when  he  of- 
fered the  toast:  "Our  country,  always 
right;  but  right  or  wrong,  our  country.'.' 
The  parliamentary  leader  who  has  a 
body  of  followers  that  will  do  and  dare 
and  die  for  the  cause,  is  one  who  believes 
his  party  always  right,  but,  right  or 
wrong,  is  for  his  party.  No  more  im< 
portant  or  exacting  duty  devolves  upon 
him  than  the  selection  of  the  field  and 
the  time  for  contest.  He  must  know 
not  merely  how  to  strike,  but  where  to 
strike,  and  when  to  strike.  He  'often 
skillfully  avoids  the  strength  of  his  oppo- 
nent's position  and  scatters  confusion  in 
his  ranks  by  attacking  an  exposed  point 
when  really  the  righteousness  of  the 
cause  and  the  strength  of  logical  in- 
trenchments  are  against  him. 

He  conquers  often  both  against  the 
light  and  the  heavy  battalions;  as  when 
young  Charles  Fox,  in  the  days  of  his 
Toryism,  carried  the  House  of  Com- 
mons against  justice-,  against  its  imme- 
morial rights,  against  his  own  convic- 
tions, if  indeed,  at  that  period  Fox  had 
convictions,  and  in  the  interest  of  a  cor- 
rupt administration,  in  obedience  to  a 
tyrannical  sovereign,  drove  Wilkes  from 


1000 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


the  seat  to  which  the  electors  of  Middle- 
sex had  chosen  him  and  installed  Luttrell 
in  defiance,  not  merely  of  law,  but  of 
public  decency.  For  an  achievement  of 
that  kind  Garfield  was  disqualified — dis- 
qualified by  the  texture  of  his  mind,  by 
the  honesty  of  his  heart,  by  his  con- 
science, and  by  every  instinct  and  aspira- 
tion of  his  nature. 

The  three  most  distinguished  parlia- 
mentary leaders  hitherto  developed  in 
this  country  are  Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  Douglas 
and  Mr.  Thaddeus  Stevens.  Each  was 
a  man  of  consummate  ability,  of  great 
earnestness,  of  intense  personality,  dif- 
fering widely,  each  from  the  other,  and 
yet  with  a  signal  trait  in  common — the 
power  to  command.  In  the  give  and 
take  of  daily  discussion,  in  the  art  of  con- 
trolling and  consolidating  reluctant  and 
refractory  followers;  in  the  skill  to  over- 
come all  forms  of  opposition,  and  to  meet 
with  competency  and  courage  the  vary- 
ing phases  of  unlooked-for  assault  or 
unsuspected  defection,  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  rank  with  these  a  fourth  name  in 
all  our  Congressional  history.  But  of 
these  Mr.  Clay  was  the  greatest.  It 
would,  perhaps,  be  impossible  to  find  in 
the  parliamentary  annals  of  the  world  a 
parallel  to  Mr.  Clay,  in  1841,  when  at  64 
years  of  age  he  took  the  control  of  the 
Whig  party  from  the  president  who 
had  received  their  suffrages,  against  the 
power  of  Webster  in  the  Cabinet,  against 
the  eloquence  of  Choate  in  the  Senate, 
against  the  Herculean  efforts  of  Caleb 
Gushing  and  Henry  A.  Wise  in  the 
House.  In  unshared  leadership,  in  the 
pride  and  plenitude  of  power,  he  hurled 
against  John  Tyler  with  deepest  scorn 
the  mass  of  that  conquering  column 
which  had  swept  over  the  land  in  1840, 
and  drove  his  administration  to  seek 


shelter  behind  the  lines  of  his  political 
foes.  Mr.  Douglas  achieved  a  victory 
scarcely  less  wonderful  when,  in  1854, 
against  the  secret  desires  of  a  strong  ad- 
ministration, against  the  wise  counsel  of 
the  older  chiefs,  against  the  conservative 
instincts,  and  even  the  moral  sense  of  the 
country,  he  forced  a  reluctant  Congress 
into  a  repeal  of  the  Missouri  compro- 
mise. Mr.  Thaddeus  Stevens,  in  his  con- 
tests from  1865  to  1868,  actually  advanced 
his  parliamentary  leadership  until  Con- 
gress tied  the  hands  of  the  president, 
and  governed  the  country  by  its  own 
will,  leaving  only  perfunctory  duties 
to  be  discharged  by  the  executive.  With 
two  hundred  millions  of  patronage  in  his 
hand  at  the  opening  of  the  contest,  aided 
by  the  active  force  of  Seward  in  the 
Cabinet  and  the  moral  power  of  Chase 
on  the  bench,  Andrew  Johnson  could  not 
command  the  support  of  one-third  in 
either  house  against  the  parliamentary 
uprising  of  which  Thaddeus  Stevens  was 
the  animating  spirit  and  the  unquestioned 
leader.  From  these  three  great  men 
Garfield  differed  radically — differed  in 
the  quality  of  his  mind,  in  temperament, 
in  the  form  and  phase  of  ambition.  He 
could  not  do  what  they  did,  but  he  could 
do  what  they  could  not,  and  in  the 
breadth  of  his  Congressional  work  he 
left  that  which  will  longer  exert  a  po- 
tential influence  among  men,  and  which, 
measured  by  the  severe  test  of  posthu- 
mous criticism,  will  secure  a  more  endur- 
ing and  more  enviable  fame. 

Those  unfamiliar  with  Garfield's  in- 
dustry, and  ignorant  of  the  details  of  his 
work,  may  in  some  degree  measure  them 
by  the  annals  of  Congress.  No  one  of 
the  generation  of  public  men  to  which 
he  belonged  has  contributed  so  much 
that  will  be  valuable  for  future  reference. 


1877-1882.] 

His  speeches  are  numerous,  many  of 
them  brilliant,  all  of  them  well  studied, 
carefully  phrased,  and  exhaustive  of  the 
subject  under  consideration.  Collected 
from  the  scattered  pages  of  ninety  royal 
octavo  volumes  of  Congressional  Record, 
they  would  present  an  invaluable  com- 
pendium of  the  political  history  of  the 
most  important  era  through  which  the 
national  government  has  ever  passed. 
When  the  history  of  this  period  shall  be 
impartially  written,  when  war  legisla- 
tion, measures  of  reconstruction,  protec- 
tion of  human  rights,  amendments  to  the 
Constitution,  maintenance  of  public 
credit,  steps  toward  specie  resumption, 
true  theories  of  revenue,  may  be  re- 
viewed, unsurrounded  by  prejudice  and 
disconnected  from  partisanship,  the 
speeches  of  Garfield  will  be  estimated  at 
their  true  value,  and  will  be  found  to 
comprise  a  vast  magazine  of  fact  and 
argument,  of  clear  analysis  and  sound 
conclusion.  Indeed,  if  no  other  authority 
were  accessible,  his  speeches  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  from  Decem- 
ber, 1863,  to  June,  1 880,  will  give  a  well- 
connected  history  and  complete  defense 
of  the  important  legislation  of  the  seven- 
teen eventful  years  that  constitute  his 
parliamentary  life.  Far  beyond  that,  his 
speeches  would  be  found  to  forecast 
many  great  measures  yet  to  be  com- 
pleted— measures  which  he  knew  were 
beyond  the  public  opinion  of  the  hour, 
but  which  he  confidently  believed  would 
secure  popular  approval  within  the  period 
of  his  own  lifetime,  and  by  the  aid  of  his 
own  efforts. 

Differing,  as  Garfield  does,  from  the 
brilliant  parliamentary  leaders,  it  is  not 
easy  to  find  his  counterpart  anywhere 
in  the  record  of  American  public  life. 
He,  perhaps,  more  nearly  resembles  Mr. 


THE    VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


1001 


Seward  in  his  supreme  faith  in  the  all- 
conquering  power  of  a  principle.  He 
had  the  love  of  learning,  and  the  patient 
industry  of  investigation,  to  which  John 
Quincy  Adams  owes  his  prominence  and 
his  presidency.  He  had  some  of  those 
ponderous  elements  of  mind  which  dis- 
tinguished Mr.  Webster,  and  which,  in- 
deed, in  all  our  public  life  have  left  the 
great  Massachusetts  Senator  without  an 
intellectual  peer. 

In  English  parliamentary  history,  as 
in  our  own,  the  leaders  in  the  House  of 
Commons  present  points  of  essential  dif- 
ference from  Garfield.  But  some  of  his 
methods  recall  the  best  features  in  the 
strong  independent  course  of  Sir  Robert 
Peel,  and  striking  resemblances  are  dis- 
cernible in  that  most  promising  of  modern 
Conservatives,  who  died  too  early  for  his 
country  and  his  fame,  the  Lord  George 
Bentinck.  He  had  all  of  Burke's  love 
for  the  sublime  and  the  beautiful,  with 
possibly  something  of  his  superabundance; 
and  in  his  faith  and  his  magnanimity  in 
his  power  of  statement,  in  his  subtle  an- 
alysis, in  his  faultless  logic,  in  his  love  of 
literature,  in  his  wealth  and  world  of  il- 
lustration, one  is  reminded  of  that  great 
English  statesman  of  to-day,  who,  con- 
fronted with  obstacles  that  would  daunt 
any  but  the  dauntless,  reviled  by  those 
whom  he  would  relieve  as  bitterly  as 
by  those  whose  supposed  rights  he  is 
forced  to  invade,  still  labors  with  severe 
courage  for  the  amelioration  of  Ireland, 
and  for  the  honor  of  the  English  name. 

Garfield's  nomination  to  the  presidency, 
while  not  predicted  or  anticipated,  was 
not  a  surprise  to  the  country.  His  prom- 
inence in  Congress,  his  solid  qualities,  his 
wide  reputation,  strengthened  by  his  then 
recent  election  as  Senator  from  Ohio, 
kept  him  in  the  public  eye  as  a  man  oc- 


1002 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


cupving  the  very  highest  rank  among 
those  entitled  to  be  called  statesmen. 
It  was  not  mere  chance  that  brought  him 
this  high  honor.  "  We  must,"  says  Mr. 
Emerson,  u  reckon  success  a  constitution- 
al trait.  If  Eric  is  in  robust  health,  and 
has  slept  well  and  is  at  the  top  of 
his  condition,  and  thirty  years  old  at  his 
departure  from  Greenland,  he  will  steer 
west  and  his  ships  will  reach  Newfound- 
land. But  take  Eric  out  and  put  in 
a  stronger  and  bolder  man,  and  the  ships 
will  sale  600,  i, ooo,  1,500  miles  further 
and  reach  Labrador  and  New  England. 
There  is  no  chance  in  results." 

As  a  candidate,  Garfield  steadily  grew 
in  popular  favor.  He  was  met  with  a 
storm  of  detraction  at  the  very  hour  of 
his  nomination,  and  it  continued  with  in- 
creasing volume  and  momentum  until 
the  close  of  his  victorious  campaign. 

"No  might  nor  greatness  in  morality 

Can  censure  'scape;  back-wounding  calumny 

The   whitest   virtue   strikes.     What    kind   so 

strong, 
Can  tie  the  gall  up  in  the  slanderous  tongue?" 

Under  it  all  he  -was  calm  and  strong 
and  confident,  never  lost  his  self-posses- 
sion, did  no  unwise  act,  spoke  no  hasty 
or  ill-considered  word.  Indeed,  nothing 
in  his  whole  life  is  more  remarkable  or 
more  creditable  than  his  bearing  through 
those  five  full  months  of  vituperation — a 
prolonged  agony  of  trial  to  a  sensitive 
man,  a  constant  and  cruel  draft  upon  the 
powers  of  moral  endurance. 

The  great  mass  of  these  unjust  impu- 
tations passed  unnoticed,  and  with  the 
general  debris  of  the  campaign  fell  into 
oblivion.  But  in  a  few  instances  the  iron 
entered  his  soul,  and  he  died  with  the  in- 
jury unforgotten  if  not  unforgiven.  One 
aspect  of  Garfield' s  candidacy  was  un- 


precedented. Never  before,  in  the  history 
of  partisan  contests  in  this  country,  had 
a  successful  presidential  candidate  spoken 
freely  on  passing  events  and  current  is- 
sues. To  attempt  anything  of  the  kind 
seemed  novel,  rash,  and  even  desperate. 
The  older  class  of  voters  recalled  the 
unfortunate  Alabama  letter,  in  which  Mr. 
Clay  was  supposed  to  have  signed  his  po- 
litical death-warrant.  They  remembered 
also  the  hot-tempered  effusion  by  which 
General  Scott  lost  a  large  share  of  his 
popularity  before  his  nomination,  and 
the  unfortunate  speeches  which  rapidly 
consumed  the  remainder.  The  younger 
voters  had  seen  Mr.  Greeley  in  a  series 
of  vigorous  and  original  addresses  pre- 
paring the  pathway  for  his  own  defeat. 
Unmindful  of  these  warnings, unheeding 
the  advice  of  friends,  Garfield  spoke  to 
large  crowds  as  he  journeyed  to  and  from 
New  York  in  August,  to  a  great  multi- 
tude in  that  city,  to  delegations  and  depu- 
tations of  every  kind  that  called  at  Men- 
tor during  the  summer  and  autumn. 
With  innumerable  critics,  watchful  and 
eager  to  catch  a  phrase  that  might  be 
turned  into  odium  or  ridicule,  or  a  sen- 
tence that  might  be  distorted  to  his  own 
or  his  party's  injury,  Garfield  did  not  trip 
or  halt  in  any  one  of  his  seventy  speeches. 
This  seems  all  the  more  remarkable 
when  it  is  remembered  that  he  did  not 
write  what  he  said,  and  yet  spoke  with 
such  logical  consecutiveness  of  thought, 
and  such  admirable  precision  of  phrase 
as  to  defy  the  accident  of  misreport  and 
the  malignity  of  misrepresentation. 

In  the  beginning  of  his  presidential 
life,  Garfield's  experience  did  not  yield 
him  pleasure  or  satisfaction.  The  duties 
that  engross  so  large  a  portion  of  the 
president's  time  were  distasteful  to  him, 
and  were  unfavorably  contrasted  with  his 


1877-1882.] 

legislative  work.  "  I  have  been  dealing 
all  these  years  with  ideas,"  he  impatient- 
ly exclaimed  one  day,  "and  here  I  am 
dealing  only  with  persons.  I  have  been 
heretofore  treating  of  the  fundamental 
principles  of  government,  and  here  I  am 
considering  all  day  whether  A  or  B  shall 
be  appointed  to  this  or  that  office."  He 
was  earnestly  seeking  some  practical  way 
of  correcting  the  evils  arising  from  the  dis- 
tribution of  overgrown  and  unwieldy  pat- 
ronage —  evils  always  appreciated  and 
often  discussed  by  him,  but  whose  mag- 
nitude had  been  more  deeply  impressed 
upon  his  mind  since  his  accession  to  the 
presidency.  Had  he  lived,  a  compre- 
hensive improvement  in  the  mode  of  ap- 
pointment and  in  the  tendency  of  office 
would  have  been  proposed  by  him,  and 
with  the  aid  of  Congress,  no  doubt 
perfected. 

But,  while  many  of  the  executive 
duties  were  not  grateful  to  him,  he  was 
assiduous  and  conscientious  in  their  dis- 
charge. From  the  very  outset  he  ex- 
hibited administrative  talent  of  a  high 
order.  He  grasped  the  helm  of  office 
with  the  hand  of  a  master.  In  this  re- 
spect, indeed,  he  constantly  surprised 
many  who  were  most  intimately  associ- 
ated with  him  in  the  government,  and 
especially  those  who  had  feared  that  he 
might  be  lacking  in  the  executive  faculty. 
His  disposition  of  business  was  orderly  and 
rapid.  His  power  of  analysis  and  his 
skill  in  classification  enabled  him  to  dis- 
patch a  vast  mass  of  detail  with  singular 
promptness  and  ease.  His  cabinet  meet- 
ings were  admirably  conducted.  His 
clear  presentation  of  official  subjects,  his 
well-considered  suggestion  of  topics  on 
which  discussion  was  invited,  his  quick 
decision  when  all  had  been  heard,  com- 
bined to  show  a  thoroughness  of  mental 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


1003 


training  as  rare  as  his  natural  ability  ana 
his  facile  adaptation  to  a  new  and  en- 
larged field  of  labor. 

With  perfect  comprehension  of  all 
the  inheritances  of  the  war,  with  a  cool 
calculation  of  the  obstacles  in  his  way, 
impelled  always  by  a  generous  enthusiasm 
Garfield  conceived  that  much  might  be 
done  by  his  administration  toward  restor- 
ing harmony  between  the  different  sec- 
tions of  the  Union.  He  was  anxious  to 
go  South  and  speak  to  the  people.  As 
early  as  April  he  had  ineffectually  en- 
deavored to  arrange  for  a  trip  to  Nash- 
ville, whither  he  had  been  cordially  in- 
vited, and  he  was  again  disappointed  a 
few  weeks  later  to  find  he  could  not  go 
to  South  Carolina  to  attend  the  centen- 
nial celebration  of  the  victory  of  the 
Cowpens.  But  for  the  autumn  he  defi- 
nitely counted  on  being  present  at  three 
memorable  assemblies  in  the  South,  the 
celebration  at  Yorktown,  the  opening  of 
the  Cotton  Exposition  at  Atlanta,  and 
the  meeting  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land at  Chattanooga.  He  was  already 
turning  over  in  his  mind  his  address  for 
each  occasion,  and  the  three  taken  to- 
gether, he  said  to  a  friend,  gave  him  the 
exact  scope  and  verge  which  he  needed. 
At  Yorktown  he  would  have  before  him 
the  associations  of  a  hundred  years  that 
bound  the  South  and  the  North  in  the 
sacred  memory  of  a  common  danger  and 
a  common  victory.  At  Atlanta  he  would 
present  the  material  interests  and  the  in- 
dustrial development  which  appealed  to 
the  thrift  and  independence  of  every  house- 
hold, and  which  should  unite  the  two 
sections  by  the  instinct  of  self-interest  and 
self-defense.  At  Chattanooga  he  would 
revive  memories  of  the  war,  only  to 
show  that  after  all  its  disaster,  and  all  its 
suffering,  the  country  was  stronger  and 


1004 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


greater,  the  Union  rendered  indissoluble, 
and  the  -future,  through  the  agony  and 
blood  of  one  generation,  made  brighter 
and  better  for  all. 

Garfield's  ambition  for  the  success  of 
his  administration  was  high.  With 
strong  caution  and  conservatism  in  his 
nature,  he  was  in  no  danger  of  attempt- 
ing rash  experiments  or  of  resorting  to 
the  empiricism  of  statesmanship.  But  he 
believed  that  renewed  and  closer  atten- 
tion should  be  given  to  questions  affect- 
ing the  material  interests  and  commer- 
cial prospects  of  50,000,000  of  people. 
He  believed  that  our  continental  rela- 
tions, extensive  and  undeveloped  as  they 
are,  involved  responsibility,  and  could  be 
cultivated  into  profitable  friendship  or  be 
abandoned  to  harmful  indifference  or 
"  lasting  enmity.  He  believed  with  equal 
confidence  that  an  essential  forerunner  to 
a  new  era  of  national  progress  must  be  a 
feeling  of  contentment  in  every  section 
of  the  Union,  and  a  generous  belief  that 
the  benefits  and  burdens  of  government 
would  be  common  to  all.  Himself  a 
conspicuous  illustration  of  what  ability 
and  ambition  may  do  under  republican 
institutions,  he  loved  his  country  with  a 
passion  of  patriotic  devotion,  and  every 
waking  thought  was  given  to  her  ad- 
vancement. He  was  an  American  in  all 
his  aspirations,  and  he  looked  to  the  des- 
tiny and  influence  of  the  United  States 
with  the  philosophic  composure  of  Jeffer- 
son and  the  demonstrative  confidence  of 
John  Adams. 

The  political  events  which  disturbed 
the  president's  serenity  for  many  weeks 
before  that  fateful  day  in  July  form  an 
important  chapter  in  his  career,  and  in 
his  own  judgment  involved  questions  of 
principle  and  of  right  which  are  vitally 
essential  to  the  constitutional  administra- 


tion of  the  federal  government.  It 
would  be  out  of  place  here  and  now  to 
speak  the  language  of  controversy;  but 
the  events  referred  to,  however  they  may 
continue  to  be  a  source  of  contention 
with  others,  have  become,  so  far  as  Gar- 
field  is  concerned,  as  much  a  matter  of 
history  as  his  heroism  at  Chickamauga 
or  his  illustrious  service  in  the  House. 
Detail  is  not  needful,  and  personal  an- 
tagonism shall  not  be  rekindled  by  any 
word  uttered  to-day.  The  motives  of 
those  opposing  him  are  not  to  be  here 
adversely  interpreted,  nor  their  course 
harshly  characterized.  But  of  the  dead 
president  this  is  to  be  said,  and  said  be- 
cause his  own  speech  is  forever  silenced 
and  he  can  be  no  more  heard  except 
through  the  fidelity  and  the  love  of  sur- 
viving friends,  from  the  beginning  to 
the  end  of  the  controversy  he  so  much 
deplored,  the  president  was  never  for  one 
moment  actuated  by  any  motive  of  gain 
to  himself  or  of  loss  to  others.  Least  of 
all  men  did  he  harbor  revenge,  rarely 
did  he  even  show  resentment,  and  malice 
was  not  in  his  nature. 

He  was  congenially  employed  only  in 
the  exchange  of  good  offices  and  the  do- 
ing of  kindly  deeds.  There  was  not  an 
hour  from  the  beginning  of  the  trouble 
till  the  fatal  shot  entered  his  body,  when 
the  president  would  not  gladly,  for  the 
sake  of  restoring  harmony,  have  retraced 
any  step  he  had  taken  if  such  retracing 
had  merely  involved  consequences  per- 
sonal to  himself.  The  pride  of  consist- 
ency, or  any  supposed  sense  of  humilia- 
tion that  might  result  from  surrendering 
his  position,  had  not  a  feather's  weight 
with  him.  No  man  was  ever  less  sub- 
ject to  such  influence  from  within  or  from 
without.  But  after  most  anxious  delib- 
eration and  the  coolest  survey  of  all  the 


1877-1882.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


1005 


circumstances,  he  solemnly  believed  that 
the  true  prerogatives  of  the  executive 
were  involved  in  the  issue  which  had 
been  raised,  and  that  he  would  be  un- 
faithful to  his  supreme  obligation  if  he 
failed  to  maintain  in  all  their  vigor  the 
constitutional  rights  and  dignities  of  his 
great  office.  He  believed  this  in  all  the 
convictions  of  conscience  when  in  sound 
and  vigorous  health,  and  he  believed  it 
in  his  suffering  and  prostration  in  the  last 
conscious  thought  which  his  wearied 
mind  bestowed  on  the  transitory  strug- 
gles of  life.  More  than  this  need  not  be 
said.  Less  than  this  could  not  be  said. 
Justice  to  the  dead,  the  highest  ob- 
ligation that  devolves  upon  the  living,  de- 
mands the  declaration  that  in  all  the 
bearings  of  the  subject,  actual  or  possible, 
the  president  was  content  in  his  mind, 
justified  in  his  conscience,  immovable  in 
his  conclusions. 

The  religious  element  in  Garfield's 
character  was  deep  and  earnest.  In  his 
early  youth  he  espoused  the  faith  of  the 
Disciples,  a  sect  of  that  great  Baptist 
communion  which,  in  different  ecclesias- 
tical establishments,  is  so  numerous  and 
so  influential  throughout  all  parts  of  the 
United  States.  But  the  broadening  ten- 
dency of  his  mind  and  his  active  spirit  of 
inquiry  were  early  apparent,  and  carried 
him  beyond  the^  dogmas  of  sect  and  the 
restraints  of  association.  In  selecting  a 
college  in  which  to  continue  his  educa- 
tion he  rejected  Bethany,  though  pre- 
sided over  by  Alexander  Campbell,  the 
greatest  preacher  of  his  church.  His 
reasons  were  characteristic:  First,  that 
Bethany  leaned  too  heavily  toward  sla- 
very; and  second,  that  being  himself  a 
Disciple,  and  the  son  of  Disciple  parents, 
he  had  little  acquaintance  with  people  of 
other  beliefs,  and  he  "  thought  it  would 


make  him  liberal,"  quoting  his  own 
words,  "  both  in  his  religious  and  general 
views,  to  go  into  a  new  circle  and  be 
under  new  influences." 

The  liberal  tendency  which  he  antici- 
pated as  the  result  of  wider  culture  was 
fully  realized.  He  was  emancipated 
from  mere  sectarian  belief,  and  with 
eager  interest  pushed  his  investigations 
in  the  direction  of  modern  progressive 
thought.  He  followed  with  quickening 
steps  in  the  paths  of  exploration  and 
speculation  so  fearlessly  trodden  by  Dar- 
win, by  Huxley, by  Tyndall,  and  by  other 
living  scientists  of  the  radical  and  ad- 
vanced type.  His  own  church,  binding 
its  disciples  by  no  formulated  creed,  but 
accepting  the  Old  and  New  Testaments 
as  the  word  of  God,  with  unbiased  lib- 
erty of  private  interpretation,  favored,  if 
it  did  not  stimulate,  the  spirit  of  investi- 
gation. Its  members  profess  with  sin- 
cerity, and  profess  only,  to  be  of  one 
mind  and  one  faith  with  those  who 
immediately  followed  the  Master,  and 
who  were  first  called  Christians  at  An- 
tioch. 

But  however  high  Garfield  reasoned 
of  "fixed  fate,  free  will,  foreknowledge 
absolute,"  he  was  never  separated  from 
the  Church  of  the  Disciples  in  his  affec- 
tions and  in  his  associations.  For  him  it 
held  the  ark  of  the  covenant.  To  him  it 
was  the  gate  of  heaven.  The  world  of 
religious  belief  is  full  of  solecisms  and  con- 
tradictions. A  philosophic  observer  de- 
clares that  men  by  the  thousand  will  die 
in  defense  of  a  creed  whose  doctrines 
they  do  not  comprehend,  and  whose  tenets 
they  habitually  violate.  It  is  equally 
true  that  men  by  the  thousand  will  cling 
to  church  organizations  with  instinctive 
and  undying  fidelity,  when  their  belief  in 
maturer  years  is  radically  different  from 


1006 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


that  which  inspired  them   as  neophytes. 

But  after  this  range  of  speculation, 
and  this  latitude  of  doubt,  Garfield  came 
back  always  with  freshness  and  delight 
to  the  simpler  instincts  of  religious  faith, 
which,  earliest  implanted,  longest  sur- 
vive. Not  many  weeks  before  his  assas- 
sination, walking  on  the  banks  of  the 
Potomac  with  a  friend,  and  conversing 
on  those  topics  of  personal  religion  on 
which  noble  natures  have  an  unconquer- 
able reserve,  he  said  that  he  found  the 
Lord's  Prayer  and  the  simple  petitions 
learned  in  infancy  infinitely  restful  to 
him,  not  merely  in  their  stated  repetition, 
but  in  their  casual  and  frequent  recall  as 
he  went  about  the  daily  duties  of  life. 
Certain  texts  of  Scripture  had  a  very 
strong  hold  on  his  memory  and  his  heart. 
He  heard,  while  in  Edinburgh  some 
years  ago,  an  eminent  Scotch  preacher 
who  prefaced  his  sermon  with  reading 
the  eighth  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to  the 
Romans,  which  book  had  been  the  sub- 
ject of  careful  study  with  Garfield  during 
all  his  religious  life.  He  was  greatly 
impressed  by  the  elocution  of  the 
preacher,  and  declared  that  it  had  im- 
parted a  new  and  deeper  meaning  to  the 
majestic  utterances  of  Saint  Paul.  He 
referred  often  in  after  years  to  that  mem- 
orable service,  and  dwelt  with  exaltation 
of  feeling  upon  the  radiant  promise  and 
the  assured  hope  with  which  the  great 
apostle  of  the  Gentiles  was  "  persuaded 
that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels, 
nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things 
present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor  height, 
nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall 
be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of 
God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our 
Lord." 

The  crowning  characteristic  of  Gen- 
eral Garfield's  religious  opinions,  as,  in- 


deed, of  all  his  opinions,  was  his  liberal- 
ity. In  all  things  he  had  charity.  Tol- 
erance was  of  his  nature.  He  respected 
in  others  the  qualities  which  he  pos- 
sessed himself — sincerity  of  conviction 
and  frankness  of  expression.  With  him 
the  inquiry  was  not  so  much  what  a  man 
believes,  but  does  he  believe  it?  The 
lines  of  his  friendship  and  his  confidence 
encircled  men  of  every  creed  and  men  of 
no  creed,  and  to  the  end  of  his  life  and 
on  his  ever-lengthening  list  of  friends, 
were  to  be  found  the  names  of  a  pious 
Catholic  priest  and  of  an  honest-minded 
and  "•enerous-hearted  freethinker. 

O 

On  the  morning  of  Saturday,  July  2, 
the  president  was  a  contented  and  happy, 
man — not  in  an  ordinary  degree,  but  joy- 
fully, almost  boyishly  happy.  On  his 
way  to  the  railroad  station,  to  which  he 
drove  slowly,  in  conscious  enjoyment  of 
the  beautiful  morning,  with  an  unwonted 
sense  of  leisure  and  a  keen  anticipation 
of  pleasure,  his  talk  was  all  in  the  grate- 
ful and  gratulatory  vein.  He  felt  that 
after  four  months  of  trial  his  administra- 
tion was  strong  in  its  grasp  of  affairs, 
strong  in  popular  favor,  and  destined  to 
grow  stronger;  that  grave  difficulties 
confronting  him  at  his  inauguration  had 
been  safely  passed;  that  trouble  lay  be- 
hind him  and  not  before  him;  that  he 
was  soon  to  meet  the  wife  he  loved,  now 
recovering  from  an  illness  which  had 
but  lately  disquieted  and  at  times  almost 
unnerved  him ;  that  he  was  going  to  his 
Alma  Mater,  to  renew  the  most  cher- 
ished associations  of  his  young  manhood, 
and  to  exchange  greetings  with  those 
whose  deepening  interest  had  followed 
every  step  of  his  upward  progress  from 
the  day  he  entered  upon  his  college 
course  until  he  had  attained  the  loftiest 
elevation  in  the  gift  of  his  countrymen. 


1877-1882.] 


THE   VIGOR    OF  LIFE. 


1007 


Surely,  if  happiness  can  ever  come  from 
the  honors  or  triumphs  of  this  world,  on 
that  quiet  morning  James  A.  Garfield 
may  well  have  been  a  happy  man. 

No  foreboding  of  evil  haunted  him ; 
no  slightest  premonition  of  danger 
clouded  his  sky.  His  terrible  fate  was 
upon  him  in  an  instant.  One  moment 
he  stood  erect,  strong,  confident  in  the 
years  stretching  peacefully  out  before 
him,  the  next  he  lay  wounded,  bleeding, 
helpless,  doomed  to  weary  weeks  of  tor- 
ture, to  silence,  and  the  grave. 

Great  in  life,  he  was  surpassingly 
great  in  death.  For  no  cause,  in  the 
very  frenzy  of  wantonness  and  wicked- 
ness, by  the  red  hand  of  murder,  he  was 
thrust  from  the  full  tide  of  this  world's 
interests,  from  its  hopes,  its  aspirations,  its 
victories,  into  the  visible  presence  of 
death — and  he  did  not  quail.  Not  alone 
for  the  one  short  moment  in  which, 
stunned  and  dazed,  he  could  give  up  life, 
hardly  aware  of  its  relinquishment,  but 
through  days  of  deadly  languor,  through 
weeks  of  agony  that  was  not  less  agony 
because  silently  borne,  with  clear  sight 
and  calm  courage,  he  looked  into  his 
open  grave.  What  blight  and  ruin  met 
his  anguished  eyes,  whose  lips  may  tell? 
— what  brilliant,  broken  plans,  what  baf- 
fled high  ambitions,  what  sundering  of 
strong,  warm  manhood's  friendships, 
what  bitter  rending  of  sweet  household 
ties!  Behind  him  a  proud,  expectant 
nation,  a  great  host  of  sustaining  friends, 
a  cherished  and  happy  mother  wearing 
the  full,  rich  honors  of  her  early  toil  and 
tears;  the  wife  of  his  youth,  whose  whole 
life  lay  in  his;  the  little  boys  not  yet 
emerged  from  childhood's  day  of  frolic; 
the  fair  young  daughter;  the  sturdy  sons 
just  springing  into  closest  companion- 
ship, claiming  every  day,  and  every  day 


rewarding  a  father's  love  and  care;  and 
in  his  heart  the  eager,  rejoicing  power  to 
meet  all  demands.  Before  him,  desolation 
and  great  darkness!  And  his  soul  was 
not  shaken.  His  countrymen  were 
thrilled  with  instant,  profound,  and  uni- 
versal sympathy.  Masterful  in  his  mor- 
tal weakness,  he  became  the  center  of  a 
nation's  love,  enshrined  in  the  prayer  of  a 
world.  But  all  the  love  and  all  the  sym- 
pathy could  not  share  with  him  his  suf- 
fering. He  trod  the  wine-press  alone. 

With  unfaltering  front  he  faced  death. 
With  unfailing  tenderness  he  took  leave 
of  life.  Above  the  demoniac  hiss  of  the 
assassin's  bullet,  he  heard  the  voice  of 
God.  With  simple  resignation  he  bowed 
to  the  divine  decree. 

As  the  end  drew  near,  his  early  crav- 
ing for  the  sea  returned.  The  stately 
mansion  of  power  had  been  to  him  the 
wearisome  hospital  of  pain,  and  he 
begged  to  be  taken  from  its  prison  walls, 
from  its  oppressive,  stifling  air,  from  its 
homelessness  and  its  hopelessness.  Gent- 
ly, silently,  the  love  of  a  great  people 
bore  the  pale  sufferer  to  the  longed-for 
healing  of  the  sea,  to  live  or  to  die,  as 
God  should  will  within  sight  of  its  heav- 
ing billows,  within  sound  of  its  manifold 
voices.  With  wan,  fevered  face  tenderly 
lifted  to  the  cooling  breeze,  he  looked 
out  wistfully  upon  the  ocean's  changing 
wonders;  on  its  far  sails,  whitening  in 
the  morning  light;  on  its  restless  waves, 
rolling  shoreward  to  break  and  die  be- 
neath the  noonday  sun;  on  the  red 
clouds  of  evening,  arching  low  to  the 
hoi'izon ;  on  the  serene  and  shining  path- 
way of  the  stars.  Let  us  think  that  his 
dying  eyes  read  a  mystic  meaning  which 
only  the  rapt  and  parting  soul  may  know. 
Let  us  believe  that,  in  the  silence  of  the 
receding  world,  he  heard  the  great  waves 


1008 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


breaking  on  a  further  shore,  and  felt 
already  upon  his  wasted  brow  the  breath 
of  the  eternal  morning. 

HENRY  W.  BELLOWS. 

1882.  Jan.  30.  Rev.  Dr.  Bellows, 
who  died  in  New  York,  was  a  leading 
preacher  and  worker  in  the  Unitarian  de- 
nomination. But  his  influence  and  use- 
fulness extended  far  outside  his  own  sect. 
He  had  made  friends  among  all  classes  of 
people,  and  could  work  side  by  side  with 
others  in  the  exercise  of  a  large  charity. 

He  was  born  in  Boston  on  June  11, 
1814,  and  was  thus  in  his  68th  year.  But 
he  was  still  strong  and  full  of  labor.  His 
early  education  was  excellent,  having 
been  gained  at  Round  Hill,  Northampton, 
and  Harvard  University.  At  the  former 
school  he  was  taught  in  some  branches 
by  George  Bancroft,  the  historian.  He 
tcok  a  course  in  Harvard  divinity  school 
and  graduated  in  1837.  He  was  ordained 
Jan.  2,  1838,  pastor  of  the  All  Soul's 
Church  in  New  York  City  and  never  re- 
moved from  that  first  settlement,  thus 
preserving  his  pastorate  unbroken  for 
forty  years.  It  was  a  pastorate  eminent 
for  general  usefulness,  for  large-hearted 
philanthropy,  for  spiritual  wisdom  and 
rare  integrity.  He  was  a  fine  and  ready 
speaker,  his  style  being  full  of  attraction 
for  the  listener.  The  founding  of  "  The 
Christian  Inquirer,"  a  Unitarian  news- 
paper of  New  York,  was  largely  due  to 
him.  His  publications  were  varied,  con- 
sisting of  sermons,  orations,  lectures,  and 
a  book  of  travels.  He  edited  the 
"  Liberal  Christian  "  for  a  time,  and  at 
all  times  wrote  more  or  less  for  the 
public  press. 

But  it  is  by  his  service  during  the  war 
at  the  head  of  the  U.  S.  Sanitary  Com- 
mission that  Dr.  Bellows  became  known 


as  a  man  of  large  aims  and  fine  executive 
ability.  That  wise  and  noble  agency 
was  to  a  great  extent  his  own,  and  nobly 
did  he  vindicate  his  right  to  be  at  its 
head.  He  rejoiced  exceedingly  in  the 
$18,000,000  worth  of  supplies  and  cash 
put  at  the  disposal  of  needy  and  suffering 
soldier*.  Here  his  character  came  to  the 
climax  of  active  philanthropy. 

Through  this  great  work,  and  his  va- 
ried native  gifts  all  trained  in  the  service 
of  men,  he  touched  his  generation  pow- 
erfully. He  was  eminently  religious  and 
disbelieved  in  the  tendency  to  surrender 
the  spiritual  perceptions  of  the  soul,  and 
to  harshly  condemn  religious  workers  of 
other  persuasions.  Keen  in  observation 
he  was  always  alive  to  the  needs  of  men, 
and  was  always  ready  to  speak  a  word 
boldly  therefor.  His  funeral  was  at- 
tended by  ministers  and  laymen  of  all  de- 
nominations. It  has  been  said  of  him, 
"  Frank  and  fair,  he  had  all  the  courage 
of  his  opinions.  His  yea  was  yea,  and  his 
nay  nay.  It  is  a  beneficent  life  that  has 
passed  from  our  view,  and  a  stimulating 
and  fascinating  personality.  The  city  as 
well  as  his  church,  suffers  by  his  loss. 
The  friendless  and  forlorn  have  lost  a 
friend.  Every  worthy  cause  is  bereaved 
of  a  strong  counselor  and  an  efficient  la- 
borer. He  was  not  yet  an  old  man,  but  he 
had  done  a  long  life's  hard  work,  and 
happily  for  our  memory  of  him,  without 
visible  relaxation  or  decay,  with  all  the 
sweet  ardor  of  his  nature  untouched,  he 
dies,  and,  as  with  all  men  who  have  lived 
for  noble  and  humane  ends,  his  works  do 
follow  him. " 

HENRY  W.  LONGFELLOW. 

1882.  March  24.  Henry  Wadsworth 
Longfellow,  the  beloved  and  loving 
American  poet,  died  at  Cambridge,  Mass. 


1877-1882. 1 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


1009 


He  was  born  at  Portland,  Maine,  Feb. 
17,  1807.  He  graduated  from  Bovvdoin 
College  in  1825.  During  his  college 
course  he  composed  a  number  of  his  ear- 
lier poems  which  are  familiar  in  Ameri- 
can households.  His  first  intention  was 
to  study  for  the  legal  profession ;  but  an 
offer  of  the  class  of  modern  languages 
and  literature  in  his  Alma  Afater  took 
him  to  Europe  on  a  course  of  study  pre- 
paratory to  his  acceptance.  During  his 
absence  he  traveled  in  France,  Germany, 
Italy  and  Spain,  and  made  several  trans- 
lations of  Spanish  and  German  poetry. 
In  1835  he  succeeded  Geo.  Ticknor  as 
professor  of  belles-lettres  and  modern 
languages  in  Harvard  University.  Up 
to  this  time  his  poems  were  quite  numer- 
ous, but  uncollected.  He  held  his  pro- 
fessorship for  seventeen  years,  spending 
a  few  months  of  that  period,  in  1842,  in 
.Germany.  His  work,  both  literary  and 
professional,  was  extensive.  He  resigned 
his  position  in  1854,  but  continued  his 
residence  at  Cambridge,  in  the  house 
once  occupied  by  Washington.  He  was 
received  with  marked  honors  in  Europe 
in  1868-9,  and  received  many  honorary 
degrees  from  colleges  in  America  and 
abroad.  He  continued  his  literarv  work 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

Longfellow  left  an  impress  on  Ameri- 
can hearts  that  no  other  character  in  our 
literature  has  done.  He  is  one  of  the 
literary  fathers  that  are  being  gathered  in 
swift  succession  in  the  eternal  harvest  by 

the 

"  Reaper  whose  name  is  Death." 

He  does  not  live  in  our  hearts  as  pre-emi- 
nent for  any  distinct  work,  for  any  origi- 
nal thought,  or,  like  Bryant,  for  the 
grandeur  of  his  poetry.  His  poetry  is 
like  his  life.  It  is  the  poetry  that  moves 
the  affections  tor  the  author  and  makes 


an  impress  on  every  human  heart.  It  is 
the  poetry  of  life,  love,  faith,  hope.  Its 
style  is  the  sweetest  and  the  simplest. 
We  love  Longfellow's  poetry  for  its 
genuineness.  It  was  that  broad  and 
healthful  sympathy  with  men  which  gave 
the  poet  his  power.  In  his  poems  we 
find  only  true  and  wholesome  feeling. 
No  misanthropy  or  cynicism  is  there ;  no 
bitter  tinge,  no  morbid  raving.  Long- 
fellow was  disposed  to  take  men  as  he 
found  them.  More  truly,  perhaps,  than 
any  other  of  our  American  poets,  he  has 
recorded  the  attributes  of  the  soul;  and 
the  beauty  as  well  as  the  strength  of  his 
poetry  is  in  its  truthfulness.  He  was  not 
a  philosopher,  but  a  preacher  and  teacher 
of  human  hearts.  There  was  no  joy  or 
sorrow,  no  ambition,  resolve,  or  despair, 
no  chord  of  the  heart  that  could  not 
vibrate  to  the  sweet  music  of  his  poetry. 
He  taught  the  mind  its  own  responsi- 
bility. He  taught  that  all  men  are  the 
"Builders"  of  their  lives' 


All  are  architects  of  Fate, 

Working  in  these  walls  of  Time ; 

Some  with  massive  deeds  and  great, 
Some  with  ornaments  of  rhyme. 

Nothing  useless  is,  or  low : 
Each  thing  in  its  place  is  best; 

And  what  seems  but  idle  show 
Strengthens  and  supports  the  rest. 

For  the  structure  that  we  raise, 
Time  is  with  materials  filled ; 

Our  to-days  and  yesterdays 

Are  the  blocks  with  which  we  build. 

Truly  shape  and  fashion  these; 

Leave  no  yawning  gaps  between ; 
Think  not  because  no  man  sees, 

Such  things  will  remain  unseen. 

In  the  elder  days  of  Art, 

Builders  wrought  with  greatest  care 
Each  minute  and  unseen  part; 

For  the  gods  see  everywhere. 

Let  us  do  our  work  as  well, 
Both  the  unseen  and  the  seen; 

Make  the  house  where  God  may  dwell, 
Beautiful,  entire  anr1  clean. 


1010 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT, 


Else  our  lives  are  incomplete 
Standing  in  these  walls  of  Time. 

Broken  stairways,  where  the  feet 
Stumble  as  they  seek  to  climb. 

Build  to-day,  then,  strong  and  sure, 

With  a  firm  and  ample  base ; 
And  ascending  and  secure 

Shall  to-morrow  find  its  place. 

Thus  alone  can  we  attain 

To  those  turrets,  where  the  eye 

Sees  the  world  as  one  vast  plain, 
And  the  boundless  reach  of  sky. 

The  "Poems  on  Slavery"  were  writ- 
ten by  Longfellow  in  1842.  Many  of 
these  contained  that  characteristic  sym- 
pathy with  his  fellow-creatures  that  ex- 
ceeds in  pathos  any  of  his  other  poems, 
but  they  were  not  so  widely  read.  One 
of  the  most  beautiful  is  the  "  Slave's 
Dream  " — a  poem  of  sympathy  and  sad- 
ness: 

Beside  the  ungathered  rice  he  lay, 

His  sickle  in  his  hand; 
His  breast  was  bare,  his  matted  hair 

Was  buried  in  the  sand. 
Again,  in  the  mist  and  shadow  of  sleep 

He  saw  his  native  land. 

Wide  through  the  landscape  of  his  dreams 

The  lordly  Niger  flowed; 
Beneath  the  palm  trees  on  the  plain 

Once  more  a  king  he  strode; 
And  heard  the  tinkling  caravans 

Descend  the  mountain-road. 

He  saw  once  more  his  dark-eyed  queen 

Among  her  children  stand ; 
They  clasped  his  neck,  they  kissed  his  cheeks, 

They  held  him  by  the  hands ! — 
A  tear  burst  from  the  sleeper's  lids 

And  fell  into  the  sands. 

And  then  at  furious  speed  he  rode 

Along  the  Niger's  bank; 
His  bridle-reins  were  golden  chains, 

And,  with  a  martial  clank, 
At  each  leap  he  could  feel  his  scabbard  of  steel 

Smiting  his  stallion's  flank. 

Before  him,  like  a  blood-red  flag, 

The  bright  flamingoes  flew ; 
From  morn  tilV  night  he  followed  their  flight. 

O'er  plains  where  the  tamarind  grew, 
Till  he  saw  the  roofs  of  CafFre  huts, 

And  the  ocean  rose  to  view. 

At  night  he  heard  the  lion  roar, 

And  the  hyena  scream, 
And  the  river-horse  as  he  crushed  the  reeds 

Beside  some  hidden  stream ; 


And  it  passed,  like  the  glorious  roll  of  drums, 
Through  the  triumph  of  his  dream. 

The  forests,  with  their  mjriad  tongues, 

Shouted  of  liberty ; 
And  the  Blast  of  the  Desert  cried  aloud 

With  a  voice  so  wild  and  free, 
That  he  started  in  his  sleep  and  smiled 

At  their  tempestuous  glee. 

He  did  not  feel  the  driver's  whip, 

Nor  the  burning  heat  of  day ; 
For  death  had  illumined  the  Land  of  Sleep. 

And  his  lifeless  body  lay 
A  worn  out  fetter,  that  the  soul 
.  Had  broken  and  thrown  away! 

There  is  in  these  simple  yet  sweet 
verses  the  evident  distinction  between 
the  character  of  Longfellow's  poetry  and 
that  of  other  poets.  In  the  "  Slave's 
Dream  "  there  is  nothing  of  the  wild, 
excitable  lyrical  nature  which  marks  the 
slave  and  war  poems  of  Whittier.  The 
poem  of  Longfellow's  creation  possess- 
ing the  most  of  lyrical  grandeur  is  his 
"Building  of  the  Ship," — the  last  of 
which  contains  the  stirring  and  com- 
manding elements  of  true  poetry: 

Thou,  too,  sail  on,  O  Ship  of  State  ! 

Sail  on,  O  UNION,  strong  and  great ! 

Humanity  with  all  its  fears, 

With  all  its  hopes  of  future  years, 

Is  hanging  breathless  on  thy  fate  ! 

We  know  what  Master  laid  thy  keel, 

What  workmen  wrought  thy  ribs  of  steel, 

Who  made  each  mast,  and  sail  and  rope, 

What  anvils  rang,  what  hammers  beat, 

In  what  a  forge  and  what  a  heat 

Were  shaped  the  anchors  of  thy  hope  ! 

Fear  not  each  sudden  sound  and  shock, 

'T  is  of  the  wave  and  not  the  rock : 

'T  is  but  the  flapping  of  the  sail, 

And  not  a  rent  made  by  the  gale  1 

In  spite  of  false  lights  on  the  shore, 

Sail  on,  nor  fear  to  breast  the  sea! 

Our  hearts,  our  hopes,  are  all  with  thee, 

Our  hearts,  our  hopes,  our  prayers,  our  tears, 

Our  faith  triumphant  o'er  our  fears, 

Are  all  with  thee ;  are  all  with  thee  I 

Longfellow's  most  widely-circulated 
poem  is  "  Hiawatha."  By  this  he  is 
known  to  the  children  of  the  firesides  in 
America  and  England.  The  description 
of"  Hiawatha's"  love,  the  travels  of  the 


1877-1882.] 


THE   VIGOR  OF  LIFE. 


1011 


weary  hunter  contain  the  power  and 
fascinations  of  genuine  poetic  narrative  in 
which  Longfellow  surpasses  any  other 
poet  of  our  race.  The  simplicity  of  his 
style  is  the  beauty  of  his  narrative,  and 
the  exact  sympathy  with  the  heart  and 
correct  interpret  ation  of  life  give  his 
poetry  its  fascination.  An  extract  of 
"Hiawatha"  shows  his  power  of  poetic 
description  : 

O  the  long  and  dreary  winter ! 
O  the  cold  and  cruel  winter! 
Ever  thicker,  thicker,  thicker 
Froze  the  ice  on  lake  and  river, 
Ever  deeper,  deeper,  deeper 
Fell  the  snow  o'er  all  the  landscape, 
Fell  the  covering  snow,  and  drifted 
Through  the  forest,  round  the  village. 

Hardly  from  his  barred  wigwam 
Could  the  hunter  force  a  passage; 
With  his  mittens  and  his  snow-shoes 
Vainly  walked  he  through  the  forest, 
Sought  for  bird  or  beast,  and  found  none, 
Saw  no  track  of  deer  or  rabbit, 
In  the  snow  beheld  no  footprints, 
In  the  ghastly,  gleaming  forest 
Fell,  and  could  not  rise  from  weakness, 
Perished  there  from  cold  and  hunger. 

"Evangeline,"  \vntten  in  1847,  was 
Longfellow's  favorite  poem.  And  in- 
deed there  is  in  the  "  Story  of  the  Aca- 
dian Peasants "  a  romantic  plot  and  a 
beauty  of  poetical  story-teling  that  none 
of  our  other  poets  have  rivalled.  Noth- 
ing can  be  more  beautiful  than  the  two 
concluding  verses  : 

Still  stands  the  forest  primeval  ;  but  far  away 

from  its  shadow, 
Side  by  side,  in  their  nameless  graves,  the  lovers 

are  sleeping. 
Under  the  humble  walls  of  the  little   Catholic 

churchyard, 
In  the  heart  of  the  city,  they  lie,  unknown  and 

unnoticed. 

Daily  the  tides  of  life  go  ebbing  and  flowing  be- 
side them, 
Thousands  of  throbbing  hearts,  where  theirs  are 

at  rest  and  forever, 
Thousands  of  aching  brains,   where   theirs   no 

longer  are  busy, 
Thousands  of  toiling  hands,  where  theirs  have 

ceased  from  their  labors, 
Thousands   of  weary   feet,   where   theirs   have 

completed  their  journey  1 


Still  stands  the  forest  primeval  ;   but  under  the 

shade  of  its  branches 
Dwells  another  race,   with  other  customs   and 

language. 
Only  along  the  shore  of  the  mournful  and  misty 

Atlantic 
Linger  a  few  Acadian  peasants,  whose  fathers 

from  exile 
Wandered  back  to  their  native  land  to  die  in  its 

bosom.  • 

In  the  fisherman's  cot  the  wheel  and  the  loom 

are  still  busy  ; 
Maidens  still  wear  their  Norman  caps  and  their 

kirtles  of  homespun , 
And  by  the   evening  fire   repeat  Evangeline's 

story, 
While  from  its  rocky  caverns  the  deep-voiced 

neighboring  ocean 
Speaks,  and  in  accents  disconsolate  answers  the 

wail  of  the  forest. 

The  translation  of  the  "  Divine  Com- 
edy "  of  Dante  was  the  perfect  result  of 
persistent  work,  -which  was  not  entirely 
completed  until  1870.  "The  Courtship 
of  Miles  Standish,"  and  "  The  Tales  of 
a  Wayside  Inn"  are  poems  that  must 
live  through  the  ages.  Longfellow's 
works  were  voluminous.  He  seemed  to 
be  a  poetical  fountain  from  which  flowed 
the  sweet,  pure  and  healing  muses.  To 
the  fountain  came  the  tired  and  weary, 
the  light  and  merry  alike  to  drink  and  be 
refreshed  in  common.  Longfellow  has 
written  numerous  short  poems  which  are 
singled  out  and  admired  by  different 
tastes.  One  of  the  most  beautiful  of  these 
is  "The  Beleaguered  City."  But  the 
most  famed  of  all,  alike  the  favorite  of 
men  of  genius  and  the  toiler,  is  the 
"Psalm  of  Life:" 


Tell  me  not,  in  mournful  numbers, 
Life  is  but  an  empty  dream  ! 

For  the  soul  is  dead  that  slumbers, 
And  things  are  not  what  they  seem. 

Life  is  real !   Life  is  earnest  J 
And  the  grave  is  not  its  goal  ; 

Dust  thou  art,  to  dust  returnest, 
Was  not  spoken  of  the  soul. 

Not  enjoyment,  and  not  sorrow, 
Is  GUI'  destined  end  or  way ; 

But  to  act,  that  each  to-morrow 
Find  us  farther  than  to-day. 


1012 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT 


Art  is  long,  and  Time  is  fleeting, 

And  our  hearts,  though  stout  and  brave, 

Still,  like  muffled  drums,  are  beating 
Funeral  marches  to  the  grave. 

In  the  world's  broad  field  of  battle, 

In  the  bivouac  of  Life, 
Be  not  like  dumb,  driven  cattle  ! 

Be  a  hero  in  the  strife  ! 

Trust  no  Future,  howe'er  pleasant  1 
Let  the  dead  Past  bury  its  dead  1 

Act — act  in  the  living  Present  ! 
Heart  within,  and  God  o'erhead  1 

Lives  of  great  men  all  remind  us 
We  can  make  our  lives  sublime  ; 

And,  departing,  leave  behind  us 
Footprints  on  the  sands  of  time ; — 

Footprints,  that  perhaps  another, 
Sailing  o'er  life's  solemn  main, 

A  forlorn  and  shipwrecked  brother, 
Seeing,  shall  take  heart  again. 

Let  us,  then,  be  up  and  doing, 

With  a  heart  for  any  fate ; 
Still  achieving,  still  pursuing, 

Learn  to  labor  and  to  wait. 


One  of  his  best  and  later  productions 
is  "  Ultima  Thule."  Then  not  long  be- 
fore his  death  he  wrote  the  "  Mad  River 
in  the  White  Mountains."  This  is  his 
last  poem : 

TRAVELER. 

Why  dost  thou  wildly  rush  and  roar, 

'Mad  River,  O  Mad  River? 
Wilt  thou  not  pause  and  cease  to  pour 
Thy  hurrying,  headlong  waters  o'er 
This  rocky  shelf  forever? 

What  secret  trouble  stirs  thy  breast? 

Why  all  this  fret  and  flurry? 
Dost  thou  not  know  that  what  is  best 
In  this  too  restless  world  is  rest 

From  overwork  and  worry? 

THE    RIVER. 

What  wouldst  thou  in  these  mountains  seek, 

O  stranger  from  the  city  ? 
Is  it  perhaps  some  foolish  freak 
Of  thine,  to  put  the  words  I  speak 

Into  a  plaintive  ditty  ? 

TRAVELER. 

Yes ;  I  would  learn  of  thee  thy  song, 

With  all  its  flowing  numbers, 
And,  in  a  voice  as  fresh  and  strong 
As  thine  is,  sing  it  all  day  long, 

And  hear  it  in  my  slumbers. 


THE    RIVER. 

A  brooklet  nameless  and  unknown 

Was  I  at  first,  resembling 
A  little  child  that  all  alone 
Comes  venturing  down  the  stairs  of  stone, 

Irresolute  and  trembling. 

Later,  by  wayward  fancies  led, 

For  the  wide  world  I  panted ; 
Out  of  the  forest  dark  and  dread 
Across  the  open  fields  I  fled, ' 

Like  one  pursued  and  haunted. 

I  tossed  my  arms,  sang  out  aloud, 

My  voice  exultant  blending 
With  thunder  from  the  passing  cloud, 
The  wind,  the  forest  bent  and  bowed, 

The  rush  of  rain  descending. 

I  heard  the  distant  ocean  call, 

Imploring  and  entreating; 
Drawn  onward,  o'er  this  rocky  wall 
I  plunged,  and  the  loud  waterfall 

Made  answer  to  the  greeting. 

And  now,  beset  with  many  ills, 

A  toilsome  life  I  follow; 
Compelled  to  carry  from  the  hills 
These  logs  to  the  impatient  mills 

Below  there  in  the  hollow. 

Yet  something  ever  cheers  and  charms 

The  rudeness  of  my  labors ; 
Daily  I  water  with  these  arms 
The  cattle  of  a  hundred  farms, 

And  have  the  birds  for  neighbors. 

Men  call  me  mad,  and  well  they  may, 

When,  full  of  rage  and  trouble, 
I  burst  my  banks  of  sand  and  clay, 
And  sweep  their  wooden  bridge  away, 
Like  withered  reeds  or  stubble. 

Now  go  and  write  thy  little  rhyme, 

As  of  thy  own  creating; 
Thou  seest  the  day  is  past  its  prime ; 
I  can  no  longer  waste  my  time; 

The  mills  are  tired  of  waiting. 

A  more  beautiful  and  fitting  death  than 
Longfellow's* has  not  been.  The  poet's 
passage  was  to  a  repose 

"Of  eternal  rest  and  eternal  release." 

Other  poets  have  told  us  of  the  folly 
and  gloom  of  life.  Longfellow  came  to 
tell  us  that 


"  Life  is  real,  life  is  earnest," 
and  won   the  hearts  of  his    people. 


In 


our  grief  we  can  but  remember  his  own 
sublime  verses: 


1877-1882.] 


THE    VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


1013 


There  is  no  death!  What  seems  so  is  transition. 

This  life  of  mortal  breath 
Is  but  a  suburb  of  the  life  Elysian 

Whose  portal  we  call  death. 


We  see  but  dimly  through  the  vapors: 
Amid  these  earthly  damps 

What  seem  to  us  but  sad,  funereal  tapers 
May  be  Heaven's  distant  lamps. 


And  though  at  times  impetuous  with  emotion 

And  anguish^  long  suppressed, 
The   swelling  heart  heaves  moaning   like   the 
ocean 

That  cannot  be  at  rest, 

We  will  be  patient,  and  assuage  the  feeling 

We  may  not  wholly  stay ; 
By  silence  sanctifying,  not  concealing, 

The  grief  that  must  have  way. 

The  purer  hearts  of  the  English-speak- 
ing race  took  Longfellow's  death  as  their 
personal  bereavement;  for  all  loved  his 
life  and  mourned  his  death  with  a  com- 
mon impulse. 

1882.  April  3.  The  Killing  of  Jesse 
James.  The  country  received  with  some 
incredulity  the  telegraphic  announcement 
that  Jesse  James,  popularly  regarded  as 
the  leader  of  the  band  of  outlaws  which 
for  years  had  infested  the  State  of  Mis- 
souri, had  been  killed  at  St.  Joseph. 
The  news  was  soon  fully  confirmed ;  and 
on  the  ensuing  day  a  coroner's  jury  after 
a  careful  examination  of  the  evidence, 
which  left  no  doubt  of  the  identity  of  the 
deceased  with  the  noted  outlaw-chief, 
returned  the  following  verdict  : 

"We,  the  jury,  find  that  the  deceased  is  Jesse 
James,  and  that  he  came  to  his  death  by  a  pistol- 
shot  in  the  hands  of  Robert  Ford." 

It  was  learned  that  Ford — who  with 
an  older  brother,  Charles,  had  been  stay- 
ing with  their  victim  awaiting  a  favora- 
ble opportunity  for  his  taking-off — was 
acting  under  instructions  of  and  in  con- 
currence with  the  State  authorities.  Ac- 
cordingly, after  the  brothers  had  beenv 


tried  and  founa  guilty  of  the  murder. 
they  were  promptly  pardoned  by  Gov- 
ernor  Crittenden. 


OUTLAWS  AND  FREE  GOVERNMENT. 

The  action  of  the  civil  authorities  of 
Missouri  in  relation  to  the  killing  of  Jesse 
James,  elicited  some  adverse  criticism 
from  a  portion  of  the  press  and  people. 
It  was  felt  that  the  method  adopted  was, 
to  say  the  least,  exceptional  and  un- 
American,  and  apparently  subversive  of 
the  very  foundations  of  the  freedom  of 
the  citizen.  It  was  popularly  supposed 
that  even  a  criminal  and  outlaw,  when 
not  taken  in  the  act  of  transgressing  the 
laws  or  resisting  the  officers,  was  entitled 
to  a  fair  and  impartial  trial.  The  princi- 
ple involved  is  not  alone  what  is  due  to 
him  but  what  is  due  to  the  people  at 
large,  who  are  very  properly  averse  to 
any  appearance  of  arbitrary  procedure 
under  a  government  of  law.  Court- 
martials,  suspension  of  jury-trials  and  of 
habeas  cor-pus  writs,  and  the  like,  have 
been  familiar  to  the  most  free  and  pro- 
gressive peoples  in  times  of  external  or 
internal  danger.  But  that,  in  a  time  of 
profound  peace,  and  in  the  most  advanced 
country  of  the  world,  a  premium  should 
be  put  by  public  authority  on  such  a  fla- 
grant breach  of  faith  between  man  and 
man  as  was  involved  in  the  murder  of 
James  by  Ford,  his  relative  and  guest, 
was  an  occurrence  so  startling  as  to  seem 
a  very  grave  blunder,  if  not  a  crime. 

True,  the  person  in  question  had  been 
declared  an  outlaw  and  a  reward  had 
been  offered  for  his  capture,  alive  or 
dead.  And  it  may  be  pleaded  in  justifi- 
cation of  the  course  pursued  by  Governor 
Crittenden  and  his  subordinates,  that  they, 
in  common  with  the  great  body  of  the 
people,  felt  very  keenly  the  discredit  as 


1014 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


well  as  injury,  that  was  being  inflicted  on 
Missouri  by  the  continued  lawlessness  of 
a  few  of  her  degenerate  son?,  whereby  a 
State  second  to  none  in  natural  resources 
was  being  deprived  of  its  rightful  share 
of  national  development  and  of  fruitful 
participation  in  the  current  era  of  com- 
mercial prosperity.  It  may  further  be 
claimed  that  their  zeal  for  the  welfare  of 
the  commonwealth  intrusted  to  their 
charge  was  sufficient  warrant  for  their 
conduct;  and  that  they  exercised  only  a 
power  left  to  their  discretion  as  executive 
officers  of  the  State.  All  of  which  the 
thoughtful  citizen  will  duly  consider  and 
frankly  accept  in  extenuation.  He  will 
recognize  that  the  man  of  affairs,  with  an 
intricate  problem  before  him  demanding 
immediate  solution  and  with  which  he 
must  grapple,  perhaps  at  great  sacrifice 
of  personal  feeling,  is  liable  to  be  blinded 
by  the  preoccupation  induced  by  the  ur- 
gency and  complication  of  the  case. 
Still,  the  final  verdict  will  probably  be 
that  it  would  have  been  far  better  to 
have  had  James  arrested  at  his  house, 
even  at  the  risk  of  some  lives.  The  law 
would  have  been  vindicated  and  the  State 
and  Nation  saved  the  disgrace  of  such  an 
un-American  procedure. 

RALPH  WALDO  EMERSON. 

1882.  April  27.  Ralph  Waldo  Em- 
erson, ranked  first  in  the  catalogue  of 
1 9th  century  philosophers,  died  at  his 
home  at  Concord,  Massachusetts.  He 
was  born  in  Boston,  May  25,  1803,  and 
became  the  eighth  in  a  consecutive  line 
of  Puritan  clergymen.  He  was  fitted 
for  Harvard  college  in  the  Boston  Latin 
school.  He  entered  in  1817  and  gradu- 
ated in  1821.  The  development  of  his 
tastes  in  college  were  of  a  literary  char- 
acter. The  poetry  of  nature  he  first  felt 


in  those  student  days.  His  passion  for 
studying  the  old  philosophers  was  formed. 
For  five  years  after  his  becoming  a  Har- 
vard alumnus  he  assisted  his  brother  Will- 
iam in  teaching  Boston  girls,  and  put  in 
his  spare  time  studying  theology.  In  his 
studies  his  idea  of  the  Deity  was  formed, 
and  he  found  it  to  be  more  "  liberal  "  than 
the  ordinary  belief  in  God.  He  did  not 
yet  discover  the  doubt  which  afterward 
led  him  away  from  the  "  old  faith."  It 
was  then — in  1826 — that  he  was  "appro- 
bated to  preach  wherever  he  was  op- 
portuned."  His  constitution  weakened  in 
a  measure,  however,  and  he  traveled  a 
year  in  South  Carolina  and  Florida.  In 
1829  he  was  ordained  as  a  colleague 
pastor  of  Rev..  Henry  Ware  in  the  Sec- 
ond Unitarian  church  of  Boston.  Doubt 
of  the  truth  of  various  practices  in  re- 
ligion and  of  certain  church  dogmas  soon 
came  into  his  heart.  He  could  not  har- 
monize his  belief  with  the  ordinances  of 
the  church  and  was  unwilling  to  adminis- 
ter the  Lord's  supper.  Yet  during  his 
pastoral  charge  he  won  an  enduring  place 
in  the  affections  of  his  entire  congrega- 
tion. Bronson  Alcott,  who  heard  him 
preach  in  1826,  marveled  at  the  "  youth 
of  the  preacher,  the  beauty  of  his  elocu- 
tion, and  the  direct  and  sincere  manner 
in  which  he  addressed  his  hearers."  His 
unaffected  simplicity  of  character  and  the 
purity  of  his  life  drew  all  men  toward 
him  as  a  father  or  a  brother.  In  his 
sermons  there  was  a  continuous  vein  of 
doubt,  yet  a  grand  reverence  for  what  he 
conceived  to  be  his  God.  His  address 
was  simple  yet  full  of  the  sublimest  and 
most  pathetic  eloquence.  As  day  by  day 

his  faith 

"  Vapor-like  vanished,'' 

he  saw  his  duty  was  to  leave  his  pastor- 
ate, which    he  resigned    in    1832.     The 


1877-1882.] 


THE    VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


1015 


parting  between  pastor  and  people  is  re- 
corded as  having  been  affecting  on  the 
part  of  both.  He  was  a  man  whom 
"none  knew  but  to  love."  His  resigna- 
tion marked  an  epoch  in  the  history  of 
Puritan  theology.  With  all  his  high 
idea  of  God  he  could  not  help  but  rail 
at  the  ridiculous  which  he  fancied  he 
saw  in  the  religious  castles  moulded  in 
the  minds  of  men.  In  a  poem  composed 
by  him  about  this  time  he  wrote: 

"  I  laugh  at  the  lore  and  the  pride  of  man, 
At  the  sophist  schools  and  the  learned  clan ; 
For  what  are  they  all,  in  their  high  conceit, 
When  man  in  the  bush  with   God  may  meet?" 

After  his  resignation  Emerson  went 
to  Europe  for  travel  and  research.  He 
returned  in  the  winter  of  1833—34  and 
then  began  his  career  as  a  lecturer.  He 
began  in  Boston,  where  he  first  lectured 
on  "  Water."  Then  followed  three  other 
lectures;  two  upon  "  Italy  "  and  one  on 
the  "  Relations  of  Man  to  the  Globe." 
Shortly  afterward  he  delivered  a  series  of 
biographical  lectures  (the  first  two  of 
which  were  published  in  the  "North 
American  Review  ")  on  Micheel  Angelo, 
Milton,  Luther,  George  Fox,  and  Ed- 
ward Burke.  He  traveled  over  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  Union,  lecturing 
in  the  various  "  lyceums  "  and  before  in- 
tellectual assemblages.  By  his  literary 
life  and  works  is  he  known  to  mankind. 

Emerson's  first  volume,  on  "Nature," 
appeared  in  1836,  though  before  that  he 
had  delivered  an  address  in  the  Harvard 
divinity  school  which  made  a  rustle  in 
the  religious  thought  of  the  continent. 
Just  before  his  writing  began  (in  1835) 
he  made  his  permanent  home  in  Concord. 
A  very  small  edition  of  "Nature"  was 
sold.  The  work  found  some  enthusiastic 
admirers,  but  many  more  sharp  criti- 
cisms. The  appearance  of  the  "Method 


of  Nature,"  in  1841,  won  for  Emerson 
many  more  admirers.  The  real  beauty 
and  purity  of  his  thought  and  expression 
appeared.  This  work  called  out  the 
praise  of  men  beyond  the  waters,  and  he 
became  known  as  the  quiet  "Sage  of 
Concord."  He  held  a  power  over  the 
minds  of  his  readers  that  but  few  could 
obtain.  But  few  men  could*  reason  like 
Emerson  with  so  little  logic.  He  ap- 
pealed first  to  the  divine  in  the  mind,  then 
to  the  sense  of  the  ridiculous.  He  con- 
vinced by  impressing  the  various  senses- 
rather  than  by  any  process  of  logical  ar- 
gument, and  no  one  dared  to  take  issue 
with  him.  In  1840  came  from  the  press 
the  first  issue  of  the  "Dial,"  a  quarterly 
magazine,  with  Miss  Margaret  Fuller  as 
editor,  and  A.  Bronson  Alcott,  Wm.  E. 
Charming;  Emerson,  Theodore  Parker^ 
George  Ripley,  and  others,  as  assistants. 
This  publication  was  continued  fout 
years,  during  the  last  two  of  which 
Emerson  was  editor.  Emerson  next  is- 
sued two  columns  of  "Essays," — one  in 
1841,  and  another  in  1844.  His  first  col- 
lection of  "Poems"  was  published  in 
1846.  In  1847  he  lectured  with  great 
success  through  England.  1849  brought 
from  the  press  his  volume  of  "Miscella- 
nies," and  in  the  following  year  appeared 
his  famed  and  powerful  essays  on  "Rep- 
resentative Men."  in  1856  he  published 
"English  Traits,"  a  work  of  great  power 
of  observation  and  philosophical  thought. 
In  1860,  "The  Conduct  of  Life,"  a  work 
involving  the  daily  walk  and  the  highest 
ethical  details  and  principles  of  life,  ap- 
peared. Then  followed  the  compilation 
of  a  volume  of  essays  which  first  ap- 
peared in  the  "Atlantic  Monthly."  He 
continued  his  essay-writing  up  to  the 
close  of  his  life.  He  wrote  of  subjects 
pertaining  to  the  philosophy  of  life. 


1016 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


At  the  beginning  of  the  anti-slavery 
agitation  he  took  a  strong  abolition 
ground,  both  by  his  pen  and  voice  work- 
ing for  the  freedom  of  the  slave.  During 
this  time  he  continued  to  address  church 
audiences. 

It  is  difficult  to  form  an  estimate  of 
Emei'son's  work,  his  belief,  or  his  influ- 
ence over  mankind.  A  foreign  estimate 
is  this  from  the  pen  of  Prof.  Nichols  of 
Glasgow  university : 

"Mr.  Emerson  has  left  his  mark  on  the 
century;  to  use  a  favorite  phrase  of  his 
own,  *  He  cannot  be  skipped.'  Even 
where  his  results  are  least  satisfactory, 
his  intense  suggestiveness  is  the  cause  of 
thought  in  others,  and  as  one  of  the 
•*  genetic '  powers  of  modern  literature 
his  fertilizing  influence  will  survive  his 
inconclusive  speculations.  His'  faults  are 
manifest :  A  petulant  irreverence,  frequent 
superficiality,  a  rash  bravery,  an  inade- 
quate solution  of  difficulties  deeming  it- 
self adequate,  are  among  the  chief.  But 
he  is  original,  natural,  atti-active,  and  di- 
rect; limpid  in  phrase  and  pure  in  fancy. 
His  best  eloquence  flows  as  easily  as  a 
stream.  In  an  era  of  excessive  reticence 
and  cautious  hypocrisy  he  lives  within  a 
case  of  crystal  where  there  are  no  con- 
cealments. We  never  suspect  him  of 
•withholding  hqjf  of  what  he  knows  or  of 
formularizing  for  our  satisfaction  a  belief 
which  he  does  not  sincerely  hold.  He 
is  transparently  honest  and  honorable. 
His  courage  has  no  limits.  Isolated  by 
force  of  character,  there  is  no  weakness  in 
his  solitude.  He  leads  into  a  region 
where  we  escape  at  once  from  deserts 
and  noisy  cities;  for  he  rises  above  with- 
out depreciating  ordinary  philanthropy, 
and  his  philosophy  at  least  endeavors  to 
meet  our  daily  wants.  In  every  social 
and  political  controversy  he  has  thrown 


his  weight  into  the  scale  of  justice,  on 
the  side  of  a  rational  and  progressive  lib- 
erty, and  his  lack  of  sympathy  with 
merely  personal  emotions  is  recompensed 
by  a  veneration  for  the  ideal  of  the  race, 
which  recalls  the  beautiful  sentiment  of 
Malebranche, '  When  I  touch  a  human 
hand  I  touch  heaven.'  ' 

This  opinion  is  more  correct,  in  part, 
than  Americans  would  willingly  admit. 
We  make  our  heroes  our  gods,  and  are 
reluctant  to  acknowledge  their  knowl- 
edge, themselves,  their  work,  as  finite. 

Emerson's  philosophy  was  not,  in  ex- 
tent, new.  But  no  philosophy  of  life  is 
new.  Not  a  few  philosophers,  with  the 
mental  constitutions  of  Carlyle,  have 
marked  themselves  by  expanding,  con- 
tracting, and  applying  Solomon's  "  Ec- 
clesiastes,"  to  their  age,  and  we  have 
credited  the  great  growlers  with  being 
sublime  men,  and  giving  the  world  new 
ideas.  Emerson  did  more  than  this. 
What  he  has  given  us  we  never  would 
have  had  except  through  him.  He  took 
the  mythology  of  the  Hebrews,  the  phil- 
osophy of  the  Greeks,  the  art  of  the  Ro- 
mans, the  chaos  of  American  thought 
and  beliefs,  and  from  them  all  he  drew 
inspiration  and  formed  his  philosophy  of 
life,  death,  religion.  No  other  man  could 
have  led  us  where  he  has  led  with  such 
patience  and  philanthropy. 

He  wrote  of  "Power,"  and  says  "Life 
is  a  search  after  power."  "  No  honest 
seeking  goes  unrewarded."  Then  he 
pleasantly  tells  us  we  are  each  machines, 
almost  like  the  locomotive  or  the  loom 
— only  "the  loom  is  much  more  moral 
than  we."  He  wrote  of  the  "  Illusions  " 
that  haunt  the  weak  wills  and  minds  of 
men,  and  then  tells  that  these  illusions 
are  our  gods.  We  cannot  baffle  their 
power.  "  There  is  no  chance,"  he  says, 


1877-1882.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


1017 


"  no  anarchy  in  the  universe.  All  is 
system  and  gradation.  Every  god  is 
there  sitting  in  his  sphere.  The  young 
mortal  enters  the  hall  of  firmament:  there 
is  he  alone  with  them  alone,  they  pour- 
ing on  him  benedictions  and  gifts,  and 
beckoning  him  up  to  their  thrones.  On 
the  instant,  and  incessantly,  fall  snow- 
storms of  illusions.  He  fancies  himself 
in  a  vast  crowd  which  sways  this  way 
and  that,  and  whose  doings  and  move- 
ments he  must  obey.  *  *  *  *  What 
is  he  that  he  should  resist  their  will,  and 
think  or  act  for  himself?  Every  mo- 
ment new  changes  and  new  showers  of 
deception,  to  baffle  and  distract  him. 
And  when,  by  and  by,  for  an  instant  the 
air  clears,  and  the  cloud  lifts  a  little, 
there  are  the  gods  still  sitting  around  him 
on  their  thrones, — they  alone  with  him 
alone." 

Emerson  urged  men  to  live  better 
lives,  with  purer  purposes,  and  with  no- 
bler ends.  Then  he  wrote  of  "  Fate," 
and  told  us  that 

"  Deep  in  the  man  sits  fast  his  fate 

To  mould  his  fortunes  mean  or  great," 

as  we  have  learned  in  the  mythology  of 
Zoroaster  and  the  poetry  of  Milton  and 
Bryant;  in  the  philosophy  of  Plato  and 
Hume.  Yet  none  made  the  theory  half 
so  beautiful,  half  so  thoughtful,  nor  half 
so  inconsistent  as  Emerson. 

The  tendency  of  his  religious  teach- 
ing, while  pure  in  itself,  was  bad  in  its 
reacting  influence  on  the  minds  of  those 
different  from  himself.  The  race  must 
have  more  light.  Clouds  are  beautiful, 
but  we  cannot  live,  as  Emerson  would 
have  us,  forever  under  their  shadow. 
Faith  is  the  motive  power  of  every 
human  accomplishment.  Man's  heart, 
nature  and  life, —  all  his  sympathies  — 


demand  that  he  see  and  know  the  God 
of  his  worship.  The  power  of  the 
"  story  of  the  Cross  "  will  fortify  the  hu- 
man heart  and  the  human  hand  to  any 
deed  of  daring,  hardship  or  self-sacrifice. 
Emerson's  philosophy,  brilliant  and 
beautiful  as  it  is,  cannot  burst  the  bonds 
of  faith  that  bind  the  soul  to  its  ideal 
Saviour.  Though  Emerson  be  true,  his 
work  can  live — not  as  a  series  of  new 
ideas — but  something  to  make  men  think. 
Emerson  doubted  more,  year  by  year, 
yet  grew  happier.  "  He  was  a  philoso- 
pher," we  are  told,  "  of  sweet  and  sub- 
lime faith."  Faith  in  what?  He  saw 
nature  in  God  and  God  in  nature.  He 
would  have  us  believe  nothing  and  be 
happy, — believe  it  beautiful, — and  have 
faith  in  it.  Can  we  think  of  any  greater 
illusion?  Would  this  philosophy  have 
taken  Constantine  across  Europe  to 
make  an  empire?  Would  it  have  taken 
Livingstone  to  Africa,  or  the  Jesuits  into 
the  wilderness  and  across  the  icy  lakes 
of  the  new  continent?  Can  it  satisfy 
the  broken-hearted,  make  purer  homes, 
and  make  death  peaceful?  Emerson's 
philosophy  was  beautiful  but  illusive. 
Yet  it  will  make  us  think  as  nothing  else 
has  done.  It  may  be  the  means  that 
will  conciliate  the  two  extremes  of  hu- 
man thought. 

Emerson's  personal  character  was  of 
remarkable  purity  and  beauty.  He  was 
a  strange  combination  of  faith  and  irrev- 
erence, audacity  and  meekness,  happi- 
ness and  hopelessness.  An  odd  mariner 
on  the  sea  of  life. 

Had  we  embarked  in  a  vessel  with 
him  as  a  pilot  he  would  have  steered  us 
in  a  calm  time  into  new,  placid  and  sun- 
lit waters.  He  would  have  taken  no 
compass,  no  anchor,  no  storm-proofs.  He 
would  have  coursed  for  no  port.  He 


1018 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


would  have  told  us  to  have  faith — in 
what?  On  the  fascinating  and  heedless 
voyage  he  would  have  gone  quietly  to 
rest.  With  him  no  more  we  note  that 
the  storm  season  is  coming.  We  study 
as  to  what  we  have  relied  upon  and  heen 
allured  by.  We  cannot  tell.  We  have 
no  protection,  no  pilot,  no  compass,  no 
hope.  We  see  the  horrid  clouds  of  doubt 
arising,  and  hear  the  thunders  of  powers 
we  suddenly  feel  must  overwhelm  us. 
Lurid  lightning  flashes  of  superstition 
overpower  us  with  dread.  Can  we  pray 
to  nature — to  philosophy  now  ?  Where 
is  it — can  it  save  us  and  drive  away  this 
fear?  Somehow  it  fails;  and  over  the 
drifting  ship  sweep  the  waves  of  despair, 
and  we  go  down  in  the  unfathomable 
deep — an  unknown  dreaded  eternity. 

Mr.  Emerson  lost  his  mental  powers 
in  his  last  days,  and  it  was  sad  to  see  his 
evident  failure  of  memory  and  kindred 
faculties.  After  Mr.  Longfellow  died, 
he  said  to  a  friend,  "  He  was  a  sweet 
spirit,  but  I  cannot  remember  his  name." 
Yet  the  two  had  been  intimate  friends.  . 

His  remains  were  laid  to  rest  by  loving 
hands,  and  many  will  always  confess  that 
they  have  been  stimulated  by  his  writings. 
His  stamp  has  been  put  upon  his  age. 

1882.  May  28.  First  Arrivals  from 
the  Lost  Jeannette.  Lieut.  Danen- 
hower,  third  in  command,  Dr.  New- 
comb,  naturalist  of  the  expedition,  and 
two  seamen,  arrived  in  New  York  and 
were  received  with  enthusiasm. 

1882.  June  3.  The  United  States 
Revenue  Steamer  Corwin  arrived  at  Sit- 
ka  with  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  ex- 
ploring steamer  Rodgers  which  had  been 
burnt  in  St.  Lawrence  Bay  in  January. 
The  Rodgers  had  been  sent  out  to  search 
for  and  relieve  the  Jeannette  ;  and  both 
have  been  overwhelmed  by  disasters  of 


ice  and  fire,  unfortunately  without  adding 
anything  to  the  sum  of  human  knowl- 
edge of  Arctic  regions,  but  not  without 
value  if  the  example  will  duly  impress 
on  future  explorers  the  absolute  necessity 
of  using  only  picked  men  of  excep- 
tional powei's  of  endurance  and  self- 
helpfulness. 

1882.  June.  Wind  Storms  in  Iowa. 
In  the  night  of  the  iyth  a  tornado  swept 
through  Central  Iowa  doing  great  dam- 
age to  life  and  property  in  Grinnell  and 
vicinity.  Over  fifty  persons  were  killed 
and  about  one  hundred  others  wounded. 
The  loss  of  property  was  estimated  at 
$600,000.  On  June  24th  another  storm 
did  considerable  damage  at  Algona,  Dav- 
enport and  Emmetsburg. 

1882.  June  26.  De  Long's  Party 
Heard  of.  Engineer  Melville  tele- 
graphed the  Navy  Department,  June  26, 
that  he  had  discovered,  March  23,  the 
remains  of  DeLong  and  companions 
— in  all  eleven  persons — together  with 
the  diary  of  De  Long  narrating  the  suc- 
cessive stages  of  privation,  sickness  and 
death  until  Oct.  30,  1881,  probably  with- 
in a  day  or  two  of  his  own  decease. 
Seven  had  already  died,  and  the  eighth 
had  succumbed. 

Melville  announced  his  purpose  of 
searching  the  delta  of  the  Lena  for  tid- 
ings of  Lieut.  Chipp  and  party. 

1882.  June  27.  "Prohibition"  in 
Iowa.  An  amendment  to  the  Constitu- 
tion was  voted  by  40,000  majority  in 
Iowa,  ordaining  that 

"  No  person  shall  manufacture  for  sale,  or  sell 
or  keep  for  sale  as  a  beverage  any  intoxicating 
liquors  whatever,  including  ale,  wine  and  beer. 
The  general  assembly  shall  by  law  prescribe 
regulations  for  the  enforcement  of  the  prohibi- 
tion herein  contained,  and  shall  hereby  provide 
suitable  penalties  for  the  violation  of  the  provis- 
ions thereof." 


1877-1882.] 


THE   VIGOR   OF  LIFE. 


1019 


THE  EXECUTION  OF  GUITEyLU. 

1882.  June  3O.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered that  Judge  Cox  sentenced  the  as- 
sassin of  Garfield  to  be  hung  on  the  3Oth 
of  June.  Strenuous  exertions  were  made, 
and  all  legal  technicalities  exhausted  by 
his  counsel  in  the  vain  effort  to  induce 
the  District  Court  in  bane  to  reopen  the 
case  in  the  hope  of  securing  a  reversal  of 
the  sentence.  An  appeal  was  also  made 
to  Justice  Bradley  of  the  Supreme  Court 
to  grant  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  which 
was  promptly  refused. 

President  Arthur  was  solicited  to  ex- 
tend executive  clemency  to  the  con- 
demned, to  the  extent  at  least  of  a  short 
reprieve  under  the  pretext  of  a  re-exam- 
ination by  experts  of  the  question  of 
Guiteau's  insanity.  An  infinitesimal  per- 
centage of  the  American  people,  influ- 
enced by  a  maudlin  sentimentalism, 
seemed  to  concur  in  the  views  advanced 
by  a  few  medical  theorists ;  but  there  was 
never  any  probability  that  the  course  of 
the  law  would  be  interfered  with  from 
any  quarter.  The  great  body  of  the 
people  felt  satisfied  that  the  verdict  of 
the  jury  and  the  sentence  of  the  judge 
were  in  entire  harmony  with  fact,  justice 
and  equity.  Nothing  has  been  devel- 
oped in  any  direction  to  change  the  orig- 
inal verdict  of  the  American  people  and 
the  civilized  world  that  the  assassin  mer- 
ited the  fullest  measure  of  punishment 
which  the  laws  could  inflict.  It  was 
universally  felt  that  the  utmost  grace 
that  could  be  extended  to  him  was'  to  re- 
strain the  outraged  feelings  of  the  people 
within  the  limits  imposed  by  modern 
civilization  as  I'epresented  by  the  laws. 
Fortunately  for  the  self-respect  of  the 
nation  the  law  was  patientlv  suffered  to 
take  its  course.  At  times  the  great  heart 
of  the  nation  could  with  difficulty  endure 


the  indulgence  extended  to  Guiteau  by 
the  court  before  which  he  was  tried,  and 
later,  the  misplaced  sympathy  of  a  few 
wrongly  compassionate  citizens;  but  at 
no  time  did  they  waver  in  the  purpose  of 
meting  out  to  the  cowardly  and  pitiless 
murderer  the  full  penalty  of  his  crime. 
It  was  felt  that  as  he  was  sane  enough  to 
carefully  plan  and  successfully  execute 
one  of  the  most  inexcusable  murders 
which  ever  dishonored  humanity ;  he 
was  sane  enough  to  meet  the  responsi- 
bility. If  he  craved  the  "glory"  of  "go- 
ing thundering  down  the  ages" — as  from 
his  frequent  quotation  of  the  phrase 
would  seem  evident — his  perverse  ambi- 
tion has  been  gratified  with  the  added 
infamy  that  among  the  bloodstained 
company  of  regicides  and  assassins  he 
will  ever  hold  a  foremost  rank.  It  is 
hard  to  conceive  of  a  case  where  the  per- 
sonal character  of  the  ruler  or  the 
principles  represented  could  make  the 
crime  more  heinous,  or  more  utterly 
inexcusable. 

On  the  day  originally  designated  by 
the  court,  June  30,  and  about  the  hour  of 
12:45,  Guiteau  was  duly  executed,  leav- 
ing as  a  legacy  to  the  nation  one  of  his 
characteristic  screeds,  in  which  he  an- 
nounces the  dire  penalties  which  are  to 
be  inflicted  on  them  because  they  dared 
to  murder  him  for  "removing"  President 
Garfield. 

The  autopsy  revealed  no  special  irreg- 
ularity or  malformation  of  brain  in  the 
misguided  murderer,  confirming  the  pop- 
ular opinion  that  he  was  fully  responsi- 
ble for  his  acts ;  that  whatever  eccentrici- 
ties marked  his  character  or  marred  his 
career,  fell  far  short  of  insanity;  and  that 
while  hanging  remains  the  legal  penalty 
for  murder,criminals  of  his  class  are  the 
last  persons  on  whom  to  waste  pubicl 


1020 


PRESENT  DEVELOPMENT. 


sentiment  or  private  pity.  The  remains 
were  not  claimed  by  the  relatives  of  the 
deceased,  but  were  buried  within  the  in- 
closure  of  the  prison,  and  it  is  understood 
that  his  skeleton  is  to  become  the  prop- 
erty of  the  Army  Medical  Museum — a 
very  costly  memento  of  an  unhappy  epi- 
sode in  our  political  history. 

1882.  June.  Labor  Strikes.  At  dif- 
ferent points  and  in  several  lines  of  man- 
ufacture, especially  in  iron  and  steel 
works,  thousands  of  operatives  felt  they 
were  entitled  to  increase  of  wages  to 
meet  the  advance  in  rents  and  provisions, 
and  sought  a  remedy  in  unprofitable 
strikes. 

1882.  July  1.  Voters  in  the  United 
States.  A  table  just  issued  by  the  census 
bureau  shows  12,830,349  voters — 1 1,343,- 
005  whites,  and  1,487,344  colored.  Of 
the  white  voters,  8,270,518  are  natives, 
and  3,072,487  are  foreign  born.  The 
population  returns  from  the  census  of 
1880  gave  43,475,840  native-born  and 
6,679,943  foreigners.  Thus  while  only 
15  per  cent,  of  the  total  population  are 
foreigners,  24  per  cent,  of  the  voters  are 
adopted  citizens. 

1882.  July  4.  Collision  on  the  Ohio. 
Near  Mingo  Junction,  on  the  Ohio  River, 
three  miles  south  of  Steubenville,  the 
tow-boat  John  Loomis  collided  with  the 
excursion  steamer  Scioto,  sinking  her  in 
three  minutes.  There  were  about  five 
hundred  persons  on  the  Scioto;  and  the 
loss  of  life  proved  to  be  fifty-eight. 

1882.  July  12.  A  Wind  and  Bain 
Storm  at  Texarkana,  Ark.,  destroyed 
four  buildings,  killing  thirty  persons  and 
injuring  about  twenty  others  more  or  less 
severely.  Loss  of  property  estimated  at 
$20,000. 

1882.-  July  14.  Valley  of  La  Plata 
Massacre.  News  was  received  in  United 


States  that  a  French  exploring  expedi 
tion  of  eighteen  persons  under  the  lead- 
ership of  Dr.  Crevaux,  were  butchered, 
toward  the  close  of  January,  by  Indians 
of  the  Tobas  tribe,  as  reported  by  the 
consul  of  the  Argentine  Republic  at 
Tapitza. 

1882.  July  15.  Star-Route  Trials 
are  slowly  progressing  at  Washing- 
ton, but  in  such  a  way  as  not  to  seriously 
alarm  the  defendants.  Although  the  ev- 
idence shows  that  the  contract  branch  of 
the  postal  department  was  honeycombed 
with  fraud  and  corruption,  yet  conviction 
for  conspiracy  to  defraud  the  govern- 
ment seems  as  far  pfF  as  when  the  trial 
began  a  month  ago.  In  fact,  some  of 
the  defendants  feel  so  sure  of  acquittal 
that  they  threaten  to  bring  suits  for'<Jam- 
ages  against  the  newspapers  which  de- 
nounced them  as  thieves  and  robbers. 

1882.  July  17.  Unprecedented  Jew- 
ish Immigration.  The  persecution  of 
the  Jews  in  Russia  has  led  to  a  second 
exodus  of  Israel,  probably  three-fourths 
of  the  whole  number  making  their  way 
to  the  United  States.  It  was  attempted 
to  divert  the  stream  to  Palestine,  and 
Turkey  issued  firmans  promising  privi- 
leges and  exemptions  to  such  as  would 
settle  within  her  dominions,  mainly  as 
agriculturists.  But  their  preferences  • 
seemed  to  be  in  favor  of  the  United 
States  from  some  cause  not  understood. 

Thej'  have  come  in  such  numbers 
as  to  exhaust  the  general  and  special 
channels  of  relief  among  their  brethren, 
and  the  Gentiles  will  have  to  help,  no 
doubt ;  but  the  country  is  wide,  and  the 
whole  3,000,000  of  Russian  Jews  could 
find  shelter  if  not  precipitated  too  rapidly 
on  our  shores.  Some  two  hundred  chron- 
ic invalids  have  been  returned  to  Europe 
by  the  Hebrew  societies  of  New  York. 


INDEX. 


Page.  Col. 

Abbott,  John  S.  C.,  biography 839    i 

Jacob,   biography 879     i 

Abolition  barbacue  in  N.  J 356 

society  of  New  York 360 

convention,  national 391 

of  slavery  in  New  York 404 

society,  Mass 506 

Abolitionism,  early 227 

of  William  Southeby 256 

before  legislatures 494 

Abolitionists  first  in  America IZ4 

rewards  for 4"1 

imprisoned 511 

Aborigines,  American 68 

named  Indians 68 

variety  of  tribes 68 

unity  of. 68 

origin  of 67 

languages  of. 67 

degrees  of  civilization 7° 

manufactures  of. 71 

idea  of  work 72 

governments  of 73 

character  of. 75 

peculiar  customs  of. 80 

religious  views  of. 81 

union  of  races 82 

education  of 82 

numbers  of 84 

distinct  groups  of. 84 

Indians  of  present  time 88 

Academy  of  Fine  Arts,  first 415 

Acadia  colonized  by  De  Monts 164 

destroyed  by  English 172 

re-established  by  French 173 

1021 


Page.  Col. 

Acadia  taken  by  English 211  2 

expedition  against 243  2 

unsuccessfully   attacked 255  i 

captured  by  English 255  2 

Acadians  exiled 279  2 

Accident  in  Louisville  church 764  2 

in  a  church 780  2 

on  B.  and  P.  R.  R 781  i 

in  Syracuse 797  i 

at  Kansas  City,  Mo „ 864  2 

Acquia  Creek,  battle  of. 596  2 

Adams,  Dr.,  tory  punished 310  2 

Samuel,   biography 415  2 

John,  biography 467  2 

John  Quincy,  biography 532 

Advertising  agency,  first 473 

Aerolite,  an,  fell  in  Texas 425 

Aerolites  from  Greenland 758 

Africans  landed  in  Georgia 573 

Agriculture,  first  essays  upon 274 

Agricultural  society,  first 359  I 

fair,  first 419  i 

society  at  Georgetown 426  i 

newspaper,  first 447  2 

statistics,  first 506  2 

department  of  Oberlin 520  i 

convention,  first  national 546  i 

society,  national,  formed..... 552  i 

college  land   grant 633  i 

Agassiz,  Prof.,  remains  in  America 531  I 

biography 790  2 

Alabama,  first  settlement  in 253  i 

admitted  to  Union • 449  2 

seceded 591  2 

nullified  secession 707  2 


1022 


INDEX. 


Pag*.  Col. 

"Alabama"  sunk  by  "Kearsage." 677  2 

"Alabama  Claims  "  award 774  i 

Alaska  purchased 719  i 

Aleutian  Archipelago  explored 298  2 

Alexander,  biography 219  i 

Alexandria  plundered 439  2 

Alexis,  Grand  Duke 765  i 

Algiers  declared  war  on  U.  S 360  2 

declared  war  on  U.S 433  i 

Algerine  vessels  captured 443  2 

Alien  and  Sedition  laws 402  2 

Allamance  Creek,  battle  of. 350  i 

Allen,  Ethan  captured 319  I 

biography 375  2 

Almagro,  contract  with  Pizarro 129  i 

sailed  for  Peru 130  2 

brought  fresh  adventurers 131  I 

attempted  to  conquer  Chili 136  I 

seized  Cuzco 137  2 

executed 138  i 

son  of,  executed 142  2 

"Almanac,  Poor  Richard's" 265  i 

Amazon  discovered 104  i 

expedition  down  the 139  2 

descended 152  i 

ascended  to  Quito 196  2 

descended  by  two  monks 174  2 

valley,  Agassiz' visit 714  2 

Amendments  to  U.  S.  const,  first  ten. .  384  2 

Amendment,  eleventh 402  i 

'twelfth 419  i 

thirteenth 689  2 

thirteenth  ratified 708  2 

fourteenth 713  i 

fourteenth  ratified 727  2 

fifteenth 734  i 

fifteenth  ratified 750  2 

"  Prohibitory,"  in  Iowa 1018  2 

America  discovered  by  Welsh  Prince. .     92  i 

by  Zeno  Brothers 92  i 

by  Sanchez,  and  by  Cousin 92  2 

by  Columbus 98  i 

first  settlement  in 99  2 

named no  2 

map  of,  published 147  i 

America,  North,  coast  of,  first  seen. ...     91  i 

North  discovered 102  i 

South  discovered 103  i 

America,  Prehistoric 49 

study  of,  interesting T 49  i 

remains  of  first  portion 50 

second  portion 51  i 

Mound  Builders 51  2 


America,  mounds ,. . 

inclosures 

ancient  copper  mines 

tools  and  weapons 

pueblos 

Casas  Grandes 

cliff  and  cave  dwellings 

ruins  in  Yucatan,  etc 

ruins  in  South  America 

American  Aborigines 

see  Aborigines,  American 

American  Academy  founded 

army,  destitution  of. 

Association,  The 

Colonization  Society 

Fur  Company 

Philosophical  Society,  The. . 

Assoc'n  for  Ad vancem't  of  Science. 

Ames,  Oakes,  biography 

Amistad  captives 

Amnesty  proclamation 

proclamation 

proclaimed  by  Pres.  Johnson 

power  taken  from  Pres.  Johnson. . . 

debate 

Aneesthetics,  contest  over 

Anchor  chains  raised  at  Quebec 

Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Co.  . . 

Anderson,  Robert,  biography 

Andersonville  prison . 

Andrada  e  Sylva,  Bonifacio  Jozede 

Andre,  execution  of 

remains  of,  removed 

Andrew,  John  A.,  biography 

Andros,  Edmund ,  governor  of  N .  Y .  . .  . 

rebuffed  in  Connecticut 

appointed  governor  of  N.  England. 

arrested  in  Boston 

"Anglo-Saxon,"  lost 

Angola  disaster 

Annapolis  convention,  The 

Antarctic  continent  discovered 

Anthracite  coal  used  by  blacksmiths.  . . 

found  in  Pennsylvania 

Antietam,  battle  of. 

Anti-Chinese  bill  vetoed 

Anti-free  trade  demonstration 

Anti-Masonry,  political 

Anti-Mormonism,  rise  of 

Anti-rent  troubles  in  New  York 

Anti-slavery  society,  Lundy's, 

New  England 

of  New  York. . 


Page.  Col. 
52 

54  2 

56  i 
60 

61  2 

62  2 

63  I 
65  * 
67  I 

68 

345  i 

345  2 

309  2 

445  i 

359  2 

271  2 

531  I 

787  I 

507  2 
392  2 
410  2 
704  2 
716  2 
817  2 
491  2 
843  2 
196  2 

763 
670 

503 

347 
455 
721 
229 
230 
240 
242 

651  2 

722  I 

362  I 

508  I 
298  2 

385  I 

638  2 

864  2 

848  2 

470  2 

885  I 

523  2 

444  z 

482  2 


INDEX. 


1023 


Page.  Col 

Anti-slavery  society,  Boston  Female...  493  : 

American  and  Foreign. ...........  5°8  2 

American 5°8  2 

Anti-slavery  convention,  national.....  488  2 

Anti-slavery  paper,  Clay's 525  i 

Anti-third  termism.% 889  2 

Apache  chief  killed 897  2 

Apostle  of  Greenland 261  2. 

Apple  trees,  first  in  America  ..........   199  i 

Appropriation  for  war.  ................  527  i 

Arch,  Joseph,  visited  Canada. .........  791  .  2 

Arctic  boating  expedition. ............  475  i 

expedition,  Grinnell's. ............  542  2 

land  trip,  Franklin's 449  i 

land  trip,  Capt.  Back's 489  I 

land  trip 502  i 

New  York  Herald's 873  2 

trip,  daring,  by  Parry.  ........„„„.  472  l 

voyage,  Ross  and  Parry's  . .......  447  2 

voyage,  Parry's 449  2 

voyage,  Ross'. 475  I 

voyage,  Dr.  Kane's. ............  o  o  553  2 

voyage,  Hall's  first. ...............  580  i 

voyage,  Dr.  Hayes' ...............  587  l 

voyage,  Hall's  second. ............  680  i 

voyage,  East  Greenland. ..........  738  2 

voyage,  Hall's  last. ...............  762  i 

whaling  fleet  lost. ................  828  i 

"Arctic  "  lost  by  collision. .............  556  2 

Argentine  Confederation  adopted  consti- 
tution........... 552  2 

affairs  in 645  2 

revolutionist  executed. ............  671  2 

secession  attempts. 7*6  r 

rebellion  in. 751  2 

outrages  of. ......................  754  I 

education  in 7^6  2 

revolution  broken 7^6  2 

inauguration.  ....................  897  2 

"Argus  "  taken  by  "  Pelican  " 436  : 

Arica,  conflict  before. 888  i 

capture  of. 890  i 

Arizona  explored. ....................  13*  l 

Arkansas  admitted  to  Union.. 496  2 

banished  free  negroes. ...... . .  583  2 

i         seceded 594  2 

loyal  constitution. ..... . . .  673  2 

Post  captured. 649  2 

Arkwright  machinery,  first. ...........  382  2 

Arlington  Heights,  Va.,  occupied. 595  2 

Arms  seized  in  New  York. ............  592  I 

Army  Medical  Museum  founded. ......  629  2 

Army  Medical  Department 705  2 


Page.  Col 

Army,  a  provisional,  voted  .-,..«...;,.•**«  402  2 

disbanded. .......  ................  410  2 

Arnold,  Benedict,  treason  of. 346  2 

biography. 41 2  2 

Arsenic  put  into  food. 837  I 

Artesian  well  at  St.  Louis. ...........  537  2 

Arthur,  C.  A.,  inaugurated 945  I 

Articles  of  Confederation  adopted 336  i 

ratified 350  i 

to  be  revised. 364  i 

Arts  and  Sciences,  National  Academy...  650  2 

Ashburton  Treaty 513  i 

Ashmun,  George,  death  of. 753  I 

Ash  tabu  la  Horror 830  I 

Asiatic  Society,  American 715  2 

Astor  library , 533  2 

opened  554  i 

Astoria  founded 430  i 

Astronomical  Observatory,  first  in  U.  S..  769  2 

Aspinwall,  storm  at 767  2 

Assassination  of  Jackson  attempted 492  i 

of  Lincoln 695  i 

Assassins  executed 707  i 

Assembly,  first  colonial  in  America 176  2 

last  colonial  in  Massachusetts 307  2 

Associated  press  formed 561  2 

Asuncion,  S.  A.,  founded 137  i 

''Atacoma,"  loss ......  846  2 

Atahuallpa,  ransom  of. 134  i 

Atlanta,  capture  of. 681  2 

"Atlantic"  wrecked  on  Lake  Erie. ....   549  2 

"Atlantic "  wrecked  on  ocean. .........  784  i 

Atlixco,  battle  of. 530  2 

Attack  on  Washington's  character. . . , .  396  2 

Attack,  campaign,  on  Grant. 770  2 

Augusta,  Georgia,  captured. ...........  350  2 

Aurora  Borealis,  first  noticed. .........  260  i 

a  brilliant.  .......................  269  2 

a  brilliant 501  2 

a  brilliant. .  i .....................  577  2 

Austria  burned  at  sea.. .............  0  „  0  572  2 

Automatic  clock,  first. .............. .0  534  2 

Automaton,  a  speaking. ..............  781  i 

Averasboro,  battle  of. .................  691  2 

Avondale  mine  disaster. 766  I 

Axes,  first  manufacture  of. ............  471  2 

Azara,  Felix  de,  naturalist. ...........  352  2 


Babbit  Metal „ .  464  2 

Babcock's  fire  extinguisher. , 744  i 

Babcock's  Gen.,  "whiskey  ring"  trial. .  820  i 

safe-burglary   trial 827  2 

Bache,  Prof,  appointed  on  Coast  Survey  517  2 


1024 


INDEX 


Page.   Col. 


594 


. 

Bache,  biography  of.  ..................  7^ 

Bacon,  Leonard  biography  ......  „  ......  074 

Bacon's  rebellion  in  Va  ................  230 

Baffin's  Bay  discovered.  .  4  ,  ............   174 

"Baffin's  Fair"  .......................  479 

Bahama  Islands  settled  by  English  .....  186 

again  colonized  by  English  ........   228 

Bahia  in  Brazil  founded  ................   113 

Balboa  came  to  America  .............  104 

escaped  his  creditors  ...............   113 

captain-general  of  Santa  Maria..  ...    114 

discovered  Pacific  Ocean.  .........    1  14 

governor  of  South  Sea  provinces..  .    117 
execution  and  character  of.  .......    118 

Balize  settled  by  English.  .............   227 

Ball  in  Canada,  first  .....  „  .....  „  .......   223 

for  Prince  of  Wales.  .  ....  .........   587 

Ball-throwing,  trial  at.  .............  .„  .   776 

Ball's  Bluff,  battle  of.  ..  .....  .v..  ......  607 

Balloon  trip  1200  miles.  .......  .  .  ......  575 

catastrophe  ..............  .  ....  „  .  .   809 

catastrophe  .................  .  .  .  .  .   878 

Ballot,  the  first.  .  4  .......  .,....*  ,.  ____  .   ^. 

Baltimore,  British  advance  on.  ........  440 

retreat  from  .  .  .  ....  .  .  .  .....  „  .  .  .  .  .  .  4^ 

bloodshed  in.  .  ..........  ...... 

occupied  by  Butler.  .  ..,/.K.  ... 

secessionists  in.  ..  ..  ......  ..  „  .  ..  ..  599 

Bank,  first  in  America.  ................  344 

of  North  America  .....  ...........  352 

first  in  Massachusetts.  ..........  .Y.  358 

of  the  United  States,  first,  ........  383 

stock  of  sold.  ...........  ____  .  384 

of  the  United  States,  expired.  ......  429 

of  the  United  States,  second  .......  444 

Savings,  first.  ................  .  .....  444 

of  the  U.  S.,  funds,  withdrawn.  ....  488 

of  the  United  States,  veto  of.  ......  51  1 

of  Pennsylvania.  .................  511 

of  California,  suspension  of.  ......  812 

Bank  Note  company,  American.  .....  .  573 

Bank  robbery,  Northampton  .....  .....  g^ 

at  Northfield.  ......  .........  ......  827 

Banks  resumed  in  United  States........  .  506 

of  Philadelphia  suspended.  .  .  ......  570 

of  New  York  suspended.  .........  570 

of  New  York  resumed.  ...........  570 

others  resumed  ..........  .........  570 

at  New  Orleans  suspended.  .......  866 

Baptist  church,  first  in  America.  .......   199 

second  in  America  .............  ...  204 

first  Seventh  Day.  ................  309 

first  in  Boston.  ......  .....  „  .......   22O 


Page.  Col 

Baptist  Free  church,  first  in  world......  348     i 

Baptists  banished  from  Massachusetts. .   204    2 
difficulties  in  Massachusetts. .......   209    2 

Barbadoes,  W.  I.  visited  by  English 165     i 

settled........ . ...........   184     i 

Barcelona,  battle  of. „ . .  446     i 

Barlow,  Joel,  biography  ...............  432 

Barnes,  Albert,  death  of. ..............   757 

Barrier  Forts,  China,  destroyed. .......  566 

Base  Ball  Club,  first. ............. .A..  524 

Cincinnati 744 

visited  England. .............. .... .  801 

championship. ....................  830 

Base  Ball,  National  Association. .......  570 

Bastides,  voyage  of. .......... ..V. .....  104 

Baton  Rouge,  battle  of.. 635 

"Battle  of  the  Kegs,". 336 

Beaufort  occupied...  .....„...„.....„.„.  610 

Beaver  Dams,  misfortune  of. ...........  435 

Beecher,  Lyman,  biography.. ..........  649 

H.  W.  in  England. ...".............  667 

H.  W.,  trial  of. ...................  802 

Catherine  E.,  Miss,  death  of.. ......  853 

Beef,  American,  shipped  to  England. ...  802 

Bees  introduced  into  America.. ........  225 

Beet  Sugar,  first 505 

manufactory. .....................  687 

Behring's  Straits  discovered ........  207 

passage  of ....................  872 

Behring,  Vitus,  discovered  Straits. .....  263 

third  voyage. .....................   269 

Belgium,  indemnity  from 507 

Belknap's  exposure. 821 

Bell  foundry,  first 268 

Bell  metal  for  cannon 617 

Bellows,  Henry  W.,  biography 1008 

Belmont,  battle  of.  ....................  609 

Bemis'  Heights,  battle  of. .............  334 

"  Ben  Sherrod,"  wreck  of- .............  500 

Bennett,  James  Gordon,  biography .....  769 

Bennett,  D.  M.,  conviction  of. .........  872 

Bennington,  battle  of. 333 

Bentonsville,  battle  of 691 

Berkeley,  Bishop,  in  America., .........  263 

Berlin  and  Milan  decrees..  .............  428 

Bermuda  Islands  discovered.'. ..........  127 

settled............................  173 

made  English  colony. .............  199 

Bethesda  Orphanage,  Whitefield's. .....  269 

Bethlehem,  Pa.,  settled 269 

Bible,  first  English  printed  in  America. .  276 

Bible  society,  first 425 

Big  Bethel,  battle  of. 598 


INDEX, 


1025 


Big  Black  River,  battle  on.  „  „ . .  „ . 

Bigelow,  E.  B.,  biography...  ,...VJ . 

Bill  of  Abominations. ................. 

Biloxi,  in  Mobile  Bay 

Bird  tracks,  fossil.  .................... 

Birthday,  Washington's,  celebration  criti- 
cised  

celebrated  after  death .............. 

Bl?ck  Hawk,  biography.  ............... 

Black  Hawk  horse,  first,  died..  „„....... 

Black  Act  of  Connecticut. ............. 

Black  Beard,  the  pirate. ................ 

Black  Friday  in  New  York..  ........... 

Black  Hills  excitement o.... 

ceded  to  U.  S.  ....... .......... 

Black  voters  in  San  Domingo. ......... 

Blackstock,  battle  of. . ....... 

Blackstone,  W.,  first  settler  at  Boston.. . 
Blackwater,  battle  on  the..  ............. 

Black  well,  Elizabeth,  graduate  in  medi- 
cine  

Bladensburg,  battle  of 

"  Bleeding  Kansas,". .................. 

Blind,  first  institution  for.  ............. 

Bliss,  P.  P.,  death  of. 

Block,  Adriaen,  in  L.  I.  Sound. 

Blockade,  Civil  War,  ended. ........... 

Blood,  first  in  Revolution. ............. 

last  in  Revolution ...........  ...... 

first  shed  in  Chili o ....... 

in  Mexican  war.  ..................  . 

Bloody  Bill,  the 

Bloody  Marsh,  battle  of. .......... 

Bloomerism 

Blossom  Rock  blown  up 

Blow-pipe,  oxy-hydrogen,  invented. 

Blue-glass  mania 

Board  of  Trade  for  America.  .......... 

Board  of  Trade  set  over  colonies. ...... 

Board  of  War  created .................. 

Board  of  Admiralty 

Boat,  Rumsey's  model  for ..*•••. 

Boat-race,  first  college 

Bogardus,  James,  biography 

Bolivar,  Simon,  in  England 

proclaimed  in  South  America 

at  head  of  army. 

great  march . 

dictator  of  Peru 

biography 

Bolivia  formed 

confederation  ended.  . 


Page.  Coi, 
656  I 
SS3  I 

473     i 
250    2 


388  2 

410  2 

5°4  i 

566  2 


74°  2 

813  I 

827  2 

383  2 

347  2 

183  i 

611  i 


Linares  dictator.. 
fi5 


449 

458 
478 
464 

507 

574 


535  2 

439  2 

557  2 

475  i 

830  2 

173  i 

707  i 

312  2 

353  2 

428  2 

525  2 

488  2 

27I  I 

535  2 

751  I 

4*3  2 

832  2 

II3  I 

248  2 

335  2 

344  i 

359  2 

549  2 


Page.  Col 

Bolivia,  rebellion  in..  .................   754     i 

revolution  in. 765 

Bolivian  navigation  company. .........   730 

Bomb-shell,  invention  of. .............   437 

Bonaparte,  Jerome,  marriage  of. .......   416 

Bonaparte,  Jerome  Napoleon,  death  of.  .  752 
Bonnet  of  oat-straw. ..................  403 

Bonnet  of  grass 455 

Book,  first  printed  at  Cambridge. ....,,  199 
Bookseller,  first  in  English  colonies. ....  210 
Boone,  Daniel,  biography. .............  452 

Booneville,  battle  of. 599 

Boot,  John  Fletcher,  Cherokee  preacher  553 
Booth,  Edwin,  shot  at. ................   868 

Booth,  Lincoln's  assassin,  death  of. ...   703 

Boston,  first  house  at. ...............    .   187 

aid  for. 308 

siege  of. 313 

evacuation  of. ....................   322 

burned.. ................ .....    777 

Boston  Mountains,  battle  of. .... , .....   642 

Bounty  Jumpers  in  Revolution.  ........   331 

Bowdoin  College  founded. ............    394 

Bowles,  Samuel,  biography. ...........  848 

Boys  of  Plymouth 304 

Boyton,  Capt,  on  Connecticut  River. . .  878 
Brace,  C.  L.,  arrested  in  Hungary.. . . ..   543 

Braceti,  battle  of. .............. . ..... .   528 

Braddock's  campaign. .................   279 


defeat. 


Bradford,  William,  biography. .........   213 

Braganza,  great  Brazilian  diamond. ....    269 

Brainerd,  David,  death  of.  ............    271 

Brandy,  first  made  in  America. ........    jgq 

Brandy  Quarrel  in  Canada. ............   2Ig 

Brandy  wine,  battle  of. ...........  0 ....    334 

Brazil  discovered  by  Cabral. ...........    104 

visited  by  Vespucius. .............    105 

Huguenots  in. ............. . ......    151 

under  Spain. .....................    157 

tanned  hides  shipped  from. ........    158 

made  Portuguese  principality. .....    199 

seized  by  Dutch. 205 

retaken  by  Portuguese. ...........   211 

John  VI.  fled  to. .................   424 

opened  its  ports  to  all. ............   427 

made  a  kingdom 444 

constitution  proclaimed. ...........    454 

revolution  in. 454 

independent  empire. ..............   456 

constitution   adopted 460 

recognized  by  Portugal. 464 

regency  in 479 


1026 


INDEX, 


Page, 


Brazil,  Dom  Pedro  II.  crowned. .......    511 

invaded 687  i 

emperor  of  in  United  States. ......   822  i 

reform  measures  in. ..............   848  2 

famine  in. 861  2 

Breckenridge,  John  C.,  biography. .....  805  i 

Breech  loading  rifle. 534  t 

Brewery  in  Canada,  first. .............    223  2 

Brewers'  congress  in  United  States. . . .   707  x 

Brewster,  Elder,  biography. 203  2 

Bricklaying,  trial  at ................   757  2 

Brier  Creek,  battle  of. 

34 
British  American  League 535     2 

British  Columbia  separated. 572     i 

surrendered 690     i 

joined  Dominion..., 760     2 

secession  contemplated 868     2 

British  frightened  by  two  girls 433    2 

"  Bristol"  and  "  Mexico"  wrecked .  502     i 

"  Bristol  "  lost  on  Long  Island „ .  499 

Bristow  Station,  battle  of. .............  666 

Broadcloth  first  made  in  America. .....  419 

Brooklyn  "  Council " 818 

Brooklyn  Theater  burned 829 

14  Brother  Jonathan,"  origin  of. 360 

44  Brother  Jonathan  "  lost 707 

Brown,  John,  raid  of. 577 

Brown  University  founded „„....  295 

Brownlow,  44  Parson,"  biography  ......  835 

Brunswick,  Me.,  destroyed. ...........  261 

Bryant,  William  C.,  biography  ........  853 

Buccaneer  of  the  Lakes 503 

Buccaneers  in  West  Indies 187 

in  Mexico 238 

in  Peru 239 

at  Campeachy 239 

on  New  England  coast 242 

took  Cartagena 250    2 

Buchanan,  James,  biography 725     2 

Buck,  first  full-blooded  Merino. 413     2 

Buckwheat,  first  in  America 184    2 

Buddhist  priest  in  Mexico 89    2 

Buenos  Ayres  founded 136     i 

a  viceroyalty 329     i 

taken  by  English 423     i 

assailed  by  English 424     2 

sovereign  assembly  over 434     2 

independence  gained 447     2 

democratic ....   454     2 

confederation ,  „ . .   479     2 

Rosas,  dictator  of. 494     i 

blockaded 525     i 

revolution  in 545     2 


457 


Page.  Col 

Buenos  Ayres  invaded 561     2 

Buena  Vista,  battle  of. ............ 529     i 

Bull  Run,  battle  of 602     i 

second  battle  of  ..................   636    i 

Bullets  for  currency 194 

Bunker  Hill,  battle  of. 3x5 

anniversary 392 

first  monument  ..................  394 

Monument  Association 

Monument,  corner  stone. ..... 

Monument  dedicated 517 

centennial §07 

Burglary  at  Baltimore 773 

Burgoyne,  invasion  of 332 

fought  at  Bemis'  Heights 334 

surrender  of. 334 

nicknamed  Elbow-room 335 

Burlingame,  Anson,  biography 745 

Burnside  superseded 649 

biography 934 

14  Burr  War,  "     The 422 

Burr  Aaron,  trial  of 423 

biography 498 

Burritt,  Elihu,  biography 865     i 

Bushnell,  Horace,  biography SiS     2 

Bushy  Run,  battle 293     2 

Butler  superseded 641     a 


Cabinet,  President  Tyler's  resigned 

President  Johnson's  resigned 

of  President  Hayes 

of  President  Garfield. 

Cable,  sub-marine,  Morse's. 

Colt's 

across  Hudson  River 

Atlantic  sounded  for 

Cape  Breton 

first  Atlantic  attempt 

unsuccessful  Atlantic 

successful  Atlantic 

from  Cuba  to  Florida 

French- American 

anniversary 

new  French- American 

Cabots,  The,  discovered  North  America 
Cabot,  Sebastian,  second  voyage 

named  Newfoundland 

noted  the  codfish  banks. 

visited  South  America 

character  of. ... 

Calendar,  proposed  change  of. 

Calhoun  John  C.,  biography. .  . .  —  .... 
California  coast  explored 


912 

5H 

537 
544 

565  i 

572  i 

714  i 

730  2 

733  2 

865  2 

88 1  i 

102  I 

IC2  2 

IO2  2 

102  2 


538 
162 


INDEX. 


1027 


Page.  Col. 

California,  Fremont  governor  of 529     i 

Kearney  assumed  control 529     i 

gold  fever 531     2 

constitutional  convention 537     i 

Callao  besieged 184     i 

surrendered 464     2 

bombarded 711     2 

"Cambria  "  lost 757     i 

"Cambridge  Platform  " 207     i 

Camden,  battle  of. 346     i 

evacuation  of 350     2 

Camden  and  Amboy  R.  R.  accident...   691 

Campeachy  taken  by  English 214 

Canada  invaded 254 

destitution  of. 282 

passed  to  English  hands 286 

Arnold's  march  to 318 

arrival  in 319 

divided 385 

political  troubles 430 

popular  movements 500 

struggle  in 501 

Earl  of  Durham  governor 503 

reunited 510 

defence  of. 690 

question  of  authority 872 

Indian  raids  from 873 

wrecking  law  of. 902 

Irish  agitation  in 903 

Canal  route,  first 292 

across  Nicaragua 352 

enterprise 387 

Middlesex 419 

across  Tehuan tepee 442 

Erie  begun 446 

Champlain 457 

Erie  finished 464 

Assoc.  in  London 464 

survey  in  Central  America 505 

Panama  report 524 

"  Ring"  in  New  York 803 

Canale  Napoleone  de  Nicaragua 525 

Cannon,  seizure  of 310 

removed  from  "  battery." 317 

Canoe,  daring  voyage  in 106 

Canonicus,  biography 206 

Cape  St.  Augustine  discovered 104 

Honduras  discovered 105 

Gracias  a  Dios  discovered 105 

Horn  discovered 130 

Cod  named 162 

Horn  seen  by  Dutch. .. , 174 

Horn,  first  voyage  round 176 


Cape  Breton  separated 

reannexed 

Capital  of  United  States 

ordered  to  be  surveyed 

Capitol,  United  States,  corner  stone  laid. 

Caraccas  founded 

Carbajal,  coolness  of. 

Card  making  machine,  Smith's 

Caribbean  Islands  discovered 

Carnifex  Ferry,  battle  of 

Carolina  settled 

divided  into  royal  provinces 

Carpets,  first  manufactory 

first  woven  by  power 

power  looms  for 

power  looms  for  Axminster 

Carpenters  closed  work 

Carpenter,  Matt,  biography     

Carriage  making  in  New  York 

"  Carrick  "  wrecked 

Cat-rick's  Ford,  battle  of 

Carroll,  Charles,  biography 

Mrs.  Bridget,  death  of 

Carson's  sheep  expedition 

Carson,  "  Kit,"  biography 

Cartagena,  South  America,  founded.. . . 

taken  by  French 

taken  by  buccaneers 

Carteret  county  colony 

Carthage,  battle  of 

Cartier,  Jacques,  first  voyage 

second  voyage 

named  Montreal 

took  Indians  back  to  France 

third  voyage 

last   voyage 

Carver,  Gov.,  death  of. 

Jonathan,  the  traveler 

Cartwright,  Peter,  death  of. 

Gary,  Alice,  biography 

Phoebe,  biography 

Casa  Mata,  act  of. 

Casco  Bay,  settlement  destroyed 

Cass,  Lewis,  biography 

Cassin,  John,  biography 

Castine,  Me.,  settled. 

Catastrophe  in  New  York  school 

Cathedral  in  City  of  Mexico  begun 

finished , 

Catlin,  George,  biography 

Cattle,  improved,  imported 

great  sale  of. 

Cavendish,  Thomas,  voyage  of. 


524      2 


iSo     2 


1028 


INDEX, 


Page    Col. 

Cayenne,  S.  A.,  deserted  by  French 211  2 

"  Cazador  "  lost 562  i 

Cedar  Creek,  battle  of 683  i 

Mountain,  battle  of. 635  i 

Cemeteries,  national 633  2 

Cemetery,  national,  at  A ntietam 720  i 

"  Stonewall "  Jackson 715  2 

Censure  of  President  Jackson  by  senate.   489  i 

expunged 500  i 

Census,  of  United  States,  first 383  2 

second 411  i 

third 428  i 

fourth 453  i 

fifth 478  2 

sixth 508  2 

seventh 541  2 

eighth 588  2 

ninth 757  2 

tenth 904  i 

of  Argentine  Republic,  first 744  2 

of  Colombia,  first 75§  * 

of  Brazil,  first 78*  i 

Centennial  bill,  United  States SiS  2 

opening  of  exhibition 822  2 

Hymn,  Whittier's 824  i 

close  of  exhibition 829  i 

permanent  exhibition 836  2 

Centeno  rebelled  against  Pizarro 144  2 

rebelled  again 147  i 

defeated  by  Pizarro 147  2 

Central  America  subdued 128  2 

independent 454  2 

Morazan  president 482  2 

federal  union 458  i 

dissolved 507  2 

union  attempted 537  2 

attempt  broken  up 552  I 

convention  in 768  i 

riot  in 809  i 

"Central  America"  foundered 569  2 

Central  Park,  N.  Y 571  i 

Ceralvo,  battle  of. 529  2 

Cerro  Gordo,  battle  of. 529  2 

Cessation  of  hostilities  proclaimed 355  2 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  N.  Y 298  2 

Chambersburg,  Pa.,  burned 680  i 

Champion  Hills,  battle  of. 656  i 

Champlain,  early  life  163  2 

in  Canada 164  i 

on  New  England  coast 165  i 

up  the  Ottawa 1 72  i 

death  of. 194  2 

Chancellors ville,  battle  of. 652  2 


Page.  Col. 

Chandler,  Zachariah,  biography 879  2 

Channing,  William  E.,  biography 513  i 

ChanUlly,  battle  of 637  i 

Chapin,  E.  H.,  biography 902  ^ 

Chapultepec  stormed 530  2 

Charcoal  Assoc.  strike 874  i 

Charge,  Judge  Crawford's 313  i 

Charleston,  S.  C.,  founded 233  2 

Spaniards  sail  against 253  i 

Harbor,  battle  in 323  i 

refused  to  surrender 342  2  • 

captured 345  2 

evacuated 355  r 

blockaded  unsuccessfully 61 1  i 

siege  of. 665  i 

occupied  by  Sherman 690  i 

Charlestown,  Mass.,  founded.  . 186  i 

Charter,  first  English ^5  i 

second  Jamestown ^8  i 

third  for  Virginia 1*1  l 

first  Massachusetts 185  2 

transferred  to  colony !§6  2 

demanded  by  king 197  2 

Plymouth  given  to  colonists 199  2 

Providence  plantations 203  i 

first  Connecticut 2182 

Massachusetts,  revoked 238  2 

every  New  England,  revoked 240  i 

the  hidden 241  i 

Charter  Oak,  Hartford,  blown  down. . . .   565  2 

Chase,  Salmon  P.,  biography 785  2 

Chattanooga,  battle  of. 669  i 

Cheat  Mountain  skirmish 606  I 

Cheese  factory,  first  in  world 545  i 

Cherokees,  trouble  with 285  i 

war  with 285  2 

removed 505  2 

adhere  to  South 603  2 

Cherry  Valley  massacre 340  2 

"Chesapeake  "  taken  by  "  Shannon  ".  .  .   435  i 

Chicago,  name  first  appears 227  i 

first  notice  on  map 238  i 

laid  out 475  i 

waterworks. . . . , 718  i 

great  fire 763  i 

Chickamauga,  battle  of. 665  2 

Chickasaw  Bluffs,  battle  of 643  2 

Child,  first  European  born  in  America. .     91  2 

first  of  English  parents 160  2 

first  of  Dutch  parents 183  i 

Child,  Lydia  M.,  biography 898  2 

Children,  free  or  slave  in  Virginia 2.18  2 

in  Maryland 257  I 


INDEX. 


1029 


Chili,  fighting  in , 

invasion  of. 

struggle  in 

independence  gained 

defeated  Spaniards 

resignation  of  dictator 

adopted  constitution 

revised  constitution 

disturbance  in 

Spanish  gunboat  taken 

Spanish  fleet  driven  off 

trouble  in , 

Chili-Peruvian  war 

progress   of. 

Chimborazo  ascended 

Chinaman,  first  naturalized 

Chinese  embassy 

embassy 

boys  in  United  States 

excitement  in  California 

embassy 

treaty,  new 

Chippewa,  battle  of. 

Chisholm  tragedy 

Chloroform  discovered 

Choate,  Rufus,  biography 

Chocolate  first  exported 

Cholera  Asiatic,  first 

in  Mexico 

Asiatic  

in  United  States 

in  Brazil 

in  United  States 

in  United  States 

Christian  Commission 

Chrysler's  Field,  battle  of. 

Church  building,  first  in  Boston 

first  at  New  Amsterdam 

Church  service,  first  at  New  Amsterdam 

Church  support  voluntary  in  Mass 

Church  of  England  in  Carolina 

Cigars  first  seen 

Cincinnati  threatened 

Cipher  telegrams 

Citizen  Genet 

City,  highest  on  the  globe 

"City  of  Boston  "  lost 

"City  of  Glasgow  "  lost  at  sea 

City  of  Mexico,  Iturbide  in 

entered  by  Scott 

French  in 

surrendered 

"City  of  Philadelphia  "  lost  at  sea 


Page.  Col. 

151  2 

438  I 

446  I 

447  2 
453  2 
458  i 
473  2 

487  2 

645  2 

708  2 

7IO  2 

744  2 
867 


482 

86o 

725 
773 
822 

857 
901 
439 
835 
486 

576 

209 

485 

487 

536     2 
556     2 

562 
709 
787 
706 

437 
192 

192  2 

l83  I 

244  2 

254  I 


637  2 

862  I 

389  I 

I44  2 

745  2 

555  2 
454  2 
53°  2 

656  2 

719  2 

556  2 


"City  of  Waco"  burned 814 

Civil  Rights  bill 711 

Civil  Service  Reform  agitation 760 

Civil  War,  U.  S.,  declared  ended 711 

Clapboards  exported  from  Plymouth...   182 

Clarendon  County  colony 220 

Clark's  famous  expeditions 341 

Class,  first  at  Harvard 201 

Clay,  Henry,  biography 546 

old  home  sold 709 

Clay  ton- Bulwer  treaty 541 

Cleaveland,  Parker,  biography •  573 

Clinton,  Sir  Henry,  in  Philadelphia '  338 

George,  death  of 430 

Clock  with  wooden  wheels,  first 387 

with  metal  wheels,  first 502 

Cloth-making,  first 197 

first  on  power  looms 437 

Coal,  hard,  first  used  in  grates 434 

trouble  with 434 

Coal  mine  disaster 868 

Coast  defenses,  United  States 392 

Coast  survey,  United  States,  begun 447 

Code  of  laws,  earliest  colonial 196 

in  Maryland 198 

in  Massachusetts 200 

in  Maryland 201 

Codrington  college,  Barbadoes,  founded  271 

Coffee  culture,  first 257 

Coinage  adopted  by  congress 362 

Cold  Harbor,  battle  of 676 

Cold,  extreme,  in  New  England 781 

wave,  severe 903 

Colima,  eruption  of 738 

Collectors,  first  in  America 232 

College  lands  in  New  Haven 211 

College  of  New  Jersey  founded 274 

College  paper,  first. 411 

Colliery  explosion 768 

Collision  on  Long  Island  Sound 773 

in  Ohio 857 

in  English  Channel 860 

near  Jamaica 866 

on  Long  Island  Sound 891 

on  the  Ohio 1020 

Colombia,  S.  A.,  declared  independent. .  429 

republic  formed 449 

recognized  by  Spain 458 

revolution  in 591 

United  States  of,  formed 609 

civil  war  ended 645 

constitution  adopted 654 

revolution  ended 761 


Col. 
2 


1030 


INDEX. 


Colombia,  Perez,  president  of. 

*'  Colon,"  accident  to 

Color  prejudice 

Colorado  admitted  to  Union 

Colorado  "  petrified  man  " 

Colored  troops 

senator  first  time  pres.  pro  tern 

conference,  national 

lawyer  admitted  to  U.  S.  bar 

Columbia  college  founded 

Columbia  River  discovered 

Columbiad,  Barlow's 

Colutnbiad,  invented 

Columbus,  early  life  of. 

agreement  with  Ferdinand 

letter  of  privilege  given 

first  departure  of 

arrived  at  Canary  Islands 

left  the  Canary  Islands 

discovered  "  variation  of  msedle  "... 

sailed  through  Sargasso  Sea 

discov'r'd  New  World,  San  Salvador 

discovered  Cuba 

discovered  Hayti 

wrecked  near  Hayti 

erected  Fort  La  Navidad 

returned  to  Spain 

arrived  in  Portugal 

arrived  at  Palos,  Spain 

renew'd  his  contract  with  sovereigns 

second  departure  of. 

discovered  Caribbean   Islands 

founded  first  colony 

observed  use  of  cotton 

sent  products  to  Spain    

put  down  rebellion 

established  Fort  St.  Thomas 

explored  coast  of  Cuba 

Don  Bartholomew  at  Isabella 

subdued  Hayti 

opposed  by  enemies  in  Spain 

returned  with  Aguado 

coolly  received  in  Spain 

third  departure  of 

knocked  down  Breviesca 

discovered  Trinidad 

discovered  South  America 

discovered  pearl  fishery 

suppressed  rebellion 

arrested  by  Bobadilla 

sent  home  in  chains 

released  in  Spain 

fourth  departure  of 


Page.  Col. 
802  I 
827  I 
481 
826 
850 

633 
864 

743 
887 
279 
385 


I 

2 
2 

2 
2 
I 
I 

I 
2 

•425   I 
442   2 

I 
2 
I 
I 
I 
I 


95 

96 

97 

97 

97 

97 

97    2 

97 


2 
I 
I 
2 

98  2 
98  2 
98  2 


98 
98 


99 
99 
99 
99 
99 

100  I 

IOO  I 

ICO  I 

IOO  I 

IOO  2 

100  2 

101  2 

101  2 

102  I 
1O2   I 
IO2   2 
102   2 
103 
103 
103 
103 
104 
104   2 

104  2 

105  I 


Columbus  arrived  at  San  Domingo 

discovered  Cape  Honduras 

attempted  a  mainland  colony 

wrecked  upon  Jamaica 

returned  to  San  Domingo 

returned  to  Spain 

last  visit  to  Spanish  court 

death  and  character '. 

Don  Diego  governor  of  Hayti 

monument  to  Christopher 

Columbus  and  Hickman  seized 

Columbus,  Ga.,  occupied 

Combs,  first  horn 

Combahee  Ferry,  battle  of 

Comet,  The  great 

Commerce,  American,  crippled 

Commercial  college,  first 

Commissioners  of  peace,  English 

Commissioners  of  peace,  U.  S 

Committee  of  correspondence,  first.  . .  . 

in  Virginia 

Committee  of  safety,  first 

Committee,  congressional 

"  Common-Sense,"  Paine's  pamphlet  .  . 
Commonwealth  accepted  in  Virginia. .  . 

Communists,  parade  of 

Company  of  the  West 

Complaint  of  Massachusetts  rebuked.  . . 
Comstock  Lode  discovered 

fire  in 

Concord,  battle  of 

Concordance  of  Bible 

Condensed  milk  invented 

Conestoga  massacre 

Confederation,  weakness  of  U.  S 

Confederate  States  of  America 

Conference  concerning  peace 

Congregationalism  in  New  England... 
Congress,  first  American 

American 

colonial  suggested 

met  at  New  York 

first  continental 

first  Mass,  provincial 

second  continental 

continental  met  at  York 

national  opened 

C.  S.  A.  adjourned  from  Richmond 

Congressional  action,  important 

Congressmen,  ten  expelled 

Connecticut  pluck 

Tryon's  raid   into 

second  raid  into. . , 


Page.  CoU 

105 

105 

105 

105   2 

108 

108 
108 
108  2 

IOI   I 

897 
60S 
702 

285 

353 
5x6  2 

389 
509 
338  I 

353  2 


305  I 
310  I 

588  2 
321  2 
2IO  I 

868 
220 
266 
579 
735 


2I4 
570 

294 
360  2 
592  2 
326 

1 86 
243 
278 
296 
296 

308  2 

309 

3H 

334 
376  2 

628  2 

679  I 

6OO  2 

247  2 

343  i 


INDEX. 


1031 


Page    Col. 

Connecticut  ratified  constitution 366     i 

"  Connecticut  Courant  "  established 295 

Constitution,  first  written  in  America  . .    181 

first  written  framed  by  people 198 

for  Pennsylvania,  new 252 

new  in  Massachusetts 347 

of  United  States  adopted 364 

adoption  of,  celebrated 367 

to  be  carried  into  effect 367 

copy  of. . . 367 

amendments  to 372 

"  Constitution  "  escape  of  frigate 430 

captured   "Guerriere  " 431 

captured  "Java  " 433 

captured  "Pictou" 438 

"Contraband,"   origin  of  term 596 

Contreras   captured 530 

Convention  in  Faneuil  Hall 307 

appealed  for  aid 307 

constitutional 364 

first  national  political 478 

anti-masonic 481 

national  republican 481 

democratic 485 

democratic 492 

"Liberty    party  " 506 

first  whig 506 

democratic 508 

of  "  Liberty  party  " 5J7 

whig 5*8 

democratic 5J8 

"  Liberty  league" 53° 

democratic 533 

whig 533 

first  "  woman's  rights" 534 

to  organize,"  free  soil"  party 534 

democratic 545 

whig,  last 545 

free  soil 549 

democratic 565 

republican 565 

of  Rivas 57i 

first  national  Teachers' 572 

democratic 585 

republican 5^6 

"  constitutional  union  " 586 

democratic 5^6 

slave  state 5^6 

in  Missouri 602 

republican 677 

democratic 681 

Philadelphia  "  new  party  " 715 

of  colored  men 716 


Convention,  soldiers'  and  sailors' 

republican 

democratic 

national  labor 

national  temperance 

"  national  capital  " 

national  ivoman  suffrage 

national  labor  colored 

labor  reform 

liberal  republican 

national  republican 

democratic 

"  straight  out "  democratic. ........ 

prohibition  reform 

national  greenback 

republican 

democratic 

greenback 

national  republican 

greenback 

democratic 

prohibition 

labor  party 

Convicts,  transportation  of. 

Cook,  Capt.,  voyage  of. 

Cook  book,  first 

Copper  mined  in  Cuba 

Copper  money  coined  in  Cuba 

Copper  plate  engraving,  first 

Copper  fever 

Copyright  law,  the  first 

Corean  forts  destroyed 

Corinth,  advance  on 

evacuated 

battle  of. 

Corn  starch,  first 

Cornbury,  Lord,  governor  of  N.  York. . 

Cornell  University  opened 

Cornell,  Ezra,  death  of. 

Cornwallis  sailed  for  South 

surrender  of. 

Coronado  visited  New  Mexico 

Corpus  Christi  occupied 

Cortereal,  Gaspar,  kidnapping  voyage. . 

lost  on  second  voyage 

Miguel  lost  on  voyage 

Cortes  Hernando,  early  life  of 

put  in  command  of  Mexican  expedi- 
tion   

sailed  secretly 

fought  battle  of  Tabasco 

received  embassy  from  Montezuma. 

power  of,  over  his  soldiers 


800    z 


1032  INDEX. 


Page.  Col. 

122  I 

122  I 

122  2 

I25  I 

125  I 

125  I 

125  2 

125  2 

126  I 

126  2 

127  I 
127  2 
129  I 
129  2 

131  I 

132  I 

132  2 

133  * 
133  I 


Cortes,  Hernando,  defeated  Tlascalans. . 

entered  City  of  Mexico 

imprisoned  Montezuma 

obtained  great  tribute 

marched  to  the  coast 

fought  battle  of  Cempoalla 

returned  to  City  of  Mexico 

evacuated  City  of  Mexico 

fought  battle  of  Otumba 

marched  upon  City  of  Mexico 

captured  City  of  Mexico 

made  governor  of  Mexico 

marched  to  Honduras 

executed  Guatemozin 

placed  under  Royal  Audience 

went  to  Spain 

made  captain  general 

tried  by  Royal  Audience 

landed  in  Mexico 

death  and  character 

Corwin,  Thomas,  biography 

Coseguina,  eruption  of. 

Costa  Rica  adopted  constitution 

invaded 

revolution  in 

rebellion  in 

Cotopaxi,  first  known  eruption  of 

eruption  of. 

eruption  of 

Cotton  used  by  natives 

first  culture  at  Jamestown 

exported  for  first  time 

eight  bales  seized 

first  Sea  Island 

Cotton-gin,  first 

Whitney's  invented 

Cotton  company  in  Providence 

exposition  at  Atlanta 

mill,  first  in  New  England 

goods  first  printed  by  rollers 

seed,  Mexican,  imported 

County  Washington,  ceded  to  U.  S 

County  of  Alexandria,  Va.,  ceded  to  U.  S. 

receded  to  Virginia 

Courcelles,  Gov.,  expedition  of 

Court  house  at  Rockford,  111.,  fell 

Covode  investigation 

Cowley,  "  Shepherd  " 

Cowpens,  battle  of. 

Crafts,  William  and  Ellen,  fugitives. . . . 

Crampton's  Gap,  battle  of. 638     i 

Crater,  first  descent  into  volcanic 127    2 

Credit  Mobilier  organized 654     I 


708  2 

492  i 

531  i 

562  2 

577  2 

751  2 

135  I 

297  2 

841  2 

100  I 

181  i 

274  2 

359  i 

362  2 

270  2 

391 
375 
975 
365 

427 

422  2 

374  2 

377  2 

526  2 

221  2 

837  I 

584  2 

887  I 

350  * 

541  2 


Page.  Col. 

7l6      2 

783 

499 

437 
830 
849 
878 


Credit  Mobilier,  assumed  Pacific  R.  R. 
construction 

exposure 

Creek  Indians,  troubles  with 

defeat  of. 

Cremation,  first 

of  Mrs.  Pitman 

of  Le  Moyne 

"  Creole,"  case  of  brig 516 

Cricket,  game  of. 859 

Crockett,  David,  biography 495 

Cross  Keys,  battle  of. 631 

Croton  Aqueduct 515  2 

Crown  Point  evacuated  by  French 284  i 

taken 314  2 

taken  by  English. 327  2 

Cuba  discovered  by  Columbus q8  i 

'  t 

coast  of,  first  explored 100  2 

first  found  to  be  an  island 113  i 

subjugated 114  i 

Baragoa  founded j  14  i 

Grejalva  sailed  from 1 18  2 

Cortes  sailed  from 121  2 

allowed  foreign  trade 448  2 

coolie  trade  began 531  i 

proposed  purchase  of,  by  U.  S 574  i 

outbreak  of  revolution  in 729  i 

prisoners  banished  by  Spanish 73  ^  i 

constitution  adopted 736  i 

expedition  for 738  i 

freedom  of  the  press JAA  2 

ferocity  in 7^4  i 

Spanish  proclamation ygw  2 

revolution  in  progress »g2  i 

apparent  end  of  revolution gcO  2 

a  fresh  outbreak 877  2 

revolution  in  progress 884  2 

peace  in ^  2 

Cumana  in  Venezuela  founded I28  2 

Cumberland,  army  of  the 640  2 

Currency,  playing-card, in  Canada 239  i 

first  continental 318  i 

continental,  depreciation  of. 34!  i 

depreciation 3^  2 

depreciation 3^9  2 

Gushing,  Caleb,  biography 353  l 

Cushman,  Charlotte,  biography 819  2 

Custer  and  his  three  hundred 82  5  2 

Custom  houses,  first  in  colonies 228  i 

Cuzco  visited  by  Spaniards ^^  2 

Cyclone  in  Georgia 848  2 

in  Wisconsin 853  2 

in  U.  S 888  2 


INDEX. 


1033 


Page.  Col. 


r> 


Dahlgren,  Admiral,  biography 752  2 

Dana,  Richard  A.,  death  of 864  i 

Dana,  Richard  H .,  biography 978  i 

Darien  colony,  from  Scotland 250  2 

tardy  reinforcement  for 251  i 

*'  Dark  Day  "  in  New  England 257  2 

at  Detroit 292  2 

in  New   England 345  i 

in  Canada  356  i 

Dartmoor  Prison,  massacre  of. 443  i 

Dartmouth  College  founded 299  2 

Darwin,  Charles,  in  S.  A 482  i 

Daulac,  Adam,  heroism  of 214  2 

Davis' Straits  explored 159  i 

Davis,  John,  voyages  of. 160  i 

Davis,  Jefferson,  capture  of. 704  i 

bailed 718  2 

discharged 730  2 

Deadwood,  Black  Hills,  burned 877  i 

Deaf  mutes,  first  asylum  for *.....  446  2 

first  school  for,  in  Canada 534  2 

college  for 687  2 

Deane,  Silas,  commissioner  to  France. .  322  2 

Death,  sudden,  in  U.  S.  house 492  i 

De  Ayllon,  kidnapping  voyage 126  I 

attacked  by  natives  for  revenge....  130  i 

Debate  in  the  Senate,  Great 476  i 

Debt  U.  S.  extinguished 493  2 

Decatur's,  Stephen,  achievement 417  i 

biography 45 1  2 

De  Castro  appointed  commissioner. . . . .  140  2 

arrived  at  Quito 141  2 

tried  to  govern  Peru 142  2 

escaped  to  Spain 143  2 

Declaration  of  Independence  in  R.  I....  322  2 

recommended  by  Virginia 322 

committee  on  in  congress 323 

adopted  by  congress 323 

signed .....    326 

Deep  sea  dredging  expedition 766 

Defalcation  of  Swartout 503 

in  New  York 848 

great  Fall  River 85 1 

at   Lawrence 853 

at  Chicago. . . 857 

in   Fall  River 858 

in  Missouri 864 

in  Montreal 866 

in  Fall  River  876 

Defoe,  Daniel,  issued  Robinson  Crusoe.  260 

Delaware  separated  from  New  York . . .  235 

ranged  constitution 365 


Page.  Col. 

Delegates  in  Massachusetts  towns 192  i 

De  Leon,  Ponce,  colonized  Porto  Rico.  113  i 

searched  for  Fountain  of  Youth  ...114  i 

discovered  and  named  Florida 114  i 

returned  to  Porto  Rico  disappointed  114  2 

sailed  to  Florida  again — Death  of..  126  2 

DeLong,   explorer 873  2 

heard  of. 1018  2 

Democrat-republicans,  rise  of  party. . . .  364  2 

Democratic  clubs 389  i 

Dentist,  first  native. ..    375  i 

first  in  country 375  i 

Department  of  State,  United  States. . . .  377  i 

of  War 377  i 

of  the  Treasury 377  i 

of  the  Postoffice 377  2 

of  the  Judiciary 377  2 

of  the  Navy 402  i 

of  the  Interior 535  2 

of  Agriculture 645  i 

of  Justice 752  i 

De  Soto  entered  Florida 138  2 

discovered  Mississippi 140  2 

death  and  character 142  i 

Dessalines,  "  emperor  of  Hayti  " 419  i 

assassinated 421  2 

Detroit  founded. ... 252  2 

captured 286  i 

surrender  of. 431  2 

Dexter  bank  robbery 849  i 

De  Young  shot  by  Kalloch 889  i 

Diamonds  in  Brazil 256  i 

Diamond,  most  valuable  found  in  U.  S..  566  2 

Dickens,  Charles,  visited  America 512  i 

visited  America 722  i 

Dickinson  Anna,  first  speech  of. 584  I 

Dieskau's  defeat 280  i 

Difficulties  with  England 389  2 

Dighton  Rock,  inscription  on 91  2 

Directory,  first  city 276  2 

Disbanding  of  army,  Rev'y 356  2 

of  army,  Civil  War 704  2 

Disciples,  The 426  i 

Dismal  Swamp  first  surveyed 263  i 

Dissection,  first  anatomical 276  I 

Dissenters  enfranchised  in  Carolina. . . .  254  2 

Dissension  at  Plymouth 183  2 

District   of  Columbia 382 

corner  stone  laid 383 

Dix,  John  A.,  death  of. 868 

Dixon  outrage 875 

Dominica  taken  by  English 285  2 

received  by  England 357  2 


1034 


INDEX. 


Page.  Col. 

Dominican  republic  formed 518  2 

maintained 536  i 

Dominion  of  New  England 241  i 

Dominion  of  Canada,  set  up 719  2 

Dom  Pedro,  emperor  of  Brazil 456  2 

became  king  of  Portugal 471  2 

Dona  Marina  given  to  Cortes 121  2 

Donation  Law 542  i 

"  Don't  give  up  the  ship." „. . .  435  i 

Dorchester  colony  in  S.  Carolina. .....  .248  •  2 

Dorchester  Heights  fortified 321  2 

Doremus  Mrs.,  death  of 833  i 

Dorr's  rebellion,  R.  1 514  2 

Dory  crossed  the  Atlantic 856  i 

Doughfaces 45 1  2 

Douglas,  Stephen  A.,  biography 597  2 

Douglass,  Fred.,  escaped  from  slavery . .   503  2 

marshal  of  D.  C 833  2 

Dover,  N.  H.,  fishing  village 183  i 

Draft  difficulties 654  i 

riot  in  New  York 663  2 

closed  up 694  2 

Drake,  Sir  Francis,  early  life  of 156  i 

first  voyage  of. 156  i 

voyage  around  the  world 156  2 

another  piratical  voyage 159  2 

death  of 161  2 

Dranesville,  battle  of 6n  i 

Draper,  John  W.  biography 977  i 

Drawbridge,  fall  of. 509  2 

Drawbridge  open,  R.  R.  accident 552  2 

"  Dr.  Bray's  Associates  " 264  a 

Dred  Scott  decision 567  2 

Drewry's  Bluff,  attack  on 629  i 

Drouth,  longest  known 292  2 

Drunkards,  i  ,000  reformed 511  2 

Drunkenness  fined  in  Maryland 201  i 

penalty  for 305  i 

Duel,  first  in  New  England 180  2 

on  Boston  Common 263  2 

between  Gwinnett  and  Mclntosh..  331  2 

between  Cadwallader  and  Conway.   338  2 

between  Lee  and  Laurens 340  i 

between  Hamilton  and  Burr 417  2 

between  Clay  and  Marshall 425  i 

between  Jackson  and  Benton 438  i 

between  White  and  Finch 450  2 

between  Mason  and  McCarty 450  2 

capital  punishment  for 453  i 

between  Wetmore  and  Street 455  i 

between  Clay  and  Randolph 464  2 

between  Biddle  and  Pettis 482  i 

between  Cilley  and  Graves 502  2 


Page.  Col. 

Duel,  between  Broderick  and  Terry. . . .  577  2 

Dueling,  law  against 422  i 

law  against 505  2 

Duenhoffer,  Father,  fined 884  2 

Dug  Springs,  battle  of. 603  2 

Duke  of  Argyll  in  America 873  2 

Dunkards 259  2 

Dustin's  Mrs.,  escape 250  i 

Duties  on  parchment  suggested 263  i 

Dyewoods  of  Brazil,  traffic  in 133  i 

E 

Early's  raid  checked 679  2 

Earthquake  in  Chili 156  i 

destroyed  Callao 160  i 

at    Lima 192  i 

in  New  England 197  2 

in  Chili 206  i 

in  New  England 218  2. 

in  Canada 219  2 

in  Callao,  S .  A 241  i 

in  Jamaica 244  2 

in  English  colonies 263  i 

in  Chili 264  i 

in  Peru 274  i 

in  New  England 280  2 

in  Venezuela 297  i 

in  Guatemala 306  i 

shocks  in  Missouri 429  i 

in  Chili 457  i 

in  Chili 492  i 

in  Costa  Rica ^n  i 

inChili 543  i 

in  Venezuela 1553  i 

in  Central  America 555  2- 

in  Mexico 572  i 

in  Quito 575  2 

in  Argentine  Republic 593  2 

in  California 708  i 

in  West  Indies 721  2 

in  South  America 728  2 

in  California 729  2 

in  United  States 757  i 

in  Long  Island 762  i 

in  California 762  i 

in  California 768  i 

in  San  Salvador 784  i 

in   Guatemala 799  2 

in  South  America 806  2 

in  Richmond 816  2 

in  South  America 836  i 

in  Central  America. 8=59  i 

in  Havana,  first 886  2 

East  Jersey  bought  by  Quakers 234  2 


INDEX. 


1035 


Page.  Col. 

East  River  bridge  begun 757  2 

first  wire  of 826  2 

Ecclesiastical  council,  first 196  i 

Eclipse,  total  in  LJ.  S 738  2 

Ecuador  independent 456  2 

withdrew  from  Colombia 479  i 

adopted  constitution 525  2 

invaded 591  2 

political  excitement 687  2 

revolution  in 744  2 

Edge  Hill,  battle  of. 336  2 

Education,  legacy  for,  in  New  Haven. .  213  i 

Edwards,  Jonathan,  biography 282  i 

Eight- Hour  movement 781  i 

Elect-Surds,  The 715  2 

Elections,  local,  provided  for 196  i 

Elections,  democratic  gains.    800  i 

Electoral  commission 832  2 

Electoral  count,  U.  S 909  2 

Electric  light,  Edison's 886  2 

Electricity,  Franklin  experimented  with  277  i 

Electricity,  steamer  lighted  by 884  2 

Electrotyping,  first 507  i 

Elizabeth  city  captured 614  2 

Elliston  accident 768  i 

Ellsworth  Col.,  shot 596  i 

Ellsworth  Oliver,  brief  biography 424  i 

Emancipation,  advocate  of 384  i 

attempted  in   Missouri 605  i 

foretold 639  2 

proclamation 647  2 

day  celebrated 709  2 

Embargo  on  American   ports 391  2 


bill. 


424 


bill  repealed 425  2 

for  90  days 430  2 

Emerson,  Ralph  Waldo,  biography 1014  i 

Emigrants  during  1873 791  2 

"  Emigration  pamphlet,"  first 251  i 

"  Emily  B.  Souder  "  lost 861  I 

Emma  Mine  scandal Soi  2 

Endicott  John,  biography 221  I 

English  army  in  America 282  i 

England  declared  war  on  Holland 348  i 

withdrew  from  Argentine  waters...  534  i 

"  Enterprise  "  captured  "Boxer  " 436  i 

Epaulettes,  war  of  the 507  i 

Epidemic  in  Brazil 781  i 

Episcopacy  in  New  York 247  2 

Episcopal  bishop,  first 358  2 

Epizootic 776  2 

"  Epsilon  "  exploded 769  2 

"Equinox"   wrecked 814  i 


"  Erie  "  burned 511  i 

Erie  R.  R.  accident 679  2 

Erie  R.  R.  accident 718  2 

"  Essex  "  captured  "Alert" 431  i 

"  Essex  "  taken  at  Valparaiso 438  2 

Ether,  first  use  of 512  2 

Ether,  first  public  success 527  2 

Eutaw  Springs,  battle  of 351  2 

"  Evening  Star  "  lost 715  i 

Everett,  Edward,  biography 688  i 

Ewing,  Thomas,  biography 764  i 

Excitement  in  Western  N.  Y 512  i 

Execution,  first  in  New  England  .....   187  i 

Exeter,  N.  H.,  founded ^7  2 

Exodus,  the  negro 866  2 

Exodus  conventions „ . .   869  2 

Explosion  of  "  Lioness  " 489  t 

of  powder cj2  i 

of  the  "  Pulaski  " ,  503  2 

of  the  "Medora" 516  2 

of  the  "Peacemaker" 518  2 

of"Big  Hatchee" 525  i 

of  engine 741 

in  torpedo  factory 743 

of  nitro-glycerine 761 

on  Oceanus 769 

at  Bennington,  Vt 793 

in  New  York 821 

at  Bergen  Tunnel,  N.  J 822  2 

in  New  York 847  I 

at  Lake  Superior 847  2 

at   Springfield 849  i 

at  Minneapolis 852  2 

at  Pottsville,  Penn „ 857  2 

of  "  Adelphi's  "  boiler 859  i 

in   California 864  2 

Express  business,  origin  of. 506  i 

foreign 511  t 

lightning , 824  2 

train  robbery 843  2 

Expulsion  of  congressmen 567  2 


Factories  in  Canada 

Fairfax  Court  house,  battle  of. 

Fair  Oaks,  battle  of 

Falkland  Islands,  discovered. 

Falling  Waters,  battle  of. 

Falmouth,  Me.,  burned 

Faneuil  Hall,  built 

Farewell  orders  of  Washington 

address  to  the  people,  Washington's 
to  congress 

"  Farmers'  Letters.". . 


766 
596 
630 

161 
600 


2 
2 
2 
I 
I 

3I9     i 

270  2 
356  2 

399  i 
399  2 
299  i 


1036 


INDEX. 


Farnham,  Ralph,  death  of. , 

Farragut,  Admiral,   biography 

Fast  Day,  first 

Fast,  a  public 

national 

Fast,  for  death  of  Lincoln 

Fast  mail 

Fayetteville,  battle  of. 

Federalist,  The,  written 

Federalists,  rise  of  party 

Female  institute,  Troy , . . 

Female  suffrage  resolution 

Fenianism  founded 

Fenian  congress,  first 

raid  on  Canada 

vessel  to  Ireland  

attempt  on  Canada 

"  Fern,  Fanny,"  death  of. 

Ferry  boat  wrecked  at  New  York 

Fessenden,  William  Pitt,  biography. . . . 

Fields,  James  T.  biography 

Fifteen  gallon  law 

Filibusters  in  Buenos  Ayres 

Filibusterism 

Fillmore  inaugurated  U.  S.  presdent.  ... 

Fillmore,  Millard,  biography 

Finney,  Charles  G.,  biography 

Fire,  first  great,  at  Plymouth 

first  in  Boston 

at  Port  Royal,  Jamaica 

in  Boston 

in  Charleston,  S.  C 

in   Boston 

in  New  York 

in  Charleston,  S.  C 

in  Detroit 

in  New  York 

at  Washington,  D.  C 

in  Charleston,  S.  C 

on  board  the  "Washington" 

in  New  York 

in  Quebec 

in  Pittsburg,  Penn 

in  Quebec  again 

in  New  York 

in  St.  John's,  Newfoundland 

in  Louisville,  Ky 

in  Albany 

in  St.  Louis 

in  San  Francisco 

in  San  Francisco 

burned  Ohio  State  House 

burned  Crystal  Palace,  New  York. 


Vag».  Col. 
6l2  I 

754    2 

l82  2 
3l8  2 
536 
704 

813 
691 

375 
364 

454  * 

734  2 

570  2 

668  i 

712  2 
7l8  2 
752  I 

774    2 

562 

740 

919      2 
503 
556 

558 
541 

793 
8*1 


1 

191  2 

253  2 

256  2 

269  I 

285  2 

327  I 

337  i 

420  2 

493  i 

499  * 

503  i 

505  2 

506  2 
521  2 
521  2 

523  2 

523  2 

526  2 

528  2 

534  i 

537  i 

540  * 

543  i 

545  2 

572  2 


Page.  Col. 


Fire  at  Key  West .. 575 

in  Charleston 610 

in  Santiago,  S.  A 670 

in  Nashville 706 

in   New  York 707 

at  Fort  Riley,  Kan 710 

in  New  York 711 

at  Richmond 711 

in  Nashville  ....    714 

in  Guadeloupe 762 

in  Williamsport,  Penn 762 

at  Chicago  763 

at  Iowa  City 768 

at  Jersey  City 773 

at  Concord,  Mass 773 

at  Newburg,  Ohio  774 

at  Alexandria,  Va 783 

in   Portland,  Oregon 788 

in  Brooklyn,  New  York 792 

in  Chicago,  second 798 

in  Oshkosh,  Wis 804 

in  Holyoke,  Mass 806 

at  Virginia  City 814 

in  Cincinnati  false  alarm 818 

at  Williamsburg,  New  York 820 

at  Quebec 824 

in  St.  Johns,  P.  Q 824 

at  Castle  Garden,  New  York 826 

at  St.  Hyacinths,  P.  0 827 

false  alarm  of 828 

false  alarm  of. 833 

in  New  York 833 

at  St.  Louis 834 

at  Montreal 835 

at  Montreal 838 

in  Norfolk,  Canada 842 

in  Gay  ville,  Dakota 842 

in  Washington 843 

attempted  at  Fredericton,  N.  B 845 

at  Hot  Springs,  Ark 850 

in  Philadelphia 850 

Bishop  mansion  on  the  Hudson. ...   851 

in  Alta,  Utah 857 

at  Cape  May 860 

in  New  York 863 

at  St.  Joseph,  Mo 864 

in  San  Reno,  Neb 865 

at  South  Bend,  Ind 868 

at  Hull,  Ontario 889 

Fires  during  1865 709 

forest  in  Michigan 787 

forest  in  Michigan 964 

various  forest 807 


INDEX. 


1037 


Fires,  forest 

forest  ............................ 

Fire  service,  first  effective  ............. 

Fire-arm,  repeating  ................... 

Fire-engine,  first  American  ............ 

Fire-engine,  steam  model  for  .......... 

first  .............................. 

Fireflies  frightened  Spaniards  ......... 

frightened  English  marauders  ...... 

Fire-ship  in  Tripoli  harbor  ........  .... 

Fish,  first  propagation  of  ............... 

Fish  commission,  U.  S  .....  .  .......... 

Fish  commission,  Halifax  award  ....... 

charge   against  ................... 

Fishing  creek,  battle  of  ....  ........... 

Fishing  disaster  ....................... 

Fiske  tragedy  ......................... 

Fiske  James,  biography  ............... 

Five  Forks,  battle  of.  ................. 

Flag,  first  Union  ..................... 

Flag  of  United  States  in  China,  first  ____ 

on  Mexican  soil  .................. 

Flag,  confederate,  first  taken  ........... 

Fleet,  British,  repulsed  on  Lake  Ontario. 

U.  S  .,  on  Lake  Ontario  ........... 

British  beaten  on  Lake  Erie  ........ 

Spanish  withdrew  from  S.  A  ...... 

Flood  in  Pittsburg  .................... 

in  Virginia  ....................... 

in  Hayti  .......................... 

in  St.  Kitts,  W.    1  ................. 

"  Flora  Temple's  "'  trotting  ............ 

<l  Florence"  lost  ...................... 

Florida  visited  by  de  Leon  ............. 

visited  again  by  de  Leon  ........... 

disaster  in  ........................ 

expedition  of  de  Luna  to.  ....  ...... 

purchase  ......................... 

admitted  to  Union  ................ 

seceded  ............................ 

and  Georgia  expeditions  ........    .  . 

nullified  secession  ................. 

expedition  ........................ 

"  Florida,"  capture  of  the  .............. 

Floyd,  John  B.,  indicted  ............... 

"  Flying  Machine,"  The,  stage  coach.  . 
Flying  machine,  a  .................... 

Foot  path  up  Mt.  Washington,  first.  .  .  . 

Foote's  flotilla  ........................ 

Foraging  party  routed  .................. 

Ford  theater  opened  as  Museum  ....... 

Forfeiture,  largest  paid  to  U  .  S  ......... 

Forgery  in  New  York  ...........  .... 


Page.  Col. 


838  2 

866  i 

553  2 

262  2 

211  2 

509  2 

SI2  i 


420 

y  rg 


903 
346 
864 
767 

767  i 

692  i 

321  i 

359  2 

526  2 

595  2 

431  i 

432  2 
436  2 
711  2 
487  i 
741  i 
861  2 
885  2 
577  2 
881  2 


126  2 

1  73  i 

151  2 

448  2 


591  2 
616  2 
708 
672 
682 
592 
305 
855 
450  i 
613  2 
330  2 
718  2 
777  2 
707  2 


Page.  Col. 


Forgeries  of  Oilman 

Forney,  John  W.  biography, 

Forrest,  Edwin,  biography 

Fort    Alamo  massacre 

Bowyer,  attack  on 

Clinton  occupied 

Casimir  on  the    Delaware 

Dearborn  built 

Dearborn   evacuated 

de  Russy,  capture  of. 

Donelson  captured 

Donelson,  attempt  on 

Du  Quesne  erected 

Du  Quesne  captured  by  the  English 

Edward  abandoned  

Erie  Captured 

Erie,  battle  near 

blown  up 

Fisher  captured 

Frontenac  captured 

Galphin  captured 

George  captured 

Henry  captured 

Lee  evacuated 

Macon  captured 

McHenry  bombarded 

Meigs,  siege  of. 

Mercer  attacked  

evacuated 

Mifnin  evacuated 

Mimms,  massacre  of 

Necessity  captured  by  French 

Niagara,  expedition  against,  failed... 

Niagara  taken  by  English 

Oswego  taken  by  Montcalm 

Pillow,  battle  of 

Pillow,  massacre  at 

Pulaski  captured 

Stanwix  besieged 

siege  raised 

Steadman  captured 

Stephenson,  assault  on 

Sumter  occupied  by  U.  S 

Sumter  evacuated 

Ticonderoga  attacked 

Ticonderoga  evacuated  by  French . . 

Ticonderoga  taken 

Ticonderoga  evacuated 

Wagner  evacuated 

Washington ,  capture  of 

Watson  captured 

William  Henry,  captured  by  French 
Fortress  Monroe,  army  at 


844 
972 
78o 

495 
441 

334 

209  2 
420 
431 
673 
615 
650 
278  2 
283 

333 
439 


441 
639 
283 


593 
283 
284 
3H 
332 
665 


2 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
2 

350  2 
I 
I 
I 
2 
2 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
2 
2 
I 
I 
I 


435 
614 

3^8 
627 
44° 
435 
336 
336 
336 
436 
278 
279 
284 
281 
629 

674   2 
624   I 

333  2 

333 

691 

435 


2 

2 
2 
2 
2 
I 
I 
I 
2 
I 
327  2 


350 
28l 
622 


1038 


INDEX. 


Page.    Col. 

Ports  at  Crown  Point  and  Niagara 256  2 

Fortune  Bay,  damages  demanded 875  i 

Fourierism 520  2 

Fourth  of  July,  first  anniversary  of 332  2 

centennial 826  i 

Fox,  George,  tour  of 227  2 

France,  aid  from 330  2 

embassy  to 405  i 

Franchise  in  Massachusetts 191  2 

in  Massachusetts 218  2 

Francia,  Dr.,  dictator  of  Paraguay 442  2 

biography 508  2 

Frankfort  seized   638  i 

Franklin's,  Benjamin,  lost  clothes 268  2 

Franklin,  Benj.,  before  Privy  Council.. .   306  2 

deposed  from  postomce 306  2 

biography   379  i 

Franklin  stoves 270  2 

Franklin's,  Sir  John,  last  Arctic  voyage  521  2 

search  for 535  i 

relics  discovered 556  2 

Arctic  record  found 573  2 

search  party,  last 896  i 

Fraud  in  Philadelphia 843  2 

Frazier's  Farm,  battle  of.   632  2 

Frederick  College  founded 401  2 

Fredericksburg,  battle  of. 642  2 

Free  press  in  New  York 267  i 

Freedman's  Bureau 690  2 

Freedman's  bank,  collapse  of Soi  i 

Freeman  murder,  Pocasset,  Mass 869  i 

Fremont,  John  C.,  married 511  2 

superseded 609  i 

French  in  St.  Bartholomew  massacred..   212  2 

colony  on  Lake  Onandaga 213  2 

defeat  at  Lake  Champlain 244  2 

aggression  in  Ohio  Valley 277  2 

and  Indian  war. 280  2 

fleet  at  Delaware  River 340  i 

at  Narragansett  Bay 340  i 

fleet  at  Newport 346  i 

loan 35 1  i 

Republic  celebrated 388  2 

depredations 400  i 

indignities 401  i 

government,  acts  of 401  i 

privateers 403  i 

Republic  recognized  by  U.  S 755  i 

"  Friends  "  first  yearly  meeting 238  i 

Frobisher,  Sir  Martin,  early  life  of 156  2 

third  voyage  of 157  2 

death  of. 159  2 

Fugitives,  surrender  of 388  2 


>ai»3.  Col. 

Fugitive  slave  law  passed 541  i 

slave,  an  alleged 541  2 

slave  in  New  York 541  2 

slave  in  Christiana,  Pennsylvania.  .  543  2 

slave  law  unconstitutional 557  i 

Fund  for  ex-presidents. 909  i 

Funding  system,  American 378  i 

Funding  bill  vetoed 911  2 

Fur  company  at  New  Orleans 292  i 

Fur  companies,  union  of. 455  i 


Gag  rule  in  United  States  House 496 

Gage,  Gen.,  arrived  in  Boston 307 

proclamation  by 310 

policy  of 312 

proclamation  by 315 

recalled 318  2 

Gaines,  Mrs.,  won  her  suit 723 

Gaine's  farm,  battle  of. 632 

Gale  on  New  England  coast 444 

on  New  England  coast 527 

on  Atlantic  coast 846 

Galveston  recaptured 648 

Garfield,  J.  A.,  assassination  of. 926  2 

biography 955  2 

Elaine's  eulogy  on 992  i 

death  and  funeral  of. 937  2 

Garrison,  William  Lloyd,  biography. ..  870  2 

Gas,  proposal  to  light  with 415  i 

first  use  of 445  2 

first  successful  use 457  i 

Gasca,  Pedro  de  la,  commissioner 147  i 

arrived  in  Peru   147  2 

defeated  and  slew  Pizarro 148  2 

administered  Peru 149  i 

returned  to  Spain 149  2 

Gaspee,  burning  of 304  2 

Gates,  Gen.,  command  at  north     333  2 

appointed  at  south 346  i 

biography 420  2 

Gatling  gun  invented 645  i 

General  court,  first  in  Massachusetts. ..  187  i 

General  assembly,  first  in  Pennsylvania  236  i 

First  in  Northwest  Territory 403  2 

"  General  Lyon  "  lost 692  i 

Geography,  Morse's 359  i 

Geological  surveys 478  2 

George  III.  acknowledged  United  States  354  2 

Georgia  chartered..    265  i 

first  philanthropic  colony 265  2 

became  royal  province   276  2 

ratified  constitution 366  i 

seceded S92  1 


INDEX. 


1039 


Georgia,  Sherman  in 

nullified  secession 

legislature  expelled  colored  members 

"  Georgia  "  lost 

"  George  S.  Wright"  wrecked 

Georgetown  College,  D.  C.,  founded. . .. 

Gennantown,  battle  of 

Gerry,  Elbridge,  death  of 

Gettysburg,  battle  of 

Gilbert,  Sir  Humphrey,  patent  of 

second  voyage  and  death 

Gold  found  in  Hayti 

in  Venezuela 

in  Brazil .... 

California  fever 

in  Kansas 

sold  at  par 

in  Nova  Scotia 

fever  in  Canada  and  United  States.. 

Gold  pens  first  made  in  America 

"  Golden  Gate"  lost 

"  Golden  Gate,"  Atlantic  voyage 

Gomez  explored  North  American  coast.. 

Good  Samaritans  established. . . ., 

Goods,  importation  of,  forbidden 

Goodyear,  Charles,  death  of. 

Gorton's  colony  in  R.  1 

Gosnold  in  New  England 

Gospel,  society  for  propagating 

Gosport  navy  yard  destroyed 

Government  bill,  the  Massachusetts. . . . 

"Governor  Fenner,"  The  lost 

Grades,  heavy,  on  railways 

Granada,  on  Lake  Nicaragua  founded. . 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 

Grand  Jury,  first  in  America 

"  Grand  Model,"  Locke's 

Grand  Trunk  R.  R.  accident 

Grant,  U.  S.,  made  lieutenant-general. .. 

made  general 

return  of,  from  abroad 

Grape-vines  in  Paraguay.  ...   

"  Graphic  Company"  organized 

Grasshopper  depredations 

Great  Bridge,  Va.,  fight  at 

Great  Eastern  steamship.. 

Great  Meadows,  battle  near 

Greeley,  Horace,  biography 

Greenbacks  first  issued 

Greenbriar,  battle  on  the 

Greene,  Gen.,  superseded  Gates 

Greene,  biography 

Greenland  discovered. . 


Pa-e.  Col. 
68l  2 
708  I 

728   2 

859  I 
784 

378 

334 
44 i 
657 

157  2 

15S  2 

ICO  I 

140  2 

251  I 

531  2 

574     i 

860  2 

876 

897 

493 
635 
813 
130 


2 
2 
2 
I 
2 
I 

531   I 
421   2 

587  * 

2OI  2 

l62  I 

2O8  2 

594  2 

307  I 

510  I 

497  2 
128  2 

7^5  2 
194  2 
225 
679 
673 

7*4 

877 

162   2 

792  I 

688  i 
319  2 

586   2 

278   2 

778 
645 

607 

348 
361 

90   2 


Page.  Col. 

Greenland  re-discovered  by  Eric 90     2 

first  bishop  in 91  2 

last  bishop  in 92  2 

decline  of,  by  black  death,  etc 92  2 

pestilence  in 355  i 

east  coast  explored 457  i 

Grenada,  W.  I.,  settled  by  French 210  i 

Caribs  exterminated  in 210  i 

Grey  town  bombarded $$6  i 

"  Griffith  "  wrecked 540  2 

Grinnell,  Henry,  death  of 797  2 

Groveton,  battle  of 636  i 

Guadeloupe  discovered 99  2 

taken  by  English 284  i 

naval  battle  near 352  2 

re ^ored  to  France 446  i 

Guano  first  shipped 510  i 

Guatemala,  Santiago,  C.  A.,  destroyed. .   141  2 

Guatemala,  New,  founded 329  2 

Guatemala  adopted  a  constitution 544  i 

revolution  in 761  2 

Guatemozin  chosen  emperor  of  Mexico.  126  2 

captured  by  Cortes 127  i 

execution  of 129  2 

Guaymas  taken 530  2 

Guaymas,  battle  of 556  i 

Guayaquil  blockaded 574  i 

Guerillas,  proclamation  against 530  2 

Guerilla  warfare 633  i 

Guerra  Christoval,  voyage  of 103  2 

Guiana  settled  by  Dutch 158  i 

colonized  by  French 165  i 

settled  by  English 187  i 

Dutch,  taken  by  English 209  i 

French,  retaken  from  English 221  i 

Dutch,  seized  by  English 400  2 

Dutch,  restored 415  i 

Dutch,  retaken  by  English 417  i 

French,  taken  by  English 426  2 

French ,  restored  to  France 442  2 

evacuated  by  Spanish 447  i 

British  erected 482  2 

Guibord's  funeral 815  I 

Guilibrd  Court  House,  battle  of 350  i 

Guiteau,  Chas.  J.,  assassin  of  Garfield. ..  927  2 

trial 979  2 

execution  of. ...  1019  i 

Gulf  Stream  first  noticed 1 14  2 

Gulf  of  Mexico,  coast  of,  explored 118  2 

Gulf  coast,  events  on 607  i 

Gun,  first  rifled,  in  America 490  2 

Gunboat,  The  Imposter 650  2 

Gwinnett,  Button,  killed  in  duel 331  2 


1040 


INDEX. 


H 

"  Hail  Columbia,"  origin  of. 

Hale,  Nathan,  execution  of 

John  P.,  biography 

Sara  J.,  Mrs.,  death  of 

Halifax  founded 

Hall,  Charles  Francis,  biography 

Halleck,  Fitz-Greene,  biography 

Hamilton,  Alexander,  investigated 

biography 

Hampton,  capture  of. 

burned 

"  Hancock,"  capture  of  the 

Hancock,  John,  biography 

Hand  labor  against  machinery 

Hanging  Rock,  battle  of 

Hanover  Court  House,  battle  of. 

Harding  county  raid 

Harlem  Plains,  battle  of 

Harmar's  defeat 

Harmony  Society,  The 

removal  of 

Harper's  Ferry  surrendered 

Harper,  James,  biography 

Harrison,  Gen.  W.  H,,  command  at  West 

biography 

Hart,  Nancy,  heroism  of. 

Hartford,  Conn.,  Dutch  trading  post  at. . 
Hartford  colony  from  Massachusetts. ... 

Hartford  Convention,  The 

Harvard  college  endowed.. 

named  and  opened 

general  'support  of 

Hat  act,  English .. 

Hatteras  Inlet,  blockade  of. . 

Havana,  Cuba,  founded 

burned 

pillaged 

pillaged  a  second  time 

taken  by  English 

Haverill,  Mass.,  destroyed 

Hawkins,  Sir  John,  begun  slave  trade. . . 

third  voyage  of 

death  of 

Hawthorne,  Nathaniel,  biography 

Hay  den  surveys 

Hayes'  tour  through  South 

title  declared  irrevocable. . .. 

Hayes,  I.  I.,  biography 

Hayne,  Isaac,  execution  of. 

Hayti  discovered 

subdued 

Spanish  ceded  to  France 


Page.  Col. 

402  2 

327  * 

789  2 

869  I 

275  I 

764  2 

721  2 

388  I 

417  2 

435  2 

604  I 

331  2 
390 

479 
346 
630 
671 

327 
382 

419  2 

442  2 

638  2 

734  2 

432  i 

510  i 

348  i 

192  2 

195  * 
44I  2 

196  I 

197  2 
205  I 
265  2 

605  I 
122  2 
I38  I 

150  2 

151  I 
292  I 

255  I 

152  I 

155  2 

161 
676 
719 

844 
855 

972  2 

351  I 

98  2 

IOI  2 

396  I 


Page.  Col. 

Hayti,  eastern  half  independent 454     2 

united 457     \ 

President  Boyer  fled 516 

Solouque,  emperor  of ^42 

revolution  in 573 

first  United  States  minister  to 635 

revolution  in 744 

government  changed 874 

Hazen,  Gen.,  head  of  signal  service. . . .  902 

Hearne's,  Samuel,  exploration 299 

Heat,  excessive,  in  United  States 552 

extreme  in  California 576 

unprecedented 856 

Heaviest  man,  The 567 

Hell  Gate  reef  blown  up 827 

Hendrick,  biography 280 

Henrico  College  proposed 177 

Henry,  Patrick,  resolutions  of. 295 

biography 404 

Henry,  documents,  The 430 

Henry,  Prof.,  memorial  service  for 863 

"  Henry  A.  Jones  "  burned 783 

Hessian  troops,  first 322 

"  Hibernia  "  lost: 729 

Hidalgo  of  Mexico  slain . .  428 

Hillard,  George  S.,  death  of 863 

History,  first,  of  America 136 

of  New  Spain  written 159 

Hobkirk  Hill,  battle  of. 350 

Holland  acknowledged  U.  S 352 

indemnity  from 507 

Holland,  Josiah  G.,  biography 965 

"Home,"  wreck  of 501 

Homespun  clothes  at  Harvard 303 

Homestead  Act 327 

Honduras,  British 402 

explored 554 

revolution  in 663 

new  constitution 709 

change  of  presidents 781 

Hood,  John  B.,  biography 876 

Hooker,  Gen.  Joseph,  biography 878 

Hoosac  tunnel 790 

Hopkins,  Ezek,  commander  of  navy. . . .   320 

dismissed 330 

Albert,  death  of 769 

"  Hornet "  sunk  the  "  Peacock  " 434 

captured  "  Penguin  " 443 

Horse,  first  ridden  up  Mt.  Washington..  509 

Horse-race,  first  public ....  448 

at  Saratoga 787 

Horse-shoes,  first  made  by  machinery,  .  494 
Horse  nails  forged 579 


INDEX. 


1041 


Page.    Col. 

Horses,  two  noted  trotters 499  i 

Horse-Shoe  Bend,  battle  of 438  i 

Horticultural  Society,  first 474  2 

Hospital,  first 198  2 

first  in  English  colonies 257  2 

first  general  one 276  2 

first  army 317  2 

for  women  and  children,  N.  E 671  2 

Hot-air  blast  in  furnaces ....  489  i 

Housatonic  R.  R.  accident 707  2 

House,  first  frame  in  Connecticut 192  2 

the  first  painted 198  2 

oldest  in  U.  S 198  2 

Daniel  Webster's  burned 849  i 

Houston,  Sam.  biography 664  i 

"  Hovey's  Seedling  "  strawberry 491  i 

Howard  University  organized 722  2 

Howe,  Gen.,  at  Sandy  Hook 323  2 

proclamation  by 328  i 

strategy  of. 336  2 

strategy  of. 336  2 

Elias,  biography 720  i 

Samuel  G.,  biography 817  i 

Lord,  killed 283  i 

Huamantla,  battle  of 530  2 

Huascar,  capture  of  the 877  2 

Hubbardton,  battle  of. 332  2 

Hudson,  Henry,  first  voyage  of. 166  i 

second  voyage  of. 167  i 

third  voyage  of. 168  i 

discovered  Hudson  River 168  2 

discovered  Hudson's  Bay 169  i 

death  of. 170  2 

searched  for 172  i 

Hudson  Bay  company  organized 225  2 

trading  posts  seized  by  French 239  2 

territory  given  up 743  i 

territory  transferred 753  i 

Hudson  River  discovered 168  2 

Hudson  River  R.  R.  collision 759  2 

Hudson  River  tunnel  caved  in 891  2 

Huguenots  in  Brazil 151  i 

colony  broken  up 151  2 

in  Florida 152  i 

massacred  by  Menendez 155  i 

avenged 155  2 

in  New  England 239  2 

in  New  York 242  2 

enfranchised  in  Carolina 250  i 

Hull's  expedition 430  2 

Hull,  Mrs.,  murder  of 872  2 

Humaita,  battle  of 724  i 

evacuated 727  2 


Humboldt  in  America 404 

on  the  Orinoco 41 1 

ascended  Chimborazo 414 

in  Cuba 417 

in  France 418 

"  Hungarian  "  wrecked 584 

Hunt,  Harriot  K.,  M.  D 493 

Hunters'  lodges 505 

Hurricane  in  Barbadoes 229 

in  Nevis,  W.I 255 

in  Jamaica 262 

in  Barbadoes 347 

in  Barbadoes 481 

in  Bahamas 715 

along  Rio  Grande 721 

in  West  Indies 721 

in  Cuba 741 

Hutchiason,  Mrs.  Anne,  banished 196 

killed  by  Indians 202 


Ice,  first  cargo,  exported 422 

shipped  to  New  Orleans 453 

Ice-break  in  St.  Lawrence 796 

in  Delaware  Valley 803 

in  Ohio  River 832 

in  Ohio  River 863 

Ice-jam  in  Mississippi 780 

Ice-boat,  fast  sailing  of 767 

Iceland,  Irish  in 90 

first  Northman  in 90 

Svafarsson  and  Floki  in 90 

first  settlement  in 90 

became  a  republic 90 

Christianity  first  preached  in 90 

subjected  to  Denmark 92 

"  Black  Death  "in 92 

Idiots,  instruction  of,  begun ,    ...  447 

first  school  for 534 

school  for,  in  Boston 534 

Ignorance,  thankfulness  for 225 

Illinois  admitted  to  the  Union 447 

invasion  checked 603 

Illustrated  paper,  first  successful 552 

Imbabura,  eruption  of 244 

Immigration  from  Germany 255 

largest 889 

unprecedented  Jewish 1020 

Impeachment  of  Johnson  proposed 716 

begun 724 

failure  of. 725 

Impressment 403 

Imprisonment  for  debt  abolished 510 

Impromptu  courts , 366 


Cot 
2 
2 
I 

2 
2 
2 
2 

I 
2 
I 
I 
2 
I 
2 
I 
I 
2 
I 
I 

2 
2 
2 
2 
I 
2 
2 
2 
I 
I 
I 
2 
2 
2 
I 
I 
2 
I 
2 
2 
2 
I 
I 
2 
2 
2 
2 
I 
2 
I 
I 
I 
2 


1042 


INDEX. 


Inauguration  of  U.  S.  president,  first. . . 

second  

third 

fourth 

fifth 

sixth.. 

seventh 

eighth 

ninth 

tenth 

eleventh 

twelfth 

thirteenth 

fourteenth 

fifteenth 

sixteenth 

seventeenth 

eighteenth 

nineteenth 

twentieth 

twenty-first 

twenty-second 

twenty-third 

twenty-fourth 

Incendiarism  at  Columbus,  Ohio 

Independence  of  Spanish  America  fore- 
told  

indications  of. „  „ ,  „ 

"  Independence  Hall "  begun. 

completed 

"  Independence  "  wrecked 

"  Independent  Treasury  Scheme  " 

Indian,  first  baptized  by  English 

first  English  peer  in  America 

toper,  first 

first  at  Plymouth 

fidelity 

massacre  at  Jamestown 

mission  among  Hurons 

mission  among  Hurons 

mission  in  Maryland 

missions  around  Plymouth 

missions  at  Lake  Superior 

massacre,  second  in  Virginia 

mission  in  Maine 

in  Massachusetts,under  John  Eliot. 

on  Martha's  Vineyard 

mission  among  Hurons  abandoned. 

massacres  in  New  Amsterdam 

church,  first  in  America 

New  Testament 

Bible,  Eliot's 

graduate  of  Harvard 


Page.  Col. 

376  2 

388  2 

401  I 

412  I 

420  I 

425  2 

434  2 

446  i 

454  i 

463  2 

473  2 

487  i 

500  i 

510  i 

521  i 

535  2 

552  2 

567  2 

593  i 

691  i 

734  2 

784  i 

833  i 

911  2 

866  2 


149  2 

253  2 

264 

267 

552 

508 

160  2 

160  2 

1 68  2 

180  i 

180  i 

181  2 

184  2 

193  2 

193  2 

2OO  I 

2OO  I 

203  I 

205  2 

205  2 

205  2 

208  2 

212  I 

214  I 

2l6  I 

220  I 

221  2 


Page.  Coi. 

Indian  mission  near  Lake  Winnebago.  .  225     2 

mission  at  Green  Bay 225     2 

council  with  French 227     i 

mission  near  Easthampton,  Mass. ..  229     2 

war  in  Maine 242     i 

convert,  first , 243     i 

council  at  Casco  Bay 253 

war  in  Maine  again 253 

settlements  raided  by  Church 2^4 

wars  in  Chili 262 

fight  at  Fryeburg,  Me 262 

convention  at  Lancaster 272 

council  at  Easton,  Penn 284 

war  in  Carolinas 327 

preacher 387 


council. 


commissioners,  board  of        736 

depredations 766 

outbreak  in  Idaho 839 

fight 842 

commission  met  Sitting  Bull 844 

chief,  Gall,  surrender  of 852 

fight  near  Fort  Harney 855 

fight  at  Battle  Creek 855 

fight  at  Clearwater   River 3^6 

fight  near  Denver 8^8 

fight  in  New  Mexico 880 

Indian  Territory  raiders 869 

Indians,  first  fight  with 91 

sufferings  of,  in  Hayti 101 

kidnapped  from  Labrador 104 

declared  human 137 

worked  to  death  in  Hayti 149 

first  fight  with,  in  New  England.  . .   165 

kidnapped  in  New  England ^3 

a  winter  among  Algonquins ^3 

destruction  of  Huron 2o8 

fight  with  at  Montreal 209 

"  Praying  " 214 

favorable  to  Spain,  war  on 253 

Tuscarora,  massacre  by 256 

Yemassee,  massacre  by 257 

Natchez  massacred  French 264 

massacred  in  revenge 264 

battle  with  on  Ohio  River 309 

war  with 3 10 

massacred  at  New  Amsterdam....  202 

of  Chili  successful 221 

expedition  against. . . ., 343 

massacred  party  in  Utah 553 

massacred  United  States  troops. . . .  715 

battle  with 728 

defeated  by  Custer 730 


INDEX. 


1043 


Page.  Col. 

Indians  massacred 761     i 

victory  over 840     i 

visited  Washington 844     i 

Indiana  admitted  to  Union 444     2 

election 897     i 

Industry,  Society  for  Promoting 277     2 

Infantry  Pulaski's  massacred 340     2 

Inflation  bill  vetoed 796     i 

Influenza,  epidemic 206     i 

Inoculation  for  srnall-pox,  first 261     i 

Inquisition  established  in  America 155     2 

Insane,  first  asylum  for 306     r 

Insurance,  marine,  first  attempt 26i 

company,  first  fire „   277 

company,  marine,  first 285 

company,  life,  first 299 

company,  life,  first  general 433 

swindle 554 

first  for  accident 672 

Insurrection,  first  negro ! 127 

in  Central  America 131 

at  Cuzco 136 

anti-rent  in  New  Jersey 227 

in  Brazil 229 

in  Virginia 241 

in  North  Carolina 241 

Leisler  in  New  York 242 

negro  in  Pernambuco 248 

"Petticoat" 254 

in  Paraguay 264 

slave,  in  S.  C 268 

negro,  in  Jamaica 273 

negro  in  Guiana 292 

in  Peru 348 

in  New  Grenada 352 

Shay's 362 

in  Brazil 378     i 

slave  in  Hayti 384     i 

whiskey     393     i 

of  Maroons,  W.  1 399     i 

in  Colombia,  S.  A v 402     i 

house  tax 409    2 

in  Barbadoes 446     i 

in  Cuba 458     i 

Nat  Turner's 481     i 

in  Jamaica 487     i 

in  Upper  Canada 502     i 

Dorr's  Rebellion,  R.  I 514     2 

in  Cuba $2o     i 

in  Yucatan 535     i 

in  Cuba 535     i 

in  Chili 544     T 

in  Honduras 612     i 


Page.  Col. 

Insurrection  in  Uruguay 687  2 

in  Bolivia 687  2 

in  Bolivia 704  2 

in  Jamaica  .  , 708  i 

in  San  Salvador 709  2 

in  Hayti 717  2 

in  Colombia 719  i 

in  Bolivia 723  i 

in  Montevideo 724  i 

in  Peru 755  i 

in  Chili 757  i 

in  Colombia 759  i 

in  Brazil 760  i 

in  City  of  Mexico 763  i 

in  Peru    763  i 

of  Sandy  Point  garrison 846  2 

Intolerance  in  Virginia  2Oi  2 

in  Virginia 2OS  i 

in  Virginia 2 16  2 

Intrigue,  Randolph's  famous 396  i 

Inundation  from  canal 788  i 

New  Orleans 796  i 

Iowa  admitted  to  Union 528  i 

Irish  in  Iceland 90  i 

immigrants 264  i 

agitators 885  i 

Iron  works,  first  in  America 177  i 

first  in  New  England 2O2  i 

at  Taunton,  Mass 211  i 

Iron  plates  for  vessels  invented 429  t 

Iron  boat,  first 464  a 

Iron-clad  steam  vessel 442  2 

Iron-clads,  proposal  for 515  2 

Iron-clad  rams,  first 612  i 

Iron-clad  rams  seized 668  r 

Iron  bridge,  model  for - 365  2 

first  long  span 645  i 

fall  of. 785  i 

Iron-clad  oath 635  i 

Iroquois  warriors  killed 170  i 

barbarity 2OI  j 

famous  escape  from* 206  i 

opposition  to 209  i 

destroyed  Americans 282  i 

Irregular  form  lathe,  Blanchard's 451  i 

Irving,  Washington,  biography 579  i 

Island  Raid,  The 314  2 

Island  No.  10,  battle  of 623  2 

Isthmus  exploring  party,  Strain's 556  2 

exploration 758  i 

schemes 908  i 

Italian  unity  meeting  in  N.  Y 7^8  2 

Iturbide  abdicated  in  Mexico l 


1044 


INDEX. 


Iturbide  executed 

luka,  battle  of 

Izalco  volcano,  origin  of. 

—  J 

Jackson,  Andrew,  biography 

Jackson  "  Stonewall,"  biography.. 

Jackson,  battle  of 

Jacobi,  Mary  P.,  medical  graduate. 

"Jail-birds  "  at  Jamestown 

Jamaica  discovered 

colonized 

taken  by  English 

devastated 

James,  Jesse,  killed 

Jamestown,  first  English  colony 

starving  time  at , 

martial  law  at , 

Indian  massacre  at 

Jamestown  Ford,  battle  of. 

Japanese  embassy , 

Japanese  embassy 

Jay,  John,  biography 

Jeannette  expedition , 

lost 

arrivals  from 

Jefferson,  Thomas,  biography 

Jesuit  priest  escaped  from  Iroquois 

tortured  by  Iroquois 

first  death  of  in  Canada 

Jesuit  mission,  first  in  Lower  California. 
Jesuits  first  in  America 

first  in  Florida 

in  Virginia  slain 

iri  Paraguay 

first  in  New  France 

grant  of  N.  America  to 

power  of  in  New  France 

forbidden  to  enter  Mass 

and  "  Popish  priests  "  condemned.  . 

expelled  from  Portuguese  lands. . . . 

expelled  from  Spanish  realms 

Jewelry  first  made  in  U.  S 

Jews,  prejudice  against 

"John  Rutledge  "  lost  at  sea 

"John  Sear's  Folly  " 

Johnson,  Sir  William,  death  of 

Johnson,  Andrew,  inaugurated 

famous  speech  of  and  policy  indorsed 

jurisdiction  lessened 

biography 

Johnston,  J.  E.,  at  Harper's  Ferry 

surrender 

Jones,  Paul,   naval  victory  of 


Pmg«.  Col. 

458  2 

639  I 

403  2 

522  I 

654  2 

655  I 
766  I 
176  2 
ICO  2 
113  I 
212  I 
893  2 

1013  I 

166  i 

169  i 

170  i 

181  2 

35°  2 

584  2 

760  I 

474  * 

873  2 

974  i 

1018  i 

465  2 

2OI  2 

204  I 

205  I 
238  I 
I49  2 

155  I 

156  I 

168  2 

170  i 

172  i 

184  i 

208  2 


284  2 

297  I 

382  2 

838  2 

562  I 

382  2 

308  I 

702  I 

7IO  2 

723  2 

8lO  I 

595  2 

703  I 

343  2 


Jones,  Paul,  biography 

Jorullo,  the  volcano,  formed 

Juarez  entered  City  of  Mexico 

elected  president  of  Mexico 

elected  president  of  Mexico 

biography 

"Judah,"  the  privateer,  destroyed 

Judicial  commissions 

Junin,  battle  of 

Juvenile  delinquents,  society  to  reform. 
-K- 

Kalakaua,  king,  visited  U.  S 

Kalloch  controversy 

Kalm,  Peter,  the  botanist 

Kanawha  Valley  evacuated 

Kane,  Dr.  E.  K.,  return  and  death 

Kansas-Nebraska  bill 

Kansas  war 

troubles 

election 

admitted  to  Union 

Quantrell's  raid 

Kearney,  Dennis,  assaulted 

arrested 

deposed 

Kearney  constitution,  California 

Kearneyism 

Keeley  motor,  The 

Kennebec  colony,  by  Popham 

abandoned 

Kenton,  Simon,  biography 

Kentucky  first  explored 

first  house  in 

infant  state  organized 

ratified  constitution 

resolutions 

neutrality  ended 

invaded 

Bragg's  invasion 

Kernstown,  battle  of 

Kerosene,  name  first  used 

oil  company,  first 

Kettle  Creek,  battle  of 

Key,  Philip  Barton,  shot  by  Sickles. . . . 
Kidd,  William,  Capt.,  sent  against  pirates 

arrested  for  piracy 

execution  of. 

Kilpatrick's  raid 

King  George's  war 

King  Philip,  war  with 

biography 

King  William's  war 

King,  Thomas  Starr,  biography.. 


Page.  Col. 
2 

I 


385 
285 

7I9  2 

721  I 

764  2 

771  2 

606  2 

292  I 

458  2 

458  2 


800 

875 
275 
603. 

558 

553 
566 

570 
579 
592 
664 
866 
888 
891 
872 

857 

816  2 

166  2 

167  i 

495  2 
297  2 

299  * 
3H  2 

385   2 

403   I 

605   2 

608 

636 

622 

528 

556 

34' 

575 
249  2 

251  i 

251  2 

672  2 
272  I 
230  2 
230  2 
242  I 

673  I 


INDEX. 


1045 


Page.  Col. 

King's  Chapel  established  in  Boston. . . .  242  2 

building  of  American  stone,  first..   277  i 

King's  Mountain,  battle  oi' 347  i 

Kingston,  Canada,  founded 228  i 

Jamaica,  founded 248  I 

Kinnison,  David 544  2 

Kitchen  ' '  cabinet  " 482  i 

Kittanning,  Indian   village,  destroyed.. .   281  I 

Knapp,  Elder,  biography 793  2 

Knight's  Expedition  to  Labrador 165  2 

Knights  of  Pythias 672  i 

Knights  Templar  Conclave '. . .   893  2 

"Know  Nothing  "  riot 519  i 

convention 562  i 

Knox,  Henry,  biography 421  2 

Knoxville,  siege  ended 670  i 

Kossuth,  Louis,  visited  U.  S 544  i 

left  U.  S 549  2 

Ku-Klux  Klan 723  2 

Ku-Klux  bill 761  i 

proclamation 763  2 

investigation 781  2 

—  JL, 

Labrador,  kidnapping  origin  of  name. ..    104  I 

suffering  in 853  i 

Laconia 182  i 

Ladies'  Deposit  Company 898  i 

Lady  Elgin  Lost  on  Lake  Michigan ....    1587  2 

Lafayette  joined  American  army 333  i 

returned  from  France 345  i 

visit  to  America 458  2 

gift  to  by  congress 459  2 

left  United  States 464  i 

Lake  Huron,  first  trip  to 170  i 

visited  by  Champlain 174  i 

Champlain  discovered 168  2 

Champlain,  battle  on 327  2 

Superior  visited  by  traders 214  i 

Superior  mission 216  i 

Lalande  prize 671  i 

Land,  division  of,  at  Plymouth 183  2 

Land  office,  first  U.  S 411  j 

"  Landscape  Gardening,"  issued 509  2 

Land-slide  in  Canada v  831;  2 

Lanier,  Sidney,  biography 934  i 

La  Paz,  Bolivia,  founded 149  I 

La  Plata,  declared  independent 444  2 

provisional   constitution 446  i 

a  republic 460  2 

La  Salle,  early  life  of 222  i 

arrived  in  Canada 222  2 

set  out  on  exploration 225  i 

pushed  through  Lake  Michigan..  ..   233  i 


La  Salle  reached  Peoria,  Illinois 

great  journey  to  Ontario 

went  back  to  Illinois 

to  Canada  and  back  again 

reached  Gulf  of  Mexico 

trip  back  to  Illinois 

went  to  Canada  and  France 

sailed  from  France  to  Louisiana  . . . 

difficulties 

death  of. 

Laughing  gas,  first  use  of. 

Laurens,  Henry,  capture  of 

Laval  in  Canada 

appointed  bishop 

Law  of  Juarez  in  Mexico 

Law  school,  first 

Lead  mines  at  Dubuque  discovered 

in  Missouri  discovered 

mining  begun  in  Iowa 

League,  first  colonial 

Lecompton  constitution  of  Kansas 

rejected 

Lecturer  on  Natural  History,  first 

Ledyard,  John,  the  traveler 

Lee,  R.  H.,  famous  resolutions  of. 

passed  by  congress 

biography 

Lee,  Gen.  Charles,  captured 

court-martialed 

biography 

Lee,  R.  E.,  made  general-in-chief  Con- 
federate Army 

supplies  captured 

surrender  demanded 

surrender  received 

made  president  of  Washington  Un'y 

biography 

Lee,  John  D.,  execution  of. 

Leeward  Is.,  English,  a  confederation.  . 
Legal  tender  declared  constitutional.  . . . 
Legislative  houses,  two,  in  Mass 

two  in  Maryland 

Leisler,  execution  of,  in  New  York. . . . 

Leon,  on  lake  Managua,  founded 

Leopard  affair,  The 

disavowed 

Lepe,  Diego  de,  voyage  of. 

Levee  along  Mississippi,  first 

Lewis  and  Clarke,  expedition  of. 

on  Missouri  River 

on  Columbia  River 

start  back 

at  St.  Louis. . 


Page.  Coli 

233  I 

233  l 
2.33  2 

234  2 

235 
236 

238 
238 
240 

240  2 

519  2 

347  2 

214  i 

229  i 

561  i 

359  i 

251  2 

200  2 

374  2 

201  2 

571  * 

572  I 

359  2 

367  i 

322  2 

323  ^ 
392  I 
328  I 
338  2 

353  2 


690  i 

693  2 

693  2 

693  2 

707  2 

755 
833 
768 
761 
204 
209 

244  2 

128  2 

423  2 

429  2 

104  I 

263  I 

417  2 

420  I 

420  2 

420  2 

421  2 


1046 


INDEX. 


Page.  Col. 

Lexington,  battle  of. 313 

Lexiflgton  and  Concord  centennial 804 

Lexington,  Mass.,  present  to SSi 

Lexington,  Mo.,  captured 606 

"  Lexington  "  burned  on  L.  I.  Sound..  508 

"  Liberator,  The,"  established 479 

Liberia,  first  U.  S.  minister  to 635 

Liberia  excitement,  The 852 

Liberty,  spirit  of,  in  New  England 193 

first  complete  religious  in  world 206 

germs  of. 255 

Liberty    Bell 277 

"  Liberty  Pole  "  excitement 300 

Library,  first  subscription 264 

congressional,  origin  .of. 410 

first  apprentices' 450 

in  Lima 457 

congressional  destroyed  by  fire. .  . .  544 

New  York  Mercantile 769 

License  law,  first  in  Mass. .  .  206 

t    ' 

Life  saving  service,  United  States 529 

Life-car  invented 537 

"  Light-horse  Harry  "  Lee 337 

"  Light-horse,"  Baylor's,  massacred. . .  .  340 

Lima  founded 135 

advance  against 902 

fall  of. 907 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  Gettysburg  speech  of  668 

last  speech 694 

assassination  of. 695 

biography 696 

funeral  of. 702 

interment  of. 704 

memorial  services 710 

attempt  to  steal   remains  of. 829 

Lind,  Jenny,  in  United  States 541 

Liquor,  first  tax  on  in  America 204 

first  distilled  in   New  England 251 

among  Indians 264 

in  Georgia 266 

commission,  congressional 872 

amendment,   Kansas 910 

law  for  Sunday  in  New  Amsterdam  199 

law,  Maine 544 

Literary  work,  first  in  English  colonies.  183 

Lithographic,  printing,  first 449 

Lithography,  first  regular  business 457 

Little  Belt  affair,  The 429 

Little  Bethel,  battle  of. 598 

Little  Rock  surrendered 665 

"Loa"   exploded 891 

Lock,  patent cij 

English  picked  by  Hobbs 545 


Locomotive,  first  steam 

first  patent  for 

first  trip 

first  made  in  America 

advertisement,  The 

Log  College  founded 

Logan,   biography 

Logwood  cut  in  Yucatan 

vessels  captured  by  Spanish 

tree  in  Jamaica 

Longfellow,  Henry  W.  biography 

Long  Island,  battle  and  evacuation  of. . . 

Looms,  power,  first  for  linen 

Lopez,  Narciso,  first  expedition 

landed  in  Cuba .• 

landed  in  Cuba  again 

executed 

Carlos  A.,  biography 

F.  S.,  biography 

defeated  at  Lomas  Valentinas 

Los  Angelos,  Cal.,  taken 

Lottery,  money  raised  for  Jamestown  bv 

in  Baltimore 

authorized  by  congress 

enterprises 

swindle 

Louisburg  captured 

captured  again 

Louisiana  named 

La  Salle  reached 

settlement  at  Poverty  Point 

purchase  of. 

admitted  to  Union 

seceded 

Banks'  raid 

state  election 

embroglio 

difficulties 

rival  governments  of 

Lovejoy,  murder  of 

Lower  California  explored 

"  Loyal  Orange  Institution  " 

Lucca,  Pauline,  first  visit  to  America. . . 

Lundy's  Lane,  battle  of 

Lynde  Brook  disaster; 

Lynn,  Mass.,  anniversary  of 

"  Lyonnais  "  lost  at  sea 

-Ml  — 

Macdonough's  victory 

Machinery,  flour,  improved 

Machines  for  carding  cotton,  first 

Mackenzie  River 

Alexander,  trip  of 


Page.  Col. 
4O2   I 

4/2   2 

473  i 
478 


263 

34§ 
219 
228 
257 

I008       2 
326       I 

475  i 
537  2 
540  2 

543     * 

543 

637 

746 

730 

527 
171  I 

277  2 
328  2 
490  2 

881     2' 

272      2 

283       * 

235  I 

239  I 

251  I 

415  2 

430  2 

592   I 

649 

672 

800 

802 

832 

501 


2 

2 
I 
I 
I 
I 
!34  2 

475  2 
774  2 
439  i 

820      2 

873      I 


44°  * 

357  i 

362  i 

378  i 

387  2 


IXDEX. 


1047 


Mackinaw,  garrison  taken 

Macon  surrendered 

Madison,  James,  Father  of  the  Constitu- 
tion   

biography 

Madison  Square  Garden  accident 

Magazine,  first  literary 

Magellan,  voyage  of 

discovered  Patagonia 

discovered  Magellan's  Straits 

named  Tierra  del  Fuego 

named  Pacific  Ocean  . 

death  and  character  of 

Magellan's  Straits  colonized 

first  surveyed 

colonized 

Mahogany  tree,  large 

Mail,  the  first 

from  Boston  to  Philadelphia 

New  York  and  Philadelphia  weekly 

wagon,  first,  west  of  Albany 

first  overland  for  California 

train  from  California  wrecked 

fast 

Maine,  Mass,  towns  under 

fought  by  Massachusetts 

fully  secured  by  Massachusetts  .... 

first  settlement  in  Eastern 

admitted  to  Union 

election  troubles 

lessened 

closed 

Maize  first  seen 

Malvern  Hills,  battle  of. 

Manassas  evacuated 

Manassas  Junction  seized 

Manco  Capac  shot  by  Spaniards 

Mangas  Colorado,  Apache  chief. 

Manhattan  Savings  Bank  robbery 

Manitoba  created 

Mann,  Horace,  biography 

Man-stealing,  law  against,  in  Mass 

Manufactory,  first  in  America 

Manufactures  at  Jamestown 

premium  for,  in  Virginia 

fear  of.  American 

opposition  to 

American  allowed  in  England 

American,  fought  bv  British 

Manufacturing  company,  first  joint  stock 

Map  of  Asia  and  America 

Maple  sugar  manufacture 

March,  a  long '. 


Page.  Col. 
430  2 
703  I 


360 
496 

889 
269 
122 

"5 
126 
126 
126 
I24 
158 
225 

510 

457 
227 
279 
286 

385 
572 
787 

899 

2IO 
232 
256 
280 

45 * 
884 
886 
886 
98 
632 
621 
636 
144 
671 
859 
752 
576 
205 
167 
167 
219 
264 
276 
385 
444 
320 

H7 
382 
322 


Page.  Col. 

March,  Gen.  Wool's 527  2 

Margaretta,  capture  of 315  i 

Margravate  of  Azilia 257  2 

Marietta,  Ohio,  founded 366  i 

Marion,  Francis,  patriotism  of 347  2 

biography 395  I 

Market  in  Boston  needed 259  2 

Marquette,  early  life  of.* 222  2 

mission  near  Lake  Superior 225  i 

discovered  Mississippi 228  2 

reached  mouth  of  Arkansas 229  I 

second  trip  down  the  river 229  2 

death  of. 230  i 

Marquis  of  Lome,  governor  of  Canada..  860  i 

Marriage,  a  singular 200  i 

Mars,  satellites  discovered  by  Hall 842  i 

Marshall,  John,  biography 492  2 

Martial  law  at  Jamestown 170  i 

Martinique  captured  by  English 292  i 

"  Mary  "  accident  on  board  of 891  2 

Maryland  granted  to  Lord  Baltimore.. . .   192  i 

colonized 193  i 

trouble  in 194  i 

religious  rebellion  in 201  i 

Act  of  toleration 208  i 

difficulties  in 211  i 

a  royal  province 244  2 

ratified  constitution 366  2 

forbade  manumission 586  i 

refused  to  secede 594  2 

invaded  by  Lee 637  i 

proclamation  in  by  Lee 637  2 

Mason  and  Slidell  released 612  2 

Mason,  Lowell,  biography 773  i 

Masonic  lodge,  first  in  America 261  2 

grand  lodge,  first 266  2 

Mass,  first  in  Canada 173  2 

Mass  meeting  in  Boston 298  i 

Massachusetts  convention 298  i 

commended 309  i 

ratified  constitution 366  i 

Massacre  at  Deerfield,  Mass 253  2 

Boston 300  2 

in  New  Mexico 878  i 

of  French  in  Valley  of  La  Plata.  .,  .1020  I 

Massasoit,  biography 216  2 

"Mast-Trees,"  difficulty  over 245  i 

Matagorda  Bay.  colony  destroyed 242  i 

Matamoras  evacuated 526  2 

Matches,  first  friction 482  i 

Matthew,  Father,  "Apostle  of  Temper- 
ance,"   537  2 

Matthias  Point  battle 599  2 


1048 


INDEX. 


Page.  Col. 

Maury,  Lieut ,  biography 783  i 

Maximilian  I.,  emperor  of  Mexico 677  i 

evacuated  City  of  Mexico 7J7  * 

captured 7X9  J 

shot 719  2 

Maxwell  code,  The 399  i 

McClellan  superseded 641  i 

McCrea,  Jane,  shooting  of 333  i 

"  McFingall,"  Trumbull's  first  canto 320  2 

Meade,  Gen.  G.  G.,biography . 777  i 

Mechanicsville,  battle  of 631  2 

Mecklenburg  Declaration,  The 314  2 

Medals  bestowed  by  Queen  Victoria. . . .   516  i 

Mediation  of  Russia  refused 434  2 

between  Peru  and  Chili  failed 898  i 

Medical  college,  first 294  2 

Journal,  first 401  2 

School,  Eclectic 470  2 

college,  female,  founded 537  i 

Meeting  in  the  Fields,  The  great 308  i 

Memorial  of  planters 871  2 

Memphis,  battle  of 630  2 

Mendon  convention,  The. 306 

Menendez  arrived  in  Florida 155 

founded  St.  Augustine 155 

massacred    Huguenots 155 

Mennonites,  arrival  of. 788 


Mentor. 


911 


"  Mercedes  "  lost  at  sea 1556 

Merchants'  Exchange,  first  in  Canada. .  257  2 

Magazine,  The 506  2 

non-importation  orders 309  i 

Merchantman,  largest  in  world 553  j 

Merrimac  and  Monitor 617  2 

"  Merry  Mount  "  colony ^4  2 

Mesa,  battle  of. 528  2 

Meschianza,  The 337  2 

Message,  revolutionary 588  i 

Messenger,  thorough-bred  horse 366  2 

Meteor,  a  brilliant 579  i 

seen  in  United  States. 587  i 

Meteors,  shower  of. •. 488  i 

brilliant 721  2 

Methodist  preacher,  first  in  America. . .  296  2 

church  organized 359  i 

Metis  disaster,  The 773  2 

Metlin,  Robert,  the  pedestrian 365  2 

"  Metropolis  "  lost 848  i 

Mexico,  Buddhist  priest  in 89  2 

visited  by  Grijalva 118  2 

named  New  Spain 1 18  2 

subjugated  by  Cortes 1 19  2 

liberal  signs  in 425  2 


Mexico,  first  great  uprising 

declared  independent 

leader  executed 

constitution,  first. 

patriot  Morelos  executed 

Revolution,  second 

congress  in 

proclaimed  an  empire 

proclaimed  a  republic 

and  S.  A.  recognized  by  U.  S 

constitution,  first  real 

president  of,  overthrown 

Spanish  attempt  on 

again  recognized  by  U.  S 

Bustamente,  president  of 

Guerrero  executed  in 

Bustamente,  president  of 

Canalize  president 

Herera  president 

vexed  with  United  States.  . .  .- 

monarchical  effort  in 

declared  war  on  United  States 

internal  revolution 

assessment  in 

changed  presidents 

constitution  of  1857 

monarchical  effort 

troubles  in 

three  years'  war 

attempt  to  subdue  Juarez 

Juarez  recognized  by  U.  S.  minister 

church  property  confiscated 

Zuloaga   proclaimed 

victory  of  Juarez 

interference  with 

Spanish  troops  in 

war  upon 

war  begun  in 

an  empire 

and  C.  A .,  survey  of. 

papal  nuncio  to 

French  to  withdraw  from 

progress  of  Juarez 

evacuated  by  French 

revolution  in 

revolution  in 

Diaz  elected  president 

revolutionist  arrested 

troubles  in 

troubles  in 

election 

railway  banquet  in  N.  Y.  for 

"Mexico"  wrecked  on  L.  I.  Sound. . 


Page.  Col. 

426  2 

437  2 

438  I 
44I  I 

444  i 

453  2 

456  i 

456  2 

456  2 

457  i 
459  i 

473  2 

474  2 

475  2 

476  i 
479  2 
500  a 

519  2 

519  2 

521  2 

524  I 

526  2 

528  I 

528  2 

561  2 
567 
57° 
571 
571 

574 

575  2 

576  i 
585  i 

591  2 

608  2 

6l2  I 
624 

645 

663 

672 

682 

711 

711 

718 

744  2 

765 

834 


882 
894 

895 
901 
500 


INDEX. 


1049 


Page. 

Miami  Exporting  company,  The 416 

Miantonomoh,  biography 202 

Michigan  admitted  to  Union 500 

Middlebury  College  founded 401 

Midway,  Ga.,  founded 278 

Military  government  bill,  U.  S 7X7 

Military  posts,  western 4°° 

Militia  system,  uniform 385 

Mill  Spring,  battle  of 613 

Mill  River  disaster 796 

Millerism SJ8 

Mills,  built  at  New  Amsterdam 185 

Mina,  Don  Xavier 446 

Mining  charter,  first 255 

shaft,  first  in  Missouri 4°3 

strike 75^ 

disaster 7DI 

disaster 7^5 

disaster 771 

troubles  in  Illinois 853 

disaster,  Nova  Scotia 897 

Ministers,  support  of,  compulsory 213 

doubtful  means  of  support. 219 

Minister,  first  from   France  to  U.  S 340 

to  England,  first 360 

to  U.  S.  from  England  first 384 

British,  no  longer  recognized 426 

Minnesota  admitted  to  Union 571 

Minot's  Ledge  lighthouse 537 

carried  away 543 

se~cond 588 

Mint,  first  on  continent 136 

set  up  at  Lima 155 

first  in  English  colonies 210 

"  Minute-Men  " 310 

Mission  to  England,  Jay's 391 

Missionaries,  first  home 201 

early  modern 265 

Missionary  Society,  first  Protestant  ....  204 

oldest  incorporated 365 

Mississippi  River  discovered 140 

River,  trip  to 211 

said  to  be  reached 225 

navigation  of 414 

Mississippi  Scheme,  John  Law's 257 

failure  of. 260 

Mississippi  admitted  to  Union 446 

seceded 591 

Mitchell's  raid 623 

Grierson's  raid 651 

Sherman's  march 671 

nullified  secession 707 

Missouri  Compromise 4.51 


Col. 
2 


Page.  Col. 

Missouri  admitted  to  Union 454     i 

attempted  secession 609     i 

Price  evacuated 616     i 

last  invasion  of 683 

"  Missouri  "  burned 77^ 

Missouri  River,  great  height  of 855 

Mob,  The  Boston 274 

in  New  Hampshire 3^3 

in  New  York 374 

"  The  Doctors' "  in  New  York 374 

an  election 489 

great  anti-slavery,  in  New  York. . . .  489 

stone  masons' 49° 

canal,  in  New  Orleans 49° 

destroyed  convent,  Boston 49° 

"O'Connell  Guard  " 492 

post-office,  in  Charleston,  S.  C 492 

academy,  in  Canaan,  N.  H 493 

anti-slavery,  in  Cincinnati 497 

flour 500 

in  Montreal 501 

burned  Pennsylvania  Hall 503 

Philadelphia 512 

destroyed  Homcepathic  Med.  Coll. .   545 

Erie 553 

of  women  on  Erie  R.  R 554 

Mobile,  Ala.,  founded 256 

Mobile  Bay ,  blockade  of. 681 

Mobile  evacuated 694 

Modoc  Massacre 784 

Molino  del  Rey  stormed 530 

Mollie  Maguires 839 

hung 863 

Money,  no  right  to  raise 281 

raised  by  Massachusetts 283 

need  of  for  army 328 

Montgomery,  Gen.,  joined  Arnold 319 

biography 320 

Montgomery  occupied 694 

Monitor  and  Merrimac 617 

Monk's  Corner,  battle  of 345 

Monmouth,  battle  of. 338 

"  Monmouth,"  wreck  of. 501 

Monopoly  in  Canada 204 

Monroe  Doctrine 457 

Monroe,  James,  biography 480 

Monterey,  Cal.,  captured '526 

Monterey  Heights  captured 527 

Monterey  captured 527 

Montevideo,  S.  A.,  founded 258 

surrendered 434     i 

captured 446     i 

Montezuma,  death  of 125     2 


1050 


INDEX. 


Page.  Col. 

Montreal  named 136     i 

founded 200 

taken  by  Iroquois 242 

captured , 319 

"  Montreal  "  lost  on  St.  Lawrence 569 

Moody  and  Sankey 814 

Moravian  colony,  first 267 

removed  to  Pennsylvania 268 

missions  in  Labrador 277 

missionaries  slain 280 

Moravians  expelled  from  New  York. . . .   273 

Morey  Letter,  The 898 

apology  for 904 

Morgan,  Daniel,  biography 414 

William,  abducted 470 

J.  H.,  capture  of. 664 

"  Morgan  Justin,"  celebrated  horse 455 

Mormon  church,  first 477 

Mormons  in  Kirtland,  Ohio 479 

at  Nauvoo,  111 507 

Smith,  the  leader,  shot 519 

Young,  chosen  leader 519 

in  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 531 

troubles  with ^62     i 

Mormon   proclamation   against    United 

States  troops •   569    2 

delegate  refused  certificate 004    r 

Morris,  Robert,  money  for  army 3^0    2 

Morrissey,  John,  death  of 852     2 

Morse,  S.  F.  B.,  biography 768    2 

Morton,  Oliver  P.,  biography 845     i 

Morus  multicaulis  mania 491     i 

"  Moselle  "  burned 503     i 

"  Mother  Goose,"  songs  of. 259    2 

Motley,  John  L.,  biography 837     2 

Mott,  Valentine,  death  of. 703     i 

Lucretia,  Mrs 901     I 

Moultrie,  William,  biography 420     I 

Mount  Vernon  sold  to  ladies. 573     2 

care  of. 596    2 

Mountain  Meadows  massacre 833    2 

Mower,  Eureka 671     I 

contest 570    2 

Mrs.  Adams' ball 458     2 

Mt.  Desert  colony 172     i 

broken  up  by  English 172     2 

Municipal  government  at  N.  Amsterdam    211     I 

Murder  Act,  The 307     i 

of  Helen  Jewett 495     2 

of  Samuel  Adams 511     i 

of  Dr.  Parkman 537     i 

of  Dr.  Burdell 567     i 

Murfreesboro,  battle  of. 644     i 


Page.  Col. 

Musgrove's  Mills,  battle  of  ............  346  2. 

Muskets  first  made  in  America  ........  274  2 

first  manufactory  .................  396  2 

Mutiny  of  soldiers  ....................  355  2 

first  in  the  United  States  navy  .....  515  i 

on  the  high  seas  ..................  804  i 

Mutual  Benefit  Society,  first  ...........  262  i 

Myer,  Gen.  Albert  J.,  death  of  .........  893  2 


Nail  machine,  first  patent  for  .......... 

first  complete  .................... 

American  patented  in  England.  .  .  . 

Nancy's  Rock  ........................ 

Naples,  indemnity  from  ............... 

Narrow  gauge  cars,  first  ......  ,  ........ 

Nashville  panic  ...............  .  ....... 

battle  of.  ........................ 

Natchez  selected  for  settlement  ........ 

settled  ........................... 

Nathan,  Benjamin,  murder   of.  ........ 

National  Road,  The  ................... 

Natural  History,  American  Museum  of. 
Naturalization   act,  first  ............... 

law  .............................. 

Nautical  Almanac,  American  .......... 

"  Nautilus  "  captured  .................. 

Naval  battle  in  W.  1  .................. 

commission,  first,  ................ 

exploit,  last  of  Revolution  ........ 

victory  in  W.  1  ................... 

battle  near  Guadeloupe  ............ 

battle  off  Peru  .................... 

battle  off  Iquique,  Peru  ............ 

Navigation  Acts  by  England  .......... 

Act,  new  one  ...................    . 

Acts  strengthened  ................ 

Acts  renewed  ..................... 

Acts  strengthened  ................ 

Navy,  origin  of  United  States  .......... 

United  States  .................... 

Nebraska  admitted  to   Union  .......... 

Negotiations  of  peace,  fruitless  ......... 

Negro  plot,  The  ...................... 

Nelson's  Ferry,  battle  of.  .............. 

Neutrality,  proclamation  of.  ............ 

United  States,  proclamation  of  ..... 

proclamation  of  ................... 

Nevada  admitted  to  Union  ............. 

Nevis,  W.  L,  ravaged  by  French  ....... 

hurricane  in  ...................... 

New  Amsterdam  named  .............. 

New  Berne,  battle  of.  .........  ........ 

1  '  New  Born,"  a  religious  sect  ......... 


384  i 

400  2 

428  i 

33  1  i 

482  2 

762  2 

615  2 

687  i 

251  2 

257  i 

753  2 

422  2 

744  i 

223  i 

379  i 

537.  i 

431  i 

232  i 

318  2 

355  l 

403  2 


837  i 

871  2 

lg(t  2 

209  r 

214  i 

220  i 

285  2 

319  i 

391  2 

71?  2 

44°  l 

27<>  * 

346  2 

3°9  l 

755  l 

°73  * 

683  2 

254  2 

255  l 
184  2 
621  2 
259  2 


INDEX 


1051 


Page.  Col. 

New  Brunswick,  separated 359     2 

New  England  named 172 

population   of 199 

coast  raided 438 

"New  England  Courant,"  Franklin's.. .  261 

New  France,  population  of 241 

New  Grenada  evacuated  by  Spanish. . . .  447 

organized 481 

adopted  constitution 487 

revolution  in 864 

New  Hampshire  named 192 

a  royal  province 232 

grants 294 

ratified  constitution 367 

New  Haven  colony *97 

organized J9& 

"  New  Haven  Blue  Laws  " 465 

New  Jersey  named 220 

evacuation  of. 332 

ratified  constitution 365 

New  London  burned  by  Arnold 351 

New  Madrid  captured 621 

New  Mexico  explored 158 

conspiracy  in 52§ 

broken  up 52& 

war  in 616     i 

outlaws  in 9°2     2 

New  Netherland  Company  chartered. .  .173     2 

granted  to  Duke  of  York 220    2 

surrender  to  England 220     2 

New  Orleans,  site  for,  selected 258     I 

bat  le  of 443     I 

expedition  to 616     i 

captured 624    2 

New  Shetland  Island  discovered 162     i 

New  Spain  made  a  vice-royalty. 136     I 

New  Testament  Revision 921     I 

New  York,  first  settlement  at 172     2 

surrendered  by  Dutch 220     2 

retaken  by  Dutch 229     i 

population  of. 281     i 

New  York  city  incorporated 221     2 

evacuated  by  Americans 326     2 

evacuated  by  English 356    2 

New  York  ratified  constitution 374     I 

New  York  Tribune  started 511     i 

Newark,  Canada,  burned 437     2 

Newfoundland  Banks,  codfish  on 102     2 

visited  by  fishermen 108     i 

expedition  to 137     i 

colonized  unsuccessfully 170     i 

settled  by  Lord  Baltimore 181     i 

rejected  union 743     i 


Newport- Newce 

Newport,  R.  I.,  founded 

battle  near 

"  News  Placard  "  in  Boston,  first 

Newspaper,  first  in  America 

first  permanent  one 

second  in  English  colonies 

'first  in  Pennsylvania 

James  Franklin's 

first  in  New  York 

first  in  Maryland 

first  in  present  English  colonies. . . . 

first  in  Carolina 

first  in  Rhode  Island 

first  in  Virginia 

first  in  Havana , 

first  daily 

first  north  of  Ohio 

first  in  Newfoundland 

first  in  Spanish  America 

first  agricultural 

first  anti-slavery 

pioneer  penny 

first  in  Paraguay 

Newsboys,  first 

Nez  Perces,  surrender  of. 

"Niagara  "  lost 

Niagara  Falls,  first  mentioned 

men  carried  over 

two  men  swept  over 

Nicaragua  explored  by  Avila 

Nicholson,  Samuel,  death  of 

Nicola,  Col.,  proposition  to  Washington 

Ninety-six,  siege  raised 

Nino,  Pedro  Alonzo,  voyage  of. 

Nitro-glycerine  explosion 

Nombre  de  Dios  founded 

broken  up '. 

Non-importation  agreements,  first 

Norfolk,  Va.,  burned 

invaded 

captured 

Norridgewock,  Me.,  destroyed  by  Eng- 
lish  

North  African  difficulties 

North  American  Act,  British 

North  Carolina  settled 

ratified  constitution 

seceded 

nullified  secessions 

North,  Lord,  plan  of. 

Northmen  first  in  Iceland 

first  in  Vinland.. . 


Page.  CoL 
596  I 
198  2 
340  2 

242  2 
244  I 

254   I 

260   I 

260 

26l 

262 

263 

265 

265 

26S 
267   2 
293   2 

359  2 

390   2 

424   2 

434  i 

447  2 

454  2 

487  2 

521  2 
487  2 
844  2 
70S 
207 
769 
840 
I27 

723 
SS2 


103 
777 

"3  * 

"3  2 

296  i 

3.' i  i 

435  2 

628  2 

262  i 

416  i 

718  i 

209  i 

377  2 

595  2 

707  2 

337  2 

90  i 

91  I 


1052 


INDEX. 


O 


Page.    Col. 

Northmen,  first  fight  of,  with  Indians..  .91  i 

last  colony  of,  in  Vinland 91  2 

search  for,  in  Greenland 158  i 

second  search  for,  in  Greenland   ...    165  i 

Northwest  passage  sought  for ,    172  2 

sought  by  Baffin 173  2 

Danish  expedition 176  2 

sought. 542  2 

Northwest  Company  of  Canada 357  i 

Northwest  Territory,  first  governor  of.  .   364  2 

Northwestern  boundary 526  2 

Nott,  Eliphalett,  biography 710  i 

Nottingham,  wreck  of  the 255  2 

Nova  Scotia  given  to  Sir  W.  Alexander.  181  2 

occupied  by  French,  and  battle  in.  ..  276  i 

taken  by  English 279  i 

illegal  government  of 833  i 

Nullification  proposed 405  i 

in  South  Carolina 485  2 

crushed 486  i 

Nunez  de  Vela,  viceroy  of  Peru 143  i 

failure  of  ...    ., H3  J 

resisted  Gonzalo  Pizarro 143  2 

defeated  and  slain 144  2 

Nursery,  first  in  America 199  i 


Oak  Grove,  battle  of 631 

Obelisk  in  New  York 908 

"  Ocean  "  burned  at  Boston 556 

Occom,  Samson,  Indian  preacher 387 

O'Connell  celebration  in  Canada Sn 

Odd  Fellows,  lodge  of. 422 

lodge  of 445 

first  permanent  lodge 449 

Offense  first  at  Plymouth 180 

Office  holding 412 

Officers,  changes  in  army 602 

Ogdensburg,  capture  of.* 434 

Oglethorpe's,  James,  project x.  . . .   263 

returned  to  England 271 

Ohio  admitted  to  Union 414 

Ohio  Land  Company,  The 275 

Oil  fever 580 

Oil  boats,  disasters  to 645 

Oil,  American  in  Syria 716 

Oil  burned  at  Titusville 875 

Oklahoma  raiders 903 

"Old  Ironsides," 443 

'•  Old  Ship,"  the  oldest  church  in  N.  E..   234 
"  Old  South  Church  "  organized 225 

edifice  built. 264 

Old  Town  Creek,  battle  of 690 

Ole  Bull  visited  United  States 524 


Pmge. 

Oleomargarine  .......................  766 

Olustee,  battle  of  ......................  672 

Omnibus,  first  .....  ...................   479 

Omnibus  bill,  Clay's  ..................   541 

"  Oneida  "  destroyed  ...................   745 

Oneida  community  founded  ...........  531 

reformed  .........................  875 

Opechancanaugh,  biography  ...........   203 

Orange  difficulties  at  Montreal  .........  855 

mob  at  Ottawa  ....................   857 

"  Ordinance  of  1787,"  The  .............   364 

Ordination  by  laymen.  ................    199 

"  Oregon,"  explosion  of.  ...............    542 

Oregon  admitted  to  Union  ............   575 

Organ,  an  improved  ...................  448 

Boston  Music  Hall  ............  .  ...  668 

Orinoco  River,  great  rise  of  ............    103 

Oriskany,  battle  of  ....................   333 

Orono,  Indian  chief,  died  ..............  413 

Ortiz,  Juan,  captivity  of  ...............    139 

Osceola,  biography  ......................   502 

Ostend,  Manifesto  .......................  556 

Oswego,  battle  of  .....................  281 

capture  of  ........................  438 

Ottawa,  capital  of  Canada  ..............   571 

Otumba,  battle  of  .....................   126 

Ouray,  chief,  death  of  .................  894 

Outlaws  and  Free  Government  ........  1013 

Ovando  became  governor  of  America.  .  105 

opposed  increase  of  negro  slaves.  .  .    106 

superseded  by  Don  Diego  Columbus  113 
Owenism  ..............................   4^3 

Owen,  Robert  Dale,  biography  .........  839 


Col. 

i 

i 

i 

i 

i 

i 

2 

i 

2 

2 

i 

2 

2 

i 

i 

i 

i 

2 

2 

i 

2 

2 

i 

2 

i 

i  . 

i 

2 

i 

2 

i 

2 
2 


Pacer,  fastest  time  of  a  ...............  874  i 

Pacific  Ocean  discovered  ................   114  2 

first  vessel  on  .....................    117  2 

named  ...........................   126  i 

"Pacific  "  lost  at  sea  ...................   562  i 

"  Pacific  "  wrecked  ...................  814  2 

Pacific  railroad  opened  ................   736  2 

Pacific  Mail  investigation  ................  803  i 

"  Pajaro"  burned  .....................  878  i 

Palmarese  Nation  .....................  212  2 

exterminated  .....................  250  i 

Palmer  artificial  leg  .................   528  i 

Palmetto  Ranche,  last  battle  of  the  war..   704  i 

Palo  Alto,  battle  of  ....................  526  i 

Palmico  Sound,  battle  of  ..............  607  i 

Panama  founded  ......    ..............   122  2 

sacked  by  Morgan  ................   227  i 

convention  ................  ,  ......  465  i 

canal  discussion  in  U.  S.  Congress..  902  i 


INDEX. 


1053 


Panic,  financial  in  United  States 

great 

western 

of '37 

in  California 

ofiS57 

of '73-v 

of  savings  banks 

in  Montreal 

in  New  York 

Paoli  massacre 

Papal  Bull,  first  for  America 

Paper  hangings  first  sold 

made  in  America 

Paper  mill,  first  in  America 

in  Mass 

Paper  money,  first 

first  in  Pennsylvania 

first  in  Maryland 

Paper  collars,  first 

Paraguay,  independence  of 

elected  two  consuls 

Lopez  dictator 

president 

acknowledged  independent 

recognized 

River  opened  to  all 

reverses  of  army 

war  against,  ended 

rebellion  in 

change  of  president 

Parker,  Theodore,  biography 

Parliament  voted  for  U.  S.  independence 

first  in  Canada 

Parnell  and  Dillon 

Parnell,  farewell  reception 

Parrott  gun 

Parrott,  Robert  P.,  death  of. 

Parton,  Mrs.,  death  of 

Patagonia  discovered 

colony  attempted  in 

ceded  to  Argentine  Republic 

Patent  first  held  by  Pilgrims 

Patent  for  working  mines 

Patent  right  law,  first 

•   new 

"  Pat  Rogers  "  burned 

Patrons  of  Husbandry 

Patroons  in  New  Nelherland 

Paulus  Hook,  raid  on 

Pavon,  battle  of,  in  S.  A 

Paxton  Boy  sat  Philadelphia 

Pay  department  in  civil  war 


Page.  Col. 

AA£.  I 

450  2 

455  2 

500  2 

557  * 

569  i 

788  2 

852  I 

874  I 

9IO  2 

334  i 

99  i 

268  i 

293  2 
244  i 

257  2 

244  I 

26l  2 

266  2 

553  2 
512  i 

520  2 

521  2 

549  2 

554  i 
574  i 

708  i 

730 
802 
900 
585 
353 

721  2 

885  I 

887  2 

Sgi  I 

847  I 

774  2 

125  i 

709  2 

873  I 

I87 

209 

379 
498 

799 
723 

185  2 

343  i 

606  2 

294  * 
7°5  I 


Pea  Ridge,  battle  of 

Peabody,  George,  Baltimore,  gift  of: . . . 

fund  for  South 

biography 

Peace  Council  at  Quebec 

Peace  of  Paris,  The 

between  Buenos  Ayres  and  Monte- 
video  

congress 

attempts 

conference 

Jubilee,  first 

Jubilee,  second 

"  Peacock  "  captured  "  Epervier  " 

Pear  tree,  a  famous 

Pegram's  surrender 

Peirce,  Prof.,  in  charge  coast  survey.. .  . 

biography 

Pemaquid  taken  by  French 

Pemberton  Mill,  fall  of 

Penalty  for  refusing  office 

Penikese  Island 

Penn,  William,  arrived  in  America 

treaty  of,  with  Indians 

deprived  of  rights 

reinstated 

biography 

Penn  treaty  tree  blown  down 

Pennsylvania  granted  William  Penn  . . . 

discontent  of 

revolt 

ratified  constitution 

Lee's  second  invasion 

"  Pennsylvania  "  wrecked 

Pensacola,  Florida,  fort  at 

taken  by  Spanish 

captured , 

Pension  act,  first 

Pequods,  war  with 

exterminated 

Percussion  locks,  first 

Perote  occupied 

Perpetual  motion 

Perry's  victory  on  Lake  Erie 

Perry,  Com.,  in  W.  I.  waters 

in  Japan 

captured  Savannah 

Peru,  civil  war  in 

made  a  viceroyalty  

independence  gained 

declared  independent 

new  constitution  adopted 

annexed  to  Bolivia. . 


Page.  Col. 

616  2 

567  2 

717  I 

74!  2 

204  2 

292  2 


510  I 
592  2 
6SO 
690 

737 
771 

438 

49  1 
601 
717 
896 
248 

583 
192 

785 
235 
235 
245 
248 
•258 
427  2 
234  I 
28l 

349 
365 
656 


249 

350  2 

441  2 

326  I 

195  2 

'96  I 

515  2 


434  i 

436  i 

450  2 

553  i 

597  i 

133  i 

142  2 

447  2 

454  i 

472  2 

500  1 


1054 


INDEX. 


Peru,  civil  war  in 

Castilla,  president  of. 

trouble  with  Ecuador 

Pres.  Echenique  overthrown 

revolution  in 

adopted  constitution 

revolution  attempted 

progress  of. 

prostrate 

foreign  interference 

progress  of  war  in 

Peshtigo  burned 

Pestilence  among  Indians  in  N.  England 
Petersburg,  attack  on 

mine  explosion 

captured 

Petition,  first,  to  congress 

fight  over  right  of. 

to  have  Canada  annexed  to  the  U.  S. 

Petrel,  capture  of. 

Petroleum  found  in  Ohio 

in  Pennsylvania 

"  Pewabic  "  lost 

"  Phi  Beta  Kappa  "  founded 

Philadelphia  settled 

entered  by  Howe 

evacuated 

Philippi,  battle  of 

Phips,  Gov.,  death  of. 

"  Phoenix  "  wrecked 

Phonograph,  The 

"  Phosphate  Mining  Company  "  first. . . 
Pianoforte,  first  made  in  America 

great  American 

an  improved 

manufacture  of. 

Pichincha,  eruption  of. * 

last  eruption  of 

Pierce,  Franklin,  biography 

Pig  Point,  battle  of. 

Pike's  Peak  fever 

first  ascended  by  ladies 

Piketon,  battle  of 

Pilgrims,  The 

celebrated  compact  of. 

landed  in  New  England 

visited  by  first  Indian 

first  offence  at 

league  with  Indians 

first  wedding  at 

first  duel  at , . . . 

first  "Thanksgiving "  at 

first  "  Fast  Day  "at 


Page.  Col. 
516      3 

525      2 

551     2 


723 
723 
761 
792 
881 

895 
899 

763 
174 

678  i 

680  2 

692  2 

376  2 

5H  2 

541  2 

603  I 

453  2 

^25  * 

707  2 

320  2 
235 

334 
338 
597 

248 

53°  2 

862  i 

722  2 

320  2 

360  2 

411  2 

416  I 

155  2 

2l6  1 

74!  i 

598  * 

575  2 

591  x 

610  2 

177  2 

178  2 

179  2 

180  i 
180  i 

180  i 

180  2 

ISO  2 

181  2 

182  2 


Page.  Col. 

Pilgrims,  exported  clapboards 182     2 

division  of  land  at 183 

dissension  at 183 

first  great  fire  at 184 

purchased  their  colony 185 

Pine  Bluff",  Ark.,  fight  at 796 

Pine-log  cannon 350 

Pins  first  made  by  machinery .  .  459 

Pinzon,  Martin  Alonzo,  death  of 99 

Pirates,  large  numbers  of. 249 

execution  of,  in  Boston 262 

West  India,  broken  up 458 

Pisagua,  storming  of 880 

Pitcher,  Mollie,  bravery  of 338 

Pittsburg  Landing,  battle  of 622 

Pittsburg  flood 487 

Pizarro,  Francisco,  early  life  of. 129 

left  Panama  for  Peru I29 

explored  the  coast ^o 

sailed  to  the  south jo: 

persistence  of T  ,j 

went  to  Spain j.,, 

granted  right  to  Peru I?2 

sailed  from  Spain 

three  brothers  of 

sailed  from  Panama 

founded  San  Miguel 

marched  to  Caxamalca 

seized  Atahuallpa 

visited  Cuzco 

death  and  character  of. 

Pizarro,  Juan,  death  of. 

Pizarro,  Hernando,  visited  Spain jl- 

finally  left  Peru I38 

Pizarro,  Gonzalo,  entered  Lima j,, 

defeated  Nunez i^ 

power  of,  over  Peru 144 

defeated  and  slain 148 

Plague,  precautions  against 858 

Plan  of  Ayutla 557 

Planing  machine,  first 473 

Plattsburg,  capture  of. 435 

Play,  first  American 362 

Play-house  in   New  York 266 

Plenary  council,  first 545 

Pleuro-pneumonia  among  cattle ,  517 

Plow,  Jefferson's,  mold  board  for 391 

cast  iron . ....  402 

Jethro  Wood's 450 

first  steam 489 

Daniel  Webster's   great 499 

Plymouth  company 177 

dissolved 194 


132 
132 

133 
133 
133 
133 
134 
140 


INDEX. 


1055 


Plymouth  Rock,  removal  of. 

Pocahontas  entrapped 

baptized  and  married 

went  to  England 

biography 

Pocket  veto 

Polaris  survivors 

Political  conflict  in  New  York 

change 

strife  in  Boston 

Polk,  James  K.,  biography 

Poll-tax,  first  in  America 

*'Polo,"  game  of,  introduced 

Polygamy  decided  illegal 

Pomological  Society,  American 

Ponca  troubles 

decision,  Judge  Dundy's 

committee 

report,  message  on 

Pontiac's   war 

biography 

Pony  express  established 

Popocatapetl  ascended  by  Spaniards 

Port  of  Boston 

Port  Bill,  The  Boston,  passed 

went  into  effect 

Port  Gibson,  battle  of. 

Port  Hudson,  Banks  before 

surrendered 

Port  Republic,  battle  of. 

Port  Royal,  S.  C.,  settled 

expedition  against 

broken  up 

Port  Royal,  Acadia,  retaken  by  French. 
Port  Royal,  Jamaica,  overwhelmed 

Portland,  Me.,  burned 

Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  fishing  village 

Porto  Rico  subjugated 

colonized 

Post  offices,  first  government 

in  America 

established  by  congress 

Postage  bill,  reformed 

Postal  card  from  Iceland 

rates 

service  of  U.  S.  in  1790. . . . .' 

Postmaster-general's  trip 

Postmaster-general  in  cabinet 

Potato  Beetle,  Colorado 

Potomac,  army  of,  organized 

Potomac,  army  of  the 

Potosi,  silver  mines  discovered 

highest  city  on  the  globe 


Page.  Col. 

3IO      2 

172 

172 

'74 

'74 
478 
791 

2  74 
429 
422 

536 

205 
830 
863 
534  2 

2 
I 

902  2 
909  I 
292  2 

-99    2 

585  I 

127      2 

257  2 
306  2 

307 

652 


867 
870 


662 
631 

235 
609 
239  2 

344      2 

262     I 

713 
183 

"3 
"3 

255 

277      2 
2 

543 

884 
388 

383 
294 

474 

580 

603      2 

633  I 
144  I 
144  2 


Page.  Col. 

Powder  mill  in  Massachusetts 199     i 

houses  in  New  England 201     i 

alarm 308     2 

seizure  of 310    2 

seizure  at  Williamsburg 314     i 

vessel  captured 322     2 

Powell's  Colorado  expedition 737     i 

Powers,  Hiram,  biography 787     i 

Powhatan,  biography 175     2 

"  Powhatan  "  lost  at  sea 555     2 

Prairie  Grove,  battle  of .«. 642     i 

Prehistoric  America 49 

see  America,  Prehistoric 

Prentice,  George  D.,  biography 745 

Presbytery,  first  in  America 254 

Presbyterian  church,  first  in  America  . .  243 

in  New  England 258 

first  schism  in  the 269 

Prescott,  Gen.,  captured 332 

W.  H.,  biography 574 

Presents  from  Imaum  of  Muscat §10 

"  President  "  took  "  Highflyer  " 436 

"President"  lost 5IO 

President,  continental  congress,  first. . . 

second 

third 

fourth 

fifth 

sixth 

seventh  

eighth 

ninth 

tenth 

eleventh  

twelfth 

thirteenth 

fourteenth 364 

fifteenth 366 

Presidential  campaign,  first 375 

second 388 

third 400 

fourth 411 

fifth 419 

sixth 425 

seventh 433 

eighth 445 

ninth 453 

tenth 459 

eleventh 473 

twelfth 486 

thirteenth 499 

fourteenth 509 

fifteenth 520 


3°9 
310 

3H 
336 
34° 
344 
350 
352 
354 
356 
358 
360 


1056 


INDEX. 


Page.  Col 

Presidential  campaign,  sixteenth 535 

seventeenth 552 

eighteenth 565 

nineteenth 588 

twentieth 684 

twenty-first 729 

twenty-second 77^ 

twenty-third 828 

twenty-fourth 900 

Presidential  message,  first  written 413 

Prestonburg,  battle  of. 612 

Priestly  celebration Soi 

"  Primacy  of  honor." 580 

Prince  Edward's  Island  named 409 

joined  Dominion 791 

Prince  of  Wales  in  America 587 

Princeton  College  founded 274 

Princeton,  battle  of. 330 

Pring,  Martin,  voyage  to  New  England.  164 

Printing,  first  on  continent 136 

first  in  English  colonies 198 

press  suppressed  in  Virginia 234 

in  Pennsylvania 240 

house,  first  in  New  York 247 

in  Louisiana,  first 254 

press,  first  in  Connecticut 255 

press,  German  in  Philadelphia 280 

first  in  Texas 286 

press,  first  in  Canada 295 

press,  first  west  of  the  Alleghanies.   362 

press,  first  west  of  Mississippi 425 

press,  first  in  Mississippi 426 

first  in  Missouri 428 

first  in  Michigan 428 

press,  the  Columbian 447 

press,  first  cylinder 479 

press,  Bullock's  web 61 1 

Prison  ship  victims 425 

Prisoners,  first  exchange  of. 314 

correspondence  about 33 l 

released 707 

exchange  of 634 

Privateers,  confederate 616 

Prize-fight,  Morrissey  and  Heenan 573 

Proclamation,  first  for  troops 594 

blockade 594 

second  call  for  troops 594 

by  Gen .  Sanford 596 

in  Missouri 604 

Halleck's  in  Missouri 610 

confiscation 635 

emancipation ,   647 

of  reward 703 


1. 
I 
I 

2 
I 
I 
2 
2 
2 
I 
2 
2 

2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
2 
2 
I 
I 
2 
2 
I 
2 
I 
2 
I 
I 
I 
I 
2 
I 
2 
I 
2 
I 
2 
I 
I 
I 
2 
I 
I 
2 
I 
2 
? 

] 

Proclamation,  "  good  order  "  

'age.  Col, 

720     i 
720     i 

473    2 

400       2 

5°  5     r 
472     i 

195      2 
307      2 
529      2 
650      I 

7l8      2 
529      2 
687      2 

275       2 

861     2 
865     i 
185     i 
186     i 
186     i 
186     2 
187     i 
342     2 
380     2 

264       2 
212       2 

213       * 
213      2 
214       I 
2I4      I 
214      2 
2l6      2 
22O       I 
248      2 
249       * 
485       1 
572       2 
870       I 
167      2 

186     i 
192     i 

284       2 
285       2 
320       I 
322       2 
5*4     2 
253       ' 

374    2 
7i5     i 

275       2 

43-     i 

152      2 

i<;<;    i 

amnesty  

"  Prohibition  of  Peru  "  

Propeller,  first  

improved  

Protectionists,  national  convention  of.  .  . 
Providence,  R.  I.,  founded  

Provincial  Assembly,  The  Virginia  
Provisions  sent  to  Ireland  

for  English  operatives  

Puebla  taken  by  Diaz  

Pueblo  de  los  Angelos  occupied  

Pullman  cars  first  made  

Pulpit,  a  free  

Purcell,  Archbishop,  failure  of  

gave  up  propertv  

Puritans   founded  Salem  

founded  Charlestown  

organized  a  church   

became   self-governing  

founded  Boston,  etc  

Putnam's   escape  

biography     .          

f^ 

v^ 

Quadrant   The  reflecting  invented  

Quakers  first  in  America  

several  in  Boston   

increase  of  ,  

death  threatened  to  in  Mass  

two  hung  in  Boston  

Quaker   one  hung  in  Boston  

last  execution   

persecution  ended  in  N.  Netherland 
governor  of  Carolina  

bill  passed  in  United  States  

taken  by  English  

returned  to  French  

attempt  to  recapture,  by  French  

Queen  Anne's  war  

city  of  the  West  

Emma  visited  United  States  

of  the  Creeks  The  

Quicksilver  discovered  in  Peru  

Santa  Barbara  mines  worked.  . 

INDEX 


1057 


Quicksilver  mines  in  California. . . 
Quito,  S.  A.,  captured 

new  city  founded 

Quotas,  state,  in  Revolution 

-It- 
Radical  convention 

Raft  voyage  across  Atlantic 

Rahway  River,  battle  of 

Railroad  improved 

charter,  first  in  America 

in  America,  first 

B.  and  O.  corner-stone 

first  in  Spanish-speaking  provinces. 

land  grant,  first  U.  S 

first  in  South  America , 

fir st  in  Brazil 

Panama,  first  train 

first  narrow  gauge 

speed,  trial  of. 

American  and  Mexican 

Raleigh,  Sir  W.  patent  of. 

found  smoking  by  servant 

expedition  to  South  America 

death  of 

Raleigh,  Va.,  founded 

Ralston,  William  C.,  biography 

Rambouillet  Decree,  Napoleon's 

'•Randolph"  and  "Yarmouth"  naval  ac'n 
Rapids  in  St.  Lawrence  first  passed.  .  . . 

first  steam  trip  down 

Rappahannock,  movements  on 

army  on 

Rarey,  the  horse-tamer 

Rations  of,  U.  S.  Army 

Raymond,  Henry  J.,  biography 

Reading  R.  R.  Co.,  failure  of 

,Readjuster"  Senator,  first 

Reaper,  first 

first  public  trial  of. 

McCormick's 

American  victory 

Rebellion  losses'  bill  in  Canada 

Recollets  driven  out  of  Canada 

allowed  in  Canada 

Reconstruction  committee 

Red  Cloud  report 

Red  Ribbon,  first  ever  worn 

Red  River  Settlement 

broken  up 

Red  River,  Banks'  march  to 

expedition 

expedition 

Reformed  Dutch  Church,  the  first 


Page.  Col. 
528  2 

135  I 
"35  2 
344  2 

676  2 
722  2 
346 

455 
464 
472 

472 
502 

537 
542 
556 
557 
757 
769 

895 
158 

159  2 

161  2 

176  I 

160  2 
812  i 


535 
1 86 


426      2 

337    2 

170      2 

5^5  2 
635 
649 
612  i 
604 

737 
890 

9i5 

416     2 

4S7      2 

489  2 
2 
2 
2 

225      I 

708 

814 

808 

430 

445  2 
651  i 

671  2 
673  2 
185  I 


Reform  school,  first 

Reformed  Episcopal  Church  organized. 

Reform  Club,  first,  Reynolds 

Regatta,  first  regular 

college 

association,  college 

Regicides  in  America 

sought  for 

Regulators  in  North  Carolina 

Representative  governm't  in  N.  England 

in  Maryland 

in  Plymouth 

restored  to  Virginia 

in  New  Haven 

Representative  assembly  in  N.  Y.,  first. 
Republican  manifesto  in  Mexico 

party,  birth  of. 

Repudiation  denounced  in  U.  S.  congress 

Resaca  de  la  Palma,  battle  of 

"  Resolute  "  brought  back 

Responsive  chord,  The 

Resumption  bill 

Resumption  accomplished 

Revenue  bill,  first 

Revere  R.  R.  accident 

Review,  grand,  at  Washington 

Revival  of  1857 

Revolution,  effort  for,  in  S.  A 

Miranda's  plan  for 

Miranda's  plan  for 

in  Venezuela 

in  Ecuador 

in  Argentine  Republic 

in  Chili 

movements  in  S.  A 

Revolving  firearms,  Colt's 

Revolving  turret  model 

Rhode  Island  colony 

Rhode  Island  occupied  by  British 

evacuated 

ratified  constitution 

Rice,  first  in  New  World 

Rich  Mountain,  battle  of. 

Richardson,  A.  D.,  shot 

Richelieu,  monopoly  of  New  France. .. 
Richmond,  Blair's  visit  to 

fall  of 

Lincoln's  visit  to 

Rifle,  breech  loading 

Remington,  first 

Spencer  repeating 

match,  American  victory 

matgh,  American  victory 


Page.  Col 

463  2 

792  I 

799  2 

523  2 

772  2 

571  2 

214  2 

2l6  I 

304  I 

193  2 

193  2 

198  2 

200  2 
2O2 
238 
527 

554 
730 
526 


688 
692 

693 

429 

445 

808 
827 


651 
801 
862 

377 

762 

704   2 
569   2 

399  i 
403  2 

423  i 

426  2 

426  2 

427  2 

427  2 

545  2 
494 
5" 
197 

328 

340  2 

38l  2 

248  I 

600  2 

742  2 


1058 


INDEX. 


Page.    Col. 

Rifle  match,  American  victory 843 

match,  American  victory 891 

Rights,  declaration  of,  by  Congress 309 

Rio  de  Janeiro  and  Rio  de  la  Plata 117 

Rio  de  Janeiro  founded 155 

capital  of  Brazil 294 

Rio  San  Gabriel,  battle  of 528 

Riot,  stamp  in  Boston 296 

Astor  Place  Opera  House 536 

in  Hoboken,  N.  J 543 

Gavazzi,  in  Canada 552 

in  Boston 556 

in  Louisville,  Ky 557 

on  Panama  Railroad 562 

in  Baltimore 565 

"  Dead  Rabbit  " 569 

in  New  Orleans 714 

in  Jamaica 715 

at  Camilla,  Ga.,  and  at  New  Orleans  729 

in  Meridian,  Miss 760 

in  New  York 762 

in  California 766 

work  in  Montreal.. 816 

in  Montreal 840 

in  Chili 859 

in  Chicago 873 

in  Quebec 874 

in  Denver 899 

River  Raisin  massacre 434 

Roanoke  colony 159 

abandoned 1 59 

re-established 160 

destroyed 1 60 

Roanoke  Island,  expedition  to 614 

Robertson,  W.  H.,  nomination  of. 916 

Roberval,  Lord,  in  Canada 142 

Rock  salt,  bed  of,  found 645 

Rocky  Mount,  battle  of. 346 

Rocky  Mountains  explored 512 

explored  again 516 

"  Rodgers,"  fate  of  the  1018 

Rodman  gun,  great 579 

greater  one 671 

Rodgerenes  in  Connecticut 234 

Roman  Catholics  disfranchised 234 

Roman  Catholic  hierarchy,  first 362 

bishop,  first 378 

Romney  seizure,  The 297 

Romney  Bridge,  battle  of. 599 

Rope-making,  first  in  America 181 

Ross,  Charlie,  abduction  of 797 

Rotation  in  office 474 

Rowing  Association,  National  College..  758 


el. 

2 
I 
2 
I 
2 
I 
2 
I 
I 
I 
2 
I 
I 
2 
2 
I 
2 
2 
I 
2 
I 
2 
2 
I 
2 
I 
2 
I 
I 
I 
2 
I 
2 
I 
2 
2 
I 
I 
2 
2 
I 
2 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
2 
I 
I 
2 
2 
I 

Royal  audience  of  New  Spain  established 
set  over  Central  America  

p«ft«. 

142 

183 

221 
221 
232 
321 

896 
460 
409 
765 
837 
303 

673 

118 
161 
435 
174 
5*9 

565 

783 
185 
242 

211 

260 

365 

528 

529 

887 
266 

78l 
117 
IO2 

384 

416 

4'7 
716 

752 
758 
880 

895 
526 

554 
495 
530 

459 

Col. 
I 
2 
2 
I 
2 
I 
2 
2 
2 
2 
I 
2 
I- 
1 

2 
2 
2 
I 
I 
I 
2 
I 
2 
2. 
I 
2 
2 
2 
2 
I 
I 
2 
2 
2 
I 
I 
2 
I 
I 
I 
1 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
I 
2 
2 
I 
I 
I 

Royal  province   first  in  America  

Roval  commissioners  in  Mass  

Rubber  first  Goodyear  patent  

Russia,  agreement  with  United  States... 

fleet  in  United  States  

S- 

Sable  Island,  colonized  unsuccessfully.  . 

Sackett's  Harbor  attacked       

Saco  Bay  visited  by  Richard  Vines  
Sacramento  battle  of.       

Salmon  Falls  N   H    destroyed           .  .  . 

Salt  springs  at  Syracuse  discovered  

Salt  works  at  Syracuse             

battle  of                     

Salzburgers  in  Georgia  

San  Cristobal,  afterward  Havana,  fo'nded 
San  Domingo,  city,  founded  in  Hayti.  .  . 
San  Domingo  civil  war  in  

"  San  Francisco  "  steamer  foundered.  .  .  . 

bombarded  .  .                   

INDEX. 


1059 


Page.  Col. 

San  Juan  de  Ullva  boundary  award 776     i 

San  Pasqual,  battle  of 528  i 

San  Salvador  founded. . 132  2 

annexed  to  United   States 456  2 

a  republic 567  i 

San  Sebastian  founded. ...   113  i 

broken  up 113  2 

Sandemanians,  The 295  i 

Saugay,  most  active  volcano 263  2 

Sanitary  commission 705  2 

end  of. 710  2 

Santa  Anna,  president  of  Mexico 487  2 

massacre  by 495  2 

dictator 512  i 

recalled 554  i 

banished 719  2 

biography 824  2 

Santa  Fe  de  Bogota,  S.  A.,  founded 138  i 

New  Mexico,  founded 158  2 

expedition 516  i 

taken 527  i 

Santa  Maria  founded 113  2 

Santa  Rosa,  battle  of 755  i 

Santee  River,  battle  on 345  i 

Santiago,  C.  A.,  founded 129  i 

Chili  founded 140  2 

*'  Saranac  "  lost 808  I 

Saratoga,  first  white  man  at 297  i 

first  hut  at 306  i 

first  frame  house  at 359  i 

Savage  Station,  battle  of. 632  i 

Savannah,  Ga.,  seized 340  2 

siege  of 344  i 

evacuated 353  2 

Savoy  Confession  adopted. 234  i 

Sawing  Machine,  rotary 453  2 

Saybrook,  Conn.,  founded 194  2 

Say  brook  Platform 255  i 

Scales,   Fairbanks' 480  i 

Schenck's  financial  bill  in  Congress. . . .   735  i 

Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  destroyed ., .   242  2 

"Schiller,"  loss  of 805  i 

School  in  Pennsylvania,  firsc 238  i 

first  public  in  Philadelphia 242  2 

grammar,  free,  in  New  York 253  i 

first  girl's. 275  2 

first  scientific 396  2 

for  deaf  mutes 429  2 

first  normal 506  i 

Naval,  opened 524  i 

proclamation,  Catholic 885  2 

Schools  in  Quebec 195  2 

free,  in  New  England 207  2 


Page.  Col. 

Schools,  free,  in  New  England 221     2 

and  libraries  in  Maryland 248     i 

in  New  York 396     2 

Schoolmaster  at  New  Amsterdam 192     2 

School  money,  Catholics  ask  for 509     2 

teachers,  training  of. 377     i 

Schoolcraft,  Henry  R.,  biography 684  2 

Schooners  taken  by  British 0...  435     i 

Schwenckfelders   in  Pennsylvania 267     i 

Scotch  colony  in  Georgia. 267  2 

Scott,  Gen.,  in  Mexico 528  2 

biography 711  2 

Scott,  Thomas  A.,  biography 925  i 

"Scourge  of  the  Ocean"  479  2, 

Sculling-match  at  Montreal 859  i 

race 869  2 

Scythes,  first  made  in  America 206  i 

first  modern 212  i 

Sea  serpent  announced 545  i 

Seal ,  U.  S.,  projected 325  2 

adopted 353  i 

Search,  right  of 580  2 

Secretary  of  the  marine,  first. 352  i 

Sedition  law,  expired 413  2 

Selectmen,  first  election  of 192  2 

Selkirk,  Alexander 254  2 

Selma  captured. ..    693  2 

Seminary  at  Quebec 219  2 

Seminole  war,  first 446  2 

Indians,  massacre  by 493  2 

Indians,  battle  with 499  i 

Indians  defeated 501  2 

war  ended 515  i 

Semmes,  Raphael,  Prof,  of  morals 715  2 

Senate,  "dead-lock"  in 915  2 

Senator,  first  colored,  U.  S.  .    745  i 

Senators,  resignation  ofN.Y 917  2 

Seneca  Indians,  war  with,  in  Virginia..   230  i 

Sentence  for  Pittsburg  rioters 848  i 

Sermon,  first  printed,  American 181  2 

Seven  Cities,  The 139  2 

Seward,  attempt  to  assassinate 695  2 

biography 774  2 

Sewell's  Point  conflict 595  i 

Sewing  machine,  first 491  i 

first  patented 512  2 

first  practical 527  i 

war 565  2 

patents  expired 836  i 

Sewing   women 348  i 

Shadrach  case,  The 542  2 

Shakers 308  i 

Shay's   Rebellion 362  2 


1060 


INDEX. 


IX'«.  Col. 

Shedp  and  Swine  at  New  Amsterdam. .    184  i 

Sheep  imported  into  Massachusetts 192  2 

first  Spanish  merinoes 391  2 

merinoes  imported 415  i 

Sheep-shearing,  first,  Arlington 415  i 

Livingston's 428  I 

"  Shenandoah,"  the  privateer 707  i 

Sheridan's  raid  toward  Richmond 675  i 

campaign 683  i 

ride  683  2 

Sherman,  Roger,  biography 389  2 

Sherman's  march  to  the  sea 684  i 

march  through  the  Carolinas 690  i 

attempted  agreement • .    702  i 

Sherman  made  lieut.-general 714  i 

made  general 734  2 

Shiloh,  battle  of 622  i 

Ship  canal  across  Isthmus,  first  proposed   132  i 

across  Central  America 150  2 

congress,  Paris. 870  i 

resolution  concerning 873  i 

Ship  of-the-line,  U.  S.,  first 445  i 

Shoddy 612  i 

Shoe-peg  invented 448  i 

Shot,  last  in  war  of  1812 443  2 

Siamese  twins,  death  of 792  2 

Silk  culture  in  Virginia 183  2 

and  indigo  in  Louisiana 258  i 

exported  to  England 267  i 

in  New  England 274  i 

goods,  first,  of  domestic  production.   388  i 

first  made  by  machinery 427  2 

mania 475  i 

Association  of  America  formed  ....  781  i 

industries  revived 853  2 

Silver  mines  in  Mexico 133  i 

of  Potosi  discovered 144  i 

in  Charnacillo  found 487  i 

Silver  set,  finest  ever  made  in  U.  S 847  2 

Silver  Bill  passed 849  i 

Sims  case,  The 543  i 

Sioux  war 650  2 

Indians  surrendered 893  2 

Sirius    and    Great    Western,   first    line 

steamers 503  i 

"  Sisters  of  Charity  " 426  i 

Sitting  Bull  in  U.  S 872  2 

Six  Nations,  The 256  .2 

Skating,  trial  of 791  2 

Slavery,  negro,  first  sanction 'din  America  104  2 

increased  rapidly 106  2 

restricted  by  royal  decree 108  2 

Indian  approved 114  2 


P*ge.  CoL 

Slavery,  first  in  New  Netherland 184  2 

lawful  in  Connecticut 208  2 

prohibited  in  Rhode  Island 210  2 

allowed  in  New  Amsterdam 211  i 

defined  in  Maryland 220  i 

defined  in  Virginia 225  2 

in  Canada 241  2 

first  remonstrance  against 241  2 

among  Quakers 249  i 

resisted  at  Boston 252  2 

in  Georgia 265  2 

defined  in  S.  C 269  i 

defined  in  Georgia 303  i 

among  Quakers 310  2 

Penn.  Soc.  for  abolition  of. 313  i 

action  of  Friends  against 329  i 

exlcuded  from  N.  H 356  2 

abolished  in  Rhode  Island 358  2 

in  Connecticut 359  i 

abolition  of,  advised 374  2 

petition  for,  abolition  of 378  2 

Indian 400  2 

petition  for,  in  Indiana 414  2 

gradual  abolition  in  New  Jersey. ...  417  i 

abolished  in  Canada 417  i 

abolished  in  Chili 429  i 

abolished  in  Buenos  Ayres 434  i 

abolished  in  New  York 447  i 

abolished  in  Connecticut 447  2 

cessation  of,  in  New  York 4.72  i 

abolished  in  Mexico ...  474  2 

abolition  of,  in  Paraguay 514  2 

abolished  in  French  West  Indies. . .  535  I 

abolished  in  New  Grenada 545  2 

address  to  women  of  America,  on..  .551  2 

prohibited  in  U.  S.  territories 635  i 

prohibited  in  District  of  Columbia. .  635  i 

act  for  Cuba 719  2 

law  against,  in  Cuba 752  2 

abolished  in  Brazil  763  i 

Slaves,  Indian,  sent  to  Spain 100  r 

five  hundred  sent 101  i 

fifty  carried 102  i 

seized  in  New  Hampshire 23T  2 

in  Carolina 234  l 

Slaves,  negro,  fifty  sent  to  Hayti 113  2 

large  numbers  sent  from  Guinea. .  .  113  2 

great  increase  under  Charles  V.  ...  117  i 

landed  at  Jamestown 177  i 

first  in  New  England 197  2 

lawsuit  over 205  i 

runaway,  could  be  killed 2:7  2 

in  Massachusetts 257  i 


INDEX. 


1061' 


Vase.  Col. 

Slaves  in  Mississippi  Valley 259    z 

great  numbers  in  South  Carolina..  .  262     2 

prohibitory  duty  on 292     i 

right  to  hold,  denied  in  Mass 303     i 

emancipation  in  Penn 345     i 

importation  of 378     2 

importation  of,  forbidden 423     2 

act  went  into  effect 424    2 

freed  in  Columbia 454     i 

forbidden  in  Mexico 458    2 

emancipation  in  West  Indies 487    2 

took  effect 489    2 

in  the  census 509     i 

emancipated  in  Venezuela 556     i 

effort  for  freedom 876    2 

Slave,  fugitive,  arrest  of. 394    2 

alleged  fugitive,  arrested 493     2 

Slave  trade,  English,  begun 152     i 

book  against 292     i 

horrors  of. 352     2 

extent  of. 362     2 

prohibited  in  Rhode  Island 365     i 

forbidden  in  Massachusetts 374    2 

declared  piracy 447     2 

prohibited  by  Brazil 482 

in  Cuba 525 

abolished  in  Brazil 542 

favorably  discussed 575 

Slave  holding,  first  church  discipline  for  299 

Slave  market  in  New  York 256 

Slave  vessel  captured 

Sleeping  car,  first 

Smelting  works  for  copper 

Smith,  Capt.  John,  explored  Virginia.. . 

and  Pocahontas 

Smith's   surrender 

Smith,  Gerritt,  biography 

Smithsonian  Institution,  origin  of. 

Smuggled  valuables  seized 

"  Snowstorm,"  The  great 

Snow,  only  fall  ever  known  in  Cuba. . . . 

Snowstorm  in  South  America 898 

Snowshoe  race 766 

"  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,"  The 355 

Soldier,  The  faithful 239 

Soldiers'  meeting  at  Cincinnati 843 

Soldiers'  Homes 709 

Sonoma  Pass  captured 526    2 

Sorghum  mania 566     2 

South  American  independence 459    2 

alliance .- 703     2 

South  America,  great  trip  in ^ i^    2 

South  Carolina  visited  by  de  Ayllon. ...  126     i 


2 
2 
2 
2 
I 
2 

572  2 
2 
I 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
I 
2 
I 
2 
2 
2 
I 
2 
I 


573 
207 
166 
1 66 
704 
800 

497 

828 

257 
566 


South  Carolina  ratified  constitution  .... 

seceded 

nullified  secession 

South  Mills,  battle  of. 

South  Mountain,  battle  of. 

South  Sea  expedition,  United  States. . . . 

Southern  states  all  readmitted 

Spain,  aid  from 

pledges  suppression  of  slave  trade  in 

Cuba 

Speakership  of  U.  S.  House,  contest  for. 

contest  over 

Specie  circular 

Spelling  mania 

Spike  machine,  Burden's 

Spirit  rappings,  first 

Spottsylvania  Court  House,  battle  of. . . . 

Springfield,  battle  of 

Squadron,  U.  S.,  in  Mediterranean 

in  Mediterranean 

in  Mediterranean 

Squanto 

Squatter  sovereignty 

St.  Augustine  founded 

blockaded 

blockaded 

St.  Bartholomew  ceded  to  Sweden. . . ., 
St.  Christopher,  W.  I.,  settled 

fighting  in 

St.  Clair's  defeat 

"  St.  Clair"  burned 

St.  Croix,  W.  I.,  bought  by  Danes 

St.  Eustatius,  W.  I.,  seized  by  English. . 

St.  Johns,  Ca.,  captured 

St.  John,  W.  I.,  sold  to  United  States. . . 
St.  John,  N.  B.,  burned 

burned  second  time 

St.  Lawrence,  Gulf  of,  Deny's  map  of. . 

visited  by  Aubert 

St.  Louis,  site  of,  selected 

bridge  completed 

St.  Lucia,  W.  I.,  taken  by  English 

St.  Regis,  battle  of 

St.  Thomas,  first  colony  in  Guiana 

St.  Thomas,  W.  I.,  settled  by  Danes 

sold  to  United  States , 

St.  Vincent,  W.  I.,  settled 

Staffordsville  disaster  

'  Staffordshire  "  wrecked 

Stage  players  declared  vagrants 

law  against,  repealed  in  S.  C 

law  against,  repealed  in  Mass 

Stamp  duty  suggested 


Page.  Coi. 


366 


2 

5»»  2 
707  2 
I 
I 


624 
638 

515 

754 
331 

554 
562 

584 
499 
804 

5°7 

533 
675 
608 
414 
4r3 
443 
182 

537 
'55 
253 
269 

359 
183 

253    2 

384  2 
826  2 
266  2 

35° 


723 
839 

845 
108 


i 
r 
i 
i 
i 
i 
113  i 

293  2 

796  2 

417  I 

432  2 

133  I 

227  2 

723   ' 
20O   2 

834 

553 
365 
385 
390 

275 


1062 


INDEX. 


Page.    Coi. 

*'  Stalwart"  senators  not  re-elected 918  2 

Stamp  act  passed 295  i 

repealed 296  2 

Standish,  Miles,  courtship  of 180  2 

biography 212  2 

Stanley  and  Livingston 760  2 

Stanley,  Henry  M.,  honored 847  2 

Stanton,  Secretary,  removed  720  i 

restored    by   congress 723  2 

biography 743  2 

"  Star  of  the  West "  fired  on 591  2 

Star-route  investigation 918  2 

trials 1020  2 

Starch,  making  of,  invented 415  i 

Stark,  John,  biography 456  i 

"  Stars  and  Stripes  "   adopted 332  i 

remodeled 395  i 

finally  remodeled 447  2 

raised  over  Fort   Sumter 694  2 

"  Stars  and  Bars  "  adopted 593  2 

modified 606  2 

further  change 671  i 

<l  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  origin  of. ....   440  2 

Starvation  Beach 545  i 

"State  of  Louisiana "  lost 861  i 

Statue  of    George  III,  put  up 303  i 

pulled  down 325  2 

Statue   of  Shakspeare  unveiled 769  2 

Statue  of  Lincoln  unveiled 822  i 

Steam  dredge, "  Evans." 419  2 

Steam  engine,   first 268  i 

•        first  high  pressure 365  2 

first  effective 403  i 

Steam  ferry,  first 438  2 

Steam  frigate  for  Russia,  launched 572  2 

Steam  heating  of  cities 849  2 

Steam  navigation  attempted 276  i 

first  ocean •. .  425  i 

first  American  at  Cape  Good  Hope  519  2 

Steam  voyage  across  Atlantic,  first 450  i 

Steam  war- vessel,  first 441  i 

Steamboat  on  Delaware 362  i 

first  practical 364  i 

Rumsey's 365  i 

Fitch's 375  i 

on   Delaware 381  2 

on  Savannah  River 383  i 

with  stern   wheel 394  2 

improvements   in 414  i 

<l  Mississippi,"  proposed 416  2 

with  propellor 419  2 

Fulton's.. 423  2 

first  on  Western  waters 428  2 


P»ge.    Co\. 

Steamboat,  trial 754  i 

Steamboat  company,  American 757  2 

speed,  trial  of. 791  2 

largest  river 830  2 

Steamer,  first  on  Great  Lakes 447  2 

"Carolina"  burned 501  2 

first  Isthmus 529  i 

first  Amazon,  and  first  Paraguayan,  552  2 

largest  then  in  world 557  i 

first  from  Chili 725  i 

burned  on  Long  Island  Sound 765  i 

line  of,  American 788  i 

largest  iron 802  i 

burned  at  New  Orleans.  . 804  2 

capsized 853  i 

Steel,  John,  settled  in  Conn 194  2 

Steel,  method  of  making,  discovered...  263  i 

Steel  engraving,  first 442  2 

Stereotyping,  first  in  America 437  2 

Steuben,  Baron,  joined  army 337  i 

biography 393  2 

Stevens,  Thaddeus,  biography 727  2 

Stewart,  A.  T.,  biography 821  2 

body  of,    stolen 859  2 

Stillwater,  battle  of. 334  2 

Stock  transaction,  largest SSi  i 

Stocking-looms,  premiums  for 296  2 

factory,  first 329  i 

frame,  penalty  for  exportation 359  2 

Stolen  march,  The 330  i 

Stonemill,  battle  of. . ,   , 440  i 

StOnington,  Conn.,  captured 439  I 

Stone  ferry,  S.  C.,  battle  of 343  i 

Stony  Creek,  battle  of 435  2 

Stony  Point,  N.  Y.,  captured 343  i 

stormed  by  Wayne.. 343  i 

"Stonewall1'    lost 741  2 

Storm,  prevented  battle 340  i 

on  Louisiana  coast 565  2 

in  Ohio 762  i 

in  United  States 765  i 

on  Atlantic  coast 788  i 

in  United  States 809  2 

on   Gulf  coast 814  i 

in  United  States 820  2 

on  Long  Island  Sound 844  2 

in  New   England 847  2 

in  United   States 849  2 

violent 858  i 

on  Atlantic  Coast 875  i 

on  lakes  and  ocean 898  i 

in  United  States 909  I 

in  United  States 911  I 


INDEX. 


1063. 


Stoves,  Rumford's  improved 

Street  railway,  first 

Strength,   trial  of 

trial  of 

trial    of 

Strikes  in  mines 

great  railroad 

at  Lynn,  Crispin 

in  Quebec 

labor : 

Stuart's    raids 

Stuy  vesant,  Peter,  biography. 

Stuwesant,   Pear  tree 

Sub-Treasury  bill  repealed 

Sucre  assassinated 

Suffolk  Co.,  Va.,  raided 

Suffolk,  siege  of,  ended  

Sugar  Act  of  England 

Sugar  first  made  by  English  in  W.  I..  . . 
Sugar  cane,  first  in  America 

first  in  North  America 

Sugar  mill,  first  in  present  United  States 

Suicide  in  Washington,  D.  C 

Sullivan  trial ,  result  of 

Sultana  exploded 

Sumner,  Chas.,  assaulted 

biography 

Sumter,  the  privateer 

Sunbury ,  Ga.,  taken 

Sunday  school,  first  in  America 

in  Plymouth 

John  Wesley's 

at  Ephrata,  Penn 

Bishop  Asbury's 

first  modern 

Sunstroke  in  great  cities 

Supplies  refused  by  New  York 

captured 

Survey  of  coast  first  proposed 

Suspension  bridge,  Wheeling 

Niagara,  first  train 

first  Niagara 

first  in  world  

Sutro  tunnel  completed  

"  Swallow"  lost  on  Hudson 

Swamp   Law 

Swearing  fined  in  Maryland 

Swedenborgian  churches,  first 

Swedes  on  the  Delaware  River 

overthrown  on  Delaware 

Sweeney  suit  compromised 

Swim  across  the  English  channel 

Swing,  Prof.,  preaching  of 


Page.    Col. 


360  2 

551  2 

757  2 

791  2 

781  I 

807  2 

840  2 

§47  2 

353  2 


631  i 

235  2 

722  2 

5"  * 
473 

342  2 
653 
267 

202 

108  2 
276 
284 
492 

828  I 

703  2 

562  2 

794  i 

600  i 

34i 
33° 
234 
268 
269 

362  i 

426  i 

771  i 

297  2 

319  2 

423  I 

535  i 

557  i 

528  2 

4i3  2 

855  2 

525  I 

297  I 

2OI  I 

394  2 

201  I 

212  2 

838  2 

807  I 

816  2 


Page.    Col. 

"  Swinging  around  the  circle  " 715  i 

Synagogue,  Jewish,  first 266  i 

Synod  in  New  England 232  : 

Tabasco,  battle  of. 121  2 

bombarded 528  i 

Table  Rock,  Niagara,  fell 837  I 

Tack  and  Nail  machine 362  i 

Tacua,  capture  of 890  i 

Tadousac,  first  traders  at 162  t 

"  Talisman  "  wrecked. 530  2 

Talmage,  trial  of 869  2 . 

Tammany  society  organized 376  2 

ring  broken  up 764  2. 

Tampico  taken 528  i 

Taney,  Roger  B.,  appointed  chief-justice  495  2 

biography 682  2 

Tanner's  "  fast " 892  i 

Tariff,  protective 485  2, 

compromise 487  r 

new  513  i 

in  Canada,  new 861;  2 

excitement  at  Quebec 866  i 

TariftVille  disaster 848  i. 

"  Tarleton's  Quarter  " 345  2 

Tavern,  first  on  Manhattan  Island 201  2 

Taxation  as  defined  by  Plymouth  colony  195  2: 

in  Barbadoes 209  2 

in  Massachusetts 216  2 

in  Rhode  Island 221  i 

first  internal 228  n 

in  Virginia 232  i 

in  New  Jersey 234  i 

during  war 284  i 

discussed  in  Parliament 294  2 

first  internal 385  i, 

"  Tayleure  "  wrecked 554  i 

Taylor,  Zachary,  biography 540  2 

Bayard,  biography 860  2 

Gen.  R.,  surrender  of. 703  2 

Tea  first  used  in  Boston  260  2 

tax,  the .  .  303  i 

to  be  sent  to  America 305  i 

meetings  in  N.  Y.  and  Philadelphia  305  2 

meeting  in  Boston 305  2 

"  party  "  in  Boston ....  305  2 

mass  meeting  in  Philadelphia 306  i 

burning  of 309  2 

Teachers'  Association,  first 409  2 

seminary,  first 458  i 

Tecumseh,  biography ••••  436  2 

Teetotalism  introduced 490  i 

Telegraph,  first  attempt  with. . , , . .    ....  380  a 


10G4 


INDEX. 


Page.  Col. 

Telegraph  improved 411  i 

an  electric,  proposed 445  2 

on  Long  Island 472  2 

origin  of  Morse's 486  2 

contest  over 491  2 

exhibited  by  Morse 494  i 

Morse's  first  patented 500  2 

exhibited  by  Morse  502  2 

Morse's,  appropriation  for 516  2 

success  with 518  2 

first  fire  alarm 552  i 

first  in  Cuba 552  i 

Atlantic  company 557  i 

New  York  and  Newfoundland 565  2 

first  over  Rocky  Mountains  645  I 

automatic  fire  signal 791  i 

between  United  States  and  Brazil. .   797  i 

monopoly 904  2 

Telephone,  invention  of. 792  2 

decision  in  England 903  2 

Temperance   meeting,  first 207  i 

movement,  first 378  i 

society,   first 424  2 

reformation 470  i 

convention,  national 487  2 

society,  congressional 487  2 

society,  national .....    7^  i 

movement,  Murphy 847  2 

petition 865  i 

Temperature,  lowest  recorded r  ^4  2 

Tempests,  thunder,  in  Massachusetts. . .   773  2 

Tennessee  admitted  to  Union 399  I 

seceded 594  2 

Bragg's  invasion 640  i 

Hood's  invasion 537  j 

first  state  re-admitted  to  Union *l*  x 

Tenure-of-office  bill 7^  2 

Texarkana  disaster 1020  i 

Texas,  revolution  in 487  i 

constitutional  convention 489  i 

independence,provisional  government  493  i 

declared  independent 494  2 

independence  secured  by  treaty 495  2 

convention 495  i 

Gen.  Houston,  president 498  2 

applied  to  be  admitted  to  U.  S 502  i 

Lamar,  president  of 505  i 

Burnett,  president  of. 508  2 

Houston  again  president 511  2 

Jones,  president  of 519  2 

bill  signed 521  i 

ratified  annexation  bill 523  2 

admitted  to  Union 524  i 


P»Se.    Co,. 

Texas  seceded 592  2 

U.  S.  property  in,  surrendered 593  i 

loyalists  massacred 635  2 

nullified  secession 710  2 

first  free  schools  766  2 

raid  of  Mexicans  into 842  i 

fight  in 847  i 

Thames,  battle  of 436  2 

"  Thanksgiving  Day,"  origin  of 181  2 

Thanksgiving,  proclamation 664  i 

Thanksgiving,  national,  U.  S 708  i 

Theater  at  Lima,  first  in  America 173  2 

in  Boston,  British 321  2 

burned  in  Richmond,  Va 429  2 

in  Boston 388  i 

Theatrical  company  in  New  York 276  i 

performance,  first  in  Boston 276  i 

company,  first  real 277  i 

exhibitions  forbidden 362  2 

exhibitions  made  free 378  i 

Theological  seminary,  first 419  i 

Thomas,  George  H.,  biography 749  2 

Thomas,  Dr.,  case  of. 901  i 

Thomson,  Charles,  biography 459  i 

Thornton's  men  killed 526  i 

Thousand  Isles,  battle  of 431  i 

Thread,  first  cotton 394  2 

Ticknor,  George,  biography 758  2 

Timber  controversy 261  2 

Tin  first  found  in  America 475  i 

Tippecanoe,  battle  of. 429  i 

Tlascala,  battle  of 122  i 

Tobacco,  origin  of  name 98  i 

first  used  in  England 159  2 

first  cultivated 171  2 

fever 171  2 

' '  plant  cutters  "  in  Virginia 234  2 

pipes  made 260  i 

exported  by  Virginia 284  i 

Tobago,  West  Indies,  taken  by  French.    232  i 

Tonty,  journey  of,  south 241  2 

Tornado,  in  Iowa  and  Illinois 586  2 

in  St.  Louis 768  2 

at  Cincinnati 769  2 

at  Harrisburg 773  : 

in  Western  United  States 787  2 

in  Alabama 800  I 

in  Georgia 803  2 

at  Detroit 808  i 

in  Illinois 820  2 

in  Central  America 828  i 

in  Illinois 838  2 

in  Kentucky 850  i 


INDEX. 


1065 


Tornado  in  Missouri 

in  Central   United  States 

at  Wallingford,  Conn 

in   Hayti 

in  Philadelphia 

in  United  States 

in  Central  and  Western  states 

in  Massachusetts 

in  Iowa 

Toronto  captured 

Torpedo,  Fulton's 

expedition,  Peruvian 

Tory  paper,  office  of,  destroyed 

parson  ducked  in  river 

Total  abstinence  pledge,  first 

voted  down 

Society,  congressional 

Toussaint  captured  by  French 

Tower,  old,  at  Newport,  R.  I 

Towns  in  New  England 

Townsend'sbill , 

Tracy's  march  against  Mohawks 

Trade  with  West  Indies,  first 

with  Virginia  prohibited 

Trade  sale  for  books,  first 

Trade  Union  contest 

Train-bands  and  Wards 

Traitor,  first 

Traitor,  Benedict  Arnold  a 

Tramp  nuisance,  The 

Treasure  raised  by  Phips 

Treaty  between  Dutch  and  Indians. . . . 

of  Breda 

of  Westminster 

of  Penn  with  Indians 

of  Ryswick 

of  Utrecht 

with  Six  Nations 

with  Creeks 

of  Aix  la  Chapelle 

between  France  and  United  States.. 

between  Holland  and  U.  S.. 

preliminary  with  England 

between  England  and  United  States 

Jay's 

Wayne's 

with  Algiers 

with  Spain 

temporary  with  France 

with  Tripoli 

rejected , 

between  England  and  U.  S 

between  U.  S.  and  Algiers 


Page.  Col. 

851  2 

852  I 

857  I 

S58  2 

859  2 

871  2 

873  2 

874  I 
IQlS  2 

434  2 

42O  2 

876.  2 

318  I 

328  2 

411  2 

488  2 

512  2 

4'3  2 

91  2 

195  * 

297  I 

223  I 

195  2 
208  2 
414  I 
422  2 

196  2 

319  I 
346  2 

813  I 

241  1 

204  2 

223  2 

229  I 

235  2 

250  2 

256  2 

266  2 

266  2 

274  2 

337  '- 

354  2 

354 

356 

393 

396 

396 

396 

411 

420 

422 

442 

443 


Treaty  of  Cordova 

between  U.  S.  and  France 

between  U.  S.  and  Sardinia 

-between  U.  S.  and  China 

of  Hidalgo 

between  U.  S.  and  Mexico 

between  U.  S.  and  Japan 

between  U.  S.  and  Canada 

between  Buenos  Ayres  and  Argen- 
tine Republic 

bet.  Peru,  Chili,  Ecuador,  Costa  Rica 

between  Honduras  and  England  . . . 

between  U.  S.  and  China 

between  U.  S.  and  Paraguay 

between  U.  S.  and  Nicaragua 

by  Peru,  etc.,  against  Spain 

between  U.  S.  and  Canada,  expired. 

between  U.  S.  and  Colombia 

between  U.  S.  and  Colombia 

of  Washington 

with  Spain,  by  Chili  and  Peru 

Trent  affair,  The 

Trenton,  battle  of 

Trinidad  discovered 

taken  by  English 

Tripoli  declared  war  on  U.  S 

Tripoli  bombarded 

Tripolitan  cruiser  captured 

"  Tripoli "  wrecked 

Troops  sent  into  Boston 

sent  into  Boston 

Trotting,  fast 

better  record 

best  on  record 

Trumbull,  Jonathan,  biography 

Trustee's  twenty  mile  race 

Tuluco,  plan  of. 

Turkish  admiral  visited  U.  S 

Turnpike,  first 

Turnpikes,  report  on 

Tyler,  John,  inaugurated 

biography 

Type  foundry,  first 

Type-casting  machine,  first 

Type-setting  machine 

trial  at 

Tweed,  William  M.,  suits  against 

released  and  rearrested 

escape , 

arrest  in  Spain 

confession 

judgment  against 

biography 


Page.  Col. 

454     2 

482  2 
507  2 
519 


553 
555 
556 


556 
566 

567 


2 
2 
I 
2 
580  2 

591       I 

709      2 
711       I 


734 
758 
760 
761 
610 
328 
103 
402 

412   2 

418   2 

413 
769 
308 
298 

893 
894 
895 
360 

534  2 
494  i 

572  i 

385   2 
424   2 

5"   l 

6l3 

269 

482 

566 

745 
790 
SoS 
816 
827 


849 

851 


1066 


INDEX. 


TJ 

Ulloa  explored  coast  of  California 

Antonio  de,  voyage  of 

Uncas,  biography 

"  Uncle  Sam,"  origin  of 

"Uncle  Sam,"  Atlantic  trip  of 

"  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin  "  issued 

Union  College  founded 

Unitarian  convocation,  first  national .... 

United  Brethren  in  Christ 

United  States  acknowledged  by  Sweden. 

by  Denmark 

by  Spain 

by  Russia 

"  United  States"  captured  "  Macedonia." 

Universalism  first  preached 

Universalist  church,  first 

convention,  first 

Universities,  first  in  America 

University  of  Havana  established 

of  Philadelphia  founded 

of  Vermont  founded 

of  North  Carolina 

of  Havana  changed 

Uruguay,  first  settled 

conquered  by  Spanish 

attacked  by  Portuguese 

'      seized  by  Portuguese 

declared   independent 

independence  secured 

revolution  in 

revolution  in 

Utah  difficulties  settled 

Ute  outbreak,  The 

negotiations 

Uxbridge  bank  robbery 

Uxmal,  ruins  discovered 


Page.  Col. 

139  * 

344  2 

237  i 

433  2 

874  i 

542  i 

.396  2 

709  I 

286  2 

355  * 

355  2 

355  2 

356  i 

432  2 

269  2 

348  I 

360  2 

150  2 

262  I 

275  2 

385  I 

409  2 

516  2 

l82  I 

262  2 

430  I 

454  2 

472  i 

574  i 

792  2 

830  2 

571  2 

877  I 

877  2 

771  I 

472  2 


Vaca,  de  Cabala,  romantic  trip 137 

Vaccination,  first  in  America 409 

Valdivia,  Chili,  surrendered 453 

Vallandigham,  C.  L.,  arrest  of 653 

death  of 761 

Valley  Forge 336 

Valparaiso  bombarded 711 

Van  Buren,  Martin,  biography, 634 

Vancouver's  Island 388 

occupied  by  United  States 576 

joined  British  Columbia 716 

Vanderbilt,  Cornelius,  biography 831 

Van  Home,  defeat  of. 431 

Van  Ness,  Mrs.  Marcia,  biography 485 

Vassar  College  founded. 612 


Vassar,  Matthew,  death  of  ............. 

Velocipede  patented,  first  .............. 

Venezuela  named  by  Vespucius  ........ 

evacuated  by  Spanish  ............. 

adopted  constitution  ............... 

Monagas  dictator  ................. 

civil  war  in  ...................... 

revolution  in  ...................... 

progress  of.  ...................... 

revolution  in  ...................... 

Vera  Cruz  taken  by  Scott  .............. 

by  United  States  army  ............ 

besieged  by  Miramon  ............. 

attacked  .......................... 

surrendered  to  Juarists  .......  ..... 

"  Vera  Cruz,"  loss  of  .................. 

Vermont,  Independence  of  ............ 

ratified  constitution  ............... 

Verplanck's  Point  captured  ..........  .. 

Verrazzano  explored  North  American 

coast  ............................. 

Vespucius,  Americus,  voyage  of  ........ 

named  Venezuela.  .  .  ................ 

visited  Brazil  ..................... 

Vessels  first  built  on  Pacific  ............ 

first  built  on  Mississippi  River  ..... 

first  built  on  N.  American  coast..  .  . 

first  built  in  New  England  ........... 

first  built  by  Dutch  in  America.  .  .  . 

first  built  by  Puritans  ............. 

first  built  on  upper  lakes  ........... 

British  taken  by  Arnold  ........... 

American  seized  .................. 

English  ordered  away  .............. 

British  taken  on  Lake  Erie  ........ 

United  States  seized  .............. 

Veteran  Reserve  Corps  (U.  S.)  ......... 

Vicksburg,  advance  on  ............... 

capture  of  ......................... 

local  political  fight.  .  .   ............ 

"  Vicksburg  "  lost  .................... 

Victory  on  Atlantic,  first  .............. 

Vienna,  battle  of  ..................... 

Vigilance  Committee,  California  ....... 

California  ........................ 

Indiana  .........................  . 

Kansas  ........................... 

"  Ville  du  Havre  "  lost  ................ 

Vincennes,  Ind.,  settled  ............... 

Vineland,  N.  J.,  founded  .............    . 

Vinland,  Northmen  in  ................. 

supposed  to  be  Rhode  Island.  ...... 

Thorwald  in  ..................... 


Page.  Co>. 

726  i 

449  i 

103  2 

447  i 

475  2 

535  2 

576  2 

736  i 

783  i 

864  i 

529  2 

533  2 

575  2 

584  2 

719  2 

894  2 

330  2 

383  2. 

343  i 


129  i 


103  2 

103  2 

105  2 

117  2 

H3  * 

152  2 

167  I 

173  I 

191  2 

232  2 

3H  2- 

420  2' 

423  2 

432  I 

57r  r 

651  z 

643  t- 

661  i 

800  i 

807  i 

3H  2 

601  2 

544  2 

566  2. 


799  2 

790  2 

253  2 

573  i< 

91  i 

91  i 

91  \ 


INDEX. 


Page.  Col. 


Vinland,  first  fight  with  natives  in 

Karlsefne's  colony  and  birth  of  son. 

last  Norse  colony  in 

Virgin  Islands,  W.  I,  seized  by  England 

made  a  colony 

Virginia  named  

colonists  dissatisfied 

condition  of 

granted  to  Arlington 

grant  of,  revoked 

improved  condition  of. 

has  no  governor 

Arnold's  raid  in 

ratified  constitution 

resolutions . 

seceded  

army  of,  organized 

Lee's  retreat  into. 

Stoneman's  raid 

Virginia  City,  Nevada,  growth  of 

Virginius  affair,  The 

Volcano  in  Martinique 

Volunteers  for  Mexican  war 

Voters,  native  and  foreign,  in  U.  S. . . . 
Voters,  property  necessary  for,  in  Conn. 
Voyage  round  the  world,  first 

first  American 

—  W 

Wade,  Benj.  F.,  biography 

Waldron,  Major,  killed 

Walk,  great  Indian 

Walking  match  at  London 

in  New  York 

in  London 

best  time. 

Walloons  in  New  Netherland 

Wampum  in  New  Netherland 

refused  for  taxes 

War  preparations. 

declared  by  U.  S.  on  England. ..... 

between  Brazil  and  Argentine  Rep. 

between  Paraguay  and  Corrientes.  . 

declared  by  U.  S.  on  Mexico 

between  Ecuador  and  New  Grenada 

between  Spain  and  Peru 

between  Honduras  and  San  Salvador 

Warren,  Dr.  Joseph,  biography 

Washington's,  George,  mission 

report 

elected  general 

took  command 

Howe's  letter  to 

farewell  to  officers. . 


9i  i 

9I   2 

9I   2 

223   I 

557  i 

158  2 

I94  2 

208  I 
228  2 
238  2 
243  2 
254  2 

349  2 
367  i 

403 
594 
634 
640 

653  2 
709  I 

789      I 

543  2 
526  i 

IO2O  I 

220  I 

127  I 

382  2 

849  2 

242  I 

268  I 
850 

866 

873 
888 

183 
200  i 

209  i 

401  2 
430  2 
464 

524 
526 
669 
687 

759 
316 

278  i 
278 


325       2 
356      2 


1067 

Page.  Col. 


Washington's  resignation  of  commission.  356 

tour  through  New  England 377 

made  lieutenant-general 402 

biography '. .  405 

funeral  oration  pronounced 409 

Washington,  D.  C.,  first  named 384 

officially  occupied 41 1 

burned  by  British 439 

Washington  and  Lee  University,  Va.  . .  355 

Monument,  Richmond,  Va 571 

Commission,  The 789 

"  ring,"  The '. 820 

Washington  ians 508 

"  Wasp  "  captured  "  Frolic." 432 

captured  "  Reindeer." 438 

captured  "  Avon." 440 

Watches,  American,  first  made 542 

"  Water  color   society,"  first 542 

first  successful • 715 

"  Water  cure  "  establishment,  first 520 

Waterproof,  first  patent 479 

Waterproof  clothing  company,  first 489 

Water  spout  in  Nevada 799 

"  Waterwitch  "  encounter 557 

"  Wawasset "   burned 788 

Wayne,  Gen.,  command  at  West 385 

victory   of. 393 

biography 399 

Weather  Bureau 745 

farmers'  reports 770 

Webster,  Noah,  grammatical  institute  of  356 

spelling  book   of. 356 

Webster's  Dictionary,  first 473 

Webster,   Daniel,  biography 550 

Wedding,  first  at  Plymouth 180 

Weldon  Railway,  attempt  on 679 

seized 6Si 

Welland  ship  canal 475 

"  Well  Conducted  Farm,"  essay 464 

Welles,  Gideon,  biography 848 

Wesley,  John,  came  to  Georgia 267 

established  Sunday  School 268 

Western  Hayti,  an  empire 536 

"  Westfield  "  exploded 762 

Westinghouse  brakes 768 

West  Virginia  created ^ 594 

troops  ordered  into 595 

admitted  to  Union 657 

West,  military  events  in 667 

West  Point  Academy 414 

Wey mouth  on  New  England  coast 165 

Weymouth  colony 182 

Whaleboat   crossed  Atlantic 841 


1068 


INDEX. 


Whale-fishing,  first 

in  Davis'  Straits 

in  St.  Lawrence 

successful 

Whaleship  sunk  by  whale 

Whaling  disaster 

Whaling  bark,  disaster  to 

Wheat  sown  on  Long  Island 

first  shipment  from  Chicago 

Wheeler  compromise 

Wheeler  surveys 

Wheelwright,  William',  death  of. 

Whig  addresses 

"Whipper,  The  Public,"  advertisement. 

' '  Whiskey*Ring  "  war 

White,  Col.,  stratagem  of 

"White  House,"  The 

White  Mountains,  first  white  man  at. .  . 

first  ascended 

first  mentioned  in  print 

White,  Peregrine,  death  of 

White  Plains,  battle  of. 

Whitfield,  George,  came  to  Georgia 

labored  in  several  states 

established  orphanage 

occasioned  "  Great  Awakening". . . 

biography 

Whittaker  outrage 

second  trial 

Whittier's  birthday  celebration 

Wilderness,  battle  of. 

Willard,  Emma 

Willey  disaster,  The 

William  and  Mary  College 

founded 

Williams  College  founded 

Williams,  Roger,  came  to  America 

banished 

biography 

Williamsburg,  battle  of 

Willis,  N.  P.,  death 

Wilmington  evacuated 

Wilmot  Proviso 

Wilson,    Henry,  biography 

Wilson's  Creek,  battle  of 

raids 

Winchester,  battle  9f 

battle  of. ..' 

Windward  Is.,  English,  under  Barbadoes 

Winslow,  the  forger 

Winter,  extremely  severe 

quarters 

at  Morristown. . 


244     * 

260      2 
286      2 

553    2 

452      2 

762 

859 
165 

506 
804 

798 
789 

5" 
276 
805 
344 
387 

174      2 
2OI       I 

227      2 

254  I 

327  2 

268  2 

269  I 
269  I 
269  I 

3°3    2 


901  i 

847  i 

674  2 

750  2 

469  2 

2l6  2 

248  I 

390  2 

191  2 

194  2 

237  2 

628  I 
7l6  2 
690  2 
527  I 
8l5  2 
604  2 
692  2 

629  2 
656  2 
766  2 
817  2 
492  I 

33°  2 

344  2 


Page.  Col. 

Winthrop.  John,  biography 207  %  r. 

Wirz,  Henry,  executed 708  i 

Wisconsin    visited 199  i 

admitted  to  Union 533  2 

Wistar's  raid ....  672  I 

Witchcraft,  execution  for  in  Mass 205  i 

second 207  i 

third 212  i 

execution  for,  in  Connecticut 218  2 

acquittal  in  Pennsylvania 238  2 

execution  for,  in  Boston 241  2 

delusion 245  i 

attempt  to  revive 260  2 

Withdrawal  of  U.  S.  troops  from  S.  C. .  834  2 

from  Louisiana 834  2 

Wives  for  Canadian  settlers 223  2 

Wollaston  accident 859  I 

"  Woman  Order,"  Butler's 629  i 

Woman  first  admitted  to  Homeopathic 

Institute 762  I 

Woman's  crusade 793  i 

suffrage  association,  national. 744  i 

Women  first  at  Jamestown 167  2 

sold  for  wives 1 76  2 

before  U.  S.  supreme  court 864  i 

Wood  engraving,  first 395  I 

Fernando,  biography 907  2 

Wool  card  teeth 336  2 

Worcester's  dictionary  issued 528  i 

Workmen,  mass  meeting  of 570  i 

World's  fair  in  New  York 552  2 

of  1883 904  2 

Wright,  Francis,  visited  United  States..  453  2 

Writs  of  assistance  opposed 291  2 

Wyandotte  constitution  framed 575  2 

ratified 577  2 

Wyoming  Valley  massacre 338  2 

Xaquixaguana,  battle  of 148  2 

X  Y  Z  mission,  The 401  2 


Yacht  club,  first 52o 

"  America  "  won  English  prize. . . .  543 

race,  A ' 7l6 

race  in  New  York  harbor V7^6 

race  at  New  York 826 

Yale  college,  origin  of. 251 

chartered 252 

removed  and  named 257 

"  Yankee  Doodle  " 320 

Yankee  enterprise 383 

Yazoo  fraud,  The 396 

Yellow  fever  in  Mexico,  first  time 144 


INDEX. 


1069 


Page.    Col. 

Yellow  fever  in  Barbadoes 244  2 

in  Cuba 202  2 

in  New  York 253  i 

in  Philadelphia 251  i 

in  New  Grenada,  S.  A 264  i 

in  West  Indies 26=;  2 

in  Ecuador,  first. . .    269  i 

in  Philadelphia 292  i 

in  New  York 385  i 

in  Philadelphia 390  2 

in  United  States 402  i 

in  New  York 488  2 

in  Brazil 535  2 

in  New  Orleans 554  i 

in  Southern  States 723  i 

in  Buenos  Ayres '761  i 

in  Louisiana.. 788  2 

in  Buenos  Ayres 803  2 

in  Savannah,  Ga 827  i 


Page.  Col. 

Yellow  fever  at  Savannah,  Ga "827  2 

in  Florida 844  i 

in  U.  S.  during  1878 858  i 

in  Southern  States 873  2 

Yellowstone  geysers. 744  i 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  organized  at  Montreal 544  2 

Yorktown,  siege  of 351  2 

captured 351  2 

centennial 970  2 

evacuated  in  Civil  War 627  2 

Young,  Brigham,  joined  Mormons 487  i 

biography 842  i 

Yucatan  discovered 113  i 

romance  in .-  •  •  •  114  i 

visited  by  Cordova 117  2 

visited  by  Grijalva 118  2 

English  in,  seized  by  Spanish 232  2 

adopted  constitution 510  i 

Yukon  River,  great  trip  up  the 713  2 


• 


• 


